Turret
A smiling general stood on
top of a tank for commemorative
picture before the campaign started
such images unified
country and solidified
brave and timid under a flag
until the bishop arrived to
bless the troops and sanctify
the ammunition to make sure
they will all find targets and since
this attack was already blessed
and dignified by the officials
let the trumpet sound its
marching paean and let the
troops take charge of the details
Excerpt
Puzzled, Ken walked away and as he wound his way past the stalls he
noticed the silence that fell when he approached. No one smiled at him;
no one nodded or called out a cheerful “good morning.” People avoided
looking at him and stepped deliberately out of his way.
Ken left the market with an ache in his throat. The next day he went
back and still no one would talk to him. He went to the market for a
third day and was again chilled by the rejection he met. But that day as he
turned to go, he heard one woman say, “You’re the anti-Christ – go!”
At home he asked his father, “What is the anti-Christ?”
“That’s the devil,” he answered. “Why do you want to know?”
He explained the scene at the market and what the woman had said
to him.
“That’s very interesting,” Ken Sr. said, his lips drawing tight across his
teeth and turning the colour of ash.
Ken Sr. picked up the telephone. “Don’t leave the house,” he said. “I
want you to stay here.”
A short while later the same priest who had visited the house before
came to the door. “Something very interesting and potentially important
has just taken place,” Ken Sr. said. “The other day you called my son’s behaviour
anti-Christian. For the last three or four days he has gone to the
market where he likes to make drawings. People have shunned him and
he was called …” he turned to Ken. “Say the words.”
“The anti-Christ,” Ken said.
Ken Sr. leaned back in his chair. “There seems to be a link between
your words, ‘anti-Christian’ and their words, ‘the anti-Christ.’ Was that
their interpretation or was there someone, perhaps you, who actually said
those words? This is how they now feel and whether you realize it or not,
you have made me the second most important man in history – I’m the
father of the devil is what you’re telling me. I expect it’s you who started
this. If you ever refer to my son or any member of my family again, I will
truly make you wish you had never been born. Get out of my house and
don’t ever come near it again.”
The priest listened in stony silence and left, wrapping his black cassock
tightly around him.
Manolis Aligizakis 