III
I saunter around this city with such curiosity. Serenity
reigned in my heart indeed I was singing between
my teeth, a song from my childhood.
The men I met were very tall and wore long foustanellas* down to the ground. Their walk was slow, graceful, I’d say, as it is usually in the East. Some others wore caps on their grey heads and others large, tragic women’s hats with feathers.
However, suddenly, an inexplicable sadness covered my heart. These people didn’t have any eyes. I paid attention to them: their glances had already worried me. The fear stopped me for a while and rendered me motionless
and silent. When I managed to stir somewhat and run
after them I finally realized that they’d vanish once
they reached the corner like a dream. They’d vanish to
reappear on the other corner from where they came to
continue their despicable saunter, unaffectedly.
There was no doubt anymore. A horrible scam was
put together for me. I understood I was the victim of
a terrible trap. Then, as I realized the seriousness of
my mistake, I sat down and cried bitterly.
Manolis Aligizakis 