Two Caravans Part 15

But it wasn't him, it was Mrs McKenzie.

"h.e.l.lo," she said, in that soft subtle voice that was like the smell of the soap. "Can I come in?"

"Of course. Please."

She sat down on the edge of the bed.

"Have you got everything you need?"

"I like this room very much."

It was true-I felt as at home as in my own little bedroom in Kiev. Why is it that when you think happy thoughts, tears can suddenly come into your eyes? Sniffle sniffle. What was the matter with me? I don't know why, but all at once I found myself telling her about Vulk, and then the words just came pouring out: his creaky coat, his live-rat ponytail, his cigar-stinking car, his sly black hungry-dog eyes. When I tried to describe that night, the words got stuck in my mouth and made me choke.

Mrs McKenzie said in her kind voice, "You know, yoga is very calming when you need to relax. Would you like me to show you?"

"No, it's OK."

In my opinion yoga is a typical Western fad, but I didn't want to offend her, and anyway I was still sniffling.

"Do you miss your mother, darling?"

"Yes, of course." Then suddenly I blurted out, "In fact I am missing my father. Since he is no longer living at home."

"He isn't living at home?"

"He is gone to live with someone else. Someone much younger."

As I said those words, I felt my face turn red. I didn't know if it was shame or rage. I felt so sad for Mamma, all by herself in the apartment, talking to the cat, eating breakfast on her own and dinner on her own. Then I thought of the way she was always nagging him: do this, do that, do you love me, Vanya? When I have a husband, I will never do that.

"You really love him, don't you?" Mrs McKenzie smiled.

"No. Not at all."

Then I laughed, because I realised that she was talking about Pappa, but I was thinking about Andriy Palenko, and wondering what it would be like to feel his arms around me.

Suddenly there was a quiet knock, then the door opened. My heart jumped. But it wasn't Andriy, it was Toby.

"Ma, have you got any condoms?" he whispered.

Mrs McKenzie didn't even turn her head.

"Second drawer down, my side of the bed. Take care not to wake your father."

"Thanks, Ma."

Hm. Interesting. Strawberry Flavour Ticklers. These are not like any Ukrainian condoms that Andriy has seen, though probably the principle is the same. But how will they demonstrate it to Emanuel? "I suppose we could show him some p.o.r.n," Toby McKenzie looks glum. "That might get him h.o.r.n.y. I could download something from the net. Paris Hilton and friends. Busty Biker Chicks. You ever seen that?"

"p.o.r.nographia?"

"Busty Biker Chicks. Unbelievable."

"I think for Emanuel p.o.r.nographia is not good."

"Yeah," Toby McKenzie nods. "He's a bit of an innocent, isn't he?"

Andriy is sitting with Toby McKenzie on the red sofa downstairs in the TV room. Everyone else in the house is asleep. Toby is drinking beer from a can. He offers one to Andriy. Andriy shakes his head. He needs to keep his head clear. Then he thinks maybe it's better to be a bit drunk in this situation. He accepts the beer and takes several gulps.

"Toby, this my friend Emanuel, I am worry for him after I go."

"Don't worry, mate, I'll look after him." His glibness is not rea.s.suring.

"Like you say, he is innocent. Maybe better is for him to stay like this."

Toby McKenzie gives him a sideways look. "You want him to stay innocent? What you giving him condoms for?"

Andriy wants to say something deeply intelligent about how Emanuel must take the best of what the West has to offer while also keeping hold of the best from his own culture. But the thought is too complex for his limited English. Maybe the beer wasn't such a good idea.

"He is African," is all he can mumble.

"It's up to him, innit?" Toby scratches the roots of his long plaited hair, examining his nails for evidence of dandruff. "He's got to have the choice. Everyone's got to make their own choice. That's freedom."

"Sometimes we have freedom but we make bad choice. Look at my country Ukraine."

Toby McKenzie shrugs. "You make the wrong choice, you got to live with it. Look at my Pa. Funny thing is, he thinks it's me that's making the wrong choice. He thinks it's a choice between working for the system or being a dosser. But it's not." He crunches the empty beer can in his hand. "It's just a choice between whisky and narbis."

This boy is not stupid. But why is he in such a mess?

"OK, Toby, maybe you right. With condom he has choice."

"At least if he makes the wrong choice it won't kill him. Not like that b.l.o.o.d.y stuff my Pa drinks."

"But how will we make this condom demonstration?"

"Maybe you'll have to demonstrate," says Toby.

Hm. This could be embarra.s.sing. Andriy takes another gulp of beer. On the television screen in front of them a troupe of almost-naked female dancers are tossing their hair and thrusting their hips forward rhythmically. Despite their frenzied activity they are having zero impact on his manly parts. Will they be arousing for Emanuel? Unlikely.

Toby McKenzie takes the remote control and starts flicking through a few channels. There is politics, home improvement, a cookery programme. Suddenly he stops. "That's it. Vegetables!"

Andriy struggles to picture some arousing scene with onions and cabbages. Really, these Angliski are quite original.

"My Ma's got plenty of them. What size is he? Carrot? Banana? Celery? Cuc.u.mber?"

Andriy tries to recall that lean black-skinned figure towelling himself dry with a white towel.

"Not cuc.u.mber. No. Carrot, no. Maybe we try medium-size banana."

Dear sister, Dear sister, I have been thinking much about those long ago days before the convent and the orphanage and the mission house at Zomba when we lived with our mother and father and sisters in our mud walled cottage on the banks of the Shire River of the long days of my nakedness and river fishing and gathering of mangoes. In those days I had a different understanding of the world. I have been thinking much about those long ago days before the convent and the orphanage and the mission house at Zomba when we lived with our mother and father and sisters in our mud walled cottage on the banks of the Shire River of the long days of my nakedness and river fishing and gathering of mangoes. In those days I had a different understanding of the world. But when aged twelve I was beloned and taken into the orphanage by the good nuns there I discovered the Knowledge of Good and Evil. For Sister Theodosia said that G.o.d is Love and the Maker of all Good things but Sister Benedicta said that all the Evil that befalls us is a punishment for our sins such as the sickness that took away our parents. And the everlasting punishments that would happen after death she said were consideringly worse than death itself with roasting fires and boiling oils and lumps of scorched flesh torn off with pincers. But when aged twelve I was beloned and taken into the orphanage by the good nuns there I discovered the Knowledge of Good and Evil. For Sister Theodosia said that G.o.d is Love and the Maker of all Good things but Sister Benedicta said that all the Evil that befalls us is a punishment for our sins such as the sickness that took away our parents. And the everlasting punishments that would happen after death she said were consideringly worse than death itself with roasting fires and boiling oils and lumps of scorched flesh torn off with pincers. Then I fell to imagining the gruefull torments our dear ones would be suffering in h.e.l.l and often I cried in the night longing for your comfort dear sister but you were away in Blantyre. Then Sister Benedicta chastised me with her staff but Sister Theodosia taught me a prayer to sing to Mary mother of Jesus who would enter seed on our behalf Then I fell to imagining the gruefull torments our dear ones would be suffering in h.e.l.l and often I cried in the night longing for your comfort dear sister but you were away in Blantyre. Then Sister Benedicta chastised me with her staff but Sister Theodosia taught me a prayer to sing to Mary mother of Jesus who would enter seed on our behalf Ora pro n.o.bis peccatoribus Ora pro n.o.bis peccatoribus. This is a song of such outstanding beauty that singing it would set our loved ones' souls at rest even the peccatoribus and also my own soul. The fear of these torments kept me away from any ca.n.a.l knowledge despite my sinful curiosity. But tonight Andree and Toby Makenzi showed me how I may be protected against o.r.g.a.s.ms that cause the deadly sickness by clothing my upstanding manhood in a condom and in this way I may enjoy ca.n.a.l knowledge without paying the mortal price. Then I recalled that Father Augustine had said the condom is an Abomination in the Eye of the Lord and although my body would be saved my soul would frizzle in h.e.l.l. And I said if I am going to frizzle for ca.n.a.l knowledge should I first taste the sweet without the wrapper? The fear of these torments kept me away from any ca.n.a.l knowledge despite my sinful curiosity. But tonight Andree and Toby Makenzi showed me how I may be protected against o.r.g.a.s.ms that cause the deadly sickness by clothing my upstanding manhood in a condom and in this way I may enjoy ca.n.a.l knowledge without paying the mortal price. Then I recalled that Father Augustine had said the condom is an Abomination in the Eye of the Lord and although my body would be saved my soul would frizzle in h.e.l.l. And I said if I am going to frizzle for ca.n.a.l knowledge should I first taste the sweet without the wrapper? But these good mzungus showed me the use of the Abomination by means of a Banana in such a cunning way that the Banana would frizzle and not my own Immortal Soul. They took the Banana and clothed it in the Abomination and Andree said now Emanuel when you are coming together with woman you put it not upon Banana but upon your own manly part. This caused me to smile then Andree unclothed the Banana and ate it being Ukrainian and much beloved of Bananas. So by using a Banana instead of my own upstanding manhood it would frizzle up in the Fiery Pit and I would be spared. But these good mzungus showed me the use of the Abomination by means of a Banana in such a cunning way that the Banana would frizzle and not my own Immortal Soul. They took the Banana and clothed it in the Abomination and Andree said now Emanuel when you are coming together with woman you put it not upon Banana but upon your own manly part. This caused me to smile then Andree unclothed the Banana and ate it being Ukrainian and much beloved of Bananas. So by using a Banana instead of my own upstanding manhood it would frizzle up in the Fiery Pit and I would be spared. For the life of the soul endures beyond the life of the body which has only a brief flowering then is cast like gra.s.s into the oven said Father Augustine who is a kind man with a big belly and crooked teeth and very short-sighted. Then he put his arm round me and said don't worry boy your parents were not bad people but they suffered from the frailty of our fallen human condition. And seeing the questioning look still on my face he sighed and said dear boy there are some mysteries in the ways of the Lord which we are not given to understand but some among us believe there is no evil without a purpose and we believe He only permits evil because it is a test for our own Goodness. For the life of the soul endures beyond the life of the body which has only a brief flowering then is cast like gra.s.s into the oven said Father Augustine who is a kind man with a big belly and crooked teeth and very short-sighted. Then he put his arm round me and said don't worry boy your parents were not bad people but they suffered from the frailty of our fallen human condition. And seeing the questioning look still on my face he sighed and said dear boy there are some mysteries in the ways of the Lord which we are not given to understand but some among us believe there is no evil without a purpose and we believe He only permits evil because it is a test for our own Goodness. But still I have been rubbing some questions over and over in my head until they begin to smoke and burn like fire sticks and I pray feveredly for His guidance as I contemplate the Decision I must make. For if I choose the earthly delights of ca.n.a.l knowledge then I will never know the heavenly Love nor sing in the Choir of Angels. But still I have been rubbing some questions over and over in my head until they begin to smoke and burn like fire sticks and I pray feveredly for His guidance as I contemplate the Decision I must make. For if I choose the earthly delights of ca.n.a.l knowledge then I will never know the heavenly Love nor sing in the Choir of Angels.

Bendery

It had rained in the night. I could tell, because the air smelt different. I woke up early in my blue-and-white attic room, full of excitement and antic.i.p.ation, because at last I was going to see London, the city of my dreams, and especially because I was going to see it with him.

It was strange, at first, being just the two of us in the Land Rover, him sitting at the wheel and me sitting in the pa.s.senger seat with the dog at my feet. What were we going to say to each other? I wanted to talk to him. London is a very beautiful city. English men wear bowler hats London is a very beautiful city. English men wear bowler hats. No, not that stupid stuff. I wanted to talk about us, him and me. Tell me who you are, Andriy Palenko. Do you love me? Are you the one? Tell me who you are, Andriy Palenko. Do you love me? Are you the one? But you can't say that. So we just drove in silence, crawling in the heavy traffic. But you can't say that. So we just drove in silence, crawling in the heavy traffic.

According to the map Maria had given me, we were on the South Circular Road. He had that fixed look on his face, concentrating on his driving. And I know this sounds strange, but although he was a Donbas miner I noticed for the first time that in profile he had a slight look of Mr Brown about him. Then he said, still with that look on his face, as though he was talking to himself, "I wonder what happened to all the carrots."

"Which carrots?"

"From the caravan. Didn't you notice? Two bags gone. Only six small carrots left."

"Only six? Maybe she stole them."

"To feed to her husband."

Then we both started laughing, and that broke the tension between us, so we laughed even more, till our sides ached. Then we drove on in silence for a bit, but now it was a different kind of silence.

Suddenly Andriy slammed the brakes on. "Devil's b.u.m! Did you see that?" The Land Rover lurched all over the road as the caravan bounced on its bracket. "These Angliski drivers! Cut-throat bandits!"

I couldn't help myself. I burst out laughing. "Is that what they say in Donbas?"

"What?"

"Devil's b.u.m!" I laughed.

He gave me a hard look.

"Do you think we're all hooligans in Donbas? Primitive types?"

"No, it's not that. It just sounds funny."

"And so what did you think when you saw all these uncivilised coalminers coming into your Kiev? All with blue-and-white flags to protest against your Orange Revolution? All talking with Donbas accent? Did you think it is the barbarians' invasion?"

"I didn't say that."

"No, but I can see what you are thinking. Every time I open my mouth you start to grin."

"Andriy, why are you saying these things?"

"I don't know." He frowned again and clenched his jaw. "I should concentrate. Where are we going?"

"Kensington Park Road." Maria had looked it up for me and shown me on the map. "You have to turn left somewhere up here. About eight kilometres."

On Putney Bridge we got stuck in a traffic jam and then it was solid cars all the way, so by the time we got to Kensington Park Road the consulate was just closing. I pleaded with the woman behind the desk. I explained my pa.s.sport had been stolen and I needed to get a new one. But she was one of those pouty-mouth types who looks as though she finds talking to people too exhausting.

"Come back Monday." She rolled her eyes, and tottered off in her pencil-tight skirt, which in my opinion she did not have the figure to wear.

"Well?" asked Andriy, who was waiting outside, and when I told him, he said, "These new Ukrainians. They forget who pays their wages."

Then we went quiet, because obviously we had a decision to make.

"Do you want to go back to Richmond?" he said.

"Do you?"

"It's up to you."

"No, you decide." I was being careful-careful not to upset him again.

"I'll do whatever you want," he said.

"I don't mind."

"Well, let's toss a coin. Heads we go back, tails we go on."

He found a coin in his pocket and flicked it in the air with his thumb, and it landed heads up.

"That's it. We'll go back, then," he said.

"All right." I looked at the coin, and I looked at him. "But we don't have to if we don't want to, do we?"

"I'll do whatever you want."

"I don't mind. But I don't really want to go back to Richmond, unless you do. I mean, they were nice..."

"Nice but crazy," he said.

We both laughed.

"Where do you want to go, then?" He had that Mr Brown look on his face again.

"I don't mind. You decide."

This girl-he's getting nowhere with her. One minute she's smiling, then she won't talk at all, and then sometimes she laughs at him as though he's some kind of idiot. It's like the Land Rover gearbox: fourth gear and reverse are too close together. You're just going along nicely in third, and ready to change up to fourth, and suddenly you find you've slammed it into reverse and you stop dead or jump backwards. Now she's smiling again, saying she wants to look around London and see Globe Theatre, Tabard Inn, Chancery, Old Curiosity Shop. What is this stuff? What does she think he is-an exclusive VIP tour guide? First he'd better find somewhere to park, because driving in this traffic with a caravan is no joke. He can't even get up into third most of the time, and that second gear keeps slipping out, so he's been driving in first, and they're burning up petrol fast, and he's going to need at least another tankful to get up to Sheffield. If he had the tools, he'd take a look at that gearbox. He has heard that the Land Rover gearbox is quite something. How would it compare with their old Zaporozhets, he wonders? Yes, that had had a similar gearbox fault.