Back to Issue 7

Behind the Front Line by Oleg Semonov

I was wandering about the Kelety station,
the masterpiece of the European architecture,
waiting for the train to get me to the battalion
I served in. Then I found a vacant bench,
took a seat and lit a cheap cigarette, thinking
of the words uttered by a headquarters officer
before I spent a ten days holiday at home.
Be careful and escape of talking to the local
residents. And never, he said, never forget
nineteen fifty-six. Everything may happen!
And I was. Observing what could occur
at any moment and imagining my friends
listening to the autumn Mediterranean sky
filled with the Phantoms trying to display
their determination over the pharaohs' heads
and seeking the kilo-charlie guys that
usually fed those hungry birds on time.
Then I saw the old man moving towards me.
He stopped and stared at me and sat nearby.
I smiled at him helplessly for I didn't
speak Hungarian except for some phrases
such as 'Halt!' or 'Hands up!' or 'Turn to the right!'
or 'Turn to the left!' Stuff and nonsense.
He pointed to one of the badges on my chest
in his attempt to explain something to me.
I failed to understand him but his only desire
to get it from me. No problem. Here you are.
He stood up by saying nothing and left me alone.
And soon returned with another man,
pushing a luggage trolley with a bottle of wine
and three glasses on it. It's impossible,
I said to myself. If our m.p. noticed a private...
He got me right and addressed the young lady
who was sitting opposite and looking
at our trinity with interest. 'Don't worry,'
she said in good Russian. 'If they appear
you will be warned,' she added kindly.
I had nothing to lose. Cheers. And they
took my luggage and put it on the trolley
to help me reach the platform. And then
I thanked them all for their kindness,
and shook their hands, and heard in reply
'We'll be glad to meet you here again
as a tourist. As our friendly guest.'

Bio: Oleg Semonov was born in the city of Makeyevka (Donetsk region, Ukraine) and graduated from Donetsk National University (Department of English Philology) in 1990. He has since worked as interpreter/translator for commercial companies in Ukraine. Oleg's work has appeared in Electric Acorn, Eclectica, and North American anthologies.