The Grasshopper Read Free

my
campaign for two years… and now… nothing… you’re
silent.”
    “I’m pleased. Congratulations.”
Svetlana said quietly and again looked down.
    “You have nothing to congratulate
me for. This is the official information that Kaella received. And
he is surely in shock now, thinking frantically. No one expected
such an advantage. Seneca believes, and I think that he is
completely right, that Kaella has two options at this moment:
either to fake the elections and reelect President Xing, or to kill
me. All three of us agreed that an assassination is more likely.
And Raul is almost convinced of this. He is convinced that Prince
Kaella will not allow me to hold the speech tomorrow in his
Megapolis.”
    “So why do only I have to leave
Megapolis? Doesn’t the Mayor…” Svetlana whispered.
    “And as far as Mayor Seneca is
concerned,” Pascal continued, “for him the most important thing is
to preserve peace and order in this city. And that is why he wants
us to leave it immediately. But he doesn’t want to force us, to
drive us out, escorted by the inspectors. Actually, it was more
like he asked Raul and me to leave, rather than demand. I have
great respect for Seneca… and I am grateful to him for everything.
But Svetlana, despite this, I will hold that speech. I’ve made up
my mind. If they kill me, they will make me a martyr, an icon of
resistance to Humane Capitalism. I could be more useful to the
cause dead than alive. That’s why I told Raul today for him and his
team to decide on their own whether they will stay or leave
Magapolis. And you, Svetlana, I am ordering to leave.”
     
    Svetlana was silent for quite a
while. Pascal knew how difficult it was for her, which is why he
didn’t interrupt the silence. Finally Svetlana sighed and
said:
    “You were absolutely right to not
allow Raul and the campaign staff to get marry you off for the sake
of the presidential campaign. It would be truly an injustice for
only one woman to enjoy you, Pascal.”
    “What are you talking about,
Svetlana?” Pascal was surprised by such a reaction from her. “What
does that have to do with anything? I want you to leave here, you
understand?” Pascal asked, turning towards her.
    “I understand,” Svetlana replied.
She lay on her stomach, leaned on her elbows and looked at him. “I
understand everything, Pascal. It’s all clear to me.”
    “Alright, if that’s
true…”
    “I understand that I have to leave
Megapolis, I understand that Seneca will take down your stage, I
understand that despite all that you will take to the streets and
wait for the sniper’s bullet. Pascal, I also understand that after
almost two years… of our relationship, let’s call it that, you can
calmly tell me your decision and don’t even ask me what I think,
what I feel…”
    “Forgive me, Svetlana, forgive me…
but I… it cannot be any other way. This is how it has to be,
Svetlana.”
     
    Svetlana suddenly flipped onto her
back and covered her face with her hands, trying to hold back the
tears. When she calmed down, she lowered her arms next to her body
and without opening her eyes, she said
    “We both know that you will not go
into the square tomorrow.”
    “I will, Svetlana, I will
go.”
    “You won’t, because Raul won’t let
you.”
    “Raul? How can Raul stop
me?”
    “Raul, Margot… Liam. Liam will stop
you. The security guys.”
    “Don’t be ridiculous. They wouldn’t
dare.”
    “Perhaps they wouldn’t… Raul will
call Seneca… His inspectors will arrest you, drive you out of
Megapolis.”
    “Seneca could have already done
that. I clearly told him today that I would hold a speech to the
gathered people. Regardless of how many of them there
are.”
     
    They both lay on their backs in
silence, each in their own half of the bed.
    “You know what, Pascal?” Svetlana
suddenly spoke out, loudly. “I really don’t care now. It isn’t at
all important to me. These are now your things, right? I’m