INTRODUCTION

       The last train would be leaving at quarter to twelve. It was terribly hot and the weather was not in the least autumnal. An old lady with her four grandchildren was eating grapes and played with them, having taken a bench at the platform. They were the only patrons in this secluded train station. Ifigenia wiped the sweat from her throat hollow but a bead ran through her breasts. She was carrying a small bag with only a few things which seemed too heavy a load at this time.

       The sweat bead tickled her a little but she preferred to indulge in this tiny pleasure than go to the trouble of wiping it. She sat on a bench and had a sip of water from her flask. She looked at the station clock: twenty to twelve.

       The night air was sultry. It filled your chest with the sugary taste of the fields and the river. Ifigenia knew a lot about this taste during the last months. She felt it in her body and – mainly – her mind. She took an old piece of newspaper from the floor and fanned her face. Her breath was too noisy, she thought. She was under the impression that she was panting hard but she was also convinced that this impression was a figment of her imagination.

        One of the children came near her.

- Hi, she said.

Ifigenia smiled.

- Hi.
- Do you like the train?
- It’s nice.
- Then, why are you frightened?

Ifigenia remained silent for a while.

- Who says I’m frightened?

      The child was a little girl, not older than five. She wore her fair-black hair in two pretty plaits and she was missing one or two front teeth. She was smiling though without caring and she seemed kind of proud of it. She was licking a grape and was looking at Ifigenia with her huge eyes. Then she stretched out her little hand and touched the bead of sweat that was running down through her breast. They stood still for a few seconds. Then the little girl went a few metres away and looked at Ifigenia almost in sadness.

      She was in a shock and did not know what to do. She wanted to burst into tears and ran away. The little girl smiled with that strange grin on her face showing her empty mouth. Ifigenia was about to scold her but the train whistled and she was left with her mouth open. The little one ran to her grandma.

- Grandma, grandma … the train!

     The station-master ran, clearly prematurely awaken to take his place at the station. Half a minute later the train arrived screeching. The children with their grandmother got on yelling and screaming. She had to get on the same carriage but she preferred to look for a seat at the back. She made herself comfortable in a seat and took a deep breath. Fortunately the train was empty. She was not in a mood for talking during her journey to the capital.

     The train stayed at the station for a while liked a tired beast. Ifigenia sat back and relaxed. She was leaving at last. She half closed her eyes and let this feeling of relief fill her up. Just as she was dozing off, she saw the short-haired man in the black T-shirt getting on the train. ‘‘How weird’’, she thought for a second. ‘‘He even follows me in my dreams’’. Then nothing.