{"id":6156,"date":"2013-01-13T09:08:54","date_gmt":"2013-01-13T15:08:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.miscarea.net\/w\/?p=6156"},"modified":"2013-01-13T10:05:05","modified_gmt":"2013-01-13T16:05:05","slug":"oameni-in-verde-de-mircea-streinul","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.miscarea.net\/w\/?p=6156","title":{"rendered":"OAMENI \u00ceN VERDE de Mircea Streinul"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Oameni<\/a>

“La flac\u0103ra chibritului, Vasile \u00eel privi \u00eengrozit pe omul \u00eentins la picioarele sale…”<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

“Universul Literar”, Anul XLIX, Nr. 49, S\u00e2mb\u0103t\u0103 30 Noembrie 1940<\/span><\/em>
\nSe l\u0103sase noaptea, dar rumoarea din strad\u0103 \u00eenc\u0103 nu se potoli\u00adse. Ploua m\u0103runt \u015fi umbre mari cobor\u00eeser\u0103 peste vechea cl\u0103dire a universit\u0103\u0163ii. Intr’un cotlon dela eajul II se-aciuiase un greer; cine\u00a0\u015ftie ce aventur\u0103 \u00eel adusese p\u00e2n\u0103 acolo, \u00eentre rafturile colb\u0103ite ale bibliotecii seminarului de istoria filosofiei. Nourii ap\u0103sau ca ni\u015fte pumni uria\u015fi turlele Mitropoliei; frunzele castanilor de l\u00e2ng\u0103 biserica evanghelic\u0103 se desprindeau una c\u00e2te una, ca s\u0103 cad\u0103 m\u00e2nate de v\u00e2nt \u2014 \u00een b\u0103l\u0163ile din mijlocul str\u0103zii nepavate; c\u00e2te-un strig\u0103t din strad\u0103 ajungea slab la Vasile Dum\u015fa, care se refugiase tocmai sus, pe treptele ce duceau \u00een pod. Aerul st\u0103tut \u015fi plin de praf avea iz as\u00adpru de mucegaiu. Ploaia b\u0103tea melodios \u00een acoperi\u015ful de tabl\u0103, ca s\u0103 g\u00e2lg\u00e2ie apoi prin jghiaburi p\u00e2n\u0103 jos, \u00een strad\u0103. Orologiul dela Mitropolie vesti orele 9 \u015fi studentul \u00ee\u015fi aminti c\u0103-i promisese Irinei s’o duc\u0103 la Teatrul Na\u0163ional, unde o trup\u0103 din Bucure\u015fti avea s\u0103 re\u00adprezinte amara comedie \u201eCandide” a lui Bernhard Shaw.<\/p>\n

Deodat\u0103, lui Dum\u015fa aerul i se p\u0103ru at\u00e2t de greu, \u00eenc\u00e2t avu impresia c\u0103 se sufoc\u0103 \u015fi se temu s\u0103 nu le\u015fine. Abia putu s\u0103 se t\u00e2r\u00e2ie p\u00e2n\u0103 la geam, ca s\u0103-l deschid\u0103. Un val de aer proasp\u0103t, rece, \u00eei n\u0103v\u0103li \u00een fa\u0163\u0103, \u00eenvior\u00e2ndu-l. Intinz\u00e2ndu-\u015fi \u00een afar\u0103 m\u00e2inile, \u015fi le l\u0103s\u0103 mult timp \u00een ploaie. Totul disp\u0103ru din jurul s\u0103u; avea impresia c\u0103 retr\u0103ie\u015fte o scen\u0103 din copil\u0103rie, c\u00e2nd alerga descul\u0163 prin p\u0103durea din Ad\u00e2ncata, ca ploaia s\u0103-l ude p\u00e2n\u0103 la piele.<\/p>\n

Dup\u0103 c\u00e2tva timp, studentul tres\u0103ri; auzise sgomot de pa\u015fi. Era sigur c\u0103, lupt\u00e2nd cu umbrele, cineva urc\u0103 spre etajul II. Incet, tiptil, ho\u0163e\u015fte. Apoi, nu se mai auzi nimic, dar f\u00e2\u015fia de lumin\u0103 a unei l\u0103mpi electrice de buzunar \u00eencepu s\u0103 se plimbe pe tavan; par’c’ar fi fost un fluture obosit, care ar c\u0103uta o frunz\u0103 pe nem\u0103rginirea unui lac, ca s\u0103-\u015fi poat\u0103 odihni aripile \u00eenainte de a-\u015fi relua sborul mai departe.<\/p>\n

\u201eA fost o impruden\u0163\u0103 c’am deschis fereastra”, \u2014 \u00ee\u015fi spuse Va\u00adsile Dum\u015fa. \u2014 \u201eDesigur c\u0103 m’o fi z\u0103rit Popescu \u015fi acuma s’a luat dup\u0103 mine”.<\/p>\n

Popescu era cel mai \u00eendr\u0103cit agent al siguran\u0163ei. Cu o’nf\u0103\u0163i\u015fare dulceag\u0103 de vulpe poc\u0103it\u0103, reu\u015fea s\u0103 induc\u0103 mult\u0103 lume \u00een eroare. Simula c\u0103 e simpatizant legionar, purta un m\u0103r\u0163i\u015for verde sub reve\u00adrul hainei \u015fi saluta cu \u201eTr\u0103iasc\u0103 Legiunea \u015fi C\u0103pitanul”. Vasile Dum\u015fa aflase abia cu c\u00e2teva zile \u00een urm\u0103 c\u0103 Popescu e acela care-i furnizeaz\u0103 inspectorului de Siguran\u0163\u0103 toate datele referitoare la or\u00adganiza\u0163ia din Cern\u0103u\u0163i a partidului \u201eTotul pentru \u0162ar\u0103”. Int\u00e2lnindu-l \u00een pia\u0163a Unirii, \u00eei spusese indignat c\u0103, la cel dint\u00e2iu prilej, o s\u0103-l p\u0103lmuiasc\u0103. \u201eNu e o ru\u015fine s\u0103 fii poli\u0163ist”, \u2014 \u00eei strigase \u00een fa\u0163\u0103, \u2014 \u201edar e o nemernicie s\u0103 simulezi o credin\u0163\u0103 \u00een scopul de-a spiona!” Popescu \u00eeng\u0103lbenise, c\u0103ci o mul\u0163ime de oameni fuseser\u0103 martori la ie\u015firea lui Dum\u015fa, dar se st\u0103p\u00e2nise \u015fi z\u00e2mbise cu o scuz\u0103 profesio\u00ad nal\u0103: \u201eAsta e meseria mea”,\u2014 \u015fi se’ndep\u0103rtase, ca s\u0103 dispar\u0103 gr\u0103\u00adbit \u00een curtea comisariatului circumscrip\u0163iei a doua: sim\u0163ise c\u0103, dac\u0103\u00a0nu-l \u00eenghite repede p\u0103m\u00e2ntul, lumea o s\u0103-l fluiere. Dum\u015fa \u00ee\u015fi str\u00e2n\u00adsese pumnii. \u201eLa prima ocazie, bestia va c\u0103uta s\u0103 m\u0103 doboare…”, \u2014\u00a0\u00ee\u015fi spusese, \u00eens\u0103 ridicase din umeri \u015fi-o luase \u00eencet c\u0103tre locuin\u0163a prietenului s\u0103u Ion Dracu, unde se \u0163ineau \u015fedin\u0163ele de cuib.<\/p>\n

Lumina se stinse. Sgomotul de pa\u015fi cari urc\u0103 se auzi din nou, l\u0103murit, de\u015fi ploaia lovea cu t\u0103rie \u00een geamuri. Acuma era aproape de tot \u015fi studentul se g\u00e2ndi cu am\u0103r\u0103ciune c\u0103 s’a l\u0103sat prins ca un \u015foarece’n curs\u0103. Nu mai exista nici o posibilitate de salvare. Dac’ar fi cobor\u00eet, ar fi dat drept \u00een bra\u0163ele agenului. Nu-i r\u0103m\u0103sese dec\u00e2t s’a\u015ftepte.<\/p>\n

\u201eDoamne, ce s\u0103 fac?” \u2014 se chinuia Vasile Dum\u015fa.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Nu trebuia s\u0103 iau cu mine lista fra\u0163ilor de cruce. Bestia de Popescu va pune m\u00e2na pe ea \u015fi to\u0163i elevii vor fi elimina\u0163i din \u015fcoli”. Coala de h\u00e2rtie \u00eemp\u0103turit\u0103, pe care o \u0163inea \u00een buzunarul interior\u00a0din st\u00e2nga al hainei, par’c\u0103-i ardea inima.<\/p>\n

Pa\u015fii se oprir\u0103 din nou \u015fi lumina se stinse. Dum\u015fa fu cuprins\u00a0de speran\u0163a c\u0103 lampa electric\u0103 de buzunar a agentului s’o fi defec\u00adtat sau c\u0103 bateria s’o fi consumat \u00een mod providen\u0163ial tocmai \u00een cli\u00adpa aceea. Prin \u00eentuneric, erau \u015fanse ca agentul s\u0103 nu dea de el, a\u015fa c\u0103 se lipi de perete, \u00eens\u0103 tocmai asta avea s\u0103-i fie nenorocirea, c\u0103ci Popescu, orbec\u0103ind prin bezn\u0103, \u00ee\u015fi \u0163inea \u00eentinse manile \u015fi, c\u00e2nd ajunse \u00een dreptul studentului, \u00eel atinse.<\/p>\n

\n

Era prea t\u00e2rziu ca Dum\u015fa s\u0103 se mai fereasc\u0103. Incord\u00e2ndu-se, s\u0103ri ca un orcan desl\u0103n\u0163uit asupra umbrei care se profila peste cerul din fereastr\u0103. Umbra, luat\u0103 prin surprindere, se cl\u0103tin\u0103 \u015fi fu c\u00e2t pe ce s\u0103 cad\u0103, \u00eens\u0103 \u00ee\u015fi reveni \u015fi \u00eencerc\u0103 s\u0103 se scape din str\u00e2nsoarea bra\u0163elor lui Vasile, a c\u0103rui r\u0103suflare \u00eei op\u0103rea t\u00e2mpla. Studentul \u00ee\u015fi adunase toate for\u0163ele; niciodat\u0103 nu fusese mai puternic dec\u00e2t acuma. In m\u00e2inile sale era soarta a cel pu\u0163in 200 de elevi, cari trebuiau salva\u0163i cu orice pre\u0163. Lupta se d\u0103dea f\u0103r\u0103 sgomot. Par’c\u0103 se luptau dou\u0103 duhuri ale p\u0103durii. G\u00e2f\u00e2iau, \u00eens\u0103 abia perceptibil. Ploaia ropotea nebune\u015fte \u00een acoperi\u015ful de tabl\u0103 \u015fi’n geamuri, ca \u015fi cum ar \u00eei vrut s’acopere orice alt sunet depe fa\u0163a p\u0103m\u00e2ntului. Studentul sim\u0163ea cum for\u0163ele umbrei sl\u0103besc, dar \u015fi-ale sale proprii \u00eencepeau s\u0103-l p\u0103r\u0103seasc\u0103. F\u0103cea eforturi aproape supraomene\u015fti ca s\u0103-l do\u00adboare pe agent, \u00eens\u0103 \u00eent\u00e2lnise un inamic mai puternic dec\u00e2t se-a\u015fteptase. Ii venea s\u0103 pl\u00e2ng\u0103 de ciud\u0103. Parc\u0103-i vedea \u00een fa\u0163a sa pe fra\u0163ii de cruce, ridica\u0163i dela gazdele lor, \u00eembr\u00e2nci\u0163i pe coridoarele arestului dela chestura de poli\u0163ie, b\u0103tu\u0163i \u015fi schingiui\u0163i. Inebunea la g\u00e2ndul c\u0103 tineretul acesta curat va c\u0103dea \u00een m\u00e2inile murdare ale brutelor dela poli\u0163ie, a c\u0103ror simpl\u0103 atingere reu\u015fea s\u0103 murd\u0103reasc\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103 \u015fi o floare. Vasile Dum\u015fa \u00eencepu s\u0103 dea cu pumnii, cari c\u0103deau din ce \u00een ce mai greu, ca \u015fi cum s’ar fi fost pref\u0103cut \u00een fier. N\u0103ucit\u0103, umbra \u015fov\u0103i \u015fi studentul nu-\u015fi putu st\u0103p\u00e2ni un chiot de bu\u00adcurie, \u00eenvinsese. Inc\u0103 un pumn, drept \u00een mijlocul pieptului. Umbra icni ca, apoi, s\u0103 se pr\u0103bu\u015feasc\u0103 pe trepte, \u00eens\u0103 \u2014 ag\u0103\u0163\u00e2ndu-se \u00een c\u0103dere de haina lui Dum\u015fa \u2014 \u00eel trase dup\u0103 sine pe’nving\u0103tor \u015fi \u2014 am\u00e2ndoi se rostogolir\u0103 p\u00e2n\u0103’n coridorul dela etajul II.<\/p>\n

Studentul r\u0103mase buim\u0103cit c\u00e2teva minute. Intunericul se rotea \u00een jurul s\u0103u \u015fi-i v\u00e2j\u00e2ia \u00een urechi. O durere ascu\u0163it\u0103 \u00eei s\u0103geta um\u0103rul st\u00e2ng, d\u00e2ndu-i sensa\u0163ia c\u0103 i se rupe carnea depe os. In cele din ur\u00adm\u0103, reu\u015fi s\u0103 se ridice. Acuma, trebuia s\u0103 fug\u0103. Desigur c\u0103, \u00eendat\u0103, agentul \u00ee\u015fi va rec\u0103p\u0103ta cuno\u015ftin\u0163a \u015fi va alarma \u00eentreaga poli\u0163ie. Incord\u00e2ndu-\u015fi auzul, ascult\u0103 cu aten\u0163ie, \u00eens\u0103 nici un sgomot \u00een afar\u0103 de-al ploii \u015fi de rumoarea din strad\u0103 nu spulbera t\u0103cerea \u00eemb\u00e2csit\u0103 din cl\u0103dire. P\u00e2n\u0103 \u015fi greerul \u00ee\u015fi \u00eencetase cri-cri-ul. Dum\u015fa se plec\u0103 asupra umbrei; voia s\u0103-i asculte r\u0103suflarea. Apoi, \u00eei veni \u00een minte s\u0103-i controleze buzunarele. Cine-\u015ftie, poate c\u0103 agentul purta asupra sa h\u00e2rtii importante, cari trebuiau distruse. Scotoci toate buzunarele, \u00eens\u0103 nu g\u0103si nimic deosebit: o leg\u0103tur\u0103 de chei, un pachet de \u201eNa\u00ad\u0163ionale”, chibrituri, lampa electric\u0103 de buzunar \u015fi c\u00e2teva monede, \u00eencerc\u0103 s\u0103 fac\u0103 lumin\u0103, dar lampa agentului se defectase \u00eentr’ade\u00ad v\u0103r, a\u015fa c’o puse, \u00eempreun\u0103 cu celelalte obiecte, \u00eenapoi \u00een buzunarele din cari le luase. Inainte de-a fugi, se duse la o fereastra, ca s\u0103 cerceteze strada. Mai era destul\u0103 lume. Studen\u0163i, \u00eenconjura\u0163i de-un cordon d e jandarmi sub comanda unui c\u0103pitan, procurorul militar, vre-o zece comisari, o mul\u0163ime de poli\u0163i\u015fti \u00eembr\u0103ca\u0163i \u00een impermeabile, iar pe trotuarul opus c\u00e2\u0163iva curio\u015fi, cari voiau s\u0103 vad\u0103 cum se va termina \u00eentreaga poveste.<\/p>\n

\u201eSe \u0163in bine b\u0103ie\u0163ii”, \u2014 \u00ee\u015fi spuse Dum\u015fa \u015fi d\u0103du s\u0103 se retrag\u0103 dela geam, c\u00e2nd privirea \u00eei r\u0103mase at\u00e2rnat\u0103 de-un tip care se spri\u00adjinise de-un felinar \u015fi tr\u0103gea alene dintr’o \u0163igar\u0103. \u2014 \u201eDumnezeule\u00a0mare ! E Popescu… Atunci… atunci cine e acesta de-aici…?” \u2014 \u015fi, aprinz\u00e2nd un chibrit, se apropie de omul care z\u0103cea \u00eentins pe les\u00adpezile mari de piatr\u0103. \u201eInc\u0103 nu \u015fi-a rec\u0103p\u0103tat cuno\u015ftin\u0163a…”.<\/p>\n

\n

La flac\u0103ra chibritului, Vasile \u00eel privi \u00eengrozit pe omul \u00eentins la picioarele sale.<\/p>\n

Era Toader M\u00e2nzu, cel mai bun prieten al studentului.<\/p>\n

Chibritul arse p\u00e2n\u0103 la cap\u0103t, dar Dum\u015fa nu sim\u0163i nici o durere c\u00e2nd flac\u0103ra \u00eei linse degetele; par’c’ar fi fost un lepros. Buim\u0103cit aprinse \u00eenc\u0103 un chibrit \u015fi se plec\u0103 asupra lui M\u00e2nzu, din a c\u0103rui t\u00e2mpl\u0103 se prelingea un fir sub\u0163ire de s\u00e2nge. Dum\u015fa \u00ee\u015fi scutur\u0103 prie\u00adtenul, \u00eens\u0103 acesta nu d\u0103du nici un semn de via\u0163\u0103; studentul \u00eei c\u0103ut\u0103 pulsul; apoi, descuie c\u0103ma\u015fa lui M\u00e2nzu \u015fi-\u015fi lipi urechea de piep\u00adtul \u00eenc\u0103 fierbinte de lupt\u0103; ascult\u0103 cu cea mai mare aten\u0163ie, \u00ee\u015fi \u0163inu r\u0103suflarea, dar nici o b\u0103taie a inimii nu mai suna \u00een trupul acela. Pierz\u00e2ndu-\u015fi cump\u0103tul, \u00eencepu s\u0103 pl\u00e2ng\u0103 s\u0103lbatic, neostoit, \u015fi iar\u0103\u015fi \u00eel cuprinse sensa\u0163ia c\u0103 trece printr’un co\u015fmar absurd, din care se va trezi peste c\u00e2teva clipe, ca s\u0103 se duc\u0103 voios \u015fi cu pieptul plin de poft\u0103 de via\u0163\u0103 la Irina, unde-l a\u015ftepta \u00eentotdeauna un cuv\u00e2nt bun \u015fi-o m\u00e2ng\u00e2iere. Trec\u00e2ndu-\u015fi m\u00e2na peste fruntea lui M\u00e2nzu, \u00ee\u015fi d\u0103du seama c\u0103 ireparabilul s’a ‘nt\u00e2mplat \u00een via\u0163a sa. R\u0103mase aproape o or\u0103 l\u00e2ng\u0103 trupul lui Toader M\u00e2nzu. Ochii \u00eei ardeau de-at\u00e2ta pl\u00e2ns \u015fi buzele i se uscaser\u0103. Se ridic\u0103 de l\u00e2ng\u0103 mort, se duse la o fereas\u00adtr\u0103 \u015fi privi \u00een strad\u0103; deast\u0103dat\u0103 nu mai erau dec\u00e2t un comisar \u015fi c\u00e2\u0163iva sergen\u0163i acolo, desigur plictisi\u0163i c\u0103 trebuiau s\u0103 stea \u00een ploaie \u00eentreaga noapte. Re\u00eentorc\u00e2ndu-se la M\u00e2nzu, \u00eel s\u0103rut\u0103 pe frunte \u015fi, dup\u0103 ce-i str\u00e2nse lung m\u00e2inile, o lu\u0103 \u00eencet pe trepte \u00een jos. La parter, deschise un geam, s\u0103ri \u00een curte \u015fi, furi\u015f\u00e2ndurse pe l\u00e2ng\u0103 ni\u015fte lem\u00adne, ajunse la gardul peste care se s\u0103lt\u0103 cu u\u015furin\u0163\u0103, ca s\u0103 ajung\u0103 \u00een strad\u0103.<\/p>\n

De\u015fi vremea era destul de friguroas\u0103, Dum\u015fa transpirase de se lipise c\u0103ma\u015fa pe el. Se g\u00e2ndi c\u0103 ar fi fericit dac\u0103 s’ar \u00eemboln\u0103vi de pneumonie de pild\u0103, ca s\u0103 moar\u0103 ca \u015fi prietenul s\u0103u. De\u015fi picioa\u00adrele abia de-l mai \u0163ineau, studentul aproape c\u0103 alerga. Voia s\u0103 ajung\u0103 c\u00e2t mai repede la Irina, dela care a\u015ftepta un sfat, o solu\u0163ie. Singur, nu era capabil s’o ia.<\/p>\n

Ploaia continua. Sub\u0163ire, enervant\u0103, rea. Ora\u015ful avea, totu\u015fi, un aspect frumos. Lumina ostentativ\u0103 a felinarelor electrice din col\u00ad\u0163ul str\u0103zilor se voalase \u00een perdelele argintii ale burni\u0163ei \u015fi becurile p\u0103reau ni\u015fte ciuda\u0163i trandafiri g\u0103lbui. C\u00e2nd ajunse pe uli\u0163a t\u0103cut\u0103 \u015fi singuratic\u0103 de l\u00e2ng\u0103 Mitropolie, Dum\u015fa se opri, ca s\u0103-\u015fi \u015ftearg\u0103 ploaia \u015fi sudoarea depe frunte. Apoi, se rezim\u0103 de gardul unei vile. In vale, luminile ro\u015fii \u015fi verzi ale semafoarelor dela gar\u0103 ad\u0103ugau un straniu aer apocaliptic imensei \u00eengr\u0103m\u0103diri de fier, beton \u015fi o\u0163el;\u00a0\u015finele str\u0103luceau ca pieile unor \u015ferpi, iar aburii locomotivelor sub presiune \u00ee\u015fi \u00eempr\u0103\u015ftiau lene\u015f fantasmele alburii, cari urcau \u00eencet spre nourii cenu\u015fii de noapte \u015fi de ploaie. Departe, peste Prut, or\u0103\u00ad\u015felul Sadagura p\u0103rea un pumn de jar mocnit, aruncat \u00een bezn\u0103. In drum spre Irina, Dum\u015fa se-oprea \u00eentotdeauna s\u0103 priveasc\u0103 panora\u00adma v\u0103ii Prutului. In via\u0163a sa nu v\u0103zuse niciodat\u0103 ceva mai frumos ca valea aceasta, \u00een care peisagiul etern al cartierului industrial se armoniza \u00een chip surprinz\u0103tor de natural cu peisagiul cald al c\u00e2m\u00adpiilor pline de aurul gr\u00e2nelor t\u0103l\u0103zuitoare. Acuma, Dum\u015fa privea cu un fel de \u00eenstr\u0103inare valea aceasta, pe care Toader M\u00e2nzu o nu\u00admise \u201evalea fermecat\u0103” \u00een una din lungile sale plimb\u0103ri cu Vasile; \u00ee\u015fi spunea c\u0103 nu mai are dreptul s\u0103 se bucure de frumuse\u0163ea nici unui lucru depe lumea asta.<\/p>\n

\u201eAm ucis! Am ucis! Am ucis!” \u2014 \u00eei suna mereu \u00een urechi pro\u00adpriul s\u0103u glas \u015fi Vasile \u00ee\u015fi tot privea m\u00e2inile la ninsoarea aurie a lu\u00adminii felinarului l\u00e2ng\u0103 care se oprise, c\u0103ci se a\u015ftepta s\u0103 \u015fi le vad\u0103 p\u0103tate de s\u00e2nge.<\/p>\n

In cele din urm\u0103, plec\u0103. Deast\u0103dat\u0103, nu se mai gr\u0103bea. Mergea ca un somnambul \u015fi, uneori, se’mpiedica de c\u00e2te-o piatra care-i ie\u015fea du\u015fm\u0103nos \u00een cale, iar ploaia \u00eei biciuia s\u0103lbatic obrajii, \u00een timp ce-o gur\u0103 de v\u00e2nt agita ramurile castanilor, smulg\u00e2ndu-le f\u0103r\u0103 mil\u0103 frunzele.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201eOare ce-mi va spune Irina? Ce-mi va spune…?” \u2014 se chinuia Dum\u015fa. \u2014 \u201eCum se va purta cu mine dup\u0103ce \u00eei voiu fi m\u0103rturisit cele’nt\u00e2mplate? Poate m\u0103 va goni… Da, ar face bine s\u0103 m\u0103 go\u00adneasc\u0103. Doamne, de nu s’ar termina niciodat\u0103 noaptea asta… S\u0103 merg, s\u0103 merg mereu \u00eenainte, cu noaptea, \u015fi s\u0103 nu-i dau niciodat\u0103 de cap\u0103t”.<\/p>\n

In cur\u00e2nd trebui s\u0103 se opreasc\u0103; ajunsese la poarta din fa\u0163a casei \u00een care Irina \u00eenchinase o camer\u0103 mobilat\u0103. La fereastra fetei era lumin\u0103 \u015fi Dum\u015fa v\u0103zu conturul capului ei proectat peste per\u00addeaua alb\u0103. Avu un scurt sentiment de eliberare: era fericit c\u0103 Irina nu plecase singur\u0103 \u00een ora\u015f.<\/p>\n

Deschise \u00eencet porti\u0163a.<\/p>\n

Un c\u00e2ne l\u0103tr\u0103 din buda sa, \u00eens\u0103 \u00eel recunoscu imediat pe Vasile \u015fi t\u0103cu.<\/p>\n

Studentul b\u0103tu \u00eencet \u00een geam. Dup\u0103 c\u00e2teva secunde, Irina des\u00adchise fereastra \u015fi-i d\u0103du cheia. Vasile descuie u\u015fa, ca s\u0103 intre \u00een hallul neluminat, de unde s\u0103 se’ndrepte orbe\u015fte spre od\u0103i\u0163a fetei.<\/p>\n

Irina \u00eel a\u015ftepta \u00eembufnat\u0103: Dum\u015fa \u00eei stricase seara, pentru care d\u00e2nsa \u00ee\u015fi f\u0103cuse un program at\u00e2t de frumos! Vasile se l\u0103s\u0103 exte\u00adnuat pe marginea divanului; m\u00e2inile \u00eei tremurau \u015fi’n jurul capului se’ncol\u0103cise un \u015farpe care-i sdrobea craniul. Ca s\u0103 se calmeze c\u00e2t- de-c\u00e2t, \u00ee\u015fi aprinse o \u0163igar\u0103. Se sim\u0163ea at\u00e2t de bine aici, \u00een od\u0103i\u0163a asta comoda, intim\u0103 \u015fi familiar\u0103! Pentru c\u00e2teva clipe, uit\u0103 totul; o privea pe Irina; fata st\u0103tea l\u00e2ng\u0103 veilleus\u0103 \u015fi lumina l\u0103mpii \u00eei cer\u00adnea o ginga\u015f\u0103 pulbere de aur \u00een p\u0103rul negru, coafat cu’ngrijire. T\u0103\u00adcerea din od\u0103i\u0163\u0103 era nefiresc de mare; totu\u015fi, nu era o t\u0103cere du\u015fm\u0103noas\u0103, aspr\u0103, ci una bl\u00e2nd\u0103, care te \u00eendeamn\u0103 la melancolie \u015fi bun\u0103tate.<\/p>\n

Dar Irina rupse vraja:<\/p>\n

\u2014 V\u0103d c\u0103-\u0163i place s\u0103-mi joci cam des renghiuri deastea!\u2014 \u015fi vo\u00adcea ei, care lui Dum\u015fa \u00eei p\u0103ruse \u00eentotdeauna at\u00e2t de melodioas\u0103, sun\u0103 metalic, ostil de data aceasta.<\/p>\n

\n
\n

Vasile se scutur\u0103 \u015fi \u00eentreaga stare de sufocare de-adineaori \u00eei disp\u0103ru.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Irina, mi s’a \u00eent\u00e2mplat ceva groasnic.<\/p>\n

\u2014 \u0162ie \u0163i se \u00eent\u00e2mpla totdeauna ceva groaznic, \u2014 sun\u0103 ascu\u0163it\u00a0r\u0103spunsul fetei.<\/p>\n

\u2014 \u015etii c\u0103 ast\u0103zi am avut de lucru cu politia… Abia am sc\u0103pat din m\u00e2inile ei. C\u00e2\u0163iva camarazi au fost aresta\u0163i, \u2014 spuse \u00eencet Vasile.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Nu m\u0103 intereseaz\u0103.<\/p>\n

\u2014 De ce vorbe\u015fti a\u015fa, Irina? Cuvintele tale m\u0103 dor. Nu se cade s\u0103-mi calci \u00een picioare idealurile.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Idealurile tale! Din cauza idealurilor tale numai nepl\u0103ceri am \u00a0avut. \u015ei-apoi, cum de’ndr\u0103zne\u015fti s\u0103 vii at\u00e2t de t\u00e2rziu la mine? \u0421e va spune gazda mea?<\/p>\n

\u2014 Irina, am nevoie de sprijinul t\u0103u. De asta am venit. Sufletul mi-i sf\u00e2\u015fiat, \u00eemi arde sufletul, m\u00e2’n\u0163elegi tu? A\u015fa c\u0103 te rog s\u0103 m\u0103 ier\u0163i c\u0103 nu m’am mai g\u00e2ndit la reputa\u0163ia ta…<\/p>\n

\u2014 Nu trebuie s\u0103 fii numaidec\u00e2t ironic! \u015ei uite ce-ai f\u0103cut cu covorul. Nu-\u0163i puteai \u015fterge picioarele? Ce, crezi c\u0103 locuiesc \u00eentr’un grajd?!<\/p>\n

Lui Dum\u015fa, fiecare cuv\u00e2nt al Irinei \u00eei intra ca un cuiu \u00een inim\u0103.<\/p>\n

\u201e\u015ei, c\u00e2nd m\u0103 g\u00e2ndesc, pe fata asta am iubit-o din toat\u0103 fiin\u0163a mea… I-am \u00eenchinat at\u00e2tea visuri, am divinizat-o… \u015ei nu e dec\u00e2t o femee vulgar\u0103, f\u0103r\u0103 o sc\u00e2nteie de suflet \u00een ea…” \u2014 \u015fi lui Vasile i se f\u0103cu ca \u015fi cum cineva i-ar fi smuls inima din piept. \u2014 \u201eN’am s\u0103-i spun nimic… N’are nici un rost s\u0103 m\u0103 m\u0103rturisesc \u00een fa\u0163a ei. Fata asta e’n stare s\u0103 trivializeze p\u00e2n\u0103 \u015fi p\u0103catul. Doamne, c\u00e2te lucruri cumplite se pot \u00eent\u00e2mpla \u00eentr’o singur\u0103 sear\u0103…” \u2014 gemu studentul \u015fi se ridica s\u0103 plece.<\/p>\n

Irina nu schi\u0163\u0103 nici cel mai mic gest pentru a-l re\u0163ine. Vasile \u00eenchise u\u015fa dup\u0103 sine \u015fi avu sentimentul unei uria\u015fe desc\u0103tu\u015f\u0103ri, dar aceast\u0103 desc\u0103tu\u015fare era prea dureroas\u0103 ca s\u0103 se mai poat\u0103 bu\u00adcura de ea. Ploaia, care-l primi \u00een curte, i se p\u0103ru mai prietenoas\u0103. Nu va mai c\u0103lca niciodat\u0103 pe-aici. Castanii fo\u015fneau. Vasile se-apropie de unul din ei \u015fi-i s\u0103rut\u0103 scoar\u0163a aspr\u0103, care-avea iz jilav de lut reav\u0103n. Apoi, \u00ee\u015fi \u00eendrept\u0103 statura, privi cerul \u015fi porni \u00eenainte; mergea cu ho\u00adt\u0103r\u00eerea unui om pentru a c\u0103rui voin\u0163\u0103 f\u0103r\u0103 margini e indiferent dac\u0103 la cap\u0103tul drumului \u00eel a\u015fteapt\u0103 cununa de laur sau glontele.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

Castanii nu mai fo\u015fneau melancolic. Murmurul frunzi\u015fului p\u0103rea un mar\u015f victoris, care duce spre sl\u0103vi, iar ploaia avea \u00een r\u0103p\u0103i\u00adtul ei dinamismul caden\u0163elor unui imn \u00eenchinat tuturor eroilor din lume.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

*<\/span>
\nIn strada Piteiu, Vasile Dum\u015fa se uit\u0103 spre ferestrele camerei\u00a0lui Policrat. Prietenul s\u0103u era acas\u0103. Arunc\u0103 o pietricic\u0103 \u00een geam \u015fi capul sburlit al profesorului suplinitor ap\u0103ru \u00een fereastr\u0103. Recunosc\u00e2ndu-l p e Dum\u015fa, Policrat se plec\u0103 \u00een afar\u0103 \u015fi strig\u0103:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u2014 Ce-i, m\u0103i? Tocmai m\u0103 culcam, c\u0103 am tot lucrat p\u00e2n\u0103 acuma corectarea unor afurisite de extemporale.<\/p>\n

\n

\u2014 Te rog s\u0103-mi descui poarta. Trebuie s\u0103-\u0163i vorbesc numaidec\u00e2t. Nu te sup\u0103ra c\u0103 te deranjez, dar am mare nevoie de tine.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Bine, m\u0103i, dac\u0103 e numaidec\u00e2t… \u2014 \u015fi Petru Policarp cobor\u00ee \u00een grab\u0103 treptele, ca s\u0103-\u015fi conduc\u0103 sus prietenul. \u2014 C e naiba s’a \u00eent\u00e2mplat cu tine, m\u0103i omule?! E\u015fti palid ca \u015fi cum ai veni dintr’un morm\u00e2nt.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Cine-\u015ftie… \u2014 r\u0103spunse amar Vasile. Poate chiar vin dintr’un morm\u00e2nt. Daca nu \u015fi mai r\u0103u! Mi s’a \u00eent\u00e2mplat ceva ce’ntrece pute\u00adrile mele. Am venit s\u0103-mi dai un ajutor, un sfat…<\/p>\n

Dup\u0103 Toader M\u00e2nzu, Petru Policrat era cel mai bun prieten al lui Vasile Dum\u015fa. Copil\u0103riser\u0103 \u00eempreuna la Ad\u00e2ncata. Imp\u0103r\u0163iser\u0103 de multe ori \u00eempreun\u0103 aceea\u015fi bucat\u0103 de p\u00e2ne, \u00eenduraser\u0103 cot la cot aceea\u015fi mizerie, luptaser\u0103 \u00eentotdeauna \u00een acelea\u015fi r\u00e2nduri \u015fi ni\u00admic nu-i putuse desp\u0103r\u0163i. Vasile Dum\u015fa intrase \u00een Legiune. Petru Po\u00adlicrat era simpatizant al mi\u015fc\u0103rii. De c\u00e2te ori unul din ei avea de luat o m\u0103sur\u0103 important\u0103, n’o f\u0103cea niciodat\u0103 f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103-l consulte pe cel\u0103lalt.<\/p>\n

A\u015fa c\u0103, acuma, Vasile venea cu toat\u0103 \u00eencrederea la Petru.
\n\u2014 Ei, s\u0103 te-aud.
\n\u2014 Petru, am ucis.
\nPolicrat se uit\u0103 lung la Dum\u015fa, ca \u015fi cum ar fi vrut s\u0103 se con\u00adving\u0103 c\u0103 acesta nu e cumva beat.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Tu… tu ai ucis?
\n\u2014 Da. L-am ucis pe Toader M\u00e2nzu.
\nPolicrat era un om comod, cu groaz\u0103 de complica\u0163ii; deaceea,\u00a0nici nu se’nscrisese \u00een Legiune; \u0163inea la albia lini\u015ftit\u0103 a unei vie\u0163i confortabile de burghez, pe care nu inten\u0163iona s’o dep\u0103\u015feasc\u0103 nici \u00een bine, nici \u00een r\u0103u. M\u0103rturisirea lui Vasile amenin\u0163a s\u0103-l atrag\u0103 de\u00ad odat\u0103 \u00eentr’o mare turburare sufleteasc\u0103 \u2014 \u015fi, \u00een clipele acestea, Policrat \u00eencepu s\u0103-\u015fi urasc\u0103 prietenul care-l f\u0103cea p\u0103rta\u015f la o tain\u0103 cu\u00adtremur\u0103toare.<\/p>\n

Era at\u00e2t de furios \u015fi de z\u0103p\u0103cit, \u00eenc\u00e2t abia putu s\u0103 \u00eeng\u00e2ne:
\n\u2014 Cum l-ai omor\u00eet ?
\n\u2014 Eram sigur c\u0103 Popescu, agentul, m\u0103 urm\u0103re\u015fte \u015fi trebuia s\u0103\u00a0m\u0103 scap neap\u0103rat de d\u00e2nsul. M\u00e2nzu, isbit de mine, s’a poticnit \u015fi s’a rostogolit pe trepte. In c\u0103dere, s’a lovit at\u00e2t de r\u0103u, \u00eenc\u00e2t a murit.<\/p>\n

Policrat chibzui mult, \u00een timp ce Dum\u015fa \u00eei a\u015ftepta cu \u00eencredere judecata; studentul se uita cu l\u0103comie la el, dar profesorul spuse cu un fel de jen\u0103:<\/p>\n

\u2014 Nu pot s\u0103-\u0163i dau nici un sfat. Cum de \u0163i-ai pierdut \u00een a\u015fa hai nervii? Drag\u0103 Vasile, nu m\u0103 amestec \u00een chestia asta. Te prive\u015fte… \u015ei cea mai bun\u0103 dovad\u0103 c\u0103 \u0163i’s prieten adev\u0103rat e c\u0103 nu voiu spune nim\u0103nui nici o vorb\u0103 din cele ce mi le-ai m\u0103rturisit.<\/p>\n

Dum\u015fa \u00ee\u015fi str\u00e2nse pumnii. Ar fi vrut s\u0103 \u0163ipe, s\u0103 se revolte, s\u0103-i arate lui Petru c\u0103 astfel de cuvinte nu sunt altceva dec\u00e2t rezultatul anei la\u015fit\u0103\u0163i ru\u015finoase, \u00eens\u0103 era prea obosit ca s\u0103 se mai indigneze.<\/p>\n

Totu\u015fi, \u015fopti:<\/p>\n

\u2014 Mul\u0163umesc. Ascult\u0103, Petru… Mi-i ru\u015fine de tine. Credeam \u00een prietenia, \u00een dragostea ta, dar acum v\u0103d c\u0103 n’ai \u0163inut niciodat\u0103 cu adev\u0103rat la mine. Am ucis. Dac\u0103 m’a\u015f prezenta \u00een fa\u0163a Cur\u0163ii cu juri, a\u015f fi achitat c\u0103ci n’a fost un asasinat \u015fi, cu at\u00e2t mai pu\u0163in, o crim\u0103 premeditat\u0103. A fost un caz nenorocit. Eu nu vreau s\u0103 fug de pedeaps\u0103. Dimpotriv\u0103, o caut. Autoritatea mi-ar da o pedeaps\u0103 prea mic\u0103. Verdictul ei ar fi \u201eomor prin impruden\u0163\u0103”. Dar eu vreau altce\u00ad va, vreau ca, dincolo<\/em>, Toader M\u00e2nzu s\u0103 poat\u0103 spune: \u201eVasile Dum\u00ad\u015fa a isp\u0103\u015fit” \u015fi, pentru asta, e nevoie de-o pedeaps\u0103 mare, nu de c\u00e2teva luni de pu\u015fc\u0103rie. E\u015fti la\u015f, Petru Policarp.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Nu, nu eu sunt la\u015f, ci tu, Vasile. Vrei s\u0103 po\u0163i spune cu con\u015ftiin\u0163a \u00eemp\u0103cat\u0103: \u201eDa, am ucis, \u00eens\u0103 mi-am r\u0103scump\u0103rat vina”, ca, apoi, s\u0103 te po\u0163i culca pe-o ureche.<\/p>\n

\n

\u2014 Nu e adev\u0103rat. Con\u015ftiin\u0163a mea nu va mai fi nicic\u00e2nd \u00eemp\u0103\u00adcat\u0103, dar… Nu, Petru, n’are nici un rost s\u0103-\u0163i vorbesc. Intre noi s’a deschis o pr\u0103pastie at\u00e2t de larg\u0103, \u00eenc\u00e2t nici o punte nu mai poate fi aruncat\u0103 peste ea. R\u0103m\u00e2i cu bine. In ce prive\u015fte m\u0103rturisirea mea, nu-i nevoie s’o t\u0103inue\u015fti. Nici m\u0103car jertfa asta nu \u0163i-o cer.<\/p>\n

Acas\u0103, Vasile Dum\u015fa se tr\u00e2nti a\u015fa cum era \u2014 \u00eembr\u0103cat \u015fi p\u0103\u00adtruns de ploaie \u2014 pe pat \u015fi c\u0103zu \u00eentr’un somn greu, de plumb, din care se trezi abia a doua zi, pela amiaz\u0103. Era o zi frumoas\u0103 de toam\u00adn\u0103;\u00a0copacii \u00eembr\u0103caser\u0103 sutane ro\u015fii, cari contrastau \u00eenvior\u0103tor cu\u00a0albastrul palid al cerului senin, f\u0103r\u0103 urm\u0103 de nouri. Vasile s\u0103ri vesel din pat, deschise geamurile \u015fi se l\u0103s\u0103 m\u00e2ng\u00e2iat de v\u0103lurile proas\u00adpete ale aerului r\u0103coros. Ca \u015fi bolnavii cari \u00een momentul trezirii au impresia c\u0103 sunt s\u0103n\u0103to\u015fi, ca abia pe urm\u0103 sa-\u015fi reaminteasc\u0103 de suferin\u0163a lor, la fel \u015fi studentul uitase pentru c\u00e2teva clipe de cele \u00een\u00adt\u00e2mplate \u00een cursul serii trecute \u015fi se bucura din plin de via\u0163\u0103. C\u00e2nd, \u00eens\u0103, imaginea crimei se reconstitui deodat\u0103 \u00een sufletul lui Dum\u015fa,\u00a0totul deveni cenu\u015fiu, amenin\u0163\u0103tor, a\u015fa c\u0103 t\u00e2n\u0103rul avu sensa\u0163ia unei iremediabile pr\u0103bu\u015firi din ceruri. Retr\u0103i aevea \u00eent\u00e2mpl\u0103rile zilei precedente. La amiaz\u0103, fusese \u00een\u015ftiin\u0163at c\u0103 studen\u0163ii dela drept s’au adunat la facultate ca s\u0103 protesteze \u00eempotriva unui profesor francma\u00adson, care \u0163inea examene Duminica diminea\u0163\u0103. Se dusese \u015fi el; \u00een drum spre universitate, \u00eel \u00eent\u00e2lnise pe M\u00e2nzu, care i se-al\u0103turase. P\u00e2\u00adn\u0103 s\u0103 ajung\u0103, discutaser\u0103 cu’nsufle\u0163ire despre progresele \u00eenregistrate de mi\u015fcare. La sate, r\u0103sunau numai c\u00e2ntece legionare. Comuna Cuciurul-Mare \u015fi Plaiul-Cosminului erau \u00een \u00eentregime verzi. Jandarmii se-ar\u0103tau neputincio\u015fi. C\u00e2nd \u00eei prindeau pe fl\u0103c\u0103i \u015fi-i b\u0103teau, ace\u015ftia\u00a0le r\u0103spundeau cu \u201eTr\u0103iasc\u0103 Legiunea \u015fi C\u0103pitanul!” Peste noapte, jandarmii distrugeau troi\u0163ele ridicate de legionari; a doua zi, afurisi\u00ad\u0163ii de subversivi ridicau altele. M\u00e2nzu istorisea r\u00e2z\u00e2nd cum un jan\u00addarm, \u00een zelul s\u0103u de-a fi pe placul st\u0103p\u00e2nirii, \u00ee\u015fi arestase tat\u0103l la care se \u0163ineau \u015fedin\u0163e de cuib.<\/p>\n

\n

Apoi, vorbiser\u0103 despre un film cu Leslie Howard \u015fi Vasile toc\u00admai \u00ee\u015fi ar\u0103ta entusiasmul pentru jocul concentrat al actorului englez, c\u00e2nd un sergent de strada se strop\u015fise la ei:<\/p>\n

\u2014 Circula\u0163i !
\nM\u00e2nzu se uitase consternat la el.
\n\u2014 P\u0103i noi ce facem, frumosule?!
\n\u2014 Gura!
\nDum\u015fa r\u00e2dea cu hohote; totu\u015fi, c\u00e2nd r\u00e2sul \u00eei \u00eencetase, spusese\u00a0descurajat :<\/p>\n

\u2014 Doamne, ce \u0163ar\u0103 \u00eei asta ? Vezi tu, poli\u0163istul \u0103sta nici m\u0103car\u00a0Rom\u00e2n nu e. O fi vre-un maciornic din Caliceanca sau vre-un cu\u0163itar din Jucica-Veche.<\/p>\n

Cu toate acestea, el<\/em> reprezint\u0103 ordinea public\u0103, el<\/em> ne bate \u00een numele ei, el<\/em> e st\u0103p\u00e2nul, iar noi nu suntem \u00een fa\u0163a legii dec\u00e2t crimi\u00adnali. Tu’n\u0163elegi ceva, m\u0103i Toadere ?<\/p>\n

\u2014 In\u0163eleg doar at\u00e2ta… c\u0103 suntem periculo\u015fi pentruc\u0103 iubim dreptatea.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Se vede c\u0103 deaceea ne persecut\u0103 justi\u0163ia….\u2014 glumise Vasile.<\/p>\n

La universitate era o zarv\u0103 infernal\u0103. Insu\u015fi Sobel, inspectorul siguran\u0163ei se deplasase p\u00e2n\u0103 la facultatea de drept, ca s\u0103 potoleas\u00adc\u0103 \u201erebeliunea”. Mic, \u00eendesat, cu o figur\u0103 \u015ftears\u0103, dar cu gur\u0103 viclean\u0103 sub must\u0103\u0163ile pleo\u015ftite, inspectorul acesta era o brut\u0103 ipocri\u00adt\u0103 \u015fi periculoas\u0103. De\u015fi f\u0103cuse \u00een tinere\u0163e pu\u015fc\u0103rie psntru delapidare, totu\u015fi reu\u015fise s\u0103 intre \u00een poli\u0163ie, avans\u00e2nd p\u00e2n\u0103 la gradul de inspec\u00adtor regional de siguran\u0163\u0103. Superiorii s\u0103i \u015ftiau s\u0103-i aprecieze micile servicii particulare \u015fi calitatea de-a p\u0103stra secrete. C\u00e2nd Vasile \u015fi Toader intraser\u0103 \u00eentre studen\u0163i, inspectorul tocmai voia s\u0103 \u201etrateze” cu conduc\u0103torii lor \u00eempr\u0103\u015ftierea \u00een lini\u015fte. Din nenorocire pentru el, cineva din mul\u0163ime \u00eel \u00eentrebase:<\/p>\n

\u2014 Domnule inspector, a venit un ordin dela minister… L’a\u0163i v\u0103zut ?<\/p>\n

Vulpoiul c\u0103zuse \u00een curs\u0103:
\n\u2014 Nu… Ce fel de ordin?
\n\u2014 S’a trimis o circular\u0103 confiden\u0163ial\u0103 tuturor plantelor din Rom\u00e2nia c\u0103 nu mai au voie s\u0103’nverzeasc\u0103, a\u015fa c\u0103, de-acum \u00eenainte, copacii \u015fi ierburile vor fi albastre.<\/p>\n

Un hohot de r\u00e2s acoperise cuvintele studentului \u015fi inspectorul trebuise s\u0103 se retrag\u0103.<\/p>\n

Doi jandarmi p\u0103zeau poarta cl\u0103dirii. Studen\u0163ii \u00eencercaser\u0103 s’o asalteze, \u00eens\u0103 sosiser\u0103 \u00eent\u0103riri poli\u0163iene\u015fti \u015fi manifestan\u0163ii nu reu\u015fi\u00adser\u0103 s\u0103 sparg\u0103 cordonul. Abia spre sear\u0103 Dum\u015fa isbutise s\u0103 se strecoare \u00een universitate, ca s\u0103 lipeasc\u0103 manfeste pe u\u015fa decanatului. Dup\u0103 ce-\u015fi terminase lucrul, privise \u00een strad\u0103 \u015fi v\u0103zuse c\u0103 poli\u0163ia ope\u00adra c\u00e2teva arest\u0103ri. Amintindu-\u015fi c\u0103 are asupra sa lista fra\u0163ilor de cru\u00adce, fusese cuprins de grij\u0103. Alt\u0103dat\u0103, i-ar fi fost indiferent dac\u0103 poli\u0163ia l-ar fi \u00eenf\u0103\u015fcat sau nu; acum, \u00eens\u0103, trebuia s\u0103 scape. In consecin\u0163\u0103, r\u0103m\u0103sese sus, pe culoarul facult\u0103\u0163ii de litere \u015fi filosofie, a\u015ftept\u00e2nd ca mul\u0163imea s\u0103 se \u00eempr\u0103\u015ftie. II \u00eengrijora \u00eendeosebi agentul Popescu, care se tot \u00eenv\u00e2rtea printre studen\u0163i, afi\u015f\u00e2nd o simpatie pe sub m\u00e2n\u0103 cu ei, ca b\u0103ie\u0163ii s\u0103-l cread\u0103 de partea lor.<\/p>\n

Vasile \u00ee\u015fi aprinse o \u0163igar\u0103 \u015fi’ncepu s\u0103 se g\u00e2ndeasc\u0103 la o solu\u00ad\u0163ie, dar nu g\u0103si alta dec\u00e2t aceea c\u0103 trebuia s\u0103 se sinucid\u0103. Chiar dac\u0103 oamenii l-ar fi absolvit de orice vin\u0103, con\u015ftiin\u0163a nu l-ar fi iertat \u2014 \u015fi-un dor puternic dup\u0103 \u00eentuneric \u00eel cuprinse.<\/p>\n

Ie\u015find \u00een ora\u015f, r\u0103t\u0103ci pe str\u0103zi. Soarele r\u0103sp\u00e2ndea ploi de aur peste copaci \u015fi pe fa\u0163a oamenilor se citea o tainic\u0103 bucurie; ziua era nespus de dulce \u015fi frumoas\u0103. In dreptul Catedralei, Vasile \u00eent\u00e2lni un grup de studen\u0163i. Unul din ei \u00eei istorisi c\u0103 M\u00e2nzu a fost g\u0103sit pe-o uli\u0163\u0103 din Clocucica. Dum\u015fa recunoscu m\u00e2na poli\u0163iei. Cadavrul fusese scos din universitate \u015fi aruncat \u00een suburbie, ca s\u0103 se cread\u0103 c\u0103 M\u00e2nzu a fost ucis \u00een vre-o ceart\u0103 cu ni\u015fte derbedei. Siguran\u0163a n’a\u00advea interes s\u0103 se produc\u0103 v\u00e2lv\u0103. Dac\u0103 trupul studentului ar fi fost descoperit \u00een cl\u0103direa universit\u0103\u0163ii, s’ar fi spus c\u0103 l-a omor\u00eet poli\u0163ia. Pe atunci, organele de siguran\u0163\u0103 \u00eenc\u0103 nu \u0163ineau s\u0103 se vad\u0103 c\u0103 m\u00e2inile li’s pline de s\u00e2nge… Cadavrul fusese transportat la spitalul cen\u00adtral, unde doctorul Trancu \u00eei f\u0103cuse autopsia, iar de-acolo, la capela cimitirului. Vasile ascult\u0103 ca prin vis toate acestea. Studen\u0163ii \u00eei spu\u00adser\u0103 c\u00e2teva cuvinte de’mb\u0103rb\u0103tare, c\u0103ci \u015ftiau c\u0103 M\u00e2nzu fusese cel mai bun prieten al lui Dum\u015fa, \u015fi plecar\u0103 mai departe.<\/p>\n

Vasile o lu\u0103 \u00eencet c\u0103tre cimitir. Dela un timp, \u00eencepu s\u0103 mearg\u0103 prin mijlocul str\u0103zii. C\u00e2nd \u00ee\u015fi d\u0103du seama de-acest lucru, avu sen\u00adsa\u0163ia c\u0103 asist\u0103 la propria sa \u00eenmorm\u00e2ntare. Un cortegiu \u00eentreg de fantome \u00eel \u00eentov\u0103r\u0103\u015fea t\u0103cut \u00een timp ce peste soare trecea tot mai negru fumul unor tor\u0163e uria\u015fe. C\u00e2nd ajunse la cimitir, studen\u00adtul avea fruntea \u00eembrobonat\u0103 de sudoare. Copacii l\u0103ca\u015fului de veci \u00eel \u00eent\u00e2mpinar\u0103 cu ostilitate; imen\u015fii molif\u0163i dela poart\u0103 fo\u015fneau a\u00a0blestem \u015fi Dum\u015fa, cople\u015fit de vr\u0103jm\u0103\u015fia lor, se cutremur\u0103. Apropiindu-se de capel\u0103, \u00eencerc\u0103 s\u0103 intre, \u00eens\u0103 poarta de stejar, b\u0103tut\u0103 cu fier, era \u00eencuiat\u0103. Studentul se plimb\u0103 c\u00e2teva minute prin fa\u0163a cl\u0103\u00addirii \u00een n\u0103dejdea c\u0103 se va ar\u0103ta vre-un portar sau altcineva, care s\u0103 deschid\u0103 poarta, dar nu veni nimeni. G\u00e2ndul c\u0103 dincolo, dup\u0103 zidul acesta cenu\u015fiu, se afl\u0103 mort, \u00eentins pe-o mas\u0103 \u015fi ciop\u00e2r\u0163it de bisturiul autopsierului, prietenul s\u0103u Toader M\u00e2nzu, ieri \u00eenc\u0103 plin de via\u0163\u0103, \u00eel \u00eenebunea. Soarele depe cerul limpede sup\u0103r\u00e2ndu-l cu voio\u015fia lui generoas\u0103, Dum\u015fa intr\u0103 \u00eentr’un restaurant \u00eentunecos din col\u0163ul str\u0103zii, comand\u0103 vin \u015fi’ncepu s\u0103 bea: totu\u015fi de\u015fi sim\u0163ea cum amor\u0163e\u015fte, luciditatea nu-l p\u0103r\u0103si nici o clip\u0103. Intr’un t\u00e2rziu, i se p\u0103ru c\u0103 Toader s’a a\u015fezat l\u00e2ng\u0103 d\u00e2nsul. Z\u00e2mbi fericit \u015fi spuse:<\/p>\n

\u2014 \u015etiam c\u0103 nu vrei dec\u00e2t s\u0103 m\u0103 sperii, m\u0103i M\u00e2nzule! Dar s\u0103 nu-mi faci astfel de farse… \u2014 \u015fi-\u015fi \u00eentinse m\u00e2na, ca s\u0103-l bat\u0103 pe um\u0103r dar Toader se risipi ca un fum \u015fi m\u00e2na lui Dum\u015fa bojb\u0103i \u00een gol spre mirarea chelnerului care-l privea peste ochelari.<\/p>\n

Era acum dup\u0103-amiaz\u0103 c\u00e2nd Vasile se ridic\u0103 dela masa scrije\u00adlat\u0103 \u015fi p\u0103tat\u0103 de b\u0103uturi. C\u00e2nd ie\u015fi \u00een strad\u0103, lumina puternic\u0103 a soa\u00adrelui aproape c\u0103-l orbi. Dum\u015fa se’ndrept\u0103 din nou c\u0103tre capela care, deast\u0103dat\u0103, era deschis\u0103. Pe M\u00e2nzu \u00eel \u015fi a\u015fezaser\u0103 \u00een sicriu; l\u00e2ng\u0103 t\u00e2mpla lui, flac\u0103ra unei lum\u00e2n\u0103ri \u00eencerca s\u0103 alunge obscuritatea din \u00eenc\u0103pere, dar aripa ei de fluture obosit se sb\u0103tea zadarnic. Vasile se-apropie de sicriu \u015fi-i fu fric\u0103.<\/p>\n

\u201eAm ajuns s\u0103 m\u0103 tem de el”, \u2014 se g\u00e2ndi cu am\u0103r\u0103ciune studentul. \u2014 \u201eOare pentruc\u0103 eu<\/em> l-am ucis? Sau pentruc\u0103 moartea e geloas\u0103 pe muritori \u015fi nu vrea s\u0103’mpart\u0103 cu nimeni dragostea fa\u0163\u0103 de cel r\u0103pit de ea?” \u2014 \u015fi Vasile \u00ee\u015fi trecu m\u00e2na peste fruntea lui Toa\u00adder, care continua s\u0103 z\u00e2mbeasc\u0103 dintr’o realitate infinit mai mare de\u00ad c\u00e2t cea p\u0103r\u0103sit\u0103.<\/p>\n

C\u00e2nd \u00ee\u015fi deslipi privirea depe fa\u0163a lui M\u00e2nzu, v\u0103zu c\u0103 nu mai e singur. De cealalt\u0103 parte a catafalcului sta Maria, logodnica lui Petru Policarp. Se salutar\u0103 dep\u0103rtat, ca depe malurile deosebite ale unui fluviu imens. Fata adusese un buchet de garoafe ro\u015fii, pe care-l \u00eentinse, peste sicriu, lui Dum\u015fa. Acesta, \u00een\u0163eleg\u00e2nd, \u00eel lu\u0103 \u015fi, desf\u0103- c\u00e2ndu-l pres\u0103r\u0103 florile l\u00e2ng\u0103 t\u00e2mplele mortului.<\/p>\n

\n

Vasile sim\u0163i pentru prima \u043e\u0430\u0442\u0430 \u00een via\u0163a sa o ur\u0103 nem\u0103rginit\u0103 \u00eem\u00adpotriva mor\u0163ii. \u201eNu numai c\u0103 ne r\u0103pe\u015fte ceeace avem mai drag”, \u2014 gemu studentul, \u2014 \u201edar ne sile\u015fte s\u0103-i ucidem noi pe mor\u0163i, \u0430 doua oar\u0103, prin uitare. Moartea nu vrea s\u0103 tolereze amestecul nostru \u00een afacerile ei”. O raz\u0103 de soare se furi\u015f\u0103 \u00een capel\u0103, ca s\u0103 se joace pe fruntea lui M\u00e2nzu, \u00eens\u0103 fugi \u00eendat\u0103 mai departe, ca mortul s\u0103 r\u0103m\u00e2n\u0103 \u00eentr’o stranie lumin\u0103 alb\u0103strue, \u2014 cum e aceea a lunei la’nceputul serii, pe’ntinderea de z\u0103pad\u0103 a unei c\u00e2mpii \u00eenghe\u0163ate. Dum\u015fa ad\u00admitea c\u0103 moartea poate fi primit\u0103 cu inima u\u015foar\u0103, dar numai dac\u0103 ea se’nt\u00e2mpl\u0103 la b\u0103tr\u00e2ne\u0163e, c\u00e2nd omul nu mai e \u00een stare s\u0103 lupte \u015fi s\u0103 simt\u0103 frumuse\u0163ea vie\u0163ii. \u201eAr fi stupid ca soarele s\u0103 dispar\u0103 deo\u00addat\u0103 pela amiaz\u0103! Tot at\u00e2t de nelogic e s\u0103 mori c\u00e2nd \u015ftii c\u0103 puterile \u015fi pofta de lucru \u0163i’s \u00eentregi”. Continu\u00e2nd s\u0103 se g\u00e2ndeasc\u0103 asupra acestui fapt, g\u0103si c\u0103 \u015fi moartea pentru o idee, pentru un \u0163el suprem, are rost. \u201eS\u0103-\u0163i dai via\u0163a pentru un ideal \u00eenseamn\u0103 s\u0103 creezi. Evident, atunci mori mul\u0163umit”. Privind sur\u00e2sul \u00eempietrit al lui M\u00e2nzu, nu se\u00a0putu st\u0103p\u00e2ni s\u0103 nu-i comunice M\u0103riei, \u00een lini\u015ftea \u00eentunecat\u0103 a cape\u00adlei, toate acestea.<\/p>\n

Am\u00e2ndoi ar fi dorit s\u0103 mai r\u0103m\u00e2n\u0103 l\u00e2ng\u0103 Toader, \u00eens\u0103 veni un servitor care le spuse c\u0103 trebuie s\u0103 \u00eencuie poarta capelei, a\u015fa c\u0103 Va\u00adsile \u015fi Maria ie\u015fir\u0103 \u015fi’ncepur\u0103 s\u0103 se plimbe \u00een strada pustie dintre ci\u00admitir \u015fi cazarma regimentului de artilerie.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Noi, femeile, \u2014 spuse Maria, \u2014 avem un fel de al \u015faselea sim\u0163, un instinct aproape sigur al faptelor stranii, nel\u0103murite. Uite, sunt sigur\u0103 c\u0103 moartea lui M\u00e2nzu ascunde ceva cumplit \u00eend\u0103r\u0103tul ei. Dumneata ai fost cel mai bun prieten al lui, nu ?<\/p>\n

\u2014 El a fost cel mai bun prieten al meu, \u2014 preciza Dum\u015fa. \u2014 Ascult\u0103, domni\u015foar\u0103 Boldur, am s\u0103-\u0163i spun ceva. Nu \u015ftiu dac\u0103 vei fi bucuroas\u0103 de m\u0103rturisirea mea, \u00eens\u0103 trebuie s\u0103-\u0163i vorbesc Eu l-am ucis pe M\u00e2nzu. L-am ucis f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103 vreau. Asear\u0103…<\/p>\n

\u2014 Nu-mi istorisi cum l-ai omor\u00eet. Asta poate s\u0103-i intereseze pe amatorii de senza\u0163ional. Fratele meu Ioni\u0163\u0103, de pild\u0103, s’ar da \u00een v\u00e2nt ca s\u0103 afle ceeace aveai de g\u00e2nd s\u0103-mi istorise\u015fti. Pe mine m\u0103 inte\u00adreseaz\u0103 altceva, \u015fi-anume: dece voiai s\u0103-mi istorise\u015fti. Ai nevoie de-un sprijin, nu-i a\u015fa?<\/p>\n

\u2014 Poate c\u0103 nu. Maria, \u0163ineam s\u0103 \u015ftii c\u0103 l-am ucis pe Toader. At\u00e2t. Voiam ca un om bun, curat, s\u0103 \u015ftie asta.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Irina \u015ftie?
\n\u2014\u00a0Nu. N’ar fi avut nici un rost s\u0103-i spun. Lui Petru, \u00eens\u0103, i-am spus.
\n\u2014\u00a0Petru a fost las… – ghici fata cu un fel de durere.
\n\u2014\u00a0Da.<\/p>\n

\n
\""Pentru<\/a>

“Pentru a-\u0163i isp\u0103\u015fi cu adev\u0103rat vina, va trebui s\u0103 tr\u0103ie\u015fti…”<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

\u2014 Lui Petru i-a fost \u00eentotdeauna fric\u0103 de tain\u0103. La el, via\u0163a nu \u00eencepe niciodat\u0103 \u00eenainte de na\u015ftere, dar sf\u00e2r\u015fitul \u00eentotdeauna odat\u0103 cu moartea. Acesta e Petru Policrat. Logodnicul meu, Vasile. Totu\u015fi, \u00eel iubesc. In\u0163elegi ceva din asta?<\/p>\n

\u2014 M’am \u00eentrebat \u00eentotdeauna dece florile cele mai frumoase au nevoie de gunoiu la r\u0103d\u0103cina lor. Maria, m\u0103 voiu sinucide \u00eenc\u0103 ast\u0103zi. Nu \u0163i-o spun \u00een speran\u0163a c\u0103 m\u0103 vei sf\u0103tui s\u0103 nu fac a\u015fa ceva. Inten\u0163ionez sincer \u015fi cinstit s\u0103 m\u0103 sinucid. Cuno\u015fti vina tragic\u0103 din teatrul antic, nu? Nici zeii nu puteau interzice isp\u0103\u015firea ei. Sinuci\u00adderea mea va fi consecin\u0163a fireasc\u0103 \u0430 uciderii lui M\u00e2nzu. Sunt at\u00e2t de convins c\u0103 e natural s\u0103 se’nt\u00e2mple astfel, \u00eenc\u00e2t nici m\u0103car \u00een sub\u00adcon\u015ftient nu simt vre-o ur\u0103 \u00eempotriva prietenului meu c\u0103 trebuie s\u0103 mor din cauza lui. Ur\u0103sc cu toat\u0103 sinceritatea fiin\u0163ei mele moartea, dar, \u00een cazul acesta, o admit \u015fi mi-o voiu da cu pl\u0103cere.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Nu, Vasile. Nu e moral s\u0103 te sinucizi pentru a-\u0163i isp\u0103\u015fi vina. Moartea \u00ee\u0163i ofer\u0103 lini\u015fte \u015fi nu cu lini\u015fte \u00ee\u0163i isp\u0103\u015fe\u015fti p\u0103catul. Trebuie s\u0103 suferi \u00eent\u00e2iu. Abia pe urm\u0103 s\u0103’ndr\u0103zne\u015fti s\u0103-\u0163i iei via\u0163a. Vasile, trebuie s\u0103 tr\u0103ie\u015fti.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Ui\u0163i c\u0103 sunt legionar. Crezi c\u0103 m’ar l\u0103sa con\u015ftiin\u0163a s\u0103 mai fac parte din Legiune c\u00e2nd mi-am omor\u00eet prietenul cel mai bun? Asta n’o pot face, Maria.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Nici nu-\u0163i pretinde nimeni, Vasile. Nu te vei mai duce la nici o \u015fedin\u0163\u0103 de cuib, nu vei mai purta niciodat\u0103 c\u0103ma\u015fa verde.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Pentru mine, asta e mai r\u0103u ca moartea, Maria.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Vezi? \u0162i-am spus c\u0103 sunt lucrurile mai grele de’ndurat dec\u00e2t o trecere \u00een neant. A\u015fa c\u0103, pentru a-\u0163i isp\u0103\u015fi cu adev\u0103rat vina, va trebui s\u0103 tr\u0103ie\u015fti, iar la moarte nu te vei putea g\u00e2ndi dec\u00e2t, c\u00e2nd con\u00ad\u015ftiin\u0163a ta va socoti c\u0103 ai suferit deajuns.<\/p>\n

\u2014 E o lini\u015fte extraordinar\u0103 aici. Tu n’ai uneori sensa\u0163ia c\u0103 e\u015fti singura fiin\u0163\u0103 vie depe p\u0103m\u00e2nt? In dup’amiaza asta, am impresia c\u0103 sunt la un \u00eenceput de lume. Vrei s\u0103 mai r\u0103m\u00e2nem aici? N’am s\u0103\u00a0uit niciodat\u0103 singur\u0103tatea asta.<\/p>\n

Intrar\u0103 pe c\u00e2mpie. Orizontul avea o vastitate nesf\u00e2r\u015fit\u0103. De pe-o\u00a0m\u0103gur\u0103, Cern\u0103u\u0163ii se vedeau ca o \u00eengr\u0103m\u0103dire imens\u0103 de piatr\u0103 \u2014 o lupt\u0103 titanic\u0103 \u00eempotriva cerurilor. Departe, se desf\u0103\u015furau colinele de peste Prut iar p\u0103durile ar\u0103mii de toamn\u0103 urcau lin pe dealuri, ca s\u0103 se \u00eenece’n azururi. Uneori, c\u00e2te-o pas\u0103re s\u0103lbatic\u0103 striga pe-o miri\u015fte, \u00eenfior\u00e2nd v\u0103sduhul clar \u015fi proasp\u0103t, pe c\u00e2nd un uliu v\u00e2slea agale deasupra unei gospod\u0103rii. In ograda jit\u0103riei ardea foc mare, \u00eentr’un cuptor de lut. Oamenii fierbeau povidl\u0103 \u015fi mirosul ei acri\u015for se r\u0103sp\u00e2ndea pl\u0103cut \u00een \u00eemprejurimi. Dincolo de-o porumbi\u015fte \u00eenc\u0103 net\u0103iat\u0103, un copil p\u0103\u015ftea vacile, ale c\u0103ror t\u0103l\u0103ngi sunau ca din\u00adtr’un basm auzit la gura sobei \u015fi doi c\u00e2ini tineri se jucau l\u0103tr\u00e2nd vesel \u00een sburda lor. Maria \u015fi Vasile se-a\u015fezar\u0103 pe buturuga de sub m\u0103rul unui hat, ca s’asculte mai bine glasul toamnei. Fata se deta\u015fase de tot ce \u00eensemna trecut; lu\u00e2nd \u00eencet manile b\u0103rbatului le privi lung \u015fi le m\u00e2ng\u00e2ie; apoi, \u00eei spuse:<\/p>\n

\u2014 Vasile, de-acum \u00eenainte, via\u0163a ta va fi o lupt\u0103 necontenit\u0103 pentru m\u00e2ntuire. Ceasul ei va veni odat\u0103 \u015fi-odat\u0103. Atunci, vei putea lua orice hot\u0103r\u00eere vei voi. Chiar \u015fi-aceea de-a muri.<\/p>\n

Dum\u015fa o \u00eentreb\u0103 cu glas stins, \u00eens\u0103 limpede:
\n\u2014 Maria, c\u00e2nd vei socoti c\u0103 ziua aceea a venit, mi-o vei spune?
\n\u2014 Da. \u015ei, acuma, \u00eencepe s\u0103 lup\u0163i pentru a c\u00e2\u015ftiga dreptul la\u00a0moarte. S\u0103 mergem.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Maria, am impresia c\u0103 Toader M\u00e2nzu se afl\u0103 l\u00e2ng\u0103 noi.<\/p>\n

\u2014 A\u015fa e bine, Vasile. In ceasurile c\u00e2nd te vei sbate mai mult el va fi l\u00e2ng\u0103 tine, ca s\u0103 te-ajute. Mor\u0163ii sunt cei mai buni prieteni ai no\u015ftri. Noi, se poate s\u0103-i uit\u0103m. Ei pe noi, niciodat\u0103. S\u0103-\u0163i aminte\u015fti mereu de asta \u015fi s\u0103 ai \u00eentotdeauna \u00eencredere \u00een mor\u0163ii t\u0103i, Vasile.<\/p>\n

P\u00e2n\u0103’n ora\u015f, nu-\u015fi mai vorbir\u0103. Mergeau t\u0103cu\u0163i, dar \u00een sufletul lor era un tumult straniu, care le dep\u0103\u015fea puterile de \u00een\u0163elegere. Mer\u00adgeau voio\u015fi. Vasile sim\u0163ea c\u0103, prin Toader M\u00e2nzu, se realizase o leg\u0103tur\u0103 trainic\u0103 \u00eentre sine \u015fi eternitate, iar Maria era fericit\u0103 f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103-\u015fi dea precis seama dece.<\/p>\n

Seara, Policrat \u00ee\u015fi \u00eent\u00e2lni la cantin\u0103 logodnica. Maria \u00eei cuno\u015f\u00adtea toanele \u015fi v\u0103zu \u00eendat\u0103 c\u0103 Petra e sup\u0103rat pe ea. Intr’adev\u0103r,\u00a0d\u00e2nsul \u00eei f\u0103cu observa\u0163ii din cauza lui Dum\u015fa, cu care-o v\u0103zuse \u00een strada Roman\u0103 pe c\u00e2nd se’ntorcea dela cimitir.<\/p>\n

\n

\u2014 Nu vreau s\u0103 existe nici un fel de intimitate \u00eentre Vasile \u015fi tine.<\/p>\n

Fata sim\u0163i cum s\u00e2ngele i se urc\u0103 \u00een fa\u0163\u0103, \u00eens\u0103 \u00ee\u015fi st\u0103p\u00e2ni re\u00advolta.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Dum\u015fa nu e un om care s\u0103 onoreze… \u2014 continu\u0103 Policrat.
\nMaria \u00eei r\u0103spunse calm:
\n\u2014 Cuv\u00e2ntul, \u201eintimitate” are de multe ori un sens peiorativ. Rostindu-l, la care sens te-ai g\u00e2ndit?<\/p>\n

\u2014 I\u0163i place s\u0103 te joci cu subtilit\u0103\u0163ile.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Petru, \u00ee\u0163i dai seama c\u00e2t m’ai jignit?<\/p>\n

Policrat nu mai spuse nimic. Maria \u00eel privi cum m\u0103n\u00e2nc\u0103, la\u00adcom \u015fi repede, \u015fi-\u015fi str\u00e2nse pumnii. Mintea \u00eei dicta s\u0103 se ridice de l\u00e2ng\u0103 d\u00e2nsul, ca s\u0103 se despart\u0103 definitiv de el, dar inima o reunea \u015fi fata \u00ee\u015fi d\u0103du seama c\u0103 va r\u0103m\u00e2ne pentru totdeauna roaba aces\u00adtui b\u0103rbat.<\/p>\n

In ziua \u00eenmorm\u00e2nt\u0103rii lui M\u00e2nzu, ploua iar\u0103\u015fi. Poli\u0163ia, tem\u00e2ndu-se s\u0103 nu se produc\u0103 manifesta\u0163ii cu prilejul \u00eenmorm\u00e2nt\u0103rii, dispu\u00adsese ca ea s\u0103 se fac\u0103 \u00een cursul dimine\u0163ii. Din cauza orei neobi\u015fnuite, nu fur\u0103 de fa\u0163\u0103 dec\u00e2t vre-o zece camarazi, cari veniser\u0103 \u00een c\u0103ma\u015f\u0103 verde, lucru pe care agentul Popescu nu uit\u0103 s\u0103-l noteze \u00een raportul s\u0103u c\u0103tre siguran\u0163\u0103. Preotul fusese obligat s\u0103 oficieze c\u00e2t mai repede slujba, a\u015fa c\u0103 \u00eentreaga ceremonie decurse oarecum grotesc. Vasile Dum\u015fa privea pierdut cerul cenu\u015fiu, pe care-l sdren\u0163uiau copacii. L\u00e2ng\u0103 el, Maria pl\u00e2ngea. C\u00e2nd bulg\u0103rii \u00eencepur\u0103 s\u0103 cad\u0103 peste sicriu, Vasile nu-\u015fi putu st\u0103p\u00e2ni nici el lacrimile. Inchiz\u00e2ndu-\u015fi ochii, ascult\u0103 rostogolirea \u0163\u0103r\u00e2nei peste sc\u00e2ndurile cari \u00eenchideau trupul lui Toader M\u00e2nzu \u015fi i se p\u0103ru c\u0103 bulg\u0103rii lovesc \u00een \u00eens\u0103\u015fi inima sa.<\/p>\n

C\u00e2nd \u00ee\u015fi redeschise ochii, v\u0103zu c\u0103 lumea s’a \u015fi \u00eendep\u0103rtat. L\u00e2ng\u0103 groapa nu mai erau dec\u00e2t cioclii \u015fi Maria, care se rezemase de trun\u00adchiul jilav al unui molift uria\u015f. Ceilal\u0163i \u2014 se pierdeau \u00eentre copaci, ca s\u0103 dispar\u0103 \u00een cur\u00e2nd dincolo de zidul \u00eemprejmuitor. Vasile veni la fat\u0103 \u015fi-o rug\u0103 s\u0103 plece.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Vreau s\u0103 r\u0103m\u00e2n singur, \u2014 \u00eei spuse. \u2014 Voiu avea impresia c\u0103 e viu, aici, al\u0103turi de mine. Maria, ne vom mai revedea?<\/p>\n

\u2014 Va trebui s\u0103 ne revedem.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Adev\u0103rat. Nu uit c\u0103 \u0163i’s dator cu via\u0163a. A\u015fa a fost \u00een\u0163elegerea noastr\u0103, nu?<\/p>\n

Groparii lucrau de zor, blestem\u00e2nd ploaia care-i b\u0103tea f\u0103r\u0103 mil\u0103. Departe, ascuns dup\u0103 un copac, Popescu \u00eei privea curios pe Vasile \u015fi Maria. In cele din urm\u0103, ajunse la concluzia, c\u0103 trebuie s’o pun\u0103 \u015fi pe fat\u0103 \u00een lista suspec\u0163ilor. C\u00e2nd Maria trecu pe l\u00e2ng\u0103 el, se lu\u0103 dup\u0103 d\u00e2nsa \u015fi-o urm\u0103ri p\u00e2n\u0103 acas\u0103. Apoi, se duse la chestura, ca s\u0103-\u015fi prezinte raportul \u00een fa\u0163a inspectorului de siguran\u0163\u0103, subliniind c\u0103 oamenii \u00een verde au c\u00e2ntat imnul legionarilor c\u0103zu\u0163i. Dup\u0103 ce ascult\u0103 raportul, inspectorul spuse lui Popescu c\u0103 i-a cetit peti\u0163ia prin care acesta cerea s\u0103 fie numit comisar poli\u0163ienesc.<\/p>\n

\u2014 A\u015f propune bucuros numirea dumitale, dar vezi… n’ai studiile necesare \u015fi, apoi, mi se pare c’ai suferit o condamnare penal\u0103… de\u00adfinitiv\u0103….<\/p>\n

\u2014 \u015ei al\u0163ii au suferit condamn\u0103ri penale, \u2014 insinu\u0103 smerit agen\u00adtul, \u2014 si, cu toate acestea, au ajuns \u00een situa\u0163ii foarte \u00eenalte.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Hm, da, da… \u2014 tu\u015fi inspectorul, care fusese condamnat \u00een tinere\u0163e la un an de \u00eenchisoare pentru escrocherie, dar care \u015ftiuse s\u0103 se’nv\u00e2rt\u0103 pe l\u00e2ng\u0103 c\u00e2teva persoane influente pentru a fi primit \u00een poli\u0163ie, unde reu\u015fise s\u0103 fac\u0103 o carier\u0103 frumoas\u0103 datorit\u0103 maleabilit\u0103\u0163ii caracterului s\u0103u \u015fi lingu\u015firilor la care se pretase pe l\u00e2ng\u0103 cei mari. \u2014 In orice caz, dumneata e\u015fti unul din cele mai bune elemente ale poli\u0163iei noastre, a\u015fa c\u0103 am s\u0103 m\u0103 mai g\u00e2ndesc. I\u0163i promit c\u0103, la timp oportun, voiu vorbi cu ministrul de interne despre dumneata.<\/p>\n

Nu uita c\u0103 am nevoie de lista fra\u0163ilor de cruce. Dac\u0103 reu\u015fe\u015fti s\u0103 mi-o aduci, cu o s\u0103pt\u0103m\u00e2n\u0103 mai t\u00e2rziu vei fi comisar. Deocamdat\u0103, \u0163ine bonul acesta. Il po\u0163i \u00eencasa chiar ast\u0103zi.<\/p>\n

Popescu se \u00eenclin\u0103, mul\u0163umi modest \u015fi plec\u0103 z\u00e2mbind: \u015ftia c\u0103 inspectorul va trebui s\u0103-i propun\u0103 numirea, cu toate c\u0103 era ilegal\u0103. \u015eeful siguran\u0163ei din Cern\u0103u\u0163i \u015ftia c\u0103 agentul a pus m\u00e2na, cu trei luni \u00een urm\u0103, pe originalul sentin\u0163ei de condamnare, rostit\u0103 acum nou\u0103\u00adsprezece ani de c\u0103tre judec\u0103torul Gheorghian din Ro\u015fiorii-de-Vede.<\/p>\n

Vasile Dum\u015fa nu plec\u0103 din cimitir dec\u00e2t c\u00e2nd morm\u00e2ntul fu terminat \u015fi crucea \u00eenfipt\u0103. Lemnul proasp\u0103t geluit lucea straniu \u00een ploa\u00adie; crucea aceea par’c\u0103 avea via\u0163\u0103 \u00eentr’\u00eensa: bra\u0163ele ei implorau cerurile. Studentul se-apropie s’o m\u00e2ng\u00e2ie. Sprijinindu-\u015fi de lemn frun\u00adtea, spuse tare:<\/p>\n

\u2014 Mai M\u00e2nzule, am s\u0103 isp\u0103\u015fesc. M\u00e2nzule, c\u0103ci, la c\u0103p\u0103t\u00e2iul t\u0103u, \u00ee\u0163i jur c\u0103 nu voiu veni la tine p\u00e2n\u0103 nu voiu r\u0103scump\u0103ra cu via\u0163a mea moartea ta. Atunci, te voiu ruga s\u0103 m\u0103 ier\u0163i, ca s\u0103 pot muri cu inima curat\u0103, \u2014 \u015fi r\u0103mase nemi\u015fcat c\u00e2tva timp, ca s\u0103 se roage.<\/p>\n

Apoi, trecu repede printre morminte.\u00a01)<\/span><\/p>\n

Mircea STREINUL<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

1) Fragment din romanul “LEGIONARI URCAU C\u00c2NT\u00c2ND SPRE CER”.
\n<\/span><\/em>“Universul Literar”, Anul XLIX, Nr. 49, S\u00e2mb\u0103t\u0103 30 Noembrie 1940<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

“Universul Literar”, Anul XLIX, Nr. 49, S\u00e2mb\u0103t\u0103 30 Noembrie 1940 Se l\u0103sase noaptea, dar rumoarea din strad\u0103 \u00eenc\u0103 nu se potoli\u00adse. Ploua m\u0103runt \u015fi umbre mari cobor\u00eeser\u0103 peste vechea cl\u0103dire a universit\u0103\u0163ii. Intr’un cotlon dela eajul II se-aciuiase un greer; cine\u00a0\u015ftie ce aventur\u0103 \u00eel adusese p\u00e2n\u0103 acolo, \u00eentre rafturile colb\u0103ite ale bibliotecii seminarului de istoria […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6156","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-presa-interbelica-din-tara"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3OdDs-1Bi","jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.miscarea.net\/w\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6156","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.miscarea.net\/w\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.miscarea.net\/w\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.miscarea.net\/w\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.miscarea.net\/w\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6156"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.miscarea.net\/w\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6156\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6159,"href":"https:\/\/www.miscarea.net\/w\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6156\/revisions\/6159"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.miscarea.net\/w\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6156"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.miscarea.net\/w\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6156"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.miscarea.net\/w\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6156"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}