Fingers Pointing Somewhere Else by Daniela Fischerova, Neil Bermel Read Free Book Online Page A

Everest takes his time. It’s not easy to introduce sheer frost into hundred-degree heat. Sasha breathes loudly. The hairs on her neck glisten gold with sweat. Everest still cannot get into the role. Finally he leans over, perplexed. A dying arm grabs him around the throat. He didn’t expect this; his legs slide out from under him and he topples headlong into the featherbed.

    When a shadow crosses the window, Everest’s first fear is that they will find him in the Zámskys’ bed in his sneakers. He jumps up and comes to attention like an army officer. Mr. Zámsky is squatting outside, tapping on the glass and snickering.
    â€œGo jump in a lake, old man!” Sasha says irritably.
    â€œWhat’s he want with us?”
    Sasha puts on an idiotic expression:
    â€œGo on, girls, that’s right, do it!”
    Then she tumbles back into the featherbed and snores. Mr. Zámsky shuffles inside. He slaps me on my rear and sits down onthe bed.
    â€œWell, girls! Want to look at some pictures? Not a word to Miss Z.! She doesn’t need to know everything, right, girls?”
    Sasha is snoring like a steam engine. At the same time she is nudging me in the back with her foot. The fever has unleashed her somehow. Mr. Zámsky pulls out a tattered book. “Come on, girls, let’s have some fun together! After all, I saw you — you know how to have fun!”
    Sasha leans forward on the mattress and props her chin on his shoulder. Cardboard figures stand out from the page: a ballerina and a man holding a hat right below his belly. Strings hang down beneath them. Mr. Zámsky winks at us. He pulls one string and the ballerina raises her leg up high. It turns out she isn’t wearing any panties.
    â€œHey!” Sasha yelps, and she rips the book away from her uncle. She pulls another string. The man jerks his arms away.
    â€œGive it back! Sasha!” Mr. Zámsky shouts. Sasha jumps around the bed, the bed flexes like a trampoline. Panicking, her uncle grabs hold of the footboard.
    â€œGet over here!” Sasha calls to me. I hesitate, but she holds out her hand. I don’t recognize her at all today. Hastily I kick off my shoes and clamber over.
    â€œSasha! You little devil!” Mr. Zámsky moans. He’s afraid to stand up and can barely hold on to the rail. I’m jumping as well. It’s easier than keeping my balance. Suddenly a strange hotness enters me. Sasha jerks on the string, the man thrusts his naked belly onto the ballerina, and we both yelp, “Whee!”
    â€œYou! Little girl! Make her give back the book!”
    I’m choking in the stifling room. I don’t recognize either Sasha or myself. I jump and shriek with all my might, “Whee!”
    Suddenly Sasha yells, “Auntie’s coming!” and quick as a flash tosses the book behind the bed. Mr. Zámsky is horribly frightened. He leaps up, dropping his cane, but leaves it lying on the floor and flees. I too am horribly frightened; I’ve turned white as a sheet. Sasha laughs wildly and burrows her nose into the featherbed.
    â€œThere’s no one coming, don’t worry. I just said that so he’d leave. Come crawl under the featherbed so he can’t see us!”
    She picks up the book and blows off the dust. She nods to me and pats the place next to her.
    â€œI’m still going to tell my aunt on him tonight!”
    She sits up, takes off her nightgown, and spreads her legs apart. Carefully she examines the picture and then between her own thighs. Everest stands on the bed; he can’t move, must be frozen.
    â€œCome on already!” Sasha snaps at me. The featherbed rolls over us like an avalanche.

    As I run up the steps, lightning flashes. It gives the impression that evening has arrived early today.
    My parents aren’t home, but there’s a letter on the table. I walk right past it. Only when I get out of the bathtub do I see that it’s from