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All Chapters of As the moon began to rust: Chapter 11 - Chapter 13
13 Chapters
Chapter VII: The braying
As the moon began to rust/Sima Moussavian
Andi’s gentle eyes are wide open. He didn’t expect to see Helen ever again: not after the protest he dragged her to, six months ago. Everything thereafter made things even worse. He is no longer a policeman, and therefore: all the more surprised to see her at his door. Past midnight, in this state, and on Benji's side, who shouldn’t be here at all, but at home, dreaming of a future.‘Jesus!’ it sputters from Andi's lips.Helen is dripping with water, and cold. The freezing cold has her shivering, like autumn-leaves. Maybe she can't even speak. Her teeth are clattering louder than hooves, when Andi takes a step to the side to invite her in: to the flickering fire in his parlor, where the warm flames draw dancing shadows on the walls, and the cracking wood in the stove would drown out the entire world.
Last Updated : 2024-10-29VIII: The unburdening
As the moon began to rust/Sima Moussavian
Andi has always had responsibilities. When he was five years old, he had a hamster. A couple of cats, when he was ten. They mated, and had kittens. At 16, he had a dog. His first relationship came late: you’d want to be ready for it.Back then he thought it would last forever, but now at 45 he is on his own. Not in order to avoid responsibility, quite the opposite, in fact. There just doesn't seem to be a lid for his pot, in the shallow world outside his window.He is alone, but has rarely ever felt lonely. That is: until last year. His hunger for responsibility was one of the reasons why he joined the police at 22, and for the same reason, he had to quit the job at 44. Ground for dismissal: commitment to the Basic Law. They’ve sworn an oath to it, but unlike him, the others have apparently grown tired of theirs, which was why he got suspended.
Last Updated : 2024-10-29Chapter IX: The sanctuary
As the moon began to rust/Sima Moussavian
It was the middle of the night. Completely dark: no moon, no stars. Or maybe there were. I should have been more attentive. Fog was everywhere. I felt the chill off it in every bone, and it hurt whenever I moved.I recognised him from my front door. It fell shut behind me: slowly, like in slow motion. The hinges squeaked, as if they were suffering, because the oil inside changes its viscosity in winter time. The door wasn’t yet closed, when my legs started running. Actually, I didn’t order them to run. I guess, it just happens as a reflex when the eyes detect distress on the horizon.Do you know what warm blood looks like in the freezing cold, when there's suddenly so much of it? Actually, you should, given your profession. It steams. A bit like manhole covers in winter, and if it’s pitch dark around you it looks like the
Last Updated : 2024-10-29
