Blind Date by Jerzy Kosinski Page A

to wipe the blood off his groin, thighs, and hands. He stuffed the panties into her mouth, then ripped strips of fabric from her dress and bound them loosely around her feet and hands so it would take her some time to get free. He remembered to tie one strip over her eyes so she could not see him as he left.
    He was finished now and ready to get away. It was almost dark and he was not afraid. He dressed slowly, as if to convince himself that he was in no danger, then jumped onto the bike and rode back toward camp, ready to slip into the bushes if anyone approached from the opposite direction. He replaced the bike and quickly entered the bunkhouse through the back door. No one was there. He crawled into his bed and pretended to be asleep. The smell of her lingered on his hand. His memory randomly protracted or compressed images of her in the forest; he was astonished that he could recall so much without having made any effort to remember.
    Soon the other boys returned. He opened his eyes and told themhis headache was almost gone. He took a shower, but even when he was dry, the scent of her flesh persisted on his body.
    Oscar came in. Levanter was at first tempted to tell his friend about his blind date. But he was feeling possessive about the girl and didn’t want to share the details of his encounter with her. Instead, Levanter complained about his headache and the lost afternoon.
    In the middle of the night, everyone in the bunkhouse was awakened by a sudden commotion. All the lights were turned on and, as Levanter and the other boys watched, two uniformed policemen, accompanied by the camp director and two camp counselors, marched in and took Oscar and all his belongings away with them. The lights were turned off, but Levanter could not sleep.
    Even before morning roll call, the whole camp seemed to have heard of Oscar’s arrest. As Levanter was known to be Oscar’s closest friend, he was besieged with questions. Levanter shrugged and said that he too was astonished by the arrest.
    After the routine morning ceremonies, the camp director, looking quite angry, addressed the two thousand boys lined up before him. He announced in a stern voice that the previous afternoon a vicious sexual attack on a girl camper had been committed and that police authorities had already arrested the perpetrator. It was a boy who had confessed to similar crimes in the past: Oscar.
    Levanter felt overcome by a horror he had never experienced before. He realized for the first time how irreversible was the process that had already claimed the girl and Oscar. He stood paralyzed by panic. He knew only one way to end it.
    The director had finished and was ready to give the signal to dismiss the campers. Levanter stepped out of line.
    â€œSir,” he called. He felt his knees begin to buckle under him and summoned all his strength to stand straight, before the whole camp. In the past, he had been called forward to receive praise. Now he was stepping forth to turn himself in.
    He felt numb again, as he had before he sprang upon his blind date. He could no more step back into line than he could undo the rape. He waited.
    The director recognized him instantly. “There is Levanter, our gold medalist,” he announced, his voice turning cheerful. “What is it, my friend?”
    Levanter’s mouth was dry. His tongue moved sluggishly as he started to speak. “I raped that girl, Oscar didn’t,” he heard his own voice say. “I did it alone.”
    A frightful silence fell. Levanter heard the wind snap the flag around its pole.
    The director looked at him baffled. “We appreciate your motive for making this statement, Levanter, because we know Oscar has been your friend,” he said firmly. “But we know Oscar is the only culprit.” He was about to end the roll call.
    â€œAs I’m making this statement officially, sir,” Levanter interrupted, his voice now clear, “I insist that my admission