Milosz by Cordelia Strube Page A

we are going to perform a trust exercise, although it is not only about trust, but underlying currents. We must sense these currents, anticipate them as we learn from one another. You follow?’ The actors nod, some of them looking malnourished and unwashed. ‘Stand in a circle,’ Geon orders.
    Milo looks for familiar faces, or at least cute girls.
    â€˜Place your palms together,’ Geon orders. ‘Now listen carefully to my instructions. When I say “Begin,” Milo will say “Zip.” As he says “Zip,” he will direct one hand to snap out in the direction of another person. That person will then take Milo’s energy and immediately say “Zap.” He or she will then slide their palms together and send the energy in the direction of someone else by snapping out their hand and saying “Zoop.” This requires extreme concentration, trust and focus. You must listen intently to the word because the group must retain the sequence, “Zip Zap Zoop.” You will be disqualified if you say “Zap” or “Zip” when you should be saying “Zoop,” or “Zip” when you should be saying “Zap” or “Zoop.” You must listen .’ Geon points to his ears. ‘Listen, trust and focus.’ He claps his hands twice. ‘Milo, begin.’
    Milo, with his palms pressed together, aims his hands towards a girl with cornrows. ‘Zip,’ he says. Startled, the girl quickly points her hands at a man in a sailor’s cap. ‘Zap,’ she says.
    â€˜Zoop,’ the sailor says, pointing at a youth dressed in black who blurts, ‘Zap.’
    â€˜Wrong,’ Geon shouts. ‘You are disqualified! You should be saying “Zip.” You weren’t listening. You must listen .’ Geon points to his ears again. Hunter escorts the disqualified youth out. Geon claps his hands. ‘Focus, everyone. Start again. Etienne, what do you say?’
    â€˜Zap?’
    â€˜Precisely. Begin.’
    And on it goes for two hours until only six actors remain. Milo’s feet ache from standing, and he pines for an honest day of junk removal. Geon directs them to sit in a circle on the floor. Etienne, in the sailor’s cap, mutters, ‘ Quelle blague .’
    Geon claps his hands. ‘You who remain are the guardians of trust.’ Hunter serves them grape Kool-Aid and chocolate chip cookies, which the guardians consume with gusto. Geon claps his hands again. ‘What have we learned from this exercise?’ The actors, exhausted, their mouths full of cookie, look apprehensively at one another.
    â€˜It’s all circular,’ Milo says.
    â€˜Precisely.’
    He places the plums and grapes on Christopher’s bed table. The food tray has not been removed. Milo lifts the lid and is disturbed to see that the food is untouched. Christopher appears to be sleeping, the air moving through his nostrils causing a faint whistle. They have bandaged his head. What can this mean? Milo sits and waits, worriedly eating grapes. The Portuguese man on the other side of the curtain has developed a hacking cough.
    â€˜Milo?’
    â€˜Yes?’
    â€˜Are you fucking my wife?’
    â€˜You already asked me that.’
    â€˜I’m asking you again.’
    â€˜No.’
    â€˜Are they okay?’
    â€˜They’re fine.’ More lies.
    â€˜You didn’t tell them anything?’ Christopher sounds winded.
    â€˜No, but I think I should. I think they should know.’
    â€˜If you tell them, I’ll kill you. One more disaster and she’ll crack.’
    â€˜Why did they bandage your head?’
    â€˜They drilled a burr hole in it to let the blood out. Subdural bleeding.’
    A ponytailed nurse appears with a needle. ‘I need more blood samples, Mr. Wedderspoon.’
    Christopher remains listless as she taps his arm, searching for a vein. She seems very young to Milo, fresh out of