Valerie and Her Week of Wonders by Vitezslav Nezval Page B

obeying him. Now she came to the landowner’s house and remembered Hedviga. The gate creaked and she entered the house where she had witnessed that extraordinary wedding night. The landowner’s wife came to meet her. She was sad, she had aged, and she looked at Valerie inquiringly. She welcomed her.
    “To what do I owe your visit, Valerie?”
    “Grandma’s gone away,” the girl lied, “and I was too sad on my own.”
    “Come on in, my dear.”
    The friends entered the sitting room and sat down opposite each other.
    “There’s only me at home,” said Hedviga. “My husband’s gone to the stock exchange in the city.”
    “So we’re both in much the same position.”
    “I’m glad you thought of me.”
    “Do you remember how we used to go bird’s-nesting together?”
    “Nice games I used to teach you!”
    “I like to think back on them.”
    “You’re looking pale.”
    “I really don’t feel very well. And you? How are you?”
    “Since I got married my health has been failing.”
    “You’ll get used to this house.”
    “I’m afraid I’ll be taken by galloping consumption. When I’m alone I can hardly stop crying.”
    “You should eat hearty soups.”
    “I barely eat at all. All food turns me off. It’s as if I’ve been bewitched.”
    “I’m much the same.”
    “My husband is very kind. People are wrong about him. When he comes back from the city you’ll see.”
    “Will he be back tonight?”
    “No, I’ll be sleeping alone. And you?”
    “I’ve also been abandoned.”
    “Spend the night here with me. We’ll both be the happier for it.”
    Valerie was waiting for this invitation. At home she was afraid of ghosts at night. She said:
    “I’d love to accept your invitation.”
    “Have you heard about the unhappy way our wedding ended?”
    Valerie blushed.
    “No, I haven’t, my dear.”
    “I’d better not frighten you with it.”
    Nonetheless, Hedviga told how a phantom had visited her wedding.
    “Maybe it was just your imagination,” said Valerie.
    “I’m afraid I’ll never be happy in my marriage. Look what’s happened to me.”
    The landowner’s wife bared her shoulder, and on it Valerie saw a blotch that resembled a rose.
    “Does it hurt?”
    “No. I don’t even know when this nasty mark appeared. I discovered it by chance this morning. It so upset me that I’ve sent for the wise woman. She’ll be here in a moment.”
    “Should I leave then?”
    “Oh no, please stay, with you here I feel better than when I’m alone.”
    Thus did these two unfortunate young creatures talk about the anxieties that had lately assailed them. The moment passed and the wise woman arrived. Her penetrating eyes looked inquiringly from one woman to the other.
    “Have you been given anything to eat or any other object by a stranger?” she asked the landowner’s wife.
    “I was married three days ago and many women did the cooking.”
    “Do you have any visible mark that could have come from the evil eye?”
    Hedviga showed the wise old woman her scarred shoulder.
    “Vampire!” the old woman exclaimed in terror.
    “I don’t believe in vampires.”
    “But they exist, and it’s very hard to deal with them,” the woman said.
    “What are vampires?”
    “They are people endowed with special powers that come from feeding on the blood of animals and humans.”
    “Really?”
    “There are vampires who attack horses, poultry, and people.”
    “Aren’t they usually the cause of fowl pest?” the landowner’s wife asked.
    “Yes. Poultry can sense them from a distance and die of horror as they approach.”
    “There have been rumors of fowl pest in town for several days now.”
    “These aren’t just rumors, dear lady. Ask your maids how many of their chickens have died.”
    “I thought every last one was slaughtered before the wedding.”
    “That’s why the vampire moved to your house: he could scent the chicken blood. Then he didn’t spare you either.”
    “For several days I