Deeper Blue

V

Edgar tried in vain to associate the tiger's face with any other event. Nothing but this one sleep-depriving thought came to his mind. No circumstances under which the incident might have occurred. No broader context. The only thing Eddy knew about the young man was his name. Nothing else.

"I know myself. I wouldn't let something like that happen... just like that." - Thought the young boy uncertainly.

Could his personality have changed as a result of his memory loss? Was he once a different person making decisions contrary to his beliefs? Edgar wanted to be sure that wasn't the case at all.

"Not possible. After all, I never even anything ... with any man. And I was supposed to just make out with my colleague like that? No, that sounds cursory. In all of Berlin I don't know anyone with... anyone with similar inclinations. In a village at the end of the world I would meet someone like me? And so... attractive? No, there must be some other explanation for this situation." - Repeated to himself immersed in his thoughts lynx.

While the most reasonable explanation seemed to him to be the prospect of a very close relationship with the tiger, he had absolutely no evidence to support this claim. Well, for where would he have them, either? It seemed to him that if Tymon had been closer with him in the past, he would not have limited himself to raising his hat as a sign of greeting when he first met him after his memory loss. On the other hand, his brother and real estate agent were nearby, so what would the tiger have done? Swim across the lake and throw himself into Edgar's arms? On the third hand, would he so wordlessly let him drive away from Deeper Blue without even exchanging a single word? Then another thought popped into the boy's head.

"Does he even remember it?"

Well, that's just it. Edgar couldn't be sure of anything. The desire to know the story behind the incident was stronger than anything he had felt before. Eddy thought that he had never been in any intimate relationship with another man. That he had never even hugged anyone, in that specific, enigmatic, romantic way. He wanted, needed to find out everything.

"Maybe if I can be with him in private, I can tell him that I remember something..." - He thought with his lips curled in a grimace. - "Great idea." - He added in his head sarcastically congratulating himself on his presumed cleverness and cunning.

Eddy couldn't tell Tymon that out of all the memories lost with him, just this one popped into his head. He realized that he would scare the tiger away from him. It might as well have come to nothing, and they were both so drunk that they didn't quite know what they were doing. Tymon could have denied everything. Maybe he could even beat him up for suggesting something like that, which in these realities would not be surprising. The possible options for the young fisherman's reaction were endless. After all, Edgar did not know him. He had no idea who he was or what they had in common. He didn't know Tymon's beliefs, his approach to the world, his habits, his interests or simply his style of being. They were good colleagues, however, he only knew this from his brother, Rupert. It was a really fragile basis for building any guesses.

- Go in the peace of Christ. - The loud voice of the old parish priest resounded, which snapped Eddy out of his endless stream of thoughts and conjectures.

- God be thanked. - The crowd of people gathered in the church responded, signaling the end of the prolonged mass.

- Dear friends, before you go to your homes, I would like to announce something. - The vicar added unexpectedly, appearing before the parish priest. - First of all, we all know that Kupala night is approaching. - The priest began, after which those gathered began to nod affirmatively. - It has come to my attention that the youth are planning something for this particular night. Let me remind you that this is a pagan holiday. If I catch anyone indulging in superstition, I will pull the legs out of their ass. - Said the priest, at whose words Tymon, Johnny, Hans and Erik began to giggle.