About a certain return

Part 10

I wasn't doing anything. I was still keeping some sort of luminosity that was slowly fading but which was highlighted by that dark snake.

– I must get down, I told them.

Look, I was already using consecrated terms: "to get down"! And I pushed them to jump out, through the half-open doors while the bus was still running, right in front of another vehicle that struck me in such a way that I was thrown over it and got inside through an opening of its roof. As a consequence, I landed straight on my head passing through the vehicle which made the round of so close to the bus and after a few moments of checking my body's completeness, I realized I was alone inside. That machinery was either automatic or guided from the outside... And I heard someone asking me: Is there a particular place you would like to go, sir? Or would you like me to suggest a few places that might attract your interest?

I said: Is there anybody in there?

I must have sounded really odd! But didn't receive any answer. I went out by the corner that seemed to be secure and dared to get close to the board.

– Please keep a protection distance. You are on a public ship, on the route: Saturday, November, Gregory, Orient... Are you able to pay for the fare or are you DAB?

– DAB? What's that?

The sweet but unbending feminine voice didn't answer to my curiosity. The car's board lacked almost completely any manoeuvring instrument, apart from a few strange things, set in different places, similar to some eyes and a big fan that worked as if it was breathing. I mean, it let in and sucked out the air.

– I want to get off now...

– You do not seem to be worthy of trust and find myself obliged to take you to the police station to be identified. Please remain quiet and keep your seat in the armchair!

What armchair? There were only some derelict chairs. I saw a hand lever somewhere in the back and strongly pulled it. Suddenly the car started to skid. It crushed into a building, than into a lamp post, then went down on some stairs jumping up and down... I got in front of the car. I needed to get back to the hand lever... and struggled against the inertness, but, what a stupid characteristic of the matter!, but all I could get were a few bruises after which I completely lost my balance when the "craft" hit another obstacle and finally dived into a lake. The woman's voice went on annoying me: "You didn't act correctly, please got back to your place and fasten the seat belt, you have triggered an internal deterioration, attention, attention, accident, accident... ". The lake was extremely deep and I thought I'll end up as food for the fishes swimming around, but the "craft" regained control and set out for the surface, telling me not to cross a red line traced inside, threatening to immobilize me. I told it not to threaten me anymore because I am forced to defend myself and I believe this was my last retort as I fainted away.

When I regained conscience, I saw a lady leaning towards me... and... probably kissing me... I don't know... I was in a bed and found out I was naked from my waist downwards so I pulled my jacket up to my knees to cover nudity: Lady, what do you want from me? Where am I?

– I was resuscitating you, man. You have been gassed in a public ship.

Nearby there were three more people and an ambulance, it seems... I thought that woman was a nurse and excused myself, actually I wasn't withstanding against her intention to save me. Police lieutenant Godjilanu came close and with an official posture he announced me: In the name of the law you are under arrest!

– Oh, I said, convinced that to be arrested it's a good think as the laws are given to humans by the gods.

– Take him away, ordered the lieutenant and straight away two young men grabbed me and got me inside a building.