Flag merchant

By: Ernest Koliqi (part of the collection of stories, Flag merchant, published in 1935)

A dark feeling, like an inexplicable disgust kept Hilush Vilza away from Gaspë Tragaçi's dungeon. When he needed more food, he walked around the Kundruell dugouts, quickly and quickly, without raising his head, waiting in fear, the merchant is not coming out, you have the door, he called me. One day or another he waited for this job, because he owed an old friend of the house a visit. Even after Hilushi's death, Gaspri kept his friend as before, he came for parties and birthdays and took care of the house on various occasions, while the boy lived abroad in Shqipnije and was educated. And Hilushi, now that he returned to Shkodër, he belonged to me, he saw me and felt me. He always felt that duty. Decided[1] go with me every day. But something kept pushing him from day to day.

Also from Ernest Koliqi

- One more friend: Patriotic poem
- Patriotism and patriotism
- A friend a day
- Even if we accept that Noli had blemishes, the three excellent works make up for it all...]

One day I ran away.

When he had a fight with Remzi Frashnjeti (when he was with a friend, he seemed brave) he heard a crack in the window of that room. When I brought my eyes back, I saw the merchant, behind the glass of the first window where he kept the table, and I turned around. With a worry in his heart, which he himself called ridiculous loneliness, he was given by his friend and entered there.

Gaspri was sitting on the stool behind the table at the head of the dugâja.

- Come on! - in a friendly manner, he extended both hands to the young man. - Why am I missing? Where are you that doesn't come? You don't owe me anything...

Did you say these words? That laugh didn't soften her anger at all[2] of the eye, which was always fixed in an icy coldness.[3] Hollak, with almost completely gray hair, although not very exposed to the weather, spoke with spirit and energy, but the ringing of his voice, like the glint of his eyes, remained cold even among my friendly words.

Hilushi sat down in a chair in front of the table and began stammering to excuse himself for the delay of that obligatory visit. The merchant, ignoring his excuses, continued:

- Did you finish all the schools? Good luck! Today it is begging, so, I knew. I am very happy that you have found a good and comfortable job. Do you smoke?

- Hilushi wrapped a cigarette in a box that he presented to him.

- I'm sorry for not sitting down; I have a habit of sitting on my feet.

He was silent for a while, then he started again:

- You are the son of my close friend that I have...

Zâni here got a strange sound of longing, but only for a moment.

– Yours (light-past!) when you leave the household chores too busy. I made some mistakes... Nay! I'm sorry if I bother you like this. I speak for your own good. I have a certain right; how do you say Every job, except this one, I have arranged; I fixed the others by myself now like these. I want you to be careful one more time: do you remember?

The boy thanked me confusedly. It felt real[4] 4 thank you for the care that the merchant devoted to his affairs when he was very young and far from home, but[5] I also had an objectionable brother for the not-so-sweet way in which he mentioned his name and his honors. I don't know what he had given at that moment, but he didn't consider it a duty to thank me, which, without any reason to assign, seemed very rare to him.

- How much is your salary?

- The boy wondered to himself about the gentleness with which he asked for an answer, while in his soul the conflicting feeling turned into fierce hatred.

Gaspë Tragaçi, with short and concise sentences, I advised him to spend a month on the house, which needs he met, which ones he missed, and how much he saved. He spoke to you hove hove siellte, in kolet[6] strong and white as snow iron mâ s'miri, the dry neck full of life is about to get up, now towards the road behind the glass, now along the dugâja[7] long and low to the bottom, where after a counter, the apprentices were sitting in silence. As they were magnetically attracted by that gaze with the arenz's eyes, even Hilushi cast his eyes on the shelves and on the counters full of everything.[8] of goods, through all the ends of the dugâja, full and full of boxes and boxes, with the most incompatible things among themselves, since[9] shoe soles up to iron ploughshares, piled up without any aesthetic criteria, almost giving me the impression of an immense wealth that despises the need for order. He had devoted his whole life to profit, that dry man, my dear, who was talking there behind that table. With toil and sleep[10] and with an iron fist, you started from nothing, reached and overcame the goal and followed me like no other.[11] From the edge you have the first window of that dugâ, all day long at the foot, it bore fruit[12] the houses, their own lands, the big trade, the money placed everywhere by the dever.[13] But he did not enjoy the sympathy of the city. Summarize them in their own work, killable[14] speaking to those who needed him, he was alive and isolated in the midst of the mindless. Not at all stingy for himself, without children, he took care of his wife and house well. But it rarely helped elsewhere. He had few thoughts in his mind, but certain and precise ones. For them, an exemplary life was a war, in which the one who won the most was known as the quietest and most skilled. Spiritual interests did not disturb him at all; they seemed like jobs for weak natures, for abnormal minds.[15] In the background of every action, only the question was drawn: how much? This possibility, which appeared in his words, confused Hilushi. There in those dungeons filled with expensive goods, in front of that energetic man with first thoughts and words, he felt like a small loser, weak and powerless.

This is how the merchant concluded the long advice:

- Save as much as you can. Guard, listen to me, guard[16] I make the next nier. After that, he was released. Why, listen to these words that I am telling you, only he who does not need others is free...

This unexpected aphorism, uttered by that metallic-sounding voice, shattered the boy's usual proud confidence. Where did you get your nipple?[17] against the narrow minds that the country's desires enslave, the sharp irony with which, at the coffee table surrounded by friends, I tried to crush the trashaman of the benefit of the life of the majority in the city? His way of understanding the world, which seemed to him to be higher than that of the majority, he was shocked. He felt himself break. He felt guilty in front of that judge with pre-existing criteria[18], qi with penetrating eyes looked at him, wanting to investigate, perhaps, in his face the future opportunities in life. How much value could he ask for, that conqueror of possessions who was measured with this[19] knew him[20] with numbers, do you have a spiritual legacy to collect from the young apprentice on books that teach with contempt the first? The inner world, created with long pains, built piece by piece in silence and solitude, his special beautiful world that would be revealed piece by piece in the future works, slowly collapsed in that dungeon, where it circulated, tue penetrate through your nose into your soul the special smell of those mixed goods. An overpowering desire took me out, I ran away from there, it shook me to the core. But before long, he was stuck there by one of the merchant's questions.

- They told me that they know how to shoot corn.

Hilushi looked at him. But at that moment someone comes in with a disk and that word remains like that. There was no time in this short stop to gather all his strength and prepare for a final hundredth. He understood very well the tactics of Gaspë Tragaçi.

"In the mother of a mold of wisdom, you remembered that you teach me, you took me by the thread in life and found the river for me as he understands it, now he is preaching to me and now he is ordering me not to engage in idle work that they don't do any good, but this time I'm not leaving him unanswered!"

The reasoning did not work there. How can one reason with a man who is from a divine statue of Praxiteles[21] Are you trying to get a leg for your marble staircase?

In reality, he did not feel safe. He felt that the absorption of refined and bright thoughts, changed enviously at the end of himself, the foundation of his personal world in which he separated himself by living between the musical moments when the vokama[22] the confusion of different feelings was suddenly harmonized by the thin scepter of Zâna, who craved release in the song, he was afraid that the immersion of that spiritual world would not be able to withstand the insulting attack of the thick words of the merchant. How could you please give me an answer? The salvation of shifte on the run. Only you went and got out of that dungeon where his face was blurred and his mind was clouded, he could preserve the virginity of the saint.[23] bright of the soul, the divine edge where the most precious reason of his whole life hid. But the merchant's unexpected words did not leave him alone. Was it a dream or a nightmare?

- Yes, I have been praised for your writings... Do you know how happy I am! There is a lot of need for these things: do you remember? You have a back bug…

Was he mocking but speaking seriously? In his voice and face, Hilushi did not investigate any mockery. He was surprised that there isn't any.

- Why, you boss? Everyone in the world loves their country, except us. They don't feel at home here. But you had to make me feel like I was raped.

Once upon a time, there were people among us who were good at these jobs. Then, therefore, there was no Shqipni and today there is. Now that there is, we don't need any more days for them. Do you remember? I, for myself, do not see progress on this point...

Hilushi started with a broken heart.[24] Why did you kiss Gaspë Tragaçi, your friend, after the words of the world? A person should never rush and condemn me without informing him well.

- You young man must work. He talked to me, preached to me without getting tired, do you remember? And write me, especially you who are good. There is none, I must keep this Albania, let me fill my mind with the great and the small who advanced me...

He felt, the merchant felt. Not only did he appreciate the money, the profit of the money, but also the other poor people[25] as the progress of the country. Except that the always cold sound of his voice did not leave the boy, he left me completely in faith and excitement. A complicated feeling put him on guard, waiting for the end of the conversation.

- What do you say, have I had any thoughts about this Albania in the new measure? You learn there at school and you might know these things...

He did not wait for Hilushi's answer, but continued:

- After the great war I remembered mâ[26] that Shqipnija would avenge them. You know that my mind is full of hardly. Especially in these jobs: do you remember? But my mind was full, I tell you. The wood[27] I'm sure I'm wrong.

- No - said Hilushi - it's not a mistake. A new nation is delayed on its way to citizenship, because the beginnings are always difficult. But this one of ours now overcomes[28] current obstacles move faster towards progress.

- Good luck, mouth. Ishalla is done as you say. But I'm afraid I fell inside.

Hilushi turned her face towards him questioningly.

- Yes, yes; I'm afraid I have something inside. Come on, see.

They passed behind the counters towards a door that opened between the inner wall of the cellar. The boy followed him, filled with curiosity. They walked through a terrible street, full of boxes of various sizes and cashews[29] to be stacked one on top of the other, they stop at a room door. Gaspri took out a tube switch from his pocket, found the one for the nearby lock and opened it. Hilushi rolled his eyes in dismay.[30] That room, quite large, was full of red and black flags. A special smell came into that room, the smell of balls of new fabric piled up on one side and closed so that it doesn't get air.

On the shelves up to the ceiling qi surrounded the four zdaktas[31] of the room, only the square of the window towards the yard behind the dugout was left free[32] hundreds of thick packages wrapped in yellow paper. The letter was torn from place to place, leaving a red envelope from each package. A few long tubes of onion in meringue were used to stand vertically for racks. Thrown in a corner near the window, a banner with ears on velvet was fading red. That dark room contained a thousand flags. The young poet, taught from his youth to transform the indefinite senses into vivid images, thought: "Thousands of red epic dawns slept in the prison of a long time."

Lost in a terrible flight[33] lyrical thoughts. He often lost his sight[34] the place where he was and the environment in which he lived, seduced him as if by a subtle music, he woke up and went to the bottom of his soul, where would the aerial distance where he fell[35] Therefore, we traversed it through the dreams of poetic desire, it took on the face of a wonderful escape. I saw those flags unfold in a living light of resounding victories,[36] at the head of a free nation on the road full of cheers of the future when the wind blows[37] pure smoke towards the sky. I saw those black Albanians, you were freed from the dark prison of a black time and beat your wings through the air like angels of justice towards the most beautiful ends of the mountains and the plains of Atdlieu.

- Boss, how am I inside? Keep up the good work[38] because he wouldn't stay home without having one, I ordered them in bulk. But no one buys. I have some left unsold. Enough, then, I have lowered the prices.

The metallic-sounding Zâni broke the draw[39] of remote aerial vision. A fierce anger rose in him[40] the boy inside. He wanted to say something to insult the merchant; he thought of a suit to suit him.

Gaspë Tragaçi, not remembering the look full of disgust that the boy gave him, went and took one of the onions in meringue tubes, carefully took out a wrapped flag, turned to Hilushi who was standing near the door of the room and began to elaborate, good for him with black Albanian work skillfully, you turned the spear between your hands.

- It's a shame that this commodity is not sold!

While in the hand of the mess[41] holding the spear, he rolled with his right hand a piece of red cloth and approached your boy and followed him.

- See how good it is!

If he had two dirty hands, raging in your animal lust, he lay down towards the body of a tender and loving creature, but my strict separation would not have shaken the flesh of his stature. Suddenly and with rapture, he threw his hands forward and took the cloth from the merchant. This bastard[42] eyes

Hilush Vilza said in a low but bright voice:

- Don't touch it with those hands.

The merchant, surprised and indignant, said:

- Did you go out?[43] Did he find you?

A deep irony burst from the young man's lips.

- Nice, believe me, you thought of it... Eat,[44] you young teacher, talk to me, write to me about the country: where are you? The flags are not being sold at all.

Gaspër Tragaçi was taken aback on the spot. The boy continued:

- Posi... The Eagle was born. The fools come out and shout: Let's go to Albania! You, old man, answered your shouts in the sky: let it be, yes! He quickly ordered the flags. Check us out: let's go! And you sell, do business first on our sensors. Nice game, but it didn't work...

Gaspë Tragaçi released his spear menacingly towards the boy. The flag fell to the ground. Hilushi did not play for the country. He looked at the cold eyes that gave off sparks of inspiration. The merchant stopped in front of him.

- Don't be fooled by the old mix I have with your house, I know...

The young man waited:

- For the sake of that mix, now I'm going to sell them flags.

With a voice trembling from anger, the other said:

- Yes, sir[45] you don't know what to do with me. Live boldly, follow your dreams. I'm sorry for your pain that now I'm on the big road, I'm the driver. Come, come, shoot the house of love Shqipni: the houses of Shqipnija have more shots in the light...

He came even closer to me and whispered as if in a whistle:

- Are the flags sold or not, did Albania stay or not, I have enough, thank you, live with me: did you understand? Now, outside...

- Wait... the boy waited for him with wild eyes: - I'll go out myself, there's no need for you to shoot me out. But I have one more word to say and please listen to the advice you gave me earlier[46] in the ditch. You say you live, but you lie. You have been redeemed from the number of the living since you entered this dungeon filled with longing. This is your grave. As for Albania, I assure you that there are hundreds of them. So don't worry[47] that even the flârnu have everything to sell. But save your soul, don't sell it to hell.

And Hilush Vilza came out, relieved in his heart from that clearing, with a breath of fresh air on the way because the smell of that dugâ took his breath away.

/Telegraph/

_________

[1] Decided: decided.

[2] Ashkes: eyelids; here: pupil of the eye.

[3] Arenzi: arene; steel.

[4] Ververtè: true.

[5] Moved: moved, moved.

[6] Kolet: it. collection', collar.

[7] Dugâjës: the shop. Colic uses in other countries: Trade for dugâjë, shop. See the story "Seven-year-old Vein".

[8] Always: everything, all kinds of things.

[9] Since: since.

[10] Sacrifice: sacrifice, sacrifice.

[11] Who knows: like no one else.

[12] Fertilize: develop, grow.

[13] brother in law: here, with sacks, as much as a horse load.

[14] Killable: Rude.

[15] Abnormal: abnormal.

[16] Guard: savings.

[17] Stinging sting: stinging sting.

[18] Paramune: durable.

[19] Here: unit of mass of 80 centimeters. Ketu with a figurative meaning: with a corner, with a pash.

[20] It was known: counted, calculated.

[21] Praxiteles: famous sculptor in ancient Greece.

[22] Vokama: vukama; fame.

[23] Saint: the temple.

[24] Me i bré zêmra: he began to regret.

[25] Untouchables: abstract.

[26] I remembered mâ: I remembered that now.

[27] Drue: I'm afraid, I'm afraid that.

[28] Now he overcomes: he will overcome them.

[29] Cash registers: large crates. To these. chest.

[30] Dzmeritun: haunted, terrified.

[31] Zdatkat: board partition walls.

[32] Pilue: one above the other.

[33] Dangerous: fast, rapacious.

[34] Vision: at all, completely.

[35] Case: instant.

[36] Kumbore: sensational.

[37] Lari: laurel.

[38] Uzdaje: hope.

[39] Draw: magic.

[40] Gjinikue: give birth, obtain.

[41] Trailers: left.

[42] Crouched: crouched.

[43] You're out of your mind: you came up with your mind, you played with your brain.

[44] Eat: give it.

[45] Zati: they are, right, really.

[46] Before: earlier.

[47] Don't worry: don't be afraid, don't be afraid.