Buzati: Debt collectors

The man checked his notepad, strode into a building, went straight to the director's office on the second floor, and filled out the reception form.

"Visitor: Ernest Remora. Interviewee: Director Ruchu Finisti. Subject matter: Private reasons. ”

Private reasons? Finisti hesitated. The name Remora has not been heard, and if a stranger asks for a "private reason", nothing good will happen, it is better to tell him to get out, and then what? What if there really is some ulterior motive? He had in mind a distant cousin of his wife, two unruly girlfriends, and an old classmate from middle school, each of whom could get into a bunch of trouble. In a lifetime, there are many troubles.

"How does this Remora look?" He asked the concierge.

"Not bad at all"

"How old are you?"

"I see, almost forty."

"Well, invite him in."

The man who came in was dressed in a properly tailored gray suit, and his shirt was clean, but somewhat old. The tongue-curling has a nasal sound that is characteristic of the eastern coast. Shoes are ordinary. "Please sit."

"I'm sorry, Director." The man lowered his voice, spoke quickly and in one fell swoop, "Sorry to bother you, I know you must be busy... One minute would have been better if it hadn't been commissioner Raymond... Your old friend, right? I would never dare disturb you..."

"Commissioner Raymond?" Finisti had never heard of the name.

"Yes, Commissioner Raymond, the Director of Education, was the one who called me to visit you, he said you are a well-informed man, maybe my plan will have hope, in fact, who doesn't know you, I know I shouldn't bother a celebrity like you, but it's hard to be sad, I'm not greedy, but I always have to try it, maybe I can also walk in with my head up and if it weren't for those unfortunate things happening, I don't want to waste your time but my wife is hospitalized and Commissioner Raymond ..."

"Raymond?" Finisti was messed up.

"Yes, the Secretary of Education, otherwise I would not have been so abrupt, if I had told you that my child's things were like a thorn in the back, who does not know your kindness? As for my plan, the original ministry has been approved, but then the relatives of the Secretary-General's wife are also my colleagues, you know what I am saying, right, this kind of thing you know best..."

Finisti interrupted him: "I'm sorry... My time is really rushed... (Look at the watch) There will be a meeting to open... Can you tell me what I can do for..."

"No, Director." The man still did not let go, "I did not express my plan clearly enough, you know, my third son had polio last week, the director of polio, you are a sympathetic person, the doctor said that it is a rare case that is difficult to treat, so I will be so embarrassed today, it is a shame Ah Director, you inadvertently woke up ..."

"What did I do inadvertently?" Annoyed, Phineasti said a word.

"Oh I don't mean that, please forgive me, you know that there are too many things to worry about when you can't even say the director, you probably don't know that I have always felt that I said I am serious I am grateful to your director not to look at me like this I have only a little courage ... I'd love to show you my plan but... Besides, who knows what will happen to me Director Today I am very nervous in the face of such a big person as you, my wife often tells me that it was only yesterday that she was hospitalized by the director in front of you this person who has worked hard all his life..."

Phineasti tried to stop him; he felt sick to his stomach and was slowly stirred up: "All in all... You say... That plan..."

"A proposal for the director I want to thank you for your concern, did you get married?"

"Hmm." Finisti surrendered.

"Family is the most important including Commissioner Raymond, your old friend right great friendship some times only friendship is always by your side Director my wife will cut you tomorrow morning sorry Director you may be anxious to know my plan is just very important that the professor also pulled me aside Oh sorry I understand how a busy person like you can be interested in someone like me who has the audacity to run ..."

"How come? I..."

"Yes, we shouldn't be so selfish as someone with a heavy responsibility like you has a busy schedule, how can I bother you with my trifles, I just want to show my gratitude to me for this useless waste of a bitter man..."

"Don't say that..."

"It's my fault not to be the director and I'm really embarrassed to say that it's right to keep your distance when I'm bothering you here maybe there are a lot of people in the reception room waiting for me and there's a beautiful lady among them and I'm sitting here as if... My wife's surgery was good at our Hospital Rachel said..."

"Latcher?"

"Yes Director my wife in the south believes that I have always had tinnitus and bad breathing these days, you know how powerless it is at the time of life and death, only God ..."

Ruchu Finisti felt sullen, his eyes foggy, and he only saw the damn guy gushing. The left hand slowly reached into the pants pocket to get the wallet.

The man walked out of the building admiring the extra ten thousand lira in his hand, calculated quickly in his head, shook his head, was not enough, and sighed. I checked my notepad, walked briskly across the square, walked a short walk along the main road, and walked calmly into another building.

This time, the concierge just caught him from behind the counter glass, pressed the indoor alarm bell according to the regulations, the security guard immediately entered a state of alert, all the concierge blocked the stairwell, blocked the exit, and all three hundred employees at all levels were nervous. This kind of debt collector has been mixed in several times, causing consternation and panic.

The man was confident and casually told the concierge that he was looking for Dr. Sarinbene.

"Dr. Sarinbene is on leave today." The concierge said.

"What about Dr. Simaya?"

"Dr. Simaa is in a meeting."

"What about Dr. Bay?"

"Dr. Bay is sick and on leave."

"Oh, poor Dr. Bay." The man had a sad expression, "How can this be? If possible..."

Man an arrow step. He suddenly caught sight of Dr. Pilates, the deputy director of the personnel office, just passing through the entrance hall, and the other party did not react at all, and the man had already arrived at his side.

"Good luck dear director I was looking for you about a proposal..."

Pilates tried to dump him: "Honestly... Today is really not suitable... A whole bunch of things. ”

"Don't worry Director, I only need a minute and I swear that if the Director wasn't for Engineer Benoz, how dare I bother you..."

"Engineer Benoz?" Pilates had never heard of that name.

"Yes, The Director of Public Works of the Benoyoz Engineers, he told me that pilates director you are a well-informed person, maybe my plan will have hope, in fact, who would not know you?

Stepping out of the building, the man admired the extra five thousand lira on his hand. Put it together with the previous ten thousand lira, fold it carefully, calculate it quickly in your head, shake your head, it is not enough, and sigh. Quickly walking forward, turning right, walking a few hundred meters, stopping in front of a church, with a strange smile on the corner of his mouth, decisively walking through the seven steps, opening the door, and walking in.

In the blink of an eye, he put on a deeply guilty expression, dipped the tip of the finger of his right hand with holy water, and drew a cross on his chest.

Silent and silent steps towards the altar.

The shadows caught sight of him, recognized him, and God shivered and hid behind the pillar.

The man walked forward without changing his color, and with a look of sincere trepidation, he went straight to the back of the pillar. Turned sharply and searched.

God flashed faster and flashed to the other side. Strangely, his infinite tolerance had met the enemy this time, and he really didn't want to listen to the man's prayers.

The man turned and looked for it again, but no matter how persevering he tried, he could not find the Almighty Lord. With his highly evil sensitivity, he naturally understood what was going on. Don't have such a good hand, can't be greedy.

The saints in the church, all the people at the altars in the side halls, whispered a shiver, who will be the turn?

The frightened fellow walked slowly through the nave as if a hunter with a double-barreled shotgun ready to shoot was looking for prey.

He knelt in front of the third altar on the right, where Saint Gerolamo was startled and had no time to dodge.

"Oh, the supreme Saint Gerolamo," the man began his long speech, "you are the pillar of the church, you are the wise man, my wife is hospitalized, you have done so many miracles and so many favors the most beloved you with the love of a loving father Tomorrow morning you are the divine healer in heaven My son's polio because you stand up the light of you and my sad soul begs you..."

His prayers were like a river bursting its banks, out of control. Ten minutes, fifteen minutes, twenty minutes, no ventilation. Twenty-five minutes, thirty minutes, thirty-five minutes. The enraged Saint Geralamo agreed.