Loyalty

- May he be praised...

- Forever and ever...

- I came because I offended our God... it wasn't me! -

Son, don't scream... You're in the church, the temple of our Lord...

- But it wasn't me... - and I burst into tears.

- Tell me what's going on...

- Fine... but... fine...

*** -

It was a very ordinary Friday afternoon. A little after four, I left work... I work at the Oasis travel agency - perhaps you've heard?... never mind... The weather was terrible - it was raining... It was practically downpour... Nothing... really, nothing could ruin my day... The fact that the neighbor's dog had shit on my doormat, that a huge spider in my bathroom was having offspring, that... none of that mattered... Nothing could ruin my good mood before two days off, days of slacking off and laziness...

I walked home because my cell phone had been stolen, and there were no taxis nearby... When the rain had subsided, I passed a computer store. "I could replace that old PC, nothing works on it anymore. You know, Father, I like these kinds of toys..." And suddenly I heard a familiar voice.

"Oh... who do I see!? Hello, MISZCZA!" "That was my friend, Tomek.

" "Yeah... Hi, hi..." I managed, looking at his brand new car. A Porsche 911 Turbo pulled up, a car I'd only read about. "

Want a ride?

If it weren't for this one-of-a-kind opportunity to drive a 400-horsepower machine and the rain, I'd decline, but in that case..."

"Sure... I'd be grateful.

" ***

"So how are you? How's life?"

I couldn't hear what he was saying, I was glued to the tachometer, which was hovering at 8,000 rpm.

"Can you hear me?"

"Huh? Uh, sorry, I didn't hear... Beautiful car..."

"Heh... thanks... Fucking lame! And how do you drive!" he interjected when a chav cut him off. "Oh, you peasants... I was asking how you were?"

"Well, I'm surviving somehow... I work in a travel agency, I don't have many friends, and my sex life... there's none..."

"I'm not surprised..." he whispered, thinking I wouldn't hear. "Maybe we could have some fun somewhere? You could use it...

Tomek was always like that. My opposite. I was a quiet guy, fond of solitude and harmony... He... He failed his exams twice, fought with anyone who disagreed with him, girls flocked to him like planes at the World Trade Center... He tolerated me because thanks to me he passed the third year of middle school.

"Okay... let's go...

" ***

We drove the rest of the way in silence, though every now and then he called the incompetent driver a lame duck or an idiot. He stopped in front of a large building lit with blue neon lights. A large sign said "Glory Club." Tomasz probably didn't know what that sign meant, but...

When we walked in, it looked just as I expected. A huge party. A dozen or so people were dancing, a dozen or so groups were chatting over all sorts of drinks, and here and there, a dresser was hitting on a girl or a loner was sitting there, pouring over this terrible life. Overall, it was a pleasant atmosphere... for Tomek... AND I was stupid! I could have been playing Quek and getting annoyed with my slow computer, instead of sitting at some party.

"Sit down... I'll be right back," Tomasz said, gesturing to a table.

I sat down... I looked like a peasant—drenched, I hadn't taken off my coat... I was a bit tense...

"Hey, Blondie!" said some sperm whale (read: ugly woman) with a kilogram of makeup, sitting at the bar, sipping a beer.

"Oh yeah... Hi..."

"Why are you so tense? Can I join you?"

-uh...I'm not waiting for anyone, sorry, but no...

-Moron... -And the "beauty" left the bar...

I was waiting for him...He didn't show up. I was starting to get impatient. "Oh... I'm leaving here," I thought. I stood up. Damn... he left the car keys on the table... what should I do... what should I do... I thought... I took the keys and went in the direction Tomasz had gone. There were two doors: the men's and women's restrooms. Tomek would have entered... Well, probably the women's, but maybe he played a trick, and the men's... Ugh, I entered the men's. When I entered, I saw Tomek standing at the sink. When I got closer, I saw traces of washed-up blood on the white sink trough.

"Damn! Are you okay? What happened? Are you alive?"

He didn't answer. He only pointed to the middle door to the restroom...

"What!? Did you cut yourself wiping your ass or what!?"

He didn't answer. I quickly opened the indicated door. Shock... I thought I was going to have a heart attack... Unfortunately, that didn't happen. There was a man lying on the toilet. A bloody guy with a lacerated throat, clearly not dying like he wanted to.

"WHAT DID YOU DO... What's going on... WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE!?"

I tried to leave. When I was already at the restroom door, my hand almost touching the handle... He pushed me away.

"You're not going anywhere... Either we're together or I'm alone... I came here with other intentions, but it turned out the way it did... You'll keep quiet, nothing will happen... We have to throw the body in the river and then leave.

" "Agreed..." I knew I was doing wrong, but I thought it was the only way out.

We carried the body out the kitchen exit because the bar owner was a friend of Tomek's and didn't want to lose customers. He decided he hadn't seen anything. I went to get the Porsche and drove to the back exit. The body barely fit in the back seats. We drove in silence... He didn't insult drivers anymore; it didn't bother him that the tracksuit-dressed man was blocking his path.

We drove up to the Vistula River. In this weather, there weren't many people there... we were alone... We quickly dumped the body in, and I went home without saying goodbye... I wanted to forget about it... I couldn't sleep... I didn't do anything, but... but...

***

There was no one left in the church... it was around midnight, even the churchgoers were asleep.

"You scum, you dog snitch! You'll die because you didn't keep your end of the bargain, you scum!" Those were the last words I heard... Tomek's words, ended by the muffled shot of the Colt... Whatever you say about that guy... he knew how to shoot... there was no need to finish him off...