Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 126547 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 633(@200wpm)___ 506(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126547 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 633(@200wpm)___ 506(@250wpm)___ 422(@300wpm)
Everyone he knew was present. Even Mrs. Janina in a black bathing suit, and Mrs. Golonko, who begrudgingly stood on the outskirts of the gathering, ankle-deep in the water. Adam didn’t understand what her problem was, because there was no obligation to attend the celebration. At first he thought that maybe she was worried about her daughter getting drunk, or something, but Jessika’s face was as sour as her mother’s and she didn’t make an attempt to remove her beige-and-gold romper. Though considering that Adam had never seen her without thick, Instagram-worthy makeup, he suspected she didn’t want to sacrifice her perfectly-molded eyebrows on the altar of having fun with her peers.
“Is there an occult component to all this?” Adam joined Father Marek on his casual glide toward the roasting pig, but the allure of Emil’s skin still made him peek over his shoulder. In the dying light, Emil’s body shone with droplets of water. He didn’t even look Adam’s way as he splashed a redhead, who was so deep in the water only their shoulders and head were visible above the shimmering waves. Was that a guy or a girl?
Either way, Adam would have to steal a moment of Emil’s time. He hadn’t forgotten when Emil’s birthday was, and the least he could do for the man so devoted to helping Adam deal with the most traumatic moments of his life, was give him a gift that showed their friendship wasn’t one-sided.
Father Marek stopped at a picnic table and took a piece of Mrs. Janina’s excellent plum cake. When he turned back to Adam, the main bonfire lit up his friendly face. “Some might believe that, but you gotta admit it’s all good fun. And you’ve seen nothing yet. Kupala Night has really taken off since paganism and ancient Slavic history got fashionable in the past few years.”
Adam swallowed, glancing toward the lake, but Emil was obscured by Mr. Nowak, who chose this moment to head back to the shore.
Stars already twinkled in the sky above the roofs of Dybukowo, but the moment the sun disappeared behind the hills, so did all artificial lights. Adam flinched, his heart galloping when he remembered the last time the power went out, and he could already sense the devil crawling under his skin like a parasite.
The village melted into the dark landscape behind it, as if it had disappeared for good and they were plunged into a different dimension for the night. One in which the Catholic God had no power, and beasts ruled the forest.
Mr. Nowak walked up to him, putting a T-shirt back over his wet body, but in the glorious summer heat, he’d soon dry either way. “Did you see that? I always make sure the electricity supply is cut off to make the fires extra special. If the city rats moving to the mountains don’t like it, they can sit in the darkness for all I care. Last year, a whole bunch of them came here and complained there was no Wi-Fi. Kupala is for living and experiencing, not spending time on your phone.”
Adam exhaled, shifting closer to the huge pyramid of burning wood that smelled of juniper. On the other side of the bonfire, Emil left the water in the company of the redhead, who was most definitely a man. And a quite handsome one too, with long, straight hair and graceful limbs.
Nowak let out a gurgle of disgust. “Can you talk some sense into that bastard, Father? Because he isn’t listening to me,” he said, his voice lowering as he looked toward Emil and his friend.
“About what?” Adam asked.
“I don’t want him around my son. Yet whenever Radek’s here, Emil tries to wind himself around my boy like a viper. I’ve tried to persuade Radek that it’s not the right company for him, but he’s young, impressionable, and thinks he doesn’t need his father’s advice anymore. I don’t want my son ending up as an unemployed bum like that one over there.”
Adam’s head thudded with the sudden realization that Radek’s skin was scattered with freckles, like those of which Emil had spoken during his confession. Was he Emil’s secret lover? The same Emil lusted for so strongly even while he tried to woo Adam into his bed?
His tongue felt too big for his mouth and dry as a field that hadn’t seen rain in months when Emil pulled Radek closer, tickling him while the other man shouted something, trying to sneak his way out of the firm embrace.
And still, not a glance Adam’s way. Was it the cassock that put Emil off? Or did he just not matter when Radek was around?
“Father?” Mr. Nowak stared at him, his chin trembling in barely held-back anger.
The need to confront Emil about Radek’s presence was overwhelming in its nature, even though he had no claim to Emil’s time or his desires. It still stung to be so interchangeable with another man.