Who would prevail? The strong younger woman, or the elder and heavier one?
Later in the afternoon, as we made a halt by the shore of a lake, I found out that my counterpart in Rurak?s staff was a young girl. Three years my elder, she was rather ugly ? an ugly blonde. However, she was willing to talk about Rurak, about her life on his property, things like this. Of course, after awhile, we began to discuss about Mira and Olga. When I told her that Mira was my aunt, the girl (her name was Valentina) told me:
?Tell your aunt to be cautious. I saw Olga fight a year ago. We were by the river, near our village, and Olga had an argument with another woman who washed the laundry. I knew that woman well because she was our neighbor before Mr. Rurak hired me. Her name was Anca and she was rude and strong. However... well..."? ? Valentina wanted to stop, but I urged her to go on. ?Well, Olga finally overpowered her. Anca kicked and punched, but our superintendent forced Anca flat on her belly. She... well... she finished her... But, please, understand that she had no choice! Anca kept saying that she?d kill Olga and then, Olga choked her. She choked Anca and when she was tired of choking her, she slammed her face against the ground. Anca never got up by herself..."?
I wanted to tell Valentina that my aunt also destroyed another woman in a fair, one to one fight, but I decided to hold this for myself. I simply thanked her, promising that I?d tell Mira about her warnings.
?You do that! Olga said to us that she?ll break your aunt?s back if she lays her hands on her."?
We got back home very late. Mihai was in bed, already.
?They had almost fought,"? he announced me when I entered the room.
?How come?"?
Again, they had had an argument and, this time, they began to shout at each other. It happened on the first floor?s hallway and were it not for the others, they would have fought.
?Gosh... your aunt is very strong!"? said Mihai. ?I grabbed her by one elbow, some others got her by the waist and shoulders, and we could hardly pull her away from Olga. You should have seen their faces! Oh, my God! Afterwards, Mira told everybody that she?ll beat the **** off that redhead bitch... She wants to tell Mr. Vasilescu that there is no other way. And, as far as I know Vasilescu, he won?t interfere."?
I knew he was right. I told him about Vasilescu?s conversation with Rurak, I told him about Valentina ? and, as I kept telling him all this, I had once again that strange feeling, that weird numbness that seized me from around my guts, flooding me steadily.
I wanted to see this clash! I wanted to see my aunt fight that *****!
?Gosh... who do you think will win?"? I asked.
?Hard to tell... You know Marin, the guy working at the pool. He had been fighting in the Chechen war and he had seen fights like this. He says that Olga has stronger legs than your aunt and some extra kilos, which is a good point for her but, on the other hand, she obviously is slower and has less stamina ? after all, she?s 8 years older. His point is that your aunt could do Olga if she wears her out with the fists ? Mira is faster, she is strong enough and she can endure a lot more... However, if Olga gets your aunt at close range, things could turn out bad for her. Everybody admitted this."?
I tried to get some sleep but I couldn?t. I kept hearing the two women shriek in my mind, I kept seeing them fight, struggling to get the upper hand and, slowly, that strange and pleasant sensation came back at me ? I wanted to see that fight, no matter what... When I finally managed to get asleep, I dreamed the fight ? it never ended but the two women were hardly standing on their feet, blood covering their faces, as they fought on and on and on...
I woke up early and I began to wander along the hallways. I had never smoked before but in that morning, I felt like I wanted to smoke. I went at the stables and someone gave me a cigarette. As I smoked, I heard a conversation: one of our servants was talking with one of Rurak?s servants about the conflict opposing the two superintendents.
?I don?t like our Olga,"? kept saying Rurak?s servant, ?and that?s why I want your superintendent to win. That Olga ***** slapped me more than once, **** her... Your auntie,"? he told me then, ?must be very careful, my boy! Tell her not to be afraid of eye gouging or attacking Olga?s womanly parts, because Olga will have no restraints with it... You got that, son?"?
After finishing the first cigarette of my life, I went straight at Mira?s door. On the hallway, I ran straight in Olga?s nose.
?Hum, you are that bitch?s nephew,"? she said.
?My aunt is not a *****!"?
?Aha... You love her... Then tell her not to fight me, boy, because I will squeeze the **** off her like toothpaste, you got that?"?
My blood went boiling on the spot.
?My auntie will punch you until you beg for mercy!"?
She grabbed me by the chin and she forced me to look up in her eyes:
?Tell your auntie to find someone to **** her today! Maybe she wants to enjoy her last hours... You tell her that, you got me?"?
I ran away on the spot, hurrying to Mira?s room.
?Gosh, you didn?t sleep at all!"? she noticed. ?And you also smoked!"?
?Please, auntie, there?s something I must tell you."?
I told her all I heard about Olga: how she beat that Anca, what the others were saying, what the others advised, how Olga threatened her and what I thought about all this ? well, I told her everything, except that in my depth, I longed to see her fight that big redhead.
She smiled. She sat on her bed and she flexed her biceps:
?C?mon, feel those!"? she urged me.
Gosh! Her arm was hard as a rock! She then made me feel her thighs, her back, her shoulders ? she seemed carved in marble. Lena, her sister, showed up from the bathroom.
?He is scared,"? told her my aunt. ?That Olga scared him."?
Lena took in a deep breath.
?Better be cautious, sis?. I told you what I heard about this woman."?
?Yes,"? said my aunt, thoughtfully, ?but you also know about me."?
?So does she."?
?There is no other way,"? concluded my aunt.
The day went on quietly. It seemed that even the talks about the fight had dissipated. It was around 6 o?clock in the evening when Mr. Vasilescu called me ? he wanted that I prepare Thunder, his favorite horse, for the next day. Rurak was with him. After Vasilescu finished with me, I wanted to leave but, in the last moment, a strange fear seized me by the guts and I asked the permission to ask him something.
?Mr. Vasilescu, I think that my aunt is going to fight Mr. Rurak?s superintendent."?
?I am aware of it, son."?
?Well... I wanted to know if you... if you are going to do anything about it..."?
?I talked to Mira. She is determined to do it. So is Mr. Rurak?s employee."?
?And what if things turn out... bad?"?
?They are both grown-ups, kid!"? answered Rurak instead of Mr. Vasilescu. ?They know what they are getting into. You are scared for your auntie, aren?t you?"?
?No, I?m not,"? I said and I left.
At the stables, I met Valentina. She was combing one of Rurak?s big mares.
?You know... I like you a lot,"? she began, ?but I want to tell you that when Olga will fight your aunt, I?ll be on Olga?s side."?
I understood that. I asked her what she thought about it.
?None of us is sure of the outcome. Some had even made bets."?
?Who?s the favorite?"?
?Some think that your aunt stands more chances if she punches well... Others say that Olga will finish your aunt if she gets her to the floor... The truth is that no one knows. I heard that even our masters made bets. The only sure thing is..."? ? she suddenly stopped.
?What is the only sure thing?"? I asked.
?Never mind,"? she said and she left.