Nga Sokrat Shyti
Part fifty-six
Memorie.al /The writer Sokrat Shyti is the “great unknown” who for several years has shown the tip of the iceberg of his literary creativity. I say this based on the limited number of his published books in recent years, mainly the voluminous novel “The Ghost Night” (Tirana 2014). The novels: “BEYOND MYSTERY,” “BETWEEN TEMPTATION AND WHIRLPOOL,” “THE DIGGING OF NIGHTMARES,” “THE SHADOW OF SHAME AND DEATH,” “COLONEL MAIN HAND,” “THE FADING HOPES,” “THE TWISTS OF FATE” I, II, “SURVIVAL IN THE COWSHED,” as well as other works, all novels with 350 – 550 pages, are in manuscripts waiting to be published. The dreams and initial enthusiasm of the young novelist, returning from studies abroad full of energy and love for art and literature, were cut short early by the harsh blade of communist dictatorship.
Who is Sokrat Shyti?
Having returned from studies at the State University of Moscow right after the rupture of Albanian-Soviet relations in 1960, Sokrat Shyti worked in “Radio-diffusion” (which at that time was located on Kavaja Street), in an editorial office with his journalist friends – Vangjel Lezho and Fadil Kokomani – both of whom were later arrested and subsequently executed by the communist regime. Besides the radio, 21-year-old Sokrat had passionate literary interests at that time. He wrote his first novel “Madam Doctor” and was on the verge of publication, but… alas! Shortly after the arrest of his friends, to fill the cup, one of his brothers, a painter, escaped abroad.
Sokrat was arrested in September 1963, and in November of that year, he was interned along with his family (his mother and little sister) in a place between Ardenica and Kolonje of Lushnje. For 27 consecutive years, the family lived in a cowshed made of reeds, without windows, while Sokrat was subjected to forced labor. During those 27 years, he was legally obliged to report three times a day to the local authority. He had no right to leave the place of internment, was deprived of any kind of documents, etc. In these conditions, amid a cowshed, he gave birth to and raised his children. Precisely from this event, or more accurately a very long story of persecution, he based his writing of the book “Survival in the Cowshed”!
Agron Tufa
Continued from the previous issue
EXCERPT FROM THE BOOK “SURVIVAL IN THE COWSHED”
Something very strange and unbelievable really happened: The next day, some powerful officials came from the Prime Minister’s Office, who struck fear into the hearts of the warehouse manager, and said in a harsh, threatening tone: “If you repeat this act once again, you will rot in prison”! Shaja came with a tearful smile from there, kissing my hands and head, repeating in a trembling voice: “You are the saving angel”! Of course, we were all happy that we restored her hope and faith to survive with that poverty of hers! What are you doing to get better”?!…- I said to Arqelin, when I saw her tearful.
– “It is such a touching event, and you described it with such feeling, that I was moved and tears flowed from my eyes”! She replied, sighing.
– “Okay, this will be forgiven today. But tomorrow, when we go to Cologne, because tonight we will stay at your house, I ask you to refrain from saying to your mother: look how much Socrates has weakened! Did we agree?
– “It is interesting how thoughts are scattered and intertwined in the human brain: we started the conversation with the concerns and care that young couples must show to protect themselves from the attacks of sexual maniacs, and the flow itself led us to the terrifying events, because the evildoers and maniacs are cooked with evil. Another piece of advice: in front of your mother, doesn’t be a crybaby! It is my turn to speak. While we are on the train, I want peace, to relax leaning against you. So if I doze off, don’t wake me up until we reach Lushnja station.”
Perhaps my still sleepy state created that unpleasant feeling in me when we got off the train and started walking along the wide road that connected the station with the city. Perhaps this indefinite state of suspense, neither in heaven nor on earth (which should not have happened, since I was walking alongside my fiancée), was confused by the uncertainty of tomorrow, imagining it as a hornet’s nest, where countless traps and intrigues are constantly swarming, from where the plots of powerful devils begin, to form mysterious ambushes and barriers, so that I might stumble into one of these and break my neck!
When I glanced at the passers-by, I noticed that they were looking at us with a lot of surprising curiosity, perhaps because they were impressed by the change in my appearance, they were not used to seeing me with I was also wearing this body weakness, so that my clothes would be loose and show off my somewhat deformed figure.
– “If only we had passed by the stream road…”, – I said to Arqelin, when their looks began to annoy me.
– “Do you find it difficult to shave your head?” – She asked worriedly.
– “Even for this, although this is not the main thing, – I emphasized. – Usually after leaving the hospital the patient will see something beautiful, and not be shot by curious, surprised looks, like these, almost as if we were beings from another, completely unknown planet.
– “And yet, in my opinion, they have the right to be curious, for the fact that we were the first to have the courage to oppose the politics and the rulers, we showed and proved how powerful and sacred our love is! – she replied. – That’s why I say it with complete conviction: a second case, like ours, could perhaps be repeated after many decades!
– “This is unknown, because no one can predict how human relationships can change over time, and perhaps politics leaves biography in the background, it does not bother young people so much, because it focuses entirely on extorting every last penny from ordinary people, politicians are gripped by a terrible greed, to enrich themselves”!…
– “Where did these strange thoughts come from”?!… – she asked quite agitated.
– “I am telling you this only to you, since you are an integral part of my being,” I emphasized to calm her down. – From now on, every conversation between us concerns only the two of us, you and me.”
– “Okay. But in front of my mother, you have to appear smiling and happy, that you came home with a few days’ leave. And when she asks what this emergency is, to be hospitalized, you will give her the right answer, to calm her down…”- he insisted on making sure.
– “I will take all this advice into account, – I assured her. – But it is up to you to be careful, don’t let a single unnecessary word escape you, which will make her suspicious”! – I warned her. But fortunately, the meeting with my mother-in-law passed without any curious questions and teasing. Because after greetings and a treat with candy, Argelini whispered in my ear:
“Warm shower water is waiting for you. On top of the laundry basket, you have your underwear, a large towel, a T-shirt and a sports suit”. She already felt happy that I was in her house; she acted without fear, because she was not followed by my mother’s gaze. The shower water was quite pleasant: it felt good when its curls fell on the skin of my body. I felt more than usual from pleasure, so much so that Arqelini approached the door twice and asked me in a worried voice why I was late. – “I’ll be out now”, – I told him. And I began to wipe myself with a towel. The warm water bath created a feeling of relief for me: now I could really feel that the heavy shadow of the hospital had been lifted from me, and my skin was revealed!
– “You look like an athlete wearing tracksuits”! – Arqelini said with a smile.
– “I have a request: if you have the chance, don’t let people know about dinner tonight”! – I addressed him with a plea, so that he would inform my mother.
– “Don’t worry. I’ve taken this into account. Even if mom expressed this desire, I would oppose it! – She assured me. – Because tonight you are completely mine! I will not allow any member of the house to thicken the conversation to the point of annoyance. Fortunately, my uncle is calm, not inquisitive. Especially when he drinks a glass of brandy, he starts to get bored and doze off. So we will be given the opportunity to lie down in our room. However, you rest now. During this time I will help mom.”
– “Just remember the promise: Our secrets belong only to us, to no one else!” She assured me that she would always keep this promise, as we went to the next room and I put on my new pajamas. The pleasant bath, the soft underwear, the flannel pajamas, and the warm layers, quickly led to a deep sleep. After a radical change in lifestyle (compared to that of the military unit, where the terrible conditions made us feel like prisoners of war, lying on straw mattresses, in a huge wooden hut, with a floor and no ceiling, with a tin roof, which was scorching hot from the sun and freezing cold at midnight, where our ears would ring when the raindrops hit it, and our hair would tear from the terrible cries of the captain, every time he woke up!), the eternal peace at home is similar to the pleasant breeze of a garden with a relaxing scent, which caresses the sleepy until the eyelids close on their own.
When I woke up, I felt refreshed, and I would have liked to take a walk along the Institute road, where on the right side was the magnificent citrus orchard.
– “If you’re hungry, we’ll have something to eat, and then we’ll go for a walk,” she replied in response to my proposal, waiting for what I would say.
– “For me, it’s better to go out now.” When we get back, we’ll all eat together, as a family…” – I replied. She accepted, and changed clothes quickly, without wasting time. During the minutes, when I went to the bathroom to wash my eyes, she opened the window of the sleeping alcove and made the bed. Out of politeness, I asked my mother-in-law for permission to take a walk, emphasizing that we would not go out onto the main street of the city, but towards the Institute, knowing that she liked this idea.
During the walk, we remembered our childhood years, which for me continued to remain the most beautiful period of my life, because we spent time in wonderful company, with amber purity, we entered and exited each other’s houses, without a hint of shyness, just like in our own home. Argelini had the same opinion.
But when the conversation moved on to adolescence, in high school, the assessments changed: While for me the years of high school in Shkodra constituted mutual understanding, with friends, she not only did not retain impressive memories from the Lushnja gymnasium, (even though they all knew each other, they had been born and raised in this city), but it seemed to her that this period of time, (which in fact should have been golden and radiant), created an annoying void and went to waste!
When we were returning from the walk, we met Engjëll, the secretary of the Military Branch of the district. After we shook hands, he looked at me attentively, and said that if I had walked not arm in arm with my fiancée, but alone, at first he would not have recognized me.
– “Have I changed that much?” – I asked with a smile.
– “You have become more elegant with the beret…”, – he added in order not to say; “you have weakened”.
I briefly explained to him why I had come on leave after seven weeks, halfway through quarantine, when soldiers are not allowed to leave the unit. And he, in order not to prolong it with further details, ordered me to appear tomorrow at the Military Branch, to verify my discharge from the hospital, a necessary action to avoid any trouble with the military patrols upon returning to the unit. But from the way he looked, I sensed that in addition to this action, he wanted to tell me something important, which is said only between two people, without the presence of others.
The next day I told the soldier at the entrance door of the Military Branch building that the Angel had asked for me. He came out smiling, as if he were giving me some happy news, and expressed his desire to have a coffee in the club next door, ordering the soldier to call him in case the chief asked for him.
– “You don’t need to tell me about the conditions there, I’ve seen them with my own eyes,” Engjëlli began the conversation, as we sat down at the table and ordered two coffees. “Now listen to me carefully: these days the order of the Minister of Defense arrived, for urgent mobilization outside the queue, at the end of May or the beginning of June! Additional Armed Forces are required!”
“Is there a threat from the neighbors?” I asked in a whisper, stretching my neck.
– “From the southern neighbor, Greece. Motorized forces are concentrated on our border. Hostile calls are being heard against us. Therefore, all the special forces of the army divisions are lined up in combat formations, on number one readiness. It is understood that in the new conditions, the places left empty by the movements of the special units will be filled with the current new recruits, but also with some of the soldiers of the NBU.
The latter is important for you, since there are chances of movements in the NBU, some of them being included in autonomous regiments. You are a smart guy; you understand that this data constitutes a military secret. That is why I told you and went to the Military Branch. I will ask you a direct question: do you know the director of the unit? – Thanks to your intervention with the escort lieutenant, before I left, we had a conversation with him on the way, so that with Commander Sula, a certain acquaintance was established. It was he who encouraged me to meet the colonel, the director of the NBU, and promised to help me to make my difficult service easier.
According to him, and so it turned out, there were two options: to be appointed either the secretary of the department, or the head of culture. The commissar welcomed the lieutenant’s opinion, and immediately gave his consent to deal with culture, and even called me his assistant. And without delay, he went to talk to the colonel. This request became an incentive for me to appear before the director. Fortunately, the colonel, not only supported the commissar’s opinion, but also took an interest in my family…”
– “Wait a minute! – Angel interrupted me. – Isn’t your colonel called Josif?… Then I have a clear idea who he is, and I more or less know the friction between him and the deputy minister. I can imagine why he was willing to help, after having suffered the cruelty of punishment on his back.”
– “The colonel spoke with the division doctor, after I submitted my health complaint, telling him to send me to the General Military Hospital…”!
– “Then I can say it with complete certainty: you will be among the first to be transferred. There is a good chance that you will be settled in Central Albania, somewhere between Laç and Kavaja…”, – emphasized Engjëlli with a cheerful look.
– “This is wonderful news”! – I said.
– “Of course the NBUs will not be dissolved. But mainly the farmers and shepherds will stay there. This does not matter to you at all. Now pretend that you have been transferred, and you will be close to your fiancée’s family. Therefore, I advise you to take your mind off the terrible shack made of planks and the scythe on these days of rest”.
– “It seems to me as if I am flying in the seventh heaven….- I told Engjëlli. – It was not for nothing that your parents gave you this blessed name”.
– “This is how the interests of the individual are entangled with the concerns of the state… – added Engjëlli, laughing lightly – Now give me your hospital discharge certificate, so that I can draw up a certificate from the Military Branch, which you will present to the patrols. The two of us have only had coffee, and we talked about your health… – he added, getting up from the table. – You will only show your fiancée the certificate. Avoid meetings with friends and acquaintances. I mean when you come here, to Lushnje. “Good priest, you have suffered enough”!… – he congratulated me.
After a few minutes he came out of his office, handed me the certificate, and went inside without showing any sign of pride or boasting about his behavior. I am amazed to the point of adoration, the simplicity and willingness of good people! I am overwhelmed by a feeling of extraordinary satisfaction, when I imagine that within them lies the rainbow of hope, and that they do not keep this for themselves, but generously give it to others!…
– “Did you meet anyone on the way?” – My mother-in-law asked me, when I entered the courtyard.
– “Who should I meet?” – I answered with interest.
– “Seni was here, who talked at length with her sister, about you, mainly why you were hospitalized”, – said the mother-in-law.
– “There is no secret. I simply took advantage of my acquaintance with the division doctor to come to Tirana, and on this occasion I had a general check-up, hoping that I could secure a few days’ leave. And fortunately I succeeded!… But Lika is not at home”?
– “Here she is. Apparently she accompanied her sister to work. Now what is your plan: are you leaving for Cologne”? – asked Ulë’s mother.
– “We will leave without further ado. But we have to hurry a bit to catch the ten o’clock bus”… – I added, motioning my fiancée to quicken her steps.
– “It seems we will have exchanged routes: you will have passed through the post office, while we will pass through the ‘Myzeqeja’ hotel,” she said, when she approached the gate. “Why don’t you go inside?”
– “As you are dressed, take what you need with you, and let’s go to the bus. If you don’t delay, we will catch you…”- I urged her to speed up her actions.
It seemed to me as if I had seen a beautiful dream, when I recalled the interesting conversation with the Angel of the Military Branch. Because the news of the transfer from the NBU to a military unit, without picks and shovels, moreover located between Laç and Kavaja, would distract me from the tortures of the sly captain and the hellish training, almost as if the NBU recruits were part of special commandos, and were preparing to carry out a secret mission somewhere! I had no doubt that this transfer would give me the opportunity to come home from time to time, or to my fiancée, even for a few hours, back and forth during the day, in addition to other facilitating aspects.
When we arrived at the station, the bus was almost leaving. I waved to the driver to wait a minute. He braked, and told someone to open the front door, where his acquaintances were sitting, since the middle entrance was blocked by the dense density of passengers.
– “I know I didn’t recognize you at first”!… – he said, when we climbed up and took a seat on the top of the engine.
– “This is the first time I’ve seen you with a beret. When did you arrive”?
– “Last night, by train”, – I answered, after we greeted each other.
Several curious and insidious glances were fixed on me and my fiancée.
– “Do the family know? Or are you going to surprise them?”…- the bus driver asked a little later, when we passed the Plastmas factory. – Who knows how happy mom will be!…For your information: Your Lika has come and gone with me every weekend, to see mom”, – he added with a smile. Memorie.al
To be continued in the next issue
