By Sokrat Shyti
Part Twenty-Six
Memorie.al / The writer Sokrat Shyti is the “great unknown” who, for several years, has revealed the peak of the iceberg of his literary creativity. I say this based on the limited number of his published books in recent years, primarily the voluminous novel “The Phantom Night” (Tirana 2014). The novels: “BEYOND THE MYSTERY,” “BETWEEN TEMPTATION AND WHIRLPOOL,” “THE DIGGING OF NIGHTMARES,” “THE SHADOW OF SHAME AND DEATH,” “THE CHIEF COLONEL,” “THE DAMPENED HOPES,” “THE CONFUSIONS OF DESTINY” I, II, “SURVIVAL IN THE COWSHED,” as well as other works, all novel manuscripts ranging from 350 to 550 pages, are waiting to be published. The dreams and initial fervor of the young novelist, returning from studies abroad full of energy and love for art and literature, were cut short early by the brutal edge of the communist dictatorship.
Who is Sokrat Shyti?
After returning from studies at the State University of Moscow, shortly after the interruption of Albanian-Soviet relations in 1960, Sokrat Shyti worked at Radio “Diapazon” (which at that time was located on Kavaja Street), in an editorial team with his journalist friends – Vangjel Lezho and Fadil Kokomani – both of whom were later arrested and subsequently executed by the communist regime. In addition to the radio, 21-year-old Sokrat, if we can imagine him, had passionate literary interests at that time. He wrote his first novel “Madam Doctor” and was on the brink of publication, but… alas! Right after the arrest of his friends, as if 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 younger sister) in a location between Ardenica and Kolonje in Lushnje. For 27 years in a row, the family lived in cattle shed 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 move from the place of internment and was deprived of any kind of documentation, etc. In these conditions, amidst a cattle shed, he gave birth to and raised children. It is precisely based on this event, or more accurately, a very long history of persecution, that he was inspired to write the book “Survival in the Cowshed”!
Agron Tufa
Continues from the previous issue
EXCERPT FROM THE BOOK “SURVIVAL IN THE COWSHED”
A little further down the road, an old “Gaz” – 69 (from the time of World War I, which served as a vehicle for the director of the SMT) was waiting for us, followed by a “Zis” truck. In the “Gaz” 69, the chairman of the Locality climbed in next to the driver, while I sat in the back seat with my chief. The plenipotentiary entered the cabin of the truck.
When the vehicles left the paved road and entered the muddy, bumpy path of the village of Ardenica, I was engulfed by the nightmare of anticipation: my chief’s gentle demeanor and the reception from the two local authorities served as a disguise to trap me?!… Because the “Gaz” 69 and “Zisi” stopped at the shed (exactly where three years earlier, “Ifa” had braked, loaded with our belongings!).
– “Come on boys, get in and roll up your sleeves, so with lightning speed and without damaging anything, you complete the assigned task!” – The voice of the plenipotentiary echoed as he emerged from the truck cabin.
Two young men dressed in coveralls jumped deftly from the body of the truck and headed towards our shelter.
– “What’s going on?” – I asked the plenipotentiary in a low voice, trusting that he would tell me the truth.
– “Do you remember what I told you on the first day when you came to my office in Kolonje?… I wasn’t there then because my heart couldn’t bear to see you in that condition. But today, I am glad to be taking you out of this mess!… You can’t imagine how my Dhoksa received it when I told her that you would be living here from now on in Kolonje: she covered me with kisses, just as if this kindness were being done for her mother!… I know what she said: ‘When he comes here, you will let me meet and embrace him like before!’’
– “With all my heart!” – I replied, pleased.
“Don’t worry at all about the belongings, as I have instructed the boys to be careful,” – he added when he noticed I seemed somewhat anxious.
– “Even without you saying it, I know where your mind is wandering: what will the new apartment be like? It changes like night and day compared to the cowshed, in every direction. First, they have built it for people to live in, not for animals. Now, if you’re worried, take a careful look inside the shed, to see if anything is left, since my two mischief-makers reported that they finished the task.”
When I entered, the empty shed appeared to me like the gaping mouth of a monster! I couldn’t believe that inside it, we had survived for three years without contracting terrible infections, knowing that the air and environment were heavily laden with billions of microbes and viruses! Surely, they must have preserved and protected us, a divine miracle, if this can truly be proven after undergoing medical examinations!
– “Therefore, man is considered the strongest being on our planet!” – I thought, turning back to the vehicles.
– “Throw a stone behind you, so you never have to see its color!”… – the plenipotentiary said to me as I approached them.
“Gaz” – 69 and the truck loaded with belongings set off slowly to avoid the bumps and potholes, until they reached the asphalt road.
– “Have you still not recovered?”… – my chief asked me in a low voice. – “Tonight will feel like a beautiful dream when you lie down in bed to sleep. The opposite of the terror you experienced on the first night in the cowshed.”
– “Even at this moment, I don’t want to believe that such horrific forms of punishment were inflicted on my family when we are completely innocent!”… – I responded, trembling.
– “It happens that heavy mistakes are made by troubled minds…” – my chief added wisely, almost emphasizing the most important statement: “Light a candle for the First Secretary of the Party Committee and the Chairman of the Internal Department; otherwise, you will rot in the cowshed!”
The truck stopped in front of a one-story building with a shared sloped roof (with two entrances in the front and two in the back), built with white stones, on the edge of the village road Kolonjë, about 100 meters from the asphalt road. I climbed the external stairs with keen curiosity, which served to level the slope of the land where the building stood. The entry space had two rooms: one measuring 3 by 4 (which would serve for waiting and sleeping), and the other measuring 2 by 1.5, with a chimney and hearth, fulfilling the role of the kitchen. Both rooms had cabinets inside, quite practical for organizing all the kitchenware and bedding.
Immediately, the thought came to me to equip the cabinets with shelves to significantly increase their storage capacity. In the kitchen, we placed the dining table, the food cabinet, the mother’s bed, the economic stove by the hearth, and three chairs. Inside the cabinets, we put all the utensils, from pots and pans to plates, spoons, and forks. Meanwhile, in the large room, we organized a wardrobe with the clothes cabinet, a bookshelf, a sofa, and a small table. On a used carpet, we neatly laid out the mattresses, blankets, quilts, and all the sheets and other coverings.
It still seemed incredible to me that after three years of living in the cowshed, I found myself in a shelter with a ceiling and two large windows, one for each room, with a square hall and a bathroom! Suddenly, a rush of overwhelming emotions surged through me, so much that I nearly burst into tears. To hide this moment of weakness from the eyes of the two boys who were sitting next to me, in case of any sudden orders, I went inside and sat in the cabinet until this feeling passed. Then, when I collected myself, I went outside to see what my companions were doing. But they had disappeared!
– “Where did they go?” – I asked the two boys.
– “Probably to the club,” – one replied. – “The keys to the house were left with us by the chairman of the Locality. So when you finish working, you can lock up and go to the club to keep them company.”
– “Let’s all go together!” – I said. – “It’s your treat.”
– “Not today. Another time…” – the other added, extending his hand to say goodbye. – “Enjoy your home! You’ve had enough hardship in that terrible cowshed! May it be with such difficulties?” – wished he.
– “We’ll see each other often since we work in SMT. For now, we are loading and unloading workers and are taking the course for tractor drivers.”
– “I’ll reward you soon for today’s help!”
– “We only fulfilled our duty. We are paid for this. We are on work hours. But even if we were out of hours, we would still come to help you voluntarily, of our own desire! Now that the truck has left, we should leave as we may be needed there. Once again: enjoy your home! You are right by the main place: the bus station is very close. You have a view as far as the eye can see. Especially for your mother, who spends most of her time inside, and watches all the movements of the people from the window, as if she were in a cinema. Old age needs to stretch its eyes, since she can’t go outside. Goodbye!” – Both said in unison, and they went down the stairs.
After I tried the keys to the two internal doors (the bathroom door was secured with a hook), I thought to go to the club to treat my benefactors. But I was delayed because when I stepped out onto the street, they were coming towards me.
– “We both share the same path,” – my chief turned to me, – “since you are expected at the Cultural House for rehearsals. We’ve been granted leave for this time.”
– “Since we have this opportunity, let us also make a request,” – the Plenipotentiary intervened, – “I believe it is fitting for the chairman of the Locality and me to have a ticket to see the theater performance… Or not, comrade chief?”
– “This task primarily belongs to Sokrat,” – the chief said with a smile. – “And he will fulfill it gladly. Thank you for today’s cooperation, comrade chairman! It was a perfect organization!”
– “I feel doubly satisfied when the local government’s assistance collaborates and successfully fulfills the tasks given by the great leader of the Party!” – replied the chairman of the Locality with a proud look.
Meanwhile, as the chief and I were exchanging greetings with the Plenipotentiary and the chairman of the Locality, the “Gaz” – 69 started the engine. As we settled into the back seat, the chief drew my attention to something I hadn’t noticed: along the road, on the side of the sports field, a crowd of curious onlookers of various ages had gathered, as the establishment of our family in an appropriately humane apartment undoubtedly represented an unbelievable surprise for them, considering that three years ago, we were stuffed away like animals in a cowshed!
– “From now on, you will be at the epicenter of the village, and soon of the region…” – the chief whispered to me as the “Gaz” set off. – “With this, I mean that the doors of hospitality are opening. So you must earn all the care from the state and the residents.” – “When life’s turning points appear unexpectedly and carry with them promises of hope, these collectively form an unforgettable event in memory!” – I replied confidently, throwing him a grateful glance.
– “On this occasion, I also wanted to point out something else important for you to keep in mind,” – the chief added after a few minutes, as we passed the turn of Bubullimë and Rrapëzën: – “Usually, high-ranking Party leaders in the region do not remain in the same position for a long time. Because the circulation of cadres brings freshness for the subordinates. With this, I mean that you should wisely utilize the support of the First Secretary of the Party Committee and the chairman of the Internal Department, while they are here. From my intuition, the family settling in Kolonjë, under generally normal conditions, indicates that your stay here will be quite long…!”
– “So there will be no return to Tirana?”… – I asked, quite worried.
– “In my opinion, no!” – The chief emphasized with a sorrowful look. – “There are some events of which only the beginning is known, but not the end…” – he added in the same tone. – “Events like yours are akin to avalanches. But fortunately, the avalanche that swept you and your family with its fury required a powerful concrete ambush that stopped the downward slide towards the abyss. However, this unusual rescue ambush does not have the strength to bring you back to the height you once were. Because when you fall, you suffer one or several injuries, and the chances of feeling like you did at the beginning are zero. Three years ago, you were a journalist at the Radio, in a very important state institution, living in the capital.
But the avalanche of the class struggle brought you to the cowshed! And you would have been there for a long time, if the chance of the theater had not unexpectedly presented itself, which passed your name to the great leader of the Party. Precisely this chance brought forth prosperity. The great leader of the Party is doing everything he can, within his highest capacity in the region, to create as normal living conditions as possible for you, but always within the confines of this boundary, because beyond that, his power diminishes. Only a major force can shift you from this new position in the future. I am used to seeing things through a practical eye, based on my experience.
According to the new status given to you by the First Secretary of the Party Committee, you will have the opportunity to be employed in a sector with an average salary, which is looked upon favorably by society. From the perspective of the great leader of the Party, he is always given complete priority by his subordinates, because no one can rise above him in the circle. But this priority only extends its roots within the boundary, not outside it. With this advice, I do not intend to hinder your efforts to return to Tirana. My explanations serve to keep your feet on the ground and show you that the support of the great leader diminishes after his transfer.
Therefore, use all your opportunities to create as real an impression on the great leader as possible, just as you are appointed here, like many high-ranking cadres do. Because this belief will help you not to feel the heavy oppressive weight of being ‘declassified,’ which occasionally appears spontaneously at certain moments when the ill-willed pull the noose…!”
I found it odd when the “Gaz” – 69 stopped in front of the iron gate of the Internal Department!
“Did we arrive this quickly?!”… – I asked myself as I got off.
– “I believe that with the new spiritual state, the rehearsals will go smoothly…” – said the chief with a cheerful look. – “When your friends ask you about the delay, out of curiosity, you will give them the answer you should…” – he added as he walked away.
In truth, at that moment, I wanted to go straight to my older sister’s house to tell my mother the wonderful news of the new shelter, which would seem to her like a beautiful movie, crafted to uplift her worn spirit even a little. But my explanation would lead to prolonged discussions, alongside my mother’s and sister’s curious questions. So, I climbed the stairs of the cultural house and entered the large rehearsal hall. My friends greeted me with applause, as if they knew what had happened. In fact, they were making a fuss, since the director had left angry from Todi’s provocations, and Liria was giving him stern warnings for going overboard with crude jokes.
– “We are having fun! Just know: we won’t find another chance like this to be together and so relaxed…” – Todi added smiling. – “What do you say, Lika?”… – he addressed Arqilina, using her shortened name, as they usually called her. But she had fixed her gaze on my face, wanting to understand the reason for my prolonged delay, so she did not respond.
– “Surely Sokrat must be tired, unlike us who relaxed and had our fun,” – interjected Faslliu. – “So let’s consider this lunchtime and munch on the food we brought with us.”
This proposal came at the right time and was approved by everyone. Except for me (since I had my sister’s house almost adjacent to the cultural house), the others sat in corners and unpacked the bundles they had wrapped in newspaper. Arqilina went alone to the far corner and motioned for me to follow her. The other girls grouped in pairs: Liria with Zoica, Liljana with Afërdita. Meanwhile, the men and boys laid out a large banner on the back, over two chairs, instead of a cover, and placed the packs of food there, which were almost the same: bread, boiled eggs, and cheese.
– “Did you have any unforeseen provocation?” – Arqelini asked me anxiously as I took a seat next to her.
– “On the contrary!” – I replied with an excited look. – “It still feels like a dream: we moved out of the cowshed!”
– “Speak a little slower and explain more clearly!” – she said with a shaken expression. – “How should I understand the word ‘we moved out,’ when mother and sister are here? Or did they come with you when that policeman informed you?!”…
– “Mother and sister still don’t know anything. The move was organized in the most astonishing and perfect way!”…
– And I explained the entire course of the event.
– “This news is a miracle, as if descended from heaven!… – she said, teary with joy. – Here is another convincing proof of our shared fate: now we have a home!”… – she added with an emotional voice. – “Have you settled in?” – She further inquired.
– “I made some temporary arrangements.”
– “You must be tired,” – she said with a tender gaze.
– “Not too much, as two boys from the SMT in Kolonje helped me. – You can’t imagine how quickly everything was completed; a perfect organization! The move was made legal, in the presence of three authorities: the chairman of the Locality, the Plenipotentiary, and the head of the internment-expulsion department of the district.”
– “Where is the house located?” – She asked with curiosity. – “In Kolonje, a hundred meters from the main road, on the edge of the village road, built with white stones and a roof, almost like the type of houses you have, but with four entrances: two in front and two in the back, leading into a living room and kitchen.”
– “Not only will your mother and sister rejoice from this great news, but my little ones will also feel some relief…” – Arqelini said with a strained voice.
– “In my opinion, they will be more troubled than relieved. Don’t forget that they are still the most direct opponents of our engagement.”
– “Let them be temporarily. The important thing is that today’s move has cemented the foundation of our shared life!” – She said with a determined tone.
– “Do you have complete confidence that you won’t break?” – I asked her.
– “You should direct this question to yourself,” – she replied to me with a serious look. – “Because you need to be clear that the provocations from the officials will come simultaneously in two directions, both towards me and towards you, with the aim of sowing discord in our minds.”
– “I am sure that there will be no tremors or fractures between us!” – I emphasized as a promise to calm her.
– “We must use our energies and efforts to convince the parents that we have the most fundamental and important strength that always keeps a family united: the undiminished human love!”
– “This is precisely what I highlighted, but in simpler words, when I was pressed to explain why you wouldn’t accept to be engaged to one of the proposed candidates,” – she affirmed. – “My little ones hope you won’t break…”
– “A futile hope, an empty speculation!” – I replied, annoyed. – “Who on earth came up with such an absurd idea?!” – “I only know that this speculation is circulating, but I cannot say whose mind it first came into,” – she said, worried.
– “These are provocations meant to frighten you!” – I emphasized in the same tone. – “As the only possibility, they create cracks and fractures in our relationship.”
– “They will never achieve that!” – She promised. – “I have analyzed one by one all the conditions I will have in married life. Certainly, some are much harder than those in the city, but nevertheless, they can be managed.”
– “It seems to me that everyone has finished eating and is waiting for our whispers to stop…” – I said in a low voice, after quickly glancing around.
– “Now they know our secret connection, which is why they don’t scold us,” – Arqelini said to calm me.
– “If they know this and that, then half of Lushnje must have found out, to say the least…” – I replied with a smile.
– “Since we filled our stomachs, we cooked the conversations and fabricated our concerns, we can start the rehearsals without the director present…” – said Todi, getting to his feet. – “We will take on the director’s duties ourselves, as we already know the roles well, fundamentally, and as they say in such cases, we have entered the skin of the character. But be careful when you pronounce the text: don’t leave any sentences without a subject or with truncated predicates…” – he added at the end, chuckling lightly. The rehearsals went smoothly, without serious interruptions. Before we dispersed to gather the next day at 8:00 AM, I told Arqelini that I wouldn’t accompany her to the garden in front of the house, as I needed to inform my mother about the most significant event, today’s surprising relocation from Ardenica to Kolonje.
When I entered my sister’s house, my mother anxiously asked why I didn’t come for lunch, and immediately set a plate of food and three slices of bread on the table. I didn’t respond and began to chew. I noticed that my sister’s husband was casting affectionate and joyful glances at me, as if he had knowledge of today’s event; perhaps the chief had met him intentionally and shared the wonderful news, but he hadn’t yet made it known to my mother-in-law and sister-in-law because he was waiting for me. That’s how it turned out. When I finished eating, he went toward the buffet, took the bottle of raki and some glasses, filled them, and told us all to sit by the table to toast.
– “For what reason?”… – asked my older sister, looking at her husband in surprise.
– “This will be told to us by Sokrat…” – he added with a smiling glance.
– “It must be some great news, my son!”… – Mother said with a bewildered look.
– “Great, to the point of there being no further to go…” – the son-in-law emphasized with conviction. – “Or not?” – He addressed me.
I described the entire unfolding of the joyful event, without adding anything from myself, because it was like that, needing no embellishments or decorations./Memorie.al
Continues in the next issue
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