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| Courtesy of Iliriapress |
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| Anton Zako �ajupi |
| Faqja Page 14 |
| Zeneli (dumbfounded): Good Lord. You have amazing healing methods. What happens if someone has a headache? Do you chop it off? Adham-Uti: Don�t talk nonsense, Zeneli. These are serious and profound matters which you don�t understand. I have spent my entire life... But don�t forget what you promised me, for the obituary. Zeneli: Well, don�t forget the two silver coins either, milord. Adham-Uti: Cash in your little hot hand, my boy. Try to find the text while I am visiting Mehdiu, before I get back. Oh, and if Miss Lulushe shows up, tell her to stay put and wait for me here. Zeneli: Very well, doctor. Have a good time! (Adham-Uti departs.) Scene IV Zeneli Zeneli (to himself): Two coins plus the one he gave me make three. It looks like it�s going to be a good day. (He goes out to the door and calls): Mr Vurko, Oh Mr Vurko. Come in for a moment, will you please? There is something I�d like to talk to you about. (Mr Vurko enters). |
| Scene V Zeneli, Vurko Vurko: What do you want, Zeneli? Zeneli: Could you do me a favour? Vurko: As many as you want. What can I do for you? Zeneli: I would like you to write an obituary for a great man who has just died. Vurko: What? Did someone of importance die? Tell me who it is and I�ll prepare the text for you. Zeneli: Well, he�s not exactly completely dead yet... Vurko: Well, what do you want the obituary for? Why don�t you wait until he dies, at least? Zeneli: I can wait, but he can�t. He wants to see what he is like dead. Vurko: Who is it? Zeneli: I gave him my word of honour not to tell. Vurko: You don�t think I would ever tell, do you? Zeneli: Well, just between the two of us, it is Doctor Adham-Uti who wants to know what is going to be written about him when he dies. Do you understand? Vurko: My word! And he has the gall to say he doesn�t like newspapers and is not seeking praise. Zeneli, is this Adham-Uti going to pay you anything? Zeneli: How could you possibly imagine such a thing? |
| Vurko: I suppose it is none of my business. Alright, I�ll go and write the article you want. Zeneli: Thank you. I am much obliged. What can I do to pay you back? Vurko: Don�t even mention it. Just between the two of us... Zeneli: Listen, I have an idea... Vurko: What is it now? Zeneli: I think he would be even more delighted if he were to see the obituary in print, so why don�t you... Vurko: A great idea! I�ll run down to the Kristo press and see what I can do. Zeneli: Thank you so much! Vurko: Alright, see you later then! (He departs) |
| Scene VI Zeneli, then Miss Lulushe Zeneli (to himself): Adham-Uti will be delighted. When people see things in print, they always believe them, like angels in the Koran. (Miss Lulushe enters saying): Hello, Zeneli. Zeneli: How are you? My boss hasn�t come back yet, but make yourself comfortable because he should be here soon. While you are waiting, have a look at the newspapers and articles on the table. I�ll clean up the office in the meantime. Miss Lulushe (Looking at the newspapers, she spots the article about Haxhi Aliu and cries out): Why, Haxhi Aliu has died! That poor Member of Parliament. I feel so sorry for him. Zeneli: Don�t feel too sorry for him, Miss Lulushe, there is still hope. Miss Lulushe: Hope? Are the healers going to bring him back to life again? Zeneli: If only they could. Miss Lulushe: Well, what do you mean then? Zeneli: Haxhi Aliu hasn�t exactly died yet. Miss Lulushe: May the Lord protect him. How am I then to understand what you are saying? If he has not died, why then have you written his obituary? |
| Zeneli: Because he is at death�s door and we have to prepare the obituary so that we are not caught empty-handed when he does die. Miss Lulushe: And what happens if he survives? Zeneli: We store the obituary with the others and it gets published when the time comes. You must realize, Miss, that we have obituaries prepared in advance for all figures of importance, men and women alike, for kings and queens, Members of Parliament, because you never can tell when they�re going to kick... the bucket. Miss Lulushe (indignant): A fine custom indeed. Zeneli: We are not doing anything wrong. We let them die whenever they want. We just have to be ready to find the right words of praise in time for their... departure. Miss Lulushe: Say whatever you want, but I would not be very amused to find out that someone was writing my obituary while I was still alive and... kicking, as you say. Zeneli: Oh, I cannot imagine for a moment that my boss would have neglected to write an obituary about such a fine lady as yourself! |
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