* * * * *
Outside they calmed down for a little.
Many people were walking around; most of them were students. Soon the city would become emptier, during the summer semester, but now the place brimmed with vitality.
The lovely cloudless night was mythically exquisite. The deep dark sky showed no moon, and the joined streams of starlight and streetlight flooded the streets. Playing with the leaves of the vigorous trees, the tender humid wind brought mingled aromas of new-sprung grass, flowers, and fresh soil. It seemed as if the ground was exhaling a powerful charming summons to live, and give birth to other living beings.
In this small puritan town, even teenagers dared not to kiss and hug each other in public, so Joe and Marina just silently walked along the street side by side. Enjoying the energy all around, they felt their young healthy bodies stir, responding to that magic call. The enigmatical shade, the storming dancing shadows turned Marina, in Joe’s mind, into some fantasy creature. Her blond hair appeared luminous in the darkness just as though a nimbus, and her black blouse, invisible in the dusk, hid her body. It seemed as if only her shining head was flying through the air.
«She’s the goodness of the night!» thought Joe, impressed.
* * * * *
When they finally reached her apartment building it was almost 10 p.m.
Tired, Marina took out her keys, opened the door, and turned to Joe to say goodbye. But unexpectedly for her, the man pushed her inside and started greedily caressing and kissing her.
Feeling his hands roam over her body, Marina made a feeble attempt to fight. He was very strong and persistent. She was weak with drink, and the alcohol awoke her deep instincts. She was just a desired female giving in to an active male, who wanted her so.
She felt him lead her into the room. He brought her down on the couch, and maybe Marina would not have resisted anymore, but he kissed her lips and his taste and smell sobered her up at once. All the irritation that had been building up during the evening came to a head.
Marina knew some methods of self-defense, and she hurled Joe off. He landed against the coffee table, and fell over it. Marina leapt to the man, kicked him a few times, and grabbed him, forcing him to get up. She tossed Joe to the door, and wanted to push him outside, but suddenly she set him free, and slowly she went back and silently sat on the couch.
Joe gawked at her. He sniffed, touched his nose, and saw blood on his fingers. Then he looked at Marina again. «Why did you stop fighting?»