At last, Eva gathered the courage to read the letter. She looked at the cuckoo clock with a victorious expression, though she still had no idea what the letter contained.
Where had Márk gone in such a hurry?
My dear,
I have known for a long time that we are being watched. I let them play their cheap little games; I didn't care. But harassing you—that outrages me.
You got into trouble because of me. I suspect what happened. The dictator's son went through my surveillance file, listened to the recordings, looked at the photographs. That is where he must have seen you.
I am proud of you for saying no to that vulgar weasel and to that lousy pack of vermin.
Forgive my harsh words. I know no other way to describe those who do not respect the woman I love.
But wait, my love—
I am grateful to them as well, because of you. For years I tried to coax that look from you, the one I only saw in recent days. The way you held me, pulled me close. I waited years for that.
I thought I had married an icicle, and in time I resigned myself to it.
I believe I know what happened. Under this pressure, you weighed things—and realized you had something to lose.
I am glad that you considered my precious person your greatest treasure.
I love you. I want things between us to remain like this, always.
You will face two interrogations. You have the strength to endure them.
Although I will fulfill everything you ask of me, I say no to escaping.
Don't you think it's time we added our own contribution—according to our abilities—to that fabric you keep mentioning? Don't you think Olga opened not only one door, but another as well?
Don't be afraid, my dear. Let us step through that other door.
As for the vermin…
Comrade John drinks and steals alcohol from his workplace; that's how they got hold of him. The others too—the third, the fourth—are blackmailed over trivial nonsense. Tiny secrets that even the most gossip-hungry old women would dismiss with a wave of the hand. Fear has robbed these people of their sense of reality.
I won't say I wouldn't punch John.
And Paul as well. They probably clouded his mind with the promise of publishing his book. I can find no excuse for the "cuckoo's" decision.
Life is strange, my love. You loved me most on your worst days.
Perhaps we should talk about making it so on our best days as well.
I say no to escape. If anything happens, the door Olga left open will always remain open.
P.S. I hope that while I'm away, you won't run off—and that you'll walk with me through that other door as well, the one Olga opened too.
Eva stared at the letter for a long time. Then she took her own letter from the kitchen table and burned them together.
Márk returned home soon after and handed his wife a single red rose. Eva smiled conspiratorially.
Only later did Márk whisper into his wife's ear why the rose had been given so urgently.