de Radu P\u0103rp\u0103u\u0163\u0103<\/p>\n
\nVi\u015finel se scoal\u0103 mahmur, iese afar\u0103 pe urma f\u0103cut\u0103 de c\u00eeine, se opre\u015fte la poart\u0103, l\u00eeng\u0103 locul unde c\u00eeinele a \u00eeng\u0103lbenit spuza brumii, chibzuie\u015fte cu mintea tulbure, apoi o ia pitit pe dup\u0103 gard, ca s\u0103 nu-l vad\u0103 Mari\u0163a, nevast\u0103-sa \u201ede-al doile\u201d. Mai \u00eent\u00eei se opre\u015fte la privatiza\u0163i \u015fi bea c\u00eet are bani. Neostoindu-i-se setea lui cea mare, ar\u015fi\u0163a ce i se urc\u0103 din m\u0103runtaie ca din fundul Gheenei, merge pe la gospodari \u015fi bea \u00een baza zilelor-munc\u0103 pe care urmeaz\u0103 s\u0103 le fac\u0103 la prim\u0103var\u0103. Pe urm\u0103 se \u00eentoarce acas\u0103 smintit \u015fi tic\u0103lo\u015fit cu asupra de m\u0103sur\u0103. Blestem\u0103 \u015fi url\u0103 c\u00eet ce poate p\u00een\u0103 ce \u00eengroze\u015fte tot satul. Turbarea \u015fi \u00eendr\u0103ceala lui se ridic\u0103 p\u00een\u0103 \u00een ceruri la Domnul-Dumnezeul Slavei \u015fi Adev\u0103rului. \u015ei-odat\u0103 Prea\u00eenaltul \u015fi-a ie\u015fit din r\u0103bd\u0103ri:
\n\u2013 Vi\u015finel, Vi\u015finel! tun\u0103 Domnul din \u00eenaltul cerului. Mai lini\u015fte\u015fte-te \u015fi intr\u0103 odat\u0103 \u00een r\u00eendul oamenilor! Bat\u0103-l Crucea \u0163i-a luat min\u0163ile cu totul.
\n\u00cenfrico\u015fat, Vi\u015finel cade \u00een nas \u015fi s\u0103rut\u0103 p\u0103m\u00eentul dinaintea Domnului-Dumnezeului s\u0103u:
\n\u2013 Doamne, \u00een mare mila Ta, \u00een\u0163elege-m\u0103 \u015fi pe mine c\u0103 nu m\u0103 pot \u0163ine. La \u00eenceput am b\u0103ut de bucurie pe la cum\u0103trii \u015fi pe la nun\u0163i. Pe urm\u0103 mai beau c\u00eete un p\u0103h\u0103rel, c\u0103 nevast\u0103-mea, Mari\u0163a lui Vraghie, e t\u00een\u0103r\u0103, iar eu nu mai \u00ees a\u015fa putinte. M\u0103 \u00een\u0163elegi?
\n\u2013 Vi\u015finel, Vi\u015finel, \u00eel amenin\u0163\u0103 Domnul \u00eencruntat \u015fi necru\u0163\u0103tor, dar \u015fi atotmilostiv \u00een acela\u015fi timp.
\n\u2013 Ce s\u0103 facem? S\u00eentem f\u0103cu\u0163i din carne, Doamne.
\n\u2013 Bine, bine, f\u0103cu \u00eencurcat Cel de Sus.
\n\u2013 Pe urm\u0103, Ziditorule, am \u00eenceput s\u0103 beau de sup\u0103rare c\u0103 nu mai scap de nevoi \u015fi de necazuri. Uite, acu\u2019 Ghiocel, \u015fo\u015foiul meu cel mai iubit, s-a \u00eenh\u0103itat cu unii \u015fi cu al\u0163ii. Face tot felul de rele, de-mi crap\u0103 obrazul de ru\u015fine.
\n\u2013 Deh… Ce s\u0103-i faci, gr\u0103i \u00eentristat Domnul, amintindu-\u015fi de Fiul S\u0103u.
\n\u2013 S-o \u00eenstr\u0103inat Ghiocel.. Umbl\u0103 pistolocu\u2019. S-o dus \u00een Jermania, \u015fi-acolo face tot felul de ciordal\u00eecuri cu al\u0163ii de sama lui.
\n\u2013 Aoleu! \u00cen Germania?! Vezi s\u0103 nu m\u0103 pui \u00een c\u00eerd cu nem\u0163ii \u0103\u015ftia \u015fi cu tot Consiliul Europei.
\nDar Vi\u015finel n-avea habar de Consiliul Europei!
\n\u2013 Ce \u015ftiu eu, Doamne?! Eu \u015ftiu una: nu m\u0103 pot \u0163ine \u015fi pace! Ce pot face?! Ajut\u0103-m\u0103!
\n\u2013 Mergi \u015fi tu la dezalcoolizare.
\n\u2013 Ce dezalcoolizare? C\u00eend ajung acas\u0103, \u00eencep iar. Bunul Dumnezeu c\u0103zu pe g\u00eenduri. C\u0103ut\u0103 apoi \u00eendelung cu privirea Sa atotp\u0103trunz\u0103toare \u00een lumile str\u0103luminate ale \u00eengerilor. Dar nici heruvimii, nici serafimii, nici prestolii din crugul de jos, nici astralii, nici for\u0163ele, nici st\u0103p\u00eenirile, nici temeiurile, nici, \u00een sf\u00eer\u015fit, arhanghelii din crugul de sus nu-i fur\u0103 de nici un folos. To\u0163i erau ocupa\u0163i p\u00een\u0103 peste cap cu lucrul lor \u00eengeresc: ba \u00een Bosnia, ba \u00een Cecenia, ba cu SIDA, ba cu cancerul, ba cu alte n\u0103paste \u015fi molime. Legiunile \u00eengere\u015fti nu dovedeau cu misia lor \u00eemp\u0103ciuitorelnic\u0103; astupau gaura colea \u015fi cr\u0103pa dincolo, c\u0103ci aman s-a mai stricat neamul omenesc. A\u015fa c\u0103 Domnul c\u0103ut\u0103 \u00een popoarele focului, ale apei, ale cerului \u015fi p\u0103m\u00eentului. C\u0103ci elementele s\u00eent locuite de creaturi perfecte cu chip uman: p\u0103m\u00eentul e preaplin, p\u00een\u0103 aproape de centrul s\u0103u, de gnomi, \u00een foc s\u0103l\u0103\u015fluiesc salamandre, fluviile \u015fi m\u0103rile ad\u0103postesc nimfe preafrumoase, aerul muste\u015fte de silfide. \u015ei astfel g\u0103si Domnul \u00een unul din departamentele aerului pe Cimbalion, fiul unei silfide, germinat din abunden\u0163a materiei \u015fi a puterii ei imaginative. Ce abunden\u0163\u0103 \u015fi ce putere imaginativ\u0103 vor fi fost nu se \u015ftie, dar Cimbalion ie\u015fi cam n\u0103vleg \u015fi negricios. Deh, p\u0103tima\u015fe silfidele astea! Cu toate acestea, Cimbalion era iubitor de Dumnezeu \u015fi destoinic \u00een faptele sale \u00eengere\u015fti.. Purta \u00een m\u00een\u0103 dou\u0103 talere de aram\u0103 pe care le z\u0103ng\u0103nea mereu, aduc\u00eend slav\u0103 cam zgomotoas\u0103 lui Dumnezeu. Dup\u0103 ce-i lu\u0103 frumu\u015fel talgerele, \u00eel sf\u0103tui ce \u015fi cum, Domnul \u00eel trimise pe p\u0103m\u00eent la mult p\u0103c\u0103tosul Vi\u015finel.
\n* <\/p>\n
\nD\u0103duse Domnul o toamn\u0103 ghiurghiulie \u015fi cu rod bogat. Vi\u015finel r\u0103v\u0103cea. Era vesel nevoie mare \u015fi se vedea c\u0103 era \u201ecu bomba-n cap\u201d, cum zicea Mari\u0163a lui. Cimbalion, firav \u015fi frumos ca o fat\u0103 mare, intr\u0103 sfios pe poart\u0103. Avea ni\u015fte aripi sub\u0163iri, cum s\u00eent c\u0103m\u015file cepei \u00een anii seceto\u015fi. Erau a\u015fa de str\u0103vezii! Mai c\u0103 nu se vedeau.
\n\u2013 S\u00eent Cimbalion, trimisul Domnului…
\nVi\u015finel r\u0103mase ca tr\u0103snit cu mustul cob\u00eel\u0163\u0103ind \u00een g\u0103leat\u0103:
\n\u2013 Domnu\u2019 Chimbal\u0103 Ion, asta-i cules\u0103tur\u0103 de pe urma oamenilor, s\u0103 \u015fti\u0163i. Nu-i de furat!
\n\u2013 Nu asta-i problema, zise cu sub\u00een\u0163eles Cimbalion.
\n\u2013 Eu, s\u0103 \u015fti\u0163i, \u00een fiecare an culeg de pe urma oamenilor… ce r\u0103m\u00eene… \u015fi v\u00eend pe la oameni. Da\u2019 doamna S\u0103ndica mi-a spus: M\u0103i, Vi\u015finel, tu \u00eemi vinzi poam\u0103 \u015fi pe urm\u0103 tot tu vii \u015fi bei vinul pe banii t\u0103i. De ce nu-\u0163i faci \u015fi tu ni\u015fte vin? Nu mai fac, doamna S\u0103ndica, i-am zis, c\u0103 nu m\u0103 pot \u0163ine \u015fi-l beau tot. M\u0103 pun pe b\u0103ut \u015fi nu m\u0103 las p\u00een\u0103 ce nu-l termin. Da\u2019 pe urm\u0103 m-am g\u00eendit s\u0103 r\u0103v\u0103cesc. C\u0103, oricum, tot beau. Dac\u0103 nu m\u0103 pot \u0163ine! Pofti\u0163i, domnu Chimbal\u0103. Lua\u0163i loc.
\n\u015ei ca prin farmec ap\u0103rur\u0103 dou\u0103 stacane de lut. Asta i-a pus cap\u0103t s\u0103rmanului Cimbalion! Sfios \u015fi supus, nu putu s\u0103 refuze tulburelul ce g\u00eelg\u00eeia de mai mare dragul. \u015ei totul era a\u015fa de frumos! \u00cen cram\u0103 mirosea a doag\u0103 \u015fi a ottonel. Ha\u015fchine de sl\u0103nin\u0103 \u015fi afum\u0103turi at\u00eernau din bagdadie. \u015ei lacomele viespi b\u00eez\u00eeiau a\u015fa de \u00eendr\u0103cit, \u00eenec\u00eendu-se de bun\u0103 voie \u00een m\u0103rgelele ro\u015fii ale mustului\u2026 Pe-ndat\u0103 ochii lui Cimbalion se rotunjir\u0103, iar gura i se \u00eentinse p\u00een\u0103la urechi \u015fi a\u015fa-i r\u0103mase. Mai b\u0103ur\u0103 c\u00eete-o stacan\u0103. Apoi chiuir\u0103, dup\u0103 datin\u0103, la prima g\u0103leat\u0103 de must pus \u00een butoi. Stropii s\u0103reau de-o \u015fchioap\u0103 din leic\u0103, luminile dulci ale toamnei frem\u0103tau ca ni\u015fte ape pe pere\u0163i, iar ei se aplecar\u0103 cu r\u00eevn\u0103 asupra stacanelor, chiuind de data asta dup\u0103 datina de totdeauna a oamenilor be\u0163i.
\n\u2013 S\u0103 bem, m\u0103i Chimbal\u0103, c\u0103 asta ni-i via\u0163a! C\u00eend oi muri eu, n-o s\u0103 se \u015ftie nici m\u0103car la Goroni, peste deal. C\u00eend o muri Iliescu, o s\u0103 \u015ftie toat\u0103 \u0163ara: la am\u00eendoi o s\u0103 ne umple gura cu p\u0103m\u00eent… De-aceea eu nu m\u0103 pot \u0163ine.
\nCimbalion mai bolmoji ceva de \u00eentrajutorare, integrare \u015fi alte lucruri sacre europene, apoi uit\u0103 cu totul ca luat de o lumin\u0103 mare. Dar \u2013 vai! \u2013 lumina nu era nicidecum divin\u0103, iar m\u0103\u0163i\u015foarele sub\u0163iri ca ni\u015fte fundi\u0163e roz ale bietului Cimbalion nu se puteau \u00eentrece cu borh\u0103ile \u00eemb\u00eehlite \u015fi t\u0103b\u0103cite \u00een alcooluri ale lui Vi\u015finel. Fic\u0103\u0163elul lui Cimbalion, deprins numai cu ambr\u0103 \u015fi nectar, se umfl\u0103 p\u00een\u0103 peste poate, cr\u0103p\u0103 \u015fi se f\u0103cu ferfeni\u0163\u0103. Iar pneuma s\u0103rmanului \u00eengera\u015f se \u00een\u0103l\u0163\u0103 \u00een ceruri, la Domnul s\u0103u.
\nCumplit s-a mai m\u00eeniat Bunul Dumnezeu:
\n\u2013 Vi\u015finel, Vi\u015finel, stricatule! Omor\u00eet-ai pre \u00eengerul Meu!
\n\u2013 D\u2019apoi cin\u2019 \u0163i-e de vin\u0103, Doamne, dac\u0103 n-ai trimis pe unul care s\u0103 \u0163in\u0103 la b\u0103utur\u0103? C\u0103 eu, \u0163i am spus, nu m\u0103 pot \u0163ine.
\n\u2013 De b\u0103utur\u0103 l-ai omor\u00eet, apoi \u015fi tu s\u0103 bei p\u00een\u0103 s\u0103 te v\u0103d mort tot a\u015fa, blestem\u0103 Atot\u0163iitorul \u015fi disp\u0103ru, \u00eenchiz\u00eend \u00een urm\u0103-i Por\u0163ile Cerului.
\n*<\/p>\n
\n\u015ei-a \u00eenceput Vi\u015finel s\u0103 bea \u015fi mai crunt. Se-ngrozea \u015fi el c\u00eet de r\u0103u se \u00eendr\u0103cise.
\nIar odat\u0103, \u00een iarn\u0103, dup\u0103 ce a b\u0103ut toat\u0103 ziua prin sat, s-a \u00eentors seara t\u00eerziu acas\u0103. \u00cencet, f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103-l simt\u0103 nevasta, s-a \u00eendreptat c\u0103tre cram\u0103. A aruncat o privire spre cerul de m\u0103tase. \u015ei-a ridicat din nou g\u00eendul p\u00een\u0103 la Dumnezeu \u015fi \u00eenc\u0103 o scar\u0103. Dar stelele \u00eenfipte acolo sus \u00eel priveau obraznic, f\u0103r\u0103 s\u0103-i aline deloc mu\u015fc\u0103turile amarnice ale p\u0103rerii de r\u0103u dup\u0103 Cimbalion. A stat \u00een cram\u0103, l\u00eeng\u0103 butoi, mai multe ceasuri \u015fi a b\u0103ut p\u00een\u0103 n-a mai \u015ftiut de el. Cu greu a reu\u015fit s\u0103 ias\u0103 afar\u0103. Era un ger stra\u015fnic. Vi\u015finel a f\u0103cut c\u00ee\u0163iva pa\u015fi cl\u0103tina\u0163i, apoi, \u00eempiedic\u00eendu-se de cine \u015ftie ce, a c\u0103zut \u015fi, cum nu mai sim\u0163ea nimic, a adormit pe loc. C\u00eet timp va fi stat \u00een z\u0103pad\u0103, numai bunul Dumnezeu \u015ftie, dar de \u00eenghe\u0163at, a \u00eenghe\u0163at bocn\u0103.
\nNevast\u0103-sa \u201ede-al doile\u201d nu \u015fi-a f\u0103cut prea multe griji c\u0103 nu i-a venit b\u0103rbatul acas\u0103. Nu era prima oar\u0103 c\u0103 dormea prin sat. Pe la ora trei din noapte \u00eens\u0103, Mari\u0163a a ie\u015fit afar\u0103 \u201cca omu\u2019\u201d \u015fi a dat peste el: \u00eenghe\u0163at lemn, \u0163eap\u0103n, f\u0103r\u0103 suflare. Mari\u0163a a \u00eenceput s\u0103 strige: \u201eS\u0103ri\u0163i! S\u0103ri\u0163i!\u201d N-o auzea nimeni. A \u00eencercat s\u0103-l t\u00eer\u00eeie \u00een cas\u0103, dar n-a putut: era greu ca o buturug\u0103. Bocind, a alergat la vecini.
\nAu venit mai mul\u0163i \u015fi au b\u0103gat mortul \u00een cas\u0103. Mari\u0163a s-a apucat de bocit, dar o \u0163iganc\u0103 mai b\u0103tr\u00een\u0103, una Tinca Curnapoi, a zis: \u201eM\u0103i, nu-i vreme de bocit. Prima grij\u0103 la mort e s\u0103-l speli c\u00eet \u00eei moale, c\u0103, dac\u0103 \u00een\u0163epene\u015fte, e mai greu\u201d. Zis \u015fi f\u0103cut! Dou\u0103 femei au fugit s\u0103 aduc\u0103 ap\u0103 cald\u0103. Un vecin a mers \u00een cram\u0103 s\u0103 aduc\u0103 o garaf\u0103 cu vin, s\u0103 verse o pic\u0103tur\u0103 pentru r\u0103posat. Plus de asta, casa Mari\u0163ei era ne\u00eenc\u0103lzit\u0103 \u015fi oamenilor le era frig. Au cinstit c\u00eete un pahar \u015fi s-au mai \u00eenc\u0103lzit.
\nFemeile au adus ap\u0103 cald\u0103 \u015fi au v\u0103rsat-o \u00eentr-o balie. \u201eE cam fierbinte\u201d\u2013 a zis cineva. \u201eParc\u0103 mortu\u2019 mai simte c\u0103-i fierbinte sau c\u0103-i rece. De-acum nu-i mai pas\u0103. S\u0103racu\u2019 badea Vi\u015finel, a fost om de treab\u0103. C\u00ee\u0163i ani avea, Mari\u0163o? Dom\u2019le, ce \u0163i-i omul! Azi e\u015fti, m\u00eeine nu mai e\u015fti! O pic\u0103tur\u0103 de ploaie, o r\u0103ceal\u0103 \u2013 \u015fi gata! Ei, las\u0103 c\u0103 \u015fi el… Dumnezeu s\u0103-l ierte, da\u2019 be\u0163iv mai era. Sugea… S\u0103 fi fost rachiu f\u0103cut din c\u00e2cat \u015fi tot l-ar fi b\u0103ut\u201d.
\nPe urm\u0103 l-au dezbr\u0103cat. Chipe\u015f om fusese nea Vi\u015finel. \u015e-acum, la b\u0103tr\u00eene\u0163e, se \u0163inea bine, mo\u015fneagu\u2019! Avea ochi alba\u015ftri, m\u0103-sa \u00eel f\u0103cuse cu un rom\u00e2n. \u00cei pl\u0103cuser\u0103 femeile. Las\u2019 c\u0103 \u015fi ele lui. Ha, ha! O vreme a tr\u0103it cu soacr\u0103-sa, mama primei neveste. Asta-i via\u0163a, c\u00eet tr\u0103ie\u015fti faci p\u0103cate. Dup\u0103 ce mori…
\nL-au b\u0103gat \u00een balie. Un \u0163ig\u0103nu\u015f \u00eel \u0163inea de m\u00eeini, iar ceilal\u0163i au prins cu \u00eencetul, de la cap, s\u0103-l spele. \u00cen momentul \u0103sta, mortul a \u00eenceput s\u0103 mi\u015fte degetele \u015fi s\u0103-l str\u00eeng\u0103 de m\u00een\u0103 pe \u0163ig\u0103nu\u015f. Puradelul a r\u0103cnit c\u00eet a putut \u015fi a zbughit-o pe u\u015f\u0103 afar\u0103. Ceilal\u0163i \u2013 gea! \u2013 dup\u0103 el.
\nVi\u015finel a g\u00eej\u00eeit din balie cu un glas dogit de b\u0103utur\u0103: \u201eSta\u0163i, bre, c\u0103 n-am murit.\u201d Mai tare de \u00eenger, s-a dus dup\u0103 el \u0163iganca cea b\u0103tr\u00een\u0103, Curn\u0103poaia, \u015fi de-acolo a strigat pe cei de afar\u0103: \u201eVeni\u0163i, m\u0103i oameni buni, s\u0103-l scoatem c\u0103 se op\u0103re\u015fte!\u201d L-au scos ei \u015fi l-au fric\u0163ionat cu spirt medicinal. \u015ei cum st\u0103tea \u00eenfofolit \u00een v\u00eerful patului, Vi\u015finel a \u00eenceput s\u0103 se uite la icoana Maicii Domnului de pe peretele dimpotriv\u0103. Maica \u00eei z\u00eembea bl\u00eend. \u201eSe vede c\u0103 Ea m-a ajutat, g\u00eendi Vi\u015finel, c\u0103 doar m-am n\u0103scut a doua oar\u0103 \u00een balia de rufe \u015fi am fost botezat cu ap\u0103 pe cap ca \u015fi Domnul nostru Iisus Hristos, Fiul Ei.\u201d
\n\u2013 Mai pune ni\u015fte ulei \u00een candela asta, fa, Mari\u0163\u0103, fa, strig\u0103 Vi\u015finel.
\n\u2013 D\u2019apoi, Dumnezeu m\u0103 ierte, da\u2019 \u015fi Maica Domnului asta m\u0103n\u00eenc\u0103 o gr\u0103mad\u0103 de ulei, zise cu obid\u0103 Mari\u0163a.
\n\u2013 \u015e-ad\u0103, fa, o leac\u0103 de vin, c\u0103 tot am \u00eenviat! <\/p>\n