Bitch Rattles

The year is nineteen eighty-three. Times of the near future and the “wonderful far away” that has arrived. We always dreamed that life in the future would be better. We hoped. We believed. We still believe it—no matter what. A cruel winter has come, and we believe that summer will be warm and autumn will bring an unprecedented harvest. War has begun, and we believe it will end. Toxic substances have fallen out—well, at least go look what a robust cabbage has grown in the garden. There is good in life, there’s something to be glad about, and it doesn’t matter that on the countryside nobody has heard about state power for half a century—still, the villagers remain faithful to local traditions. Every spring, all young and unmarried boys are sent to try their luck at a young men’s pastime, to show their heroic strength and prove to the neighbors that their home village is the strongest of all. Forward—Hellions. Everyone to Zaruba! And those who stay on their feet will get the prettiest girls.