Annoyance

The train sped through the darkness. Through the window, the plains of the West, frozen in the great white embrace of winter, shimmered under a round moon. The biting cold from outside did not spare the compartment, and I shivered, frustrated that the railways, after so many years, had not resolved this issue. At one point, breaking my solitude, the door creaked, announcing the presence of a short, stout man wearing a ridiculous bowler hat.

- What a bitter cold, it's unimaginable! Can you believe that the temperature inside the entire car doesn't exceed eight degrees! I attempted to inform the conductor, but he remains utterly nonexistent. In fact, it appears that besides you, there is no one else in this train. Therefore, if you don't mind, I think the two of us will feel less cold in this compartment.

I reluctantly nodded without responding, fearing from experience the futility of a pointless debate. Disheartened, the other shook himself off before sitting down and sulking in furious silence, loudly flipping through a newspaper on his lap. For a minute or two, I tried to return to some concerns that I wished to resolve in the peace and quiet of my thoughts. However, it proved itself impossible as the audacious one blissfully settled into his place, persistently rereading the newspaper from the beginning after finishing it. Hoping to naturally convey my anger to him, I stared at him heavily. His features, at first ordinary, were nevertheless the kind that, when given a hint of attention, could not be easily forgotten.

To say that he was ugly would have been far too simple and ultimately a cowardly reduction of a truly distressing description. For a moment, I was tempted to avert my gaze, and several times, indecisively, I blinked my eyes. The other person, without raising his own, imperceptibly formed a smile, already convinced of his victory. Did he really believe that to be so? Gathering my composure, persisting, I fixed my gaze on him again, dismissing my initial aversion. The man, almost dwarf-like, had a bulging, bony forehead with thick blue veins pulsating beneath a yellowish skin. Sagging eyelids supported bulging eyes, and an indecently large nose sharply interrupted the asymmetry of his face, as one ear was indeed lower than the other. The lips, which could have been beautiful if deep creases of bitterness had not tarnished them, were also marred by irregular teeth. Lastly, the lower part of his face was desperately disfigured by a receding chin, lost in the fatty tremors of a flabby goiter. The ensemble certainly conveyed an age, but which one? Thirty, forty, fifty years, maybe more? Faced with such a margin of error, I ruled that he had none!

- I hope I'm not bothering you? The hypocrite had spoken, finally raising his head. I politely forced a smile and replied:

- Not really, but it seems that this newspaper is not up to your expectations!

His face lit up and it looked less unsightly.

- Ah Sir, I see that you are an observer, but think again, it is not it that is in question. It turns out that buying it a while ago, the seller, certainly by mistake, gave me the one from yesterday and I have already read this one.

- Such bad luck!

Indeed. It was also my case, the only prey in this endless night, I was almost sure now that he would never let go of me. Besides, stopping his annoying merry-go-round, he slapped a heavily gold-ringed hand in the middle of a double page spread.

 - Have you seen this? The Government is imposing taxes once again, and this time in the name of national solidarity. Giving to the poor so that they are no longer poor seems to be, in the eyes of the State, the simplistic sole role of the wealthy; a grand principle indeed! What are your thoughts on this?

What did he want me to think about it? I had just returned from the West, where, in search of fortune and adventure, I had worked hard for two years and achieved very little as a gold prospector, and for once this tax did not concern me. I told him so. A constrained pout was his only response, and for a long and soothing moment, he remained silent. Unfortunately, if the perception of our class differences had momentarily driven away his sad inclination towards discussion, it quickly resurfaced.

- And there, are you aware of this story?

"Duel in Kansas City: the sheriff gets angry!"

I read it slowly, savoring the offered respite. The article dealt with a mundane incident. It was the story of a poor fellow who, throughout his mediocrely honest life, had finally, tired of his forties, decided to end it all. In a drunken state, he foolishly provoked a former gun-slinging glory who, disarmed, refused to fight. The unexceptional man, disregarding this, cowardly killed him, thus definitively etching himself into history. Unfortunately, he had not accounted for the sheriff, the saloon owner's brother-in-law, who, very displeased at losing the main attraction of the saloon, simply gunned down the "madman" with several rifle shots in the back.

- So, what do you say this time?

I wasn't interested in debating with the dwarf. Nevertheless, I said to him, returning his newspaper:

- It is obviously often for this kind of inglorious purpose that this type of adventurer must be prepared.

With a dramatic gesture, the troll nervously dismissed my statement.

- Of course, of course, but that is not the main point; the important thing in the end is that the force has returned to the law! This once again proves, if it was necessary, that the era of gunslingers and their so-called 'impunity' to kill is finally over!

My God, how he infuriated me! And the saddest part in all this is that he was right; the world was changing, too quickly for my taste. Just recently, upon my arrival in the city, the authorities, now in uniforms, had firmly made it clear that in order to avoid trouble, it would be better for me to no longer carry weapons as I continued towards the East. Disgusted and with a heavy heart, I had reluctantly decided to sell my faithful six-shooter, my rifle, and even my Indian dagger for a measly price.

- Don’t you think?

Oh but why did he need me to play questions and answers! I suddenly felt the urge to contradict him, that's what he wanted, to occupy his time, but now I was ready to give him a run for his money.

- You do not believe Sir, that like everything constituting the multiplicity of the universe and of nature, by very definition, the possibility of a constancy and total notion of "impunity" can also exist?

Rolling his eyes, he burst into joyful laughter, puffing up his cheeks:

- Young man, let us be serious. In our organized society, this notion, perfectly ridiculous, is now more than inconceivable. It has been a long time since the states of the North and South rejected the principle of self-defense: a fallacious argument under which your desperados hid their sad dexterity. Today, things are simple: killing one's neighbor, in a duel or not, with a butcher knife or a revolver, even if it has an ivory handle, is rightly considered a crime, and that’s the end of it.

Satisfied, he paused for a moment. I was about to respond, but he continued:

- Moreover, let us be honest and accept the evidence: the concept of a gesture being free has never truly existed, except in popular legends. Settling scores has always concealed a motive, and that motive has invariably been financial. Let's admit it: money always remains the ultimate driving force behind conflicts!

I seethed with anger. He was right, of course, well, only to a large extent...

- I admit that most crimes are linked to a motive, money or sometimes simply revenge but...

- Ah! You see, you see!

The monster was exultant. As for me, despite a smoldering anger, I remained seemingly calm and added:

- Wait, you're not taking into consideration the cases, rare I admit, where there are no such boomerang motives.

- No motive?

Perplexed, he stood there with his mouth unpleasantly agape.

- Yes, no motive, at least those commonly accepted. Would you consider the accomplishment of an unpunished crime, thus perfect, to be precisely a good motive?

- But that's absurd!

Heated by the discussion, I stood up.

- Not that much, wait and you'll surely understand ...

But first, I needed air. I opened the compartment window, of course not leaning out. A freezing but bracing wind swept inside.

 - You're crazy, we're going to catch a cold, close that window, now lad!

- It won't take long, and I assure you that you won't catch a cold. But instead, look at the sides, those impressive snowdrifts that resemble billions of crystallized diamonds under the moonlight. It's truly magnificent!

- I do not see any connection between your sudden poetic states of mind and what concerns us, except that now I am freezing and it is your fault!

 I took a deep breath one last time before answering.

- You haven't understood anything, what a shame... Well, know that here, my only aversion to your person is my mobile. As for the crime, don't worry, it will be perfectly UNPUNISHED!

Abruptly, I lifted the panicked dwarf and without hesitation, I forcefully hurled him outside. Despite the roaring wind, as he fell, I deliciously perceived the dull sound of a splattered watermelon. I then closed the window and sat back down, satisfied.

After a few moments, as I was bored, I opened the newspaper lying on the bench. It was from the previous day, but I hadn't read it...