Paradise lost

April 10, 1985

Graz

5:00 pm

After finishing up clearing the tables outside the pub, Walter made his way back inside. Upon entering, he spotted Emma engaged in a lively conversation with a couple of British tourists, accompanied by a weary little girl who clung to her father's pants, fighting against the pull of sleep. Walter waved to his sister, indicating that he was going to take his break. She responded with a wink before he stepped out to find a seat at one of the tables and lit a cigarette.

With his legs stretched out in front of him, Walter embraced the brief moment of tranquility before the peaceful atmosphere, brought by the tourist clientele seeking respite after a day of sightseeing, gradually gave way to the lively crowd of nighttime revelers. Knowing that Sirius wouldn't arrive until later and Hans was away in Hamburg for work, while Áurea was occupied at the gym, he found himself sitting alone, quietly smoking.

In the midst of his solitude, a sharp sensation prodded at his back. Walter turned his neck to investigate and discovered the little girl, gazing at him intently with a serious expression on her face.

Walter flashed a smile at her and inquired, "Is there anything I can assist you with?"

With an arched eyebrow, she retorted, "No, thank you. But do you know what you're doing, mister?"

Walter glanced perplexedly at his empty table and then back at her, shaking his head as he replied, "I'm sorry... I don't understand what you mean."

Letting out a sigh, the little girl rolled her eyes and pointed her finger at the cigarette nestled between his fingers. "I'm talking about that! Do you even know what it does to you and the whole wide world?"

Walter chuckled and responded, "Oh... Don't worry, it's not weed. It's just a cigarette."

"It's worse! Put it out!" the girl exclaimed, hands on her hips.

"Shouldn't you be inside with your parents instead of talking to strangers?" Walter inquired.

"Put it out!" she repeated.

Walter chuckled once more and extinguished his cigarette in the ashtray, remarking, "The customer is always right! Happy now?"

"Thank you! Do you know what that does to you?" the little girl asked.

"Well... It's cool and helps me relax," Walter replied.

"Cool and relaxing, huh? Well, guess what? It turns your teeth yellow, then black, and they might even fall out! It makes your lungs sick, so breathing becomes tough! And yucky smells stick to your mouth and hands too!" The little girl explained.

"Come on, it's just a cigarette..." Walter insisted.

"It's poison! Do you know what they put in it?" the little girl challenged, while Walter discreetly scanned the area for her parents.

"I already told you... Tobacco," Walter responded.

The little girl sneered and continued, "No way! Inside, there's nicotine, which they use to zap bugs and insects. Methanol, like the fuel for rockets. Tar, like what they use on roads. And there's lead, naphthalene, hexamine, and arsenic, all things that can harm rats! It even has gasoline and ammonia in it!" she counted off on her fingers.

"I had no... How do you know all this?" Walter asked, his brow furrowed.

"My mom and dad told me! They're dentists, so they know better than you!" the girl declared.

"And you've memorized all that?" Walter questioned.

"Yes... I even have a book at home about it. I would have lent it to you if we were in London," she replied.

"You're from London? What a small world! My best friend is from there too!" Walter exclaimed.

"Well, in London, there are more than eight million people, so it's not really surprising to meet someone from there outside the city. If I were from Nauru, I'd be super amazed to find another Nauruan here in Austria. But that's not what's happening, and you shouldn't try to avoid the topic... Do you get how much harm you're doing to the world by smoking?" she asked.

"The world, really?" Walter raised an eyebrow and smiled.

"Have you ever heard about ozone depletion?" the little girl asked.

"The what?" Walter asked, frowning.

"Of course, you haven't... It's what protects us from the sun's radiation. Without it, we would all die!" the little girl said.

"And me smoking a cigarette is destroying it?" Walter asked.

"Yes, well, indirectly... You are helping to its destruction! Along with all the people who smoke, drive cars, use planes, and the factories that pollute the air, among others!" she replied.

"Really? Tell me, how old are you?" Walter asked.

"I'm five," she replied.

"Okay... So, to travel from England to Austria, did you walk to the shore, then swim to France before walking all the way to Graz? Or did your parents drive to the airport, then get on a plane before taking a bus to Graz?" Walter asked.

The little girl intended to reply directly but caught herself and stared at him silently for a brief moment before Walter smiled at her and said, "Let's agree on a good old 'it's more complicated than it sounds.'"

"But if everyone was aware of the danger, we would use a cleaner way to travel!" the girl said.

"Yeah... You might be right... Listen, I promise I'll quit smoking and one day get... um... a flying carpet…Or better, an electric car that doesn't pollute. Would that make you happy?" Walter asked.

"Don't do it to make me happy. Do it for your own good and because it's the right thing to do!" she replied.

"You have my word... Alright, how about you go see Emma and ask for some chocolate milk or an ice cream, and put it on my tab?" Walter suggested, nodding toward the pub.

"I'm not allowed to eat chocolate, candy, ice cream, drink sodas, or anything that has sugar. And even if it were a case of emergency, my toothbrush is in the hotel," she replied.

"What the... Why?" Walter asked.

"Because of cavities, of course!" she said, rolling her eyes.

"Okay... What about a glass of water instead? Are you allowed?" Walter asked.

The little girl glared at him before turning her back and walking away towards the pub, while Walter called after her, "Come back! I was just kidding!" before whispering to himself, "Five years old... Good luck making friends like that."


April 15th, 1985

Graz:

Emma finished mopping the floor of the pub and handed over the responsibility of closing to Sirius and Walter before heading off to her class. Walter stepped outside to gather the scattered tables and chairs, while Sirius diligently wiped the counter. Just then, an elderly man walked into the pub. He removed his beret, ran a hand through his snowy white hair, glanced around the room, and then made his way directly to the counter with a warm smile on his face.

" Would you be kind to serve me a large pint, please?" The man asked him.

"Sorry, sir! I'm afraid we're closed," Sirius replied.

"Oh...My apologies!" the man replied, smiling back at Walter, who came back inside carrying a table, before bending toward him and saying, " Is there a way you could do me a favor? I just argued with my wife, and I could use a cold beer to help me chose my words before heading back home"

"Common, Evan! Be kind to the man! Knowing my sister, you might find yourself in his position someday!" Walter said, sitting on one of the high stools beside them.

"You know I'll tell her you said that, right?" Sirius asked Walter.

"But… The bro code!" Walter said, outraged.

"I don't care!" Sirius said, leaning against the counter, wincing.

"You know what? I'm going to show you how much I'm a better man than you! Sir, of course, we'll serve you, and it'll be on the house," Walter said to the man.

"That's very kind of you, but I can pay," the old man said to Walter shaking his head.

"I insist!" Walter said while Sirius placed a large pint in front of the man, along with a bowl of salty nuts.

Walter switched on the television and chatted with the man while he slowly drank his pint until the mood went down when the late news program started talking about the horrible murder of a young woman, that had happened a week ago in south Germany.

"It's the third girl they find murdered after that poor kid in Stuttgart...What's taking them so long the bust the killer? Are they even looking for the motherfucker?" Walter asked, glaring at the screen.

"I'm sure the authorities are doing their best to catch whoever is responsible... But unfortunately, the most dangerous killers are not so because of the brutality of their crimes. but for their ability to be unpredictable and blend in any environment. Would you agree with me on this point, Mr. Black?" The man asked coldly, putting down his pint on the counter and licking the mousse on his lips.

The smiles on Sirius and Walter's faces faded in an instant as time seemed to freeze. Sirius witnessed the man stupefy Walter with astonishing speed, raising his wand toward him. Sirius stood there, motionless, his eyes fixed on the sudden burst of red lightning that erupted from the man's wand, before collapsing unconscious onto the floor.