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Steve Bishop, installation view of the exhibition
Deliquescing, installation in five parts, KW Institute for
Contemporary Art, Berlin, 2018, photo: Frank Sperling
Courtesy the artist and Carlos/Ishikawa, London
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DELIQUESCING
CURATOR ANNA GRITZ
ASSISTANT CURATOR MAURIN DIETRICH
KW INSTITUTE FOR CONTEMPORARY ART BERLIN
3 NOV 18 – 6 JAN 19
“I like to remember things my own way. How I remembered them, not necessarily the way they happened.” Fred Madison, Lost Highways.
Memory betrays, deceives. We all know this. Reality is constantly manipulated, rewritten, even invented. The truth is stretched from one side to the other. It's even ourselves to deceive ourselves. In some cases the memory slips away like water in a tap drain. But what are we without our memories?In the exhibition Deliquescing the British artist Steve Bishop speaks of memory through its alteration par excellence: Alzheimer's disease.
The exhibition, curated by Anna Gritz and co-curated by Maurin Dietrich, consists of a large site-specific installation. The entire KW's floor is transformed into a simulated waiting room for a paradoxical laboratory. The entrance to the rooms is obstructed by plastic curtains. As soon as you enter the space a spectral atmosphere envelops you. A soft and opaque moist is embracing everything.
In the first room there is a wall covered with shelve which exposes a line of big rocks, wrapped in plastic, with small numbers on them, probably a date. On some of the rocks, puffy white mushrooms have flourished. They seems to have healing properties for Alzheimer's disease. As a matter of fact, these mushrooms are created by a particular mold that, thanks to the humidity, exudes a liquid that becomes the white puffy fungus. The exhibition refers precisely to the transforming capability of memory that fluidly takes different forms.
Next to the wall with the mushroom, there is a small monitor where it scrolls a report of a woman in an early phase of Alzheimer's. The woman tells her experience and her feelings about being ill and about her relationship with her mother, who was also ill. She explains that she often pretends to recognise people when she talks to them. And when she was a child she used to lie to her mother, when she "forgot" her father's death, making up a story just to make her happy.
In the next room, a film shows a deserted town in northern Canada, built in 1981 to house the workers of a nearby mine and then abandoned in 1983. Nowadays only a guardian lives there. His job is to prevent nature from taking over, in a constant effort not to fall into oblivion. In the corridors between the two spaces a thin transparent curtain is covering the original KW's walls. Through we could see some photos of the abandoned town. Near the exit, two huge freezers keeps the large moldy rocks.
These rocks are not our memories, but the emotions that anchor us to them. The whole installation of Bishop is a bit of a reproduction of our inner state. Feelings are resting in a corner ready to be defrosted. But once outside, exposed to the mistiness of thought and life they are transformed and liquefied, producing something else.
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The man without memory
Short Story
By Elda Oreto
Night was slowly covering the artic tundra. The sound of howling filled the narrow hallway. It was the
wind that seemed to be mocking the full moon.
wind that seemed to be mocking the full moon.
Teo woke up in the middle of the night out of the town. Like the last time, he could not remember
anything of what had happened to him. All that he could recollect was the very strong feeling that
something horrible had just happened to him, that he had done something very bad and that he had to
hide from everybody. And especially from the police. He also felt scared for his family. Where were
they now? How were they? He could not remember where his wife Emma and his newborn son Tom
were.
anything of what had happened to him. All that he could recollect was the very strong feeling that
something horrible had just happened to him, that he had done something very bad and that he had to
hide from everybody. And especially from the police. He also felt scared for his family. Where were
they now? How were they? He could not remember where his wife Emma and his newborn son Tom
were.
As he was trying to remember what had happened, Teo saw a couple of men with a light coming in his
direction. He did not think twice and started to run.
direction. He did not think twice and started to run.
The men were after him and they had dogs with them. He was running as fast as he could but he could
feel that them were closing in on him. As he kept running, he partially turned to see where they were
when he hit something hard and lost consciousness. As he was slipping away, his last memory was of
falling gently downward and landing on something soft.
feel that them were closing in on him. As he kept running, he partially turned to see where they were
when he hit something hard and lost consciousness. As he was slipping away, his last memory was of
falling gently downward and landing on something soft.
When he regained consciousness, it was after many days and nights. Even then, everything was just a
long, jumbled sequence of distorted feelings, nightmares, strong emotions and fearful thoughts. In
between the hallucinations there were a few flashes when reality entered his senses: he saw a face
coming closer to him, a blond woman who was unknown to him; he heard the laughter of children. A
tall bearded man. Then he fell into a long dream again.
long, jumbled sequence of distorted feelings, nightmares, strong emotions and fearful thoughts. In
between the hallucinations there were a few flashes when reality entered his senses: he saw a face
coming closer to him, a blond woman who was unknown to him; he heard the laughter of children. A
tall bearded man. Then he fell into a long dream again.
Finally, he woke one morning. It happened suddenly, abruptly.
The sun shone brightly into the room and he could feel a warm breeze coming from the sea. The aroma
of meat soup wafted in from the next room.
of meat soup wafted in from the next room.
He looked around him trying to figure out where he was when suddenly two people came running into
the room.
the room.
He tried to jump out of the bed, which was too big and too tall for his small almost childish figure. The
two, a couple, were already at the border of his bed and they were trying to reassure him:
two, a couple, were already at the border of his bed and they were trying to reassure him:
“Stay calm, don’t worry,” the warm sweet female voice said soothingly. Her long and thin blond hair
gave off the scent of aloe and chamomile, while her vest had the rude smell of reindeer skin.
gave off the scent of aloe and chamomile, while her vest had the rude smell of reindeer skin.
On the other side of the bed, a man was standing. To describe him as huge would not have been
enough: ‘He is as big as a two-door wardrobe’ Teo thought.
enough: ‘He is as big as a two-door wardrobe’ Teo thought.
He was tall and strong, with a brown beard and brown hair, and very blue, intense, eyes.
When he spoke, his voice was incredibly peaceful: “Please stay calm, you were injured and we found
you unconscious few days.” There was a rumbling quality about his deep voice. “You need to rest,” he
added.
you unconscious few days.” There was a rumbling quality about his deep voice. “You need to rest,” he
added.
Unfortunately for Teo, he could not remember anything at all.
He tried to speak but he felt his strength missing and fell asleep again.
When he woke up the second time, the blond lady was sitting near him on a rocking chair and she was
knitting a cover. It was one of that covers made of little waves of many colors. Teo had decided to
escape, but he thought of giving a chance to these people. He would try to trust them. The Lady was
knitting and she did not notice that he was just waking up.
knitting a cover. It was one of that covers made of little waves of many colors. Teo had decided to
escape, but he thought of giving a chance to these people. He would try to trust them. The Lady was
knitting and she did not notice that he was just waking up.
He threw a look around the room. He saw the wooden wall and the well-crafted furniture that filled the
room, the decorations, the reindeer’s horns on one wall and, a big commode with a mirror and a small
chimney. It looked like a cabin, to be precise, a hunter’s cabin. When his green eyes came to rest on the
lady back again she was looking at him, almost paralyzed, but still rocking the chair. She was smiling
as she looked at Teo with her huge brown eyes. He was impressed; there was something that he could
understand about her. He thought that he should have been scared as he always was with strangers.
room, the decorations, the reindeer’s horns on one wall and, a big commode with a mirror and a small
chimney. It looked like a cabin, to be precise, a hunter’s cabin. When his green eyes came to rest on the
lady back again she was looking at him, almost paralyzed, but still rocking the chair. She was smiling
as she looked at Teo with her huge brown eyes. He was impressed; there was something that he could
understand about her. He thought that he should have been scared as he always was with strangers.
“Good morning! How do you feel today?” she asked with the same warm tone as before.
“Good!” Teo answered sitting up in bed. “Where am I?”
“You are in a cabin near the coast. You are safe, don’t worry. We took good care of you! You will be
fine. My name is Martha.”
fine. My name is Martha.”
“My name is Teo. How did you find me?”
“My husband, Jason, probably you remember him, found you in the valley. He was there hunting. We
are hunters,” she interrupted herself and smiled and went on, “He saw you lying on the ground covered
in blood and he brought you home. You have been injured when you arrived here: some broken ribs,
and a gunshot wound. You had hit your head.”
are hunters,” she interrupted herself and smiled and went on, “He saw you lying on the ground covered
in blood and he brought you home. You have been injured when you arrived here: some broken ribs,
and a gunshot wound. You had hit your head.”
“How long have I been here?”
“Almost two weeks,” she said and smiled again; her smile radiated a bright inner light “but, of course,
you are no trouble. We are happy to help people!”
you are no trouble. We are happy to help people!”
Teo felt so confused. His head hurt when he tried to figure out things and he did not know how to
manage this.
manage this.
Martha seemed to understand this and added:
“Well, it’s a lot for you to process now, I know. I will warm up the dinner, so tonight you will eat with
us at our table if you like.”
us at our table if you like.”
She left the room and Teo felt lost. He looked around and saw that on the chair close to his bed they
had kept some clothes, folded up, waiting to be put on.
had kept some clothes, folded up, waiting to be put on.
He stood up and walked to the lavatory and stood by the window and in that moment, he saw in the
mirror reflection on the commode, two little eyes peering at him from behind the door. He turned
around quickly and the eyes disappeared. Instead he heard the excited laughter of children. After a few
seconds three children, two boys and a girl, looking almost identical with brown hair and blue eyes, ran
full speed into the room and jumped directly on the bed. They seemed to have a lot of fun!
mirror reflection on the commode, two little eyes peering at him from behind the door. He turned
around quickly and the eyes disappeared. Instead he heard the excited laughter of children. After a few
seconds three children, two boys and a girl, looking almost identical with brown hair and blue eyes, ran
full speed into the room and jumped directly on the bed. They seemed to have a lot of fun!
They started to ask in unison: “ Who are you? A stranger in pajamas!” and then they laughed.
Suddenly Martha’s voice came from the other room: “Elias, Susanne, Mathias! come here, please, leave ‘him’ in peace!”
The three children obediently ran out from the room and disappeared.
Teo dressed quickly and sat on the bed waiting. His skinny figure looked even skinnier in those clothes. Evidently, they belonged to Jason.
After some time, Martha’s shouted, “Come in, food’s ready!” She was calling to Teo.
When he came out of the room there was a straight corridor that overlooked several tiny rooms: a
couple bedrooms, a triplet’s bedroom, a small living room and finally the kitchen. He could smell it!
It was the mouth-watering smell of meat and sauce with potatoes.
couple bedrooms, a triplet’s bedroom, a small living room and finally the kitchen. He could smell it!
It was the mouth-watering smell of meat and sauce with potatoes.
The family was waiting for him: they were sitting around a table that looked strangely short in
comparison with the people seated around it. It was as if they were dining at the children’s table.
Actually, Teo thought that the entire cabin looked uncommonly disproportionate.
comparison with the people seated around it. It was as if they were dining at the children’s table.
Actually, Teo thought that the entire cabin looked uncommonly disproportionate.
Teo entered and politely said,” Good evening”
A children’s choir answered: “Good evening!”
Martha stood up and came close to him to show him the only empty chair in the table: “Please sit with
us, you are welcome!”
us, you are welcome!”
“Thank You!”
In front of him, at the other side of the table was Jason. He stood with both of his huge hands spread on
the table. He looked like a big triangle, on his left were two children and on his right Martha and one of
the boys.
the table. He looked like a big triangle, on his left were two children and on his right Martha and one of
the boys.
Jason was simply standing there and looking at him straight in the eye. He did not move. He did not
say a word but he looked royal and quiet, almost indifferent.
say a word but he looked royal and quiet, almost indifferent.
He stood like this for nearly five minutes. Everybody was waiting. Teo thought that Jason’s royal
silence showed a kind of distrust mixed with curiosity.
silence showed a kind of distrust mixed with curiosity.
Finally, he got into his chair with a slow movement and all the three children ravenously ate the meal
before them.
before them.
Jason was eating calmly, but he did not look so hungry. Finally Teo broke the ice:
“I would like to thank you for your kind hospitality. Had it not been for you, I would probably be dead
right now.”
right now.”
Jason smiled, as though Teo had said the best thing a man could hear and answered:
“You are welcome! Please feel at home! We are happy to help people in need!”
“This food is delicious, my compliments Martha”
“Oh, that’s just home food,” she said evidently thrilled.
Teo started to feel more and more confident. These people, who looked like the handsome and perfect
family of the area, were a kind of shy too.
family of the area, were a kind of shy too.
“And thank you for the clothes,” Teo added.
“Yours were not in good condition at all,” said the little boy sitting on the left.
Jason smiled and started to talk:
“He is Mathias, and they are Susanne and Elias our triplets. They are just a few years old, but they are
growing fast. Your clothes were quite unusable, but they are still there if you want them back. We kept
them together with the wallet and everything else you had on you is untouched.”
growing fast. Your clothes were quite unusable, but they are still there if you want them back. We kept
them together with the wallet and everything else you had on you is untouched.”
“Thanks!” Teo suddenly felt confused because his mind was playing tricks on him and not allowing
him not to remember events or people.
him not to remember events or people.
Jason noticed this and started to speak again:
“Do you have a family?”
Teo looked in front of him, but he was lost in his thoughts, quite distracted from the conversation
before him.
before him.
Then his mind cleared a little. He shook his head and began:
“ I…I had a family. A wife and a baby…”
The family stopped eating and all eyes were on him. They were sitting in front of him waiting to hear
his story, but Teo was lost in his silence again.
his story, but Teo was lost in his silence again.
“I am sorry” said Jason “ are you all right?”
“I am fine – said Teo – just some … I have to tell you something. I have a special mental condition,
nothing bad, but something that confuses me a lot.
nothing bad, but something that confuses me a lot.
I do not have a normal memory. In fact, I have a rare special mental disorder that does not allow me to
remember accidents properly. In fact, I cannot remember those events at all. I have an associative
memory. More or less like the one that dogs and other animals have. I can remember things, people,
and places, by association with pleasure and displeasure.
remember accidents properly. In fact, I cannot remember those events at all. I have an associative
memory. More or less like the one that dogs and other animals have. I can remember things, people,
and places, by association with pleasure and displeasure.
The world for me is divided into good places, good people, good situations, and bad things.
I cannot keep track of events in their succession in time.
My memory places events, good or bad, everywhere around me without any continuity between past
and present.
and present.
I cannot recall events from my life, accidental events, as for example, where I parked my car or where
is the road that will bring me home. Mine is an associative memory. I can only associate people, place,
and situations…” he stopped and looked around to the faces on the table.
is the road that will bring me home. Mine is an associative memory. I can only associate people, place,
and situations…” he stopped and looked around to the faces on the table.
The children were eating again and Jason and Martha did not look particularly shocked by his condition.
So he went on, “My condition created me some trouble during my life, problems with my family and I
went into depression…”
went into depression…”
“Ok! But now it is over,” Jason interrupted him. You are going to be fine. Think of what you have now
in front of you. As you said there is nothing that you can do about that. It’s your way of being and if
you arrived at this point, things are probably going to work out.”
in front of you. As you said there is nothing that you can do about that. It’s your way of being and if
you arrived at this point, things are probably going to work out.”
Then he smiled and started to talk to the children and his wife about the daily routine.
Teo was impressed at the way they accepted him and his condition. They were so nice at the same time.
Teo decided to ask them some questions about their lives. So he broke into the chorus of talking voices and asked:
Teo decided to ask them some questions about their lives. So he broke into the chorus of talking voices and asked:
“What about you? Do you live here permanently? How long have you lived here?”
“You are asking a lot of questions,” Jason laughed and looked into his dish. Then he went on talking:
“We come from a land far away. We don’t have a fixed home; we are constantly on the move. Now we
are here and next we are there”
are here and next we are there”
“What about the children? Are they going to school?”
“Sure,” Jason answered, “for now Martha is taking great care of them. She is teaching them almost
everything, how to thrive and survive in a hostile environment. How to hunt and be almost invincible,”
Jason said jokingly.
everything, how to thrive and survive in a hostile environment. How to hunt and be almost invincible,”
Jason said jokingly.
Teo thought that those words sounded out of proportion and in an odd way reminded him of the
ill-proportioned furniture around the cabin.
ill-proportioned furniture around the cabin.
Martha smiled at Teo and Jason went on
“They grow up so fast.”
“What about you? What is your job?” Teo carried on questioning.
“We are hunters,” Jason said looking surprised and intimidated. But he managed to recover himself and
replied diffidently, “ We live by hunting, mostly, and fishing, let’s put it like that!”
replied diffidently, “ We live by hunting, mostly, and fishing, let’s put it like that!”
A few seconds passed, and then Jason asked,
“So do you think that we had passed your test?”
Teo smiled. In the end it was the only thing that he had. Besides his shattered memories, they had taken
care of him and protected him from danger and probably from himself. He had to let go of his distrust
and open the door of his heart.
care of him and protected him from danger and probably from himself. He had to let go of his distrust
and open the door of his heart.
***
Week after week passed by in that small cabin near the coast. Teo and his new family seemed to get
along very well.
along very well.
He could feel close to them more than to anybody else he had ever met.
They seemed to understand him deeply and they never asked too many questions.
The days went by with a simple routine: Jason went off to hunt and Martha took the children around.
All day they wandered near the coast or up to the spiky mountains. Some days she taught them to swim,
Teo was spending a lot of time with the kids. They were so cute; they wanted to play all the time.
All day they wandered near the coast or up to the spiky mountains. Some days she taught them to swim,
Teo was spending a lot of time with the kids. They were so cute; they wanted to play all the time.
That evening Teo was in his small bedroom but that night he could not sleep. Every time he closed
his eyes he could see his wife and his newborn son. He felt like he had lost his chance now and he was
so sad he just could not sleep. As he lay tossing and turning, he heard a sound coming from outside.
It was the strange moaning that cats make when they are fighting. But it was magnified and sounded
louder, fiercer.
his eyes he could see his wife and his newborn son. He felt like he had lost his chance now and he was
so sad he just could not sleep. As he lay tossing and turning, he heard a sound coming from outside.
It was the strange moaning that cats make when they are fighting. But it was magnified and sounded
louder, fiercer.
In the darkness of his room, Teo got up from the bed and stole to the window to have a look.
There were two huge polar bears outside. They looked like they were fighting. They were standing in
front of each other, locking eyes with each other and the smaller one pushed the other away with its paw.
front of each other, locking eyes with each other and the smaller one pushed the other away with its paw.
It was a scary scene and Teo’s first thought was to grab a rifle and go outside and shoot them. But then,
the thought quickly came, why? They were not trying to get into the cabin or to hurt him. On the
contrary the smaller polar bear was standing in front of the door as if to protect the entrance. Teo
peered through the window and finally he saw why. There were three small cubs hiding behind their
mother.
the thought quickly came, why? They were not trying to get into the cabin or to hurt him. On the
contrary the smaller polar bear was standing in front of the door as if to protect the entrance. Teo
peered through the window and finally he saw why. There were three small cubs hiding behind their
mother.
The mother was trying to protect the cubs from the male.
At this point, Teo took one of the rifles and went outside and shot into the air to scare them. The polar
bear turned to look into his direction and after that they ran away in opposite directions.
bear turned to look into his direction and after that they ran away in opposite directions.
Teo felt relieved and proud of himself at the same time. But in that moment itself he realized that he
was alone in the house. Nobody else had come to peer at the window woken up by the shot of the rifle.
What the hell was happening? Teo thought, where was everybody?
was alone in the house. Nobody else had come to peer at the window woken up by the shot of the rifle.
What the hell was happening? Teo thought, where was everybody?
He looked around the cabin that was shrouded in darkness. Nobody was there. He went back to his
room, dressed, took a torch and some bullets for the rifle and went to investigate. Where were Jason
and his family? Could they have been attacked and eaten by polar bears? If that was true he should be
able to find the remains of the bodies. If they were outdoors, what they were doing anyway outside in
the darkness? He should have heard them going outside. He made a long tour of the area close to the
cabin and then returned to his room. It was almost dawn and he saw that the polar bears were back and
now they were hanging out in front of the cabin. They were not fighting anymore. Teo jumped behind a
bush to hide. After few minutes something incredible happened in front of his eyes.
room, dressed, took a torch and some bullets for the rifle and went to investigate. Where were Jason
and his family? Could they have been attacked and eaten by polar bears? If that was true he should be
able to find the remains of the bodies. If they were outdoors, what they were doing anyway outside in
the darkness? He should have heard them going outside. He made a long tour of the area close to the
cabin and then returned to his room. It was almost dawn and he saw that the polar bears were back and
now they were hanging out in front of the cabin. They were not fighting anymore. Teo jumped behind a
bush to hide. After few minutes something incredible happened in front of his eyes.
The four Polar bears started to shake and tremble as though they were having seizures: all of them the
big two bears and the three small bears were attacked by seizures until it ended with a strange dull
sound that left Teo stunned. Before his very eyes, the polar bears were turning into something else,
into humans. Martha, Jason, Elias, Susanne, Mathias stood at the door. Teo fainted from the sight. He
fell on the bushes and Jason and Martha saw him. They were both naked as they ran towards him. They
held him up by his arms and legs and brought him inside the cabin and laid him on his bed.
big two bears and the three small bears were attacked by seizures until it ended with a strange dull
sound that left Teo stunned. Before his very eyes, the polar bears were turning into something else,
into humans. Martha, Jason, Elias, Susanne, Mathias stood at the door. Teo fainted from the sight. He
fell on the bushes and Jason and Martha saw him. They were both naked as they ran towards him. They
held him up by his arms and legs and brought him inside the cabin and laid him on his bed.
***
This time when Teo woke up he was tied to the bed with thick leather belts. Being detained always
made him go crazy. He started screaming and screaming louder and louder and his strength began to
fail him.
made him go crazy. He started screaming and screaming louder and louder and his strength began to
fail him.
Jason ran into his room yelling: “What happened? What are you doing?”
“What do you want from me? Let me go! “
“I cannot do that,” Jason answered
“You must. I order you to. You are a monster, you and your family, just monsters, let me go, let me go!”
He was hysterical. Jason was ready to respond to that irrepressible despair with violence, but a strange
calm took possession of his body. He walked through the small window and started to look outside, waiting for the man to stop screaming.
calm took possession of his body. He walked through the small window and started to look outside, waiting for the man to stop screaming.
When Teo stopped screaming and calmed down, he started crying. He was so scared.
Jason started to talk, still watching from the window:
“Yes,” he said quietly.
“What?” Teo asked.
“Yes, we are monsters. You said that. For you, people, we are monsters. We are born like that. The
strange thing is that in our eyes you look so pitiable and insignificant. We wonder how did you manage
to survive to all the adversities of nature, of history, and still be here…”
strange thing is that in our eyes you look so pitiable and insignificant. We wonder how did you manage
to survive to all the adversities of nature, of history, and still be here…”
Teo was astonished.
Jason went on,
“You see us as monsters, you are afraid, you become violent and then you isolate us. This makes you
feel powerful. But for us, for our kind you are still poor and insignificant.”
feel powerful. But for us, for our kind you are still poor and insignificant.”
At this point Jason smiled ironically. He was still looking outside. The morning light had come into the
room and was shining gently over the furniture and spread into the small room.
room and was shining gently over the furniture and spread into the small room.
Teo was still crying and asked:
“Are you going to kill me?”
Jason laughed stronger and turned towards Teo:
“Oh no. You taste like shit! We are going to let you go. But you must promise to us that you are not
going to reveal our secret to anybody.” He looked serious.
going to reveal our secret to anybody.” He looked serious.
“Anybody,” he repeated.
Jason looked at Teo straight in the eye and added:
“Or I will find you and I will kill you”
”Is that a threat?” Teo asked defiantly.
“No, it’s a curse” Jason answered sharply.
“All right. Your secret is going to be safe with me. Now please let me go.”
***
Teo wandered for a couple of days until he found a path. He decided to follow it until the end and
finally he arrived at his town. He went on for miles and finally he was back in his house. It looked
abandoned from outside still sealed by the police tape. Something was wrong here, he knew it.
finally he arrived at his town. He went on for miles and finally he was back in his house. It looked
abandoned from outside still sealed by the police tape. Something was wrong here, he knew it.
When he stepped into the front door he recognized everything in the room: the sofa, the table, the TV
monitor, the many books in the library, the computer, and the carpet but he could not remember
anything about the red blood stains on it. Whose blood was that?
monitor, the many books in the library, the computer, and the carpet but he could not remember
anything about the red blood stains on it. Whose blood was that?
He sat on the sofa and closed his eyes.
The Polar bear family was still in his head. They had left him and he hoped that he would not have
met them again. He hoped that with the time he would learn to forget.
met them again. He hoped that with the time he would learn to forget.
But still they were imprinted in his memory for now.
Teo stayed there for a night and a day until one day a policeman broke in with a gun; probably
someone from the neighbored had reported on him.
someone from the neighbored had reported on him.
They handcuffed him and brought him to the police. After hours and hours waiting in a room with a
table and a chair in front of a glass mirror, a man stepped into the door and finally spoke to him:
table and a chair in front of a glass mirror, a man stepped into the door and finally spoke to him:
“Hi. I am David Cross; I am the detective of this unit department. Do you know why you are here?”
“No” Teo answered in a low voice.
“Teo, I know who you are, I know everything about your…mental condition. I have to ask you some
questions. Ok?
questions. Ok?
“Sure.”
“Do you remember where you had been the night of the 10th of October?”
Teo shook his head.
“Do you remember your wife? And your son?”
“Sure.” He looked at the detective and asked: “Where are they?”
The detective stayed silent and impassive. He looked straight into Teo’s eyes and it was the second
time someone had looked like that at Teo.
time someone had looked like that at Teo.
“They are dead: your wife and your son. You killed them. And then you planned to kill yourself too.
But you change your mind and escaped.”
But you change your mind and escaped.”
Teo started to deny what the inspector was telling him but he showed him the pictures and the suicide
note in his handwriting.
note in his handwriting.
Teo started to cry and cry. He felt so sad and just for a moment he regretted that he had left the cabin,
the peace and the oblivion and also the Polar bear family.
the peace and the oblivion and also the Polar bear family.
How could he have done such a thing? How could he have forgotten all this?
After some time the inspector asked him the last thing:
“Where have you been the past six months? If you had not shown up we would have never found you.”
Teo was totally broken. He could remember everything now and he felt desperate.
He confessed the secret of the family to the detective:
”I was held prisoner in a cottage that is by the coast on the North. There is a family there. They are
monsters. You have to stop them. They are killers. They are monsters.”
monsters. You have to stop them. They are killers. They are monsters.”
Then Teo told them what he had seen that night when human flesh changed into white polar bear fur.
After that, everything faded away in Teo’s head. All his memories, all the people he knew, the people
he had met in his life, the ones he had loved, or hated, and also the reality in front of him – everything
came together and dissolved. Forever.
he had met in his life, the ones he had loved, or hated, and also the reality in front of him – everything
came together and dissolved. Forever.
Police could not believe all this but they had to go and check.
The guard from the criminal psychiatric institution put handcuffs on Teo and took him away.
Teo could not stop screaming and crying. From now on he would always be out of himself.
***
The police followed the directions Teo had given. They were four men and two dogs heading towards
the Northern coast. They could smell the salt of the seawater in the air. The cottage was there and there
were people inside. There was smoke coming out of the chimney. They moved silently close to the
house and looked inside the windows. There was a family inside, exactly as Teo described it: a huge
man, a beautiful woman and three sweet children. It was almost dark outside and from inside the
house it was difficult to see what was outside. But the father smelled something in the air and ran
outside. The policemen and the dogs ran to the front door ready to fire.
the Northern coast. They could smell the salt of the seawater in the air. The cottage was there and there
were people inside. There was smoke coming out of the chimney. They moved silently close to the
house and looked inside the windows. There was a family inside, exactly as Teo described it: a huge
man, a beautiful woman and three sweet children. It was almost dark outside and from inside the
house it was difficult to see what was outside. But the father smelled something in the air and ran
outside. The policemen and the dogs ran to the front door ready to fire.
“Get out of my house!” The huge man shouted. He was almost screaming.
“Please, sir, keep calm, we just need to ask you some questions.”
“Go away, I say,” he repeated.
The dogs started to bark and they were getting over excited. The man made a move as if to come out
the doorway and the policeman let the dogs go towards him.
the doorway and the policeman let the dogs go towards him.
In one second the man had turned into a Polar bear and with his white paw smashed the poor dogs,
then he ran toward the policemen, followed by his wife who had also turned into a polar bear and the
two of them killed their attackers.
then he ran toward the policemen, followed by his wife who had also turned into a polar bear and the
two of them killed their attackers.
When everything was over and the policemen and the dogs were dead, their corpses that were lying on
the ground in front of the house turned into light dust and were raised to the sky as Northern lights,
leaving no trace of them behind.
the ground in front of the house turned into light dust and were raised to the sky as Northern lights,
leaving no trace of them behind.
