The hotel was rat infested.

Dead rats lay in the corridors of the hotel; their eyes vacant like a pool full of cigarettes. The hotel manager shot them with a pellet gun whenever he had the opportunity. On arrival he said to me: ‘’If you see a rat, kill the son of a bitch!’’ I had been their several days and through a happy accident had found out the rats would dance to Russian waltz music. Their favourite being The Second Waltz by Shostakovich. They danced with such poise and elegance that it brought a tear to my eye. Their tails swayed like synchronised swimmers and I could not bring myself to cause harm to any of them. So I decided to give them refuge in my room. The room was small and cramped but the rats squeezed themselves in. In the evening I played more Russian waltz music that the rats enjoyed while I sat at my typewriter writing letters to various people. I fed the rats fruit and seeds and whatever was in the garbage that the hotel kitchen had thrown away. The hotel food was not to a very high standard but the rats seemed to like it.

One morning at breakfast the hotel manager said me: ‘’ I’ve not seen any rats for days! You wouldn’t have anything to do with it?’’

I replied ‘’No’’ in an unassuming voice.

‘’Well, whoever has ridded me of those vermin I am indebted!’’ he said in sinister tones.
The maid who cleaned my room in the mornings seemed to know the truth. Her face had the innocence of holy fire so I knew she would not burn me.

I did have the suspicion the maid was sleeping with the hotel manager. It was of course only a suspicion and if true did not take away the innocence of her face. I noticed she gave me certain looks, glances of deep red, impressed by my distant gleaming’s.

One evening at the sunset hour after I had washed my hair the rats were restless. Their teeth nervously cut into the floorboards making a noise that shook the foundations of the hotel. It was so fierce that it caused an earthquake which lasted for at least three minutes! After, the other guests came out of their rooms confused and muttering to one another.

‘’What the hell was that?’’

‘’Did you feel that?’’

‘’Yes, what was it?’’

One woman had bashed her head while in the bath.

‘’It was those damned rats!’’ The hotel manager screamed. ‘’ I know the work of rats when I see it!’’ ...