by Lalitha K. Witanachchi
It was a warm and sultry evening. I looked out of the fifth storey apartment of Ursulinen Hof in Gentzgasse. Not a leaf stirred in the elm and chestnut trees below.

"I’ll go for a walk for a while" I announced to my son who was at his computer.

"Don’t be long. It’s 7.30 and will be dark in an hour’s time."

"No. I’ll just go to the park" I said and went down the lift and walked towards Wahringer Park. The begonias along the sidewalk were in full bloom. As I walked on the cobbled pavement my footsteps echoed, a sound I liked to hear.

Wahringer Park was an interesting place. Seated on the rows of benches were people from various countries, mainly Gzechs and Turks. The women wore long gowns of subdued colours and scarves covered their heads. They were chatting while their fingers knitted nimbly. There were rosy checked babies in prams, gurgling and kicking. Sometimes only their stubby pink toes could be seen. Further on kids went on swings or crawled in and out of the playhouses. Along the avenues elderly couples walked slowly holding hands while young lovers were lying on the lawns in tight embrace.

In one place there were tables and benches where men congregated. They were sipping beer or coke and always discussing matters or arguing.

The park afforded a kaleidoscope of life under the ancient oak and fir trees. Further on by the pond were the flowers and that’s where I decided to go and sit on a bench for a while.

I crossed Michaelastrasse and entered the park just as the church bells rang the Angelus. But today the park was deserted. The rows of benches were empty as far as the eye could see. There was no ringing laughter of happy children. Nor was there the sound of argument or the clanging of the ball striking the wire mesh of the baseball court. There wasn’t a soul in the park.

As I walked further into the park the large trees looked hoary with age, their gnarled branches reaching down almost to grasp me. I was somewhat puzzled when a young man and a youngster came gliding fast towards me on their roller skates as though trying to escape for dear life. They shouted something at me but I did not understand what they said.

I took a turn to the right where the flowers grew. On a bench a few yards ahead was a young girl in a black dress. She had long blonde hair. Lazily she rose from her seat and went towards the Dahlia circle. I walked that way but she left the circle as soon as I neared it.

The dahlias were really beautiful. They had blossomed fully this summer. A riot of colours greeted my eyes. Red, yellow, pink, white and mauve, they stood open on their straight stalks. Their fragrance pervaded the air. My heart was filled with gladness.

It was time for me to get back. I walked along the desolate avenue. There was a darkness here that filled me with trepidation. Also a slight mist seemed to fill certain parts of the park. Even the fragrance of the flowers took on a rancid odour.

But fortunately the young girl among the dahlias was ahead of me, walking pretty fast. Her skirt swayed gently from side to side and her mane of silky hair was also moving in a steady swinging motion.

I walked faster and faster to catch up with her and get out of the oppressive air in the park. I came to the Weliolofgasse crossing. There were many cars parked on either side of the road. As I slowed down and hesitated the young girl who had by now crossed the road beckoned to me to come over.

Confidently I crossed the road, made my way between two parked cars and saying ‘Danke’ I turned round to thank her. But she was nowhere to be seen. I looked to the right and left. The road stretched for about three hundred yards on either side. It was deserted.

Just then an old lady emerged from between two cars. She had a thin smile on her face. She wore a long grey linen dress and a muffler round her neck. She had brown spiky hair. She shuffled slowly in her soft black cloth shoes and brown stockings. She stretched out her hands towards me murmuring something.

I stopped for a second and when I looked at her, her smile became a frightening grin and her face had a bluish pallor. Faster and faster she came shuffling towards me. I was terrified. I ran as fast as I could with this hideous creature following me.

Mercifully the gate of Ursulinen Hof was open. I ran along the cobbled pavement and my own footsteps drove terror into me. I rushed to the lift that carried me to the apartment, fumbled with the key and when the door opened I ran in and fell on the settee panting.

"What’s the matter Mum?" asked my son looking up from his computer. "One would think that you had seen the ghost of Weliolofgasse."