Guardians of the Dark

I am in the "fourth" restriction group. I am writing this next to my turned-off computer, by the light from a four-tiered candelabra (what would the on duty witches say about the symbolism of this number?) with the "configuration" of good old "Olympia". I remember how they destroyed Ante Markovic (former Yugoslav prime minister) with (among other things) the story of how Serbia has enough electricity for export but must send it to its brothers upstream (the Sava River) at set prices. Now, thankfully, Serbia sets the prices when it exports electricity, because regardless of whatever they might say about not exporting electricity, I wouldn't even think about believing that story. After all, who is talking about the export of electricity? Why are they constantly on the defensive if no one is accusing them? That would be the same as claiming that the mafia is gathered around our most successful soccer club. It's no one's fault that generals, cops and secret policemen do not like ballet and must therefore satisfy their spiritual needs through soccer.

It is an interesting phenomenon that unpopular social actions such as 18 or 28 percent electricity restrictions, distribution of pieces of paper to households about the allowable energy consumption and similar stupidities do not meet with a response from our people. There are always enough pensioned activists who will monitor the fuses in lobbies and shoot at the disobedient if necessary. It will be interesting to watch the announced action by Distribution (one more way for the mediocre to waste energy and stay as far away as possible from the right things). Is anyone thinking about deep-freezers, those icons of the poor? Because those masses could suddenly speak out in defense of deep-freezed ham or beef. Some genius got the idea to punish you with shut-off despite your thriftiness in a wasteful building. I hear that even the unity of one building cannot make up for the wastefulness of a neighborhood.

One thing that is sure is that Belgraders will always have on their streets the combination of the latest model Mercedeses and public transportation on the level of Bombay, extravagant decor at private banks and bunkers for houses, as well as enough columnists who will convince them that this is the charm of Belgrade.