Chapter 40 Chapter Thirty-Nine

Helen's Aunt Eva is the kind of unforgettable person.In my mind, Aunt Eva represents many stern, beautiful and elusive women.But that early summer night in 1954, when we first met in Budapest, I had some trouble seeing her for who she really was.I do remember Helen galloping into her arms, and her excitement was quite natural. Helen turned her flushed face to make the introduction, and I saw tears in the eyes of both women, "Eva, this is the American colleague I mentioned to you. Paul, this is my aunt, Eva O. class." Madame Aubain was probably fifty-five years old, tall and pretty.What fascinated me was the uncanny resemblance between her and Helen.

"It was a pleasure to meet you," I said to her, "Thank you for arranging me to attend this meeting, it is an honor." Aunt Eva smiled and pressed my hand.She burst out in a flurry of Hungarian, and Helen came to the rescue immediately. "My aunt doesn't speak English," she explained, "and I will translate for you. She said you are very welcome here, and she wants you to invite her." Listen to your speech. She'll have other questions later." "Of course I'll try to satisfy your aunt," I told Helen. "Please tell her that my mother is good at making meatloaf and mac and cheese."

Before long, the three of us were in the car, Helen's aunt urging her to show me the scenery.There are some exchanges between us that don't need translation. ""It's a wonderful city," I said. Aunt Eva squeezed my arm like I was her grown child. After a while, we plunged into a tunnel that seemed to go through the entire underside of the castle.Aunt Eva told us she had picked out a restaurant she loved, on the Rue Joseph Attila.Aunt Eva ordered everything for us.However, it would be wrong to say that we are only eating.Aunt Eva took advantage of the intermission of the meal passed through the small window, Helen interpreted, and I asked an occasional question.But I remember, most of the time I was busy eating and listening.Aunt Eva seemed to have firmly in mind that I was a historian, she even suspected that my ignorance of Hungarian history was faking, she wanted to be sure that I would not embarrass her in meetings, whatever her motives, her conversation It was so radiant that I could almost read Helen's next sentence from her vivid face and smooth expressions without waiting for her to translate.

We toasted the Palinka to the everlasting friendship between our two countries when two waiters brought in puff pastry and a praline dollop, covered with chocolate and cream.Even in the royal palaces of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, this kind of dessert is equally elegant.And coffee— "It's strong coffee," Aunt Eva explained. For delicious food, our stomachs can always hold it. "Coffee has a sad history in Budapest," Helen translated for Aunt Eva. "Long ago—in 1541, to be exact—the invader Suleiman I invited us Te Torek's generals came to his camp for a good meal. After the meal, the general was drinking coffee - you see, he was the first Hungarian to drink coffee - Suleiman I told him that at their While eating, the elite Turkish troops were occupying Buda Castle. You can imagine how bitter this cup of coffee tastes."

This time, her smile was not cheerful but sad. The Turks again, I thought--they're so smart, so ruthless, with a strange mix of good food and savage warfare.By 1541 they had owned Istanbul for nearly a century.Thinking of this, I feel their enduring power, which has sent their tentacles all over Europe, barred only at the gates of Vienna.Vlad Dracula fought with them, like David King Judah and the second king of Israel, according to the "Bible · Old Testament" records, he killed the giant Goliath of Felix and became king.Fighting the Goliaths is the same, only far less successful than King David.On the other hand, the efforts of a small group of nobles in Eastern Europe and the Balkans, not only in Wallachia, but also in Hungary, Greece, and Bulgaria (to name a few), finally established the course of Turkish occupation.

All of this, which Helen managed to input into my brain, made me secretly develop a strange appreciation for Dracula.He must have known that he would soon be defeated against the Turkish army, but he spent most of his life trying to drive the invaders from his territory. "Actually, this is the second time that the Turks have occupied this area." Helen took a sip of her coffee, sighed with satisfaction, and put down her cup. It seems that coffee is more delicious here than anywhere else in the world, "one four five Six years John Hunyadi defeated them in Belgrade, he is our great hero, and others were King Stephen and Matthias Corvinus, who built a new castle and I That library that told you. When you hear the bells ringing in churches all over the city at noon tomorrow, you'll remember that it's commemorating Hunyadi's victory hundreds of years ago. Now they're ringing his bells every day in his memory. "

"Hunyadi," I said thoughtfully, "I think you mentioned him that night. You say he was victorious in 1456?" We look at each other.Any time related to Dracula's life is a sign of our understanding. "He was in Wallachia then," whispered Helen.I knew she wasn't referring to Hunyadi, but we had an unspoken pact not to mention Dracula's name in public. Aunt Eva is so clever that neither our silence nor the language barrier can fool her. "Hunyati?" she asked, adding a few words in Hungarian. "My aunt would like to know if you have any particular interest in the Hunyadi era," said Helen.

I didn't know what to say, so I replied that I found all the history of Europe interesting.This nonsense attracted Aunt Eva's imperceptible gaze, and she even frowned.I quickly drew her attention away. "Now, my friend, we have to put you to sleep before tomorrow's important speech. I look forward to hearing your speech, and I will let you know my opinion afterward." Translated by Helen, Aunt Eva Nodding warmly at me, I can't help but smile back. As the car passed the magnificent bridge, Aunt Eva whispered something, which Helen translated softly, "Our city will always be a great city."