A froggy looking man leered across the bar and said, “the dead don’t rent.” He saddled down in the stool Vitaly had been saving for his friend. The man hailed the bartender, “two of whatever’s strong enough to make shit shine,” he flashed a wet grin. “The boy has stories to hear.”

The bartender disappeared with practiced grace after pouring two doubles of clear liquor from an unmarked green bottle.

The frog pushed one towards Vitaly. “Drink up, you’ll need it.”

Vitaly waved it off, “I don’t need it. I don’t know you.”

“But I know you, Vitaly Luchenko. Drink up and learn why.”

The man waited to slug his until the vapors stung Vitaly’s nose. He swallowed what tractor fuel must have tasted like and struggled to breathe. The frog just smiled and held up two fingers for the bartender. The glasses refilled before Vitaly caught his breath. Another glass pushed forward.

“Baba sent me. She said to tell you it’s been long enough.“ This stopped the second pour from reaching Vitaly’s lips.

“She’s been patient. But she sent me, Vitaly.” The frog finished his glass and stared at Vitaly’s, “And I’m not patient.” The bar felt empty as he said that. Vitaly looked around for help, but not even the bartender seemed to be around. “That liquor will keep you warm during the walk. Especially the second glass. Drink up, you know how far the woods are.”