Henri was sitting at the stool in the kitchen and watched his sister chopping the vegetables. Her cheekbone was still swollen and purple and he could see the bruises on her arms. He tapped the table nervously as he tried to restrain himself, but then he growled and he got up.
" I'll rip his heart out!", he shouted and he heard his heart pulse in his temples.
She put the vegetables into a kettle and ignored him.
" If he likes violence, I'll give him violence!"
She didn't look up at him, but instead she lighted a fire.
" You are not going to fight him", she said.
" I'm not scared of him."
" I know you're not. But I don't want you to break the law... again."
" The law, the law... What did the law do for you eh? They don't care about our kind of people. As if you had to bring witnesses before he beat you up."
" Just sit down and give me that bag. You won't help me if you break his nose."
Henri reached for the plastic bag and handed it to Janine. He sighed.
" I can't just sit and let this happen. No one hurts my little sister."
" I'll be allright. It's just bruises."
" Just bruises... I'll show him bruises."
" Please Henri, stay out of this. What good are you if you are in jail?"

He shrugged and gave up. She was probably right, but he couldn't stand it. It was nearly a week ago and nothing had been done. Gino was still walking around freely and he hadn't even paid the bill for the hospital. The police refused to do anything and they couldn't afford a lawyer. So what if he punched Gino in the face? If he made him feel what he had done to Janine?
Henri ate his soup, but he couldn't taste it. The last days it seemed as if everything had lost its taste. All he could think of was Gino. He wanted to avenge, to fight, to kill even...

He pushed the bowl aside and rose.
" I'm going for a walk, allright?"
She nodded.
" Can you take care of yourself for an hour?"
" Of course I can... I'm not going to be depressed and scared just because of what happened. Just go."

He walked down the stairs and into the street. Gino lived just a few blocks away. Henri hesitated. Janine didn't want him to do anything, but perhaps she was just scared for no reason. If the police didn't help her, why would they help Gino if Henri did to him what he had done to Janine?
He saw his reflection in a shop window and looked into his own eyes. He had to do it. If he didn't, he would be ashamed forever. Police or no police, he had to do it...
He reached the corner of the street where Gino lived. Janine didn't want it... Or did she? He wouldn't hurt him badly, just teach him a lesson. Henri felt how his fists were trembling. Who knew what could happen if he was face to face with this Gino. Henri knew how he could loose himself in a fight, how he could turn into a wild beast...
He rounded the corner...

An ambulance was parked on the pavement and a small crowd had gathered around the vehicle. As Henri came closer, he realized that it was in front of the appartement block where Gino lived.
" What happened?", he asked one of the onlookers.
" Someone fell down the stairs."

The chance of getting into the building, giving Gino his punishment and leaving unnoticed was gone. Janine got what she wanted. Henri wouldn't fight Gino today.

He waited and saw how the door was opened for the ambulancemen. They were carrying the victim on a stretcher. Henri tried to get a glimpse of his face... It was Gino!
His face was covered in blood and he seemed unconscious. If Henri would have been here a few minutes earlier, he would probably have left him in a better state...

Gino was loaded into the van, they turned on the sirens and hurried out of the street.
Henri felt how his anger was gone. Gino got what he deserved. Perhaps even more than he deserved. Henri couldn't forgot the bloody face and he didn't know if he had to be glad or sorry. If he had hit Gino, it would have been vengeance, but this was just a stupid accident, and he felt a little ashamed to be pleased about Gino's injuries.

Pondering over these questions, he went home. He went into the kitchen and looked at Janine, who was eating her soup.
" You'll never believe what I just saw", he said.
She looked up at him silently.
" Gino has fallen down the stairs and they brought him to the hospital. I saw him, his face was all bloody... I don't get it. Why did he have to trip over his own feet just when I wanted to pay him a visit?"
" He didn't trip over his own feet."
" Sorry?"
" He had an heart-attack."
" Right, dream on sister..."
But only then Henri noticed the little doll on the worktop. It showed some resemblance to Gino and its chest was pierced with a long needle...