The Cellist of Sarajevo: One: Dragan Summary & Analysis

Dragan remembers the old Sarajevo, wondering how much of that happy, peaceful city is a figment of his imagination. Yet the current gray Sarajevo of bombs and guns doesn’t seem right either. He runs through the old neighborhoods of Sarajevo in his mind, remembering when he could walk for miles along the river, stopping in cafes when he got tired. Now, the middle of Sarajevo, a district called Grbavica, is controlled by the men on the hills and walking along the river is tantamount to suicide. As more and more of Sarajevo falls, Dragan wonders how long he will be able to remember that other city of light and hope.

On this day, Dragan is walking to the bakery where he works. He has worked there for almost 40 years, and he knows that he is lucky this job keeps him safe from the draft. He is lucky to have the food, as well, when so many of the city’s residents are unemployed and the prices of all resources are rising. Dragan now lives with his sister and her family, though he doesn’t get along with his sister’s husband. Dragan’s old apartment has been destroyed and he sent his wife and his 18-year-old son to Italy to wait out the war.

The bakery is about three kilometers from Dragan’s sister’s apartment, which now takes Dragan an hour and a half to walk. Dragan walks slowly, except when he runs across the intersections. The main road of Sarajevo is now called Sniper Alley, though Dragan thinks that name is appropriate for any street in the city. This street just receives special attention because it takes foreigners from the airport to the Holiday Inn.

Dragan continues on, skirting the main road to avoid getting too close to enemy territory. At another intersection, Dragan rests behind a few boxcars now lining the street next to the railroad. The whole street looks gray, while about 20 people wait behind the boxcars for the right moment to run across the intersection. A few people step out every couple of minutes and run frantically across the street as if it is raining and they do not want to get wet.

Dragan waits until he feels right to cross, never knowing what moment feels correct. He has seen three people killed by snipers so far, always surprised at how fast a life can be ended and the street can return to “normal.” Dragan is afraid of dying, but he is more afraid of the pain between getting shot and dying.

A man starts to run from the other side of the intersection. Dragan realizes it is an old acquaintance, Amil, with whom Dragan hasn’t spoken since the war began. Dragan looks away so that Amil will not recognize him, then feels guilty for avoiding this link to his past. He knows that speaking to Amil would just remind him of all that he has lost from his old life. Dragan no longer visits any of his friends, or speaks to any of his coworkers. He has decided it is best not to be attached to anyone when people can die at any moment.

A couple ahead of Dragan decides to cross. When they are about a third of the way through the intersection, a bullet skids off the asphalt in front of them. The couple hesitates, then starts running for the other side. The sniper fires again but misses, and the couple makes it to safety. Everyone on both sides of the street sighs in relief, both because the couple survived and because they now know that this intersection is being targeted. Oddly, it is easier to cope with a known danger than with the constant uncertainty. Dragan knows that more people will brave the intersection in a few minutes.