he got to do with it?"
"Emperger must be told," Vit¬torin said. "I insist. He's the only one of our former comrades who's behaved with a modicum of decency."
"Like hell he has," Kohout protested angrily. "You're dead wrong there. He's always poking fun at you behind your back."
"So now he'll see I'm serious. I'm going to telephone him."
Kohout saw that further resistance would be futile.
"All right, if it means so much to you, but kindly leave me out of it. Promise you won't let him know I'm going too, word of honour? I don't want anything to do with the man -I've got my reasons. That's settled, then: ten-thirty sharp at the Nordbahnhof."
They shook hands.
Vit¬torin lingered in the hall for a full minute after Kohout had gone, thinking hard. Then he switched off the light and returned to the living-room.
His father, his sisters and Herr Ebenseder had already started supper. He went slowly over to his father, searching for the first, all-important turn of phrase. Lola, seeing her brother's distraught expression, could tell at a glance that he had come to say goodbye.
Vit¬torin knocked on the door very quietly, as arranged. He heard her approaching footsteps. Then the door opened. She took his hand and drew him into the darkened hall.
"So late!" she hissed. "Why so late? The neighbours didn't spot you, did they? Shut the door and I'll put the light on. No, let's stand here in the dark a moment longer, like this. Your hands are frozen, sweetheart, are you cold? It's nice and warm inside. I've got the stove going a treat - it's red-hot. I've been waiting so long."
He shivered a little at the thought of what lay ahead. He'd meant to tell her at once that he couldn't stay - that he had to go away, far away, this very night, and that time and life had come between them. Now, however, as he stood there with her body so close to his, he couldn't get a word out. He kissed her - her lips were as cool as a spring breeze - and while he kissed her he let his knapsack slide to the floor and thrust it silently into a corner with his foot. Franzi noticed nothing. She tilted her head back and laid his hand on her brow.
"We've never been really alone before, Georg. There's always been someone around, watching us. No, there was one time, but it's so long ago you won't remember. Do you ever think of that summer at Dürnstein? I can still see the room I slept in. We played hide-and-seek in the woods once, and the two of us had to hide while the rest came looking for us. One of the girls kept calling, 'Come out, come out, wherever you are!' Her name was Berta, and she was tall and fair-haired and freckled and wore glasses - I still see her sometimes in the street, but she doesn't recognize me. Anyway, she kept calling us and we let her call, and we sat there in the middle of the blackberry bushes and watched the ants. We were silly little kids then - no, you were a big boy already. You wanted to be a swimming champion - at least, that's what you told me while we were hiding in the brambles, remember?"
Vit¬torin remembered nothing of the kind.
"Yes, and we've never been alone again since. But today we're well and truly hidden - no one'll ever find us. Berta wears pince-nez these days, but they don't suit her any better. Tell me, wouldn't your family let you go out? I mean, you're so late. Those sisters of yours . . . Vally's nice, but I'm a bit scared of Lola, she looks so stern. You haven't said a word -have I offended you? You're cold, poor darling. Fancy me keeping you standing out here in the freezing hall! The trouble is, this is the only place where we can be really alone. There are two gentlemen inside. I've got visitors, you see. You'll be disappointed, I expect. I didn't invite them, but what can I do now they're here? Don't pull a face. Take your coat off and come in. They're a nice couple - I'll introduce you to them."
Two motionless figures were seated on the sofa in the overheated living-room. Ingeniously constructed
"Emperger must be told," Vit¬torin said. "I insist. He's the only one of our former comrades who's behaved with a modicum of decency."
"Like hell he has," Kohout protested angrily. "You're dead wrong there. He's always poking fun at you behind your back."
"So now he'll see I'm serious. I'm going to telephone him."
Kohout saw that further resistance would be futile.
"All right, if it means so much to you, but kindly leave me out of it. Promise you won't let him know I'm going too, word of honour? I don't want anything to do with the man -I've got my reasons. That's settled, then: ten-thirty sharp at the Nordbahnhof."
They shook hands.
Vit¬torin lingered in the hall for a full minute after Kohout had gone, thinking hard. Then he switched off the light and returned to the living-room.
His father, his sisters and Herr Ebenseder had already started supper. He went slowly over to his father, searching for the first, all-important turn of phrase. Lola, seeing her brother's distraught expression, could tell at a glance that he had come to say goodbye.
Vit¬torin knocked on the door very quietly, as arranged. He heard her approaching footsteps. Then the door opened. She took his hand and drew him into the darkened hall.
"So late!" she hissed. "Why so late? The neighbours didn't spot you, did they? Shut the door and I'll put the light on. No, let's stand here in the dark a moment longer, like this. Your hands are frozen, sweetheart, are you cold? It's nice and warm inside. I've got the stove going a treat - it's red-hot. I've been waiting so long."
He shivered a little at the thought of what lay ahead. He'd meant to tell her at once that he couldn't stay - that he had to go away, far away, this very night, and that time and life had come between them. Now, however, as he stood there with her body so close to his, he couldn't get a word out. He kissed her - her lips were as cool as a spring breeze - and while he kissed her he let his knapsack slide to the floor and thrust it silently into a corner with his foot. Franzi noticed nothing. She tilted her head back and laid his hand on her brow.
"We've never been really alone before, Georg. There's always been someone around, watching us. No, there was one time, but it's so long ago you won't remember. Do you ever think of that summer at Dürnstein? I can still see the room I slept in. We played hide-and-seek in the woods once, and the two of us had to hide while the rest came looking for us. One of the girls kept calling, 'Come out, come out, wherever you are!' Her name was Berta, and she was tall and fair-haired and freckled and wore glasses - I still see her sometimes in the street, but she doesn't recognize me. Anyway, she kept calling us and we let her call, and we sat there in the middle of the blackberry bushes and watched the ants. We were silly little kids then - no, you were a big boy already. You wanted to be a swimming champion - at least, that's what you told me while we were hiding in the brambles, remember?"
Vit¬torin remembered nothing of the kind.
"Yes, and we've never been alone again since. But today we're well and truly hidden - no one'll ever find us. Berta wears pince-nez these days, but they don't suit her any better. Tell me, wouldn't your family let you go out? I mean, you're so late. Those sisters of yours . . . Vally's nice, but I'm a bit scared of Lola, she looks so stern. You haven't said a word -have I offended you? You're cold, poor darling. Fancy me keeping you standing out here in the freezing hall! The trouble is, this is the only place where we can be really alone. There are two gentlemen inside. I've got visitors, you see. You'll be disappointed, I expect. I didn't invite them, but what can I do now they're here? Don't pull a face. Take your coat off and come in. They're a nice couple - I'll introduce you to them."
Two motionless figures were seated on the sofa in the overheated living-room. Ingeniously constructed
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