The Undertaking by Audrey Magee Page A

him.’
    ‘I don’t know if I can.’
    ‘It’s definitely him.’
    She tapped the nurse’s arm and introduced herself.
    ‘Hello, Johannes. Welcome home.’
    He turned towards the voice, but looked through her, his blue eyes seeing nothing. Mr Spinell stepped towards Johannes and took his arm.
    ‘Come on, son. Let’s take you home. Your mother is waiting.’
    Johannes started off again, down the platform, shuffling his feet, unwilling, or unable, to lift them. Katharina stayed with the nurse.
    ‘He’s in shock,’ said the nurse. ‘It happens a lot. The doctors have given him three weeks’ leave, so take him home and put him to bed for a few days. He’ll be fine then. His gun and pack are back in Poland, but his documents are here. They tell you everything you need to know.’
    She handed over an envelope.
    ‘The sedation should wear off in a couple of hours. Have him asleep in bed before that happens.’
    ‘Why?’
    ‘He’ll be easier to manage.’
    ‘Oh.’
    ‘He’ll be fine. It’s really very common.’
    ‘How long does it last?’
    ‘It varies. But he should be better within the three weeks. Contact your own doctor if you need to.’
    ‘Thank you.’
    Katharina followed her father and brother, and caught up quickly, easily. She took Johannes’ left arm, lifted his hand to her lips and kissed it.
    ‘Hello, Johannes. It’s me, Katharina.’
    They led him down the steps to the underground and onto a train, all three silent until they stood in front of the door to their apartment.
    ‘I need to talk to your mother first. To prepare her a little.’
    He tried to put the key in the lock quietly, but his wife heard him, opened the door abruptly and pushed past him to greet her son.
    ‘Johannes,’ she said, reaching out her arms.
    She stopped, her body stilled, her arms outstretched.
    ‘Johannes. My darling, handsome son.’
    She stepped towards him, took his face between her hands and kissed him on both cheeks.
    ‘Welcome home, my sweetheart. Mama will look after you. You’re safe now.’
    She took his hand and led him into the living room, plumped up the cushions, sat him down and took off his boots.
    ‘Katharina, fetch a blanket for him. Günther, bring the coffee from the kitchen. It’s on the stove.’
    They did as she bid, each relieved to have a task that distracted from the mangled shape on the sofa. Katharina tucked the blanket around Johannes’ legs and Mr Spinell handed his son the coffee, but Johannes’ hands remained inert and the cup tipped to one side, spilling coffee onto the blanket.
    ‘Günther, what are you doing?’
    ‘I didn’t realize.’
    ‘Pour another cup. Give it to me this time.’
    She lifted the cup to Johannes’ mouth and tipped a little of the coffee between his lips. Some went in, but most dribbled out of the right side of his mouth, mottling the white linen napkin draped across his chest. Cake followed, crumbs that she fingered through his lips, gently, refusing to accept his failure to chew and swallow.
    ‘I made it this morning, my love. Especially for you.’
    ‘The nurse said the sedation would wear off soon,’ said Katharina. ‘That we should have him in bed before it does.’
    ‘What nurse?’
    ‘At the station.’
    ‘I’m giving him a bath first. The water’s hot.’
    ‘I’ll get it ready,’ said Katharina.
    She turned on the taps and looked at her reflection, tracing her fingers over her weariness.
    Mr and Mrs Spinell raised Johannes to his feet and steered him to the bath.
    ‘Now, ladies, out please. I will take it from here.’
    ‘No, Günther. I will bathe him.’
    ‘Esther, he is a twenty-year-old man, far too old to be bathed by his mother.’
    ‘I need to check his skin, for lice, for infection. I want to see him, Günther. He’s my son.’
    ‘We’ll do it together, then. But not Katharina. That’s too much.’
    She left them and sat back on the sofa to alter a maternity summer dress, in blue silk. The man in the pawnshop had