VII
вАЬWhere is Georgi?вАЭ asked Freder, his eyes wandering through JosaphatвАЩs three rooms, which stretched out before himвБ†вАФbeautiful, with a rather bewildering superabundance of armchairs, divans and silk cushions, with curtains which goldenly obscured the light.
вАЬWho?вАЭ asked Josaphat, listlessly. He had waited, had not slept and his eyes stood excessively large in his thin, almost white face. His gaze, which he did not take from Freder, was like hands which are raised adoringly.
вАЬGeorgi,вАЭ repeated Freder. He smiled happily with his tired mouth.
вАЬWho is that?вАЭ asked Josaphat.
вАЬI sent him to you.вАЭ
вАЬNobody has come.вАЭ
Freder looked at him without answering.
вАЬI sat all night in this chair,вАЭ continued Josaphat, misinterpreting FrederвАЩs silence. вАЬI did not sleep a wink. I expected you to come at any second, or a messenger to come from you, or that you would ring me up. I also informed the watchman. Nobody has come, Mr.¬†Freder.вАЭ
Freder still remained silent. Slowly, almost stumblingly he stepped over the threshold, into the room raising his right hand to his head, as though to take off his hat, then noticing that he was wearing the cap, the black cap, which pressed the hair tightly down, he swept it from his head; it fell to the ground. His hand sank from his brow, over his eyes, resting there a little while. Then the other joined it, as though wishing to console its sister. His form was like that of a young birch tree pressed sideways by a strong wind.
JosaphatвАЩs eyes hung on the uniform which Freder wore.
вАЬMr.¬†Freder,вАЭ he began cautiously, вАЬhow comes it that you are wearing these clothes?вАЭ
Freder remained turned away from him. He took his hands from his eyes and pressed them to his face as though he felt some pain there.
вАЬGeorgi wore themвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶вАЭ He answered. вАЬI gave him mineвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶вАЭ
вАЬThen Georgi is a workman?вАЭ
вАЬYesвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ I found him before the Paternoster machine. I took his place and sent him to youвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶вАЭ
вАЬPerhaps heвАЩll come yet,вАЭ answered Josaphat.
Freder shook his head.
вАЬHe should have been here hours ago. If he had been caught when leaving the New Tower of Babel, then someone would have come to me when I was standing before the machine. It is strange, but there it is; he has not come.вАЭ
вАЬWas there much money in the suit which you exchanged with Georgi?вАЭ asked Josaphat tentatively, as one who bares a wounded spot.
Freder nodded.
вАЬThen you must not be surprised that Georgi has not come,вАЭ said Josaphat. But the expression of shame and pain on FrederвАЩs face prevented him from continuing.
вАЬWonвАЩt you sit down, Mr.¬†Freder,вАЭ he begged. вАЬOr lie down? You look so tired that it is painful to look at you.вАЭ
вАЬI have no time to sit down and not time to lie down, either,вАЭ answered Freder. He walked through the rooms, aimlessly, senselessly, stopping wherever a chair, a table, offered him a hold. вАЬThe fact, is this, Josaphat: I told Georgi to come here and to wait here for meвБ†вАФor for a message from meвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ It is a thousand to one that Slim, in searching for me, is already on GeorgiвАЩs track, and itвАЩs a thousand to one he gets out of him where I sent himвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶вАЭ
вАЬAnd you do not want Slim to find you?вАЭ
вАЬHe must not find me, JosaphatвБ†вАФnot for anything on earthвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶вАЭ
The other stood silent, rather helpless. Freder looked at him with a trembling smile.
вАЬHow shall we obtain money, now, Josaphat?вАЭ
вАЬThat should offer no difficulty to Joh FredersenвАЩs son.вАЭ
вАЬMore than you think, Josaphat, for I am no longer Joh FredersenвАЩs sonвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶вАЭ
Josaphat raised his head.
вАЬI do not understand you,вАЭ he said, after a pause.
вАЬThere is nothing to misunderstand, Josaphat. I have set myself free from my father, and am going my own wayвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶вАЭ
The man who had been the first secretary to the Master over the great Metropolis held his breath back in his lungs, then released it in streams.
вАЬWill you let me tell you something, Mr.¬†Freder?вАЭ
вАЬWellвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶вАЭ
вАЬOne does not set oneself free from your father. It is he who decides whether one remains with him or must leave him.
вАЬThere is nobody who is stronger than Joh Fredersen. He is like the earth. As regards the earth we have no will either. Her laws keep us eternally perpendicular to the centre of the earth, even if we stand on our headвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ When Joh Fredersen sets a man free it means just as much as if the earth were to shut off from a man her powers of attraction. It means falling into nothingвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ Joh Fredersen can set free whom he may; he will never set free his sonвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶вАЭ
вАЬBut what,вАЭ answered Freder, speaking feverishly, вАЬif a man overcomes the laws of nature?вАЭ
вАЬUtopia, Mr.¬†Freder.вАЭ
вАЬFor the inventive spirit of man there is no Utopia: there is only a Not-yet. I have made up my mind to venture the path. I must take itвБ†вАФyes, I must take it! I do not know the way yet, but I shall find it because I must find itвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶вАЭ
вАЬWherever you wish, Mr.¬†FrederвБ†вАФI shall go with youвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶вАЭ
вАЬThank you,вАЭ said Freder, reaching out his hand. He felt it seized and clasped in a vice-like grip.
вАЬYou know, Mr.¬†Freder, donвАЩt youвБ†вАФвАЭ said the strangled voice of Josaphat, вАЬthat everything belongs to youвБ†вАФeverything that I am and haveвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ It is not much, for I have lived like a madmanвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ But for today, and tomorrow and the day after tomorrowвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶вАЭ
Freder shook his head without losing hold of JosaphatвАЩs hand.
вАЬNo, no!вАЭ he said, a torrent of red flowing over his face. вАЬOne does not begin new ways like thatвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ We must try to find other waysвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ It will not be easy. Slim knows his business.вАЭ
вАЬPerhaps Slim could be won over to youвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶вАЭ said Josaphat, hesitatingly. вАЬForвБ†вАФstrange though it may sound, he loves youвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶вАЭ
вАЬSlim loves all his victims. Which does not prevent him, as the most considerate and kindly of executioners, from laying them before my fatherвАЩs feet. He is the born tool, but the tool of the strongest. He would never make himself the tool of the weaker one, for he would thus humiliate himself. And you have just told me, Josaphat, how much stronger my father is than IвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶вАЭ
вАЬIf you were to confide yourself to one of your friendsвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶вАЭ
вАЬI have no friends, Josaphat.вАЭ
Josaphat wanted to contradict, but he stopped himself. Freder turned his eyes towards him. He straightened himself up and smiledвБ†вАФthe otherвАЩs hand still in his.
вАЬI have no friends, Josaphat, and, what weighs still more, I have no friend. I had playfellowsвБ†вАФsport-fellowsвБ†вАФbut friends? A friend? No, Josaphat! Can one confide oneself to somebody of whom one knows nothing but how his laughter sounds?вАЭ
He saw the eyes of the other fixed upon him, discerned the ardour in them and the pain and the truth.
вАЬYes,вАЭ he said with a worried smile. вАЬI should like to confide myself to youвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ I must confide myself to you, JosaphatвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ I must call you вАШFriendвАЩ and вАШBrotherвАЩвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ for I need a man who will go with me in trust and confidence to the worldвАЩs end. Will you be that man?вАЭ
вАЬYes.вАЭ
вАЬYesвБ†вАФ?вАЭ He came to him and laid his hands upon his shoulders. He looked closely into his face. He shook him. вАЬYou say: вАШYesвБ†вАФ!вАЩ Do you know what that meansвБ†вАФfor you and for me? What a last plummet-drop that isвБ†вАФwhat a last anchorage? I hardly know youвБ†вАФ! I wanted to help youвБ†вАФ! I cannot even help you now, because I am poorer now than you areвБ†вАФbut, perhaps, that is all to the goodвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ Joh FredersenвАЩs son can, perhaps, be betrayedвБ†вАФbut I, Josaphat? A man who has nothing but a will and an object? It cannot be worth while to betray himвБ†вАФeh, Josaphat?вАЭ
вАЬMay God kill me as one kills a mangy dogвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶вАЭ
вАЬThatвАЩs all right, thatвАЩs all rightвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶вАЭ FrederвАЩs smile came back again and stood, clear and beautiful in his tired face. вАЬI am going now, Josaphat. I want to go to my fatherвАЩs mother, to take her something which is very sacred to meвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ I shall be here again before evening. Shall I find you here then?вАЭ
вАЬYes, Mr.¬†Freder, most certainly!вАЭ
They stretched out their hands towards each other. Hand held hand, gripped. They looked at each other. Glance held glance, gripped. Then they loosened their grip in silence and Freder went.
A little while later (Josaphat was still standing on the same spot on which Freder had left him) there came a knock at the door.
Though the knocking was as gentle, as modest, as the knocking of one who has come to beg, there was something in it which chased a shiver down JosaphatвАЩs spine. He stood still, gazing at the door, incapable of calling out вАЬCome in,вАЭ or of opening it himself.
The knocking was repeated, becoming not in the least louder. It came for the third time and was still as gentle. But just that deepened the impression that it was inescapable, that it would be quite pointless to play deaf permanently.
вАЬWho is there?вАЭ asked Josaphat hoarsely. He knew very well who was standing outside. He only asked to gain timeвБ†вАФto draw breath, which he badly needed. He expected no answer; neither did he receive one.
The door opened.
In the doorway stood Slim.
They did not greet each other; neither greeted the other. Josaphat: because his gullet was too dry: Slim: because his all-observing eye had darted through the room in the second in which he put his foot on the threshold, and had found something: a black cap, lying on the floor.
Josaphat followed SlimвАЩs gaze with his eyes. He did not stir. With silent step Slim went up to the cap, stooped and picked it up. He twisted it gently this way and that, he twisted it inside out.
In the sweat-sodden lining of the cap stood the number, 11811.
Slim weighed the cap in almost affectionate hands, He fixed his eyes, which were as though veiled with weariness on Josaphat and asked, speaking in a low voice:
вАЬWhere is Freder, Josaphat?вАЭ
вАЬI do not knowвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶вАЭ
Slim smiled sleepily. He fondled the black cap. JosaphatвАЩs hoarse voice continued:
вАЬвА¶¬†But if I did know you would not get it out of me, anywayвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶вАЭ
Slim looked at Josaphat, still smiling, still fondling the black cap.
вАЬYou are quite right,вАЭ said he courteously. вАЬI beg your pardon! It was an idle question. Of course you will not tell me where Mr.¬†Freder is. Neither is it at all necessaryвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ It is quite another matterвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶вАЭ
He pocketed the cap, having carefully rolled it up, and looked around the room. He went up to an armchair, standing near a low, black, polished table.
вАЬYou permit me?вАЭ he asked courteously, seating himself.
Josaphat made a movement of the head, but the вАЬPlease do so,вАЭ dried up in his throat. He did not stir from the one spot.
вАЬYou live very well here,вАЭ said Slim, leaning back and surveying the room with a sweeping movement of his head. вАЬEverything of a soft, half-dark tone. The atmosphere about these cushions is a tepid perfume. I can well understand how difficult it will be for you to leave this flat.вАЭ
вАЬI have no such intention, however,вАЭ said Josaphat. He swallowed.
Slim pressed his eyelids together, as though he wished to sleep.
вАЬNoвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ Not yetвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ But very soonвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶вАЭ
вАЬI should not think of it,вАЭ answered Josaphat. His eyes grew red, and he looked at Slim, hatred smouldering in his gaze.
вАЬNoвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ Not yetвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ But very soonвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶вАЭ
Josaphat stood quite still: but suddenly he smote the air with his fist, as though beating against an invisible door.
вАЬWhat do you want exactly?вАЭ he asked pantingly. вАЬWhat is that supposed to imply? What do you want from meвБ†вАФ?вАЭ
It appeared at first as though Slim had not heard the question. Sleepily, with closed eyelids, he sat there, breathing inaudibly. But, as the leather of the chairback squeaked under JosaphatвАЩs grasp, Slim said, very slowly, but very clearly:
вАЬI want you to tell me for what sum you will give up this flat, Josaphat.вАЭ
вАЬвА¶¬†When?вБ†вАКвБ†вА¶вАЭ
вАЬImmediately.вАЭ
вАЬвА¶¬†What is that supposed to meanвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ Immediately?вБ†вАКвБ†вА¶вАЭ
Slim opened his eyes, and they were as cold and bright as a pebble in a brook.
вАЬImmediately means within an hourвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ Immediately means long before this eveningвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶вАЭ
A shiver ran down JosaphatвАЩs back. The hands on his hanging arms slowly clenched themselves into fists.
вАЬGet out, sirвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶вАЭ he said quietly. вАЬGet out of hereвБ†вАФ! NowвБ†вАФ! At onceвБ†вАФ! Immediately!вБ†вАФвАЭ
вАЬThe flat is very pretty,вАЭ said Slim. вАЬYou are unwilling to give it up. It is of value to one who knows how to appreciate such things. You will not have time to pack any large trunks, either. You can only take what you need for twenty-four hours. The journeyвБ†вАФnew outfitвБ†вАФa yearвАЩs expensesвБ†вАФall this is to be added to the sum: what is the price of your flat, Josaphat?вАЭ
вАЬI shall chuck you into the street,вАЭ stammered Josaphat with feverish mouth. вАЬI shall chuck you seven stories down into the streetвБ†вАФthrough the window, my good sir!вБ†вАФthrough the closed windowвБ†вАФIf you donвАЩt get out this very second!вАЭ
вАЬYou love a woman. The woman does not love you. Women who are not in love are very expensive. You want to buy this woman. Very well. The threefold cost of the flatвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ Life on the Adriatic coastвБ†вАФIn RomeвБ†вАФon TeneriffeвБ†вАФon a splendid steamer around the world with a woman who wants to be bought anew every dayвБ†вАФcomprehensible, Josaphat, that the flat will be expensiveвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ but to tell you the truth, I must have it, so I must pay for it.вАЭ
He plunged his hands into his pocket and drew out a wad of banknotes. He pushed it across to Josaphat over the black, polished mirror-like table. Josaphat clutched at it, leaving his nail marks behind on the tabletop and threw it into SlimвАЩs face. He caught it with a nimble, thought-swift movement, and gently laid it back on the table. He laid a second one beside it.
вАЬIs that enough?вАЭ he asked sleepily.
вАЬNoвБ†вАФ!вАЭ shouted JosaphatвАЩs laughter.
вАЬSensible!вАЭ said Slim. вАЬVery sensible. Why should you not make full use of your advantages. An opportunity like this, to raise your whole life by one hundred rungs, to become independant, happy, free, the fulfilment of every wish, the satisfaction of every whimвБ†вАФto have your own, and a beautiful woman before you, will come only once in your life and never again. Seize it, Josaphat, if you are not a fool! In strict confidence: The beautiful woman of whom we spoke just now has already been informed and is awaiting you near the aeroplane which is standing ready for the journeyвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ Three times the price, Josaphat, if you do not keep the beautiful woman waiting!вАЭ
He laid the third bundle of banknotes on the table. He looked at Josaphat. JosaphatвАЩs reddened eyes devoured his. JosaphatвАЩs hands fumbled across blindly and seized the three brown wads. His teeth showed white under his lips; while his fingers tore the notes to shreds, they seemed to be biting them to death.
Slim shook his head. вАЬThatвАЩs of no account,вАЭ he said undisturbedly. вАЬI have a chequebook here, some of the blank leaves of which bear the signature, Joh Fredersen. Let us write a sum on the first leafвБ†вАФa sum the double of the amount agreed upon up to nowвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ Well, Josaphat?вАЭ
вАЬI will notвБ†вАФ!вАЭ said the other, shaken from head to foot.
Slim smiled.
вАЬNo,вАЭ he said. вАЬNot yetвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ But very soonвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶вАЭ
Josaphat did not answer. He was staring at the piece of paper, white, printed and written on, which lay before him on the blue-black table. He did not see the figure upon it. He only saw the name upon it:
Joh Fredersen.
The signature, as though written with the blade of an axe:
Joh Fredersen.
Josaphat turned his head this way and that as though he felt the blade of the axe at his neck.
вАЬNo,вАЭ he croaked. вАЬNo, no, noвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶вАК!вАЭ
вАЬNot enough yet?вАЭ asked Slim.
вАЬYes!вАЭ said he in a mutter. вАЬYes! It is enough.вАЭ
Slim got up. Something which he had drawn from his pocket with the bundles of banknotes, without his having noticed it, slid down from his knees.
It was a black cap, such as the workmen in Joh FredersenвАЩs works used to wearвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶
A howl escaped JosaphatвАЩs lips. He threw himself down on both knees. He seized the black cap in both hands. He snatched it to his mouth. He stared at Slim. He jerked himself up. He sprang, like a stag before the pack, to gain the door.
But Slim got there before him. With a mighty leap he sprang across table and divan, rebounded against the door and stood before Josaphat. For the fraction of a second they stared each other in the face. Then JosaphatвАЩs hands flew to SlimвАЩs throat. Slim lowered his head. He threw forward his arms, like the grabbing arms of the octopus. They held each other, tightly clasped, and wrestled together, burning and ice-cold, raving and reflecting, teeth-grinding and silent, breast to breast.
They tore themselves apart and dashed at each other. They fell, and, wrestling, rolled along the floor. Josaphat forced his opponent beneath him. Fighting, they pushed each other up. They stumbled and rolled over armchairs and divans. The beautiful room, turned into a wilderness, seemed to be too small for the two twisted bodies, which jerked like fishes, stamped like steers, struck at each other like fighting bears.
But against SlimвАЩs unshakeable, dreadful coldness the white-hot fury of his opponent could not stand its ground. Suddenly, as though his knee joints had been hacked through, Josaphat collapsed in SlimвАЩs hands, fell on his knees and remained there, his back resting against an overturned armchair, staring up with glassy eyes.
Slim loosened his hold. He looked down at him.
вАЬHad enough yet?вАЭ he asked, and smiled sleepily.
Josaphat did not answer. He moved his right hand. In all the fury of the fight he had not lost hold of the black cap which Freder had worn when he came to him.
He raised the cap painfully on to his knees, as though it weighed a hundredweight. He twisted it between his fingers. He fondled itвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶
вАЬCome, Josaphat, get up!вАЭ said Slim. He spoke very gravely and gently and a little sadly. вАЬMay I help you? Give me your hands! No, no. I shall not take the cap away from youвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶ I am afraid I was obliged to hurt you very much. It was no pleasure. But you forced me into it.вАЭ
He left go of the man, who was now standing upright, and he looked around him with a gloomy smile.
вАЬA good thing we settled the price beforehand,вАЭ he said. вАЬNow the flat would be considerably cheaper.вАЭ
He sighed a little and looked at Josaphat.
вАЬWhen will you be ready to go?вАЭ
вАЬNow,вАЭ said Josaphat.
вАЬYou will not take anything with you?вАЭ
вАЬNo.вАЭ
вАЬYou will go just as you areвБ†вАФwith all the marks of the struggle, all tattered and torn?вАЭ
вАЬYes.вАЭ
вАЬIs that courteous to the lady who is waiting for you?вАЭ
Sight returned to JosaphatвАЩs eyes. He turned a reddened gaze towards Slim.
вАЬIf you do not want me to commit the murder on the woman which did not succeed on youвБ†вАФthen send her away before I comeвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶вАЭ
Slim was silent. He turned to go. He took the cheque, folded it together and put it into JosaphatвАЩs pocket.
Josaphat offered no resistance.
He walked before Slim towards the door. Then he stopped again and looked around.
He waved the cap which Freder had worn, in farewell to the room, and burst out into ceaseless laughter. He struck his shoulder against the door postвБ†вАКвБ†вА¶
Then he went out. Slim followed him.