Три товарища

           Wethreewerenowleftaloneintheinnparlour.Itwassuddenlyveryquiet.Thecuckooclockticked.Thehostessclearedawayandlookeddownonusmaternally.Abrownretrieverlaystretched,outinfrontofthestove.Nowandthenhewouldbarkinhissleep,softly,highandplaintive.Outsidethewindsighedpastthewindow.Snatchesofsoldiers’songsdriftedin;thelittleroomseemedtoliftusandfloatwithusthroughthenightandthroughtheyears,pastmanymemoriesandhalf-forgottenthings.

           Itwasastrangefeeling.Timeseemedtohaveceasedtoflow—itwasnolongerariverthatcamefromthedarknessandpassedoutintodarknessagain—itwasalakeinwhichlifewasnoiselesslymirrored.Iheldupmyglassinmyhand.Therumglowed.IthoughtoftheaccountIhaddrawnupthatmorningintheworkshop.Ihadbeendepressedthen;Iwassonolonger.IlookedatKöster.Iheardhimtalkingwiththegirl;butIdidnotattendtotheirwords.Ifeltthefirstsoftglowofintoxicationthatmakesthebloodwarmerandspreadsanillusionofadventureoveruncertainty.OutsideLenzandBindingweresingingthesongoftheArgonnerwald.Besidemetheunknowngirlwastalking—shespokesoftlyandslowlyinthatdeep,exciting,slightlyhoarsevoice.Iemptiedmyglass.

           Theothertwocameinagain.Theyhadsoberedalittleintheopenair.Thepartybrokeup.Ihelpedthegirlintohercoat.Shewasstandingimmediatelyinfrontofme,lithelymovinghershoulderstoreceivethecloak,herheadthrownbackandturnedaside,herlipsslightlyopenwithasmilethatwasmeantfornoonedirectedtotheceiling.Iloweredthecloakaninstant.Wherehadmyeyesbeenallthistime?IsuddenlyunderstoodLenz’senthusiasm.