Три товарища

           Then,withnightfall,justaswethoughtthingswerequieteningdown,andwereabouttodrawthecork,gascameoverandfilledthedugouts.Wehadourmasksoningoodtime,butMittendorf’swasdefective,andbythetimeheknewit,itwastoolate.Herippeditoff,butbeforeanewonecouldbefoundhehadswallowedso11/529muchgashewasspewingblood.Hediedthenextmorning,greenandblackintheface.

           1918.Thatwasinhospital.Afreshconvoyhadcomeinafewdaysbefore.Paperbandages.Badlywoundedcases.Groans.Lowoperating-trolleystrundlingbackandforthallday.JosefStollwasinthebednexttomine.Bothhislegswereoff,buthedidn’tknowthat.Hecouldnotseeit,becausethebedclothesweresupportedonawirecradle.Hewouldnothavebelieveditanyway,forhecouldstillfeelthepaininhisfeet.Twochapsdiedinthenightinourroom,oneveryslowlyandhard.

           1919.Homeagain.Revolution.Starvation.Andoutsidethemachine-gunsrattling.Soldieragainstsoldier.

           1920.Putsch.KarlBrögershot.KösterandLenzarrested.

           Mymotherinhospital.Cancer.

           1921....

           Iponderedawhile.No,Icouldn’tremember.Thatyear,wasmissing.1922,IwasaplatelayerinThuringia;1923,advertisingmanagerforarubbergoodsfirm.Thatwasduringtheinflation.AtonetimeIwasearningasmuchastwohundredbillionmarksamonth.Weusedtobepaidtwiceaday,eachpaymentfollowedbyahalf-hour’sleave,sothatonecoulddashouttotheshopsandbuysomethingbeforenextpublicationofthedollarexchange