Три товарища

           rate—forbythattimethemoneywouldbeagainworthonlyhalf.

           Andthenwhat?Theyearsafterthat?Iputdownthepencil.Therewasnopointingoingoverallthat.Anyway,Icouldnotrememberanylonger;ithadbeenalltooconfused.MylastbirthdayIcelebratedaspianistattheCaféInternational.ItwasthenImetKösterandLenzoncemore.AndnowhereIwasintheAurewo—Auto-Repair-Workshop;Köster&Co.12/529LenzandIwerethe"Co.,"buttheshopbelongedreallyonlytoKöster.Hehadbeenourschoolfriend,andintheArmypurcompanycommander;thenhebecameanairpilot,andlaterforatimeastudent;thenaspeedwayracer....Andfinallyhehadboughtthisshow.Lenz,afterspendingsomeyearsdriftingaroundSouthAmerica,hadbeenfirsttojoinhim—thenI.

           Ifishedacigarettefrommypocket.Afterall,Ihadeveryreasontobecontent.Iwasnotsobadlyoffreally;Ihadwork,Iwasstrong,Ididnottireeasily,Iwashealthyasthingsgo....Butitwasbetternottothinktoomuchaboutallthat—whenalone,atanyrate;andespeciallyatnight.Foreverynowandthenthingshadawayofrisingupsuddenlyoutofthepastandstaringatonewithdeadeyes.Itwasagainstsuchtimesthatonekeptabottleofschnapps.

           Thegatecreakedonitshinges.Itoreuptheslipofpaperwiththedatesonitandthrewitintothewastepaperbasket.Thedoorburstopen,andGottfriedLenz—tall,thin,withastraw-colouredmopofhairandanosethatmighthavebelongedtosomebodyelse—stoodframedinthedoorway.

           "Bobby,"hebawled,"youlumpofobesity,standup!Putyourheelstogether!Yoursuperiorofficerswishtospeaktoyou!