Chapter 7

15 min

“Where is Georgi?” asked Freder, his eyes wandering through Josaphat’s three rooms, which stretched out before him—beautiful, with a rather bewildering super-abundance of armchairs, divans and silk cushions, with curtains which goldenly obscured the light.

“Where is Georgi?” asked Freder, looking around Josaphat’s three rooms, which stretched out before him. They were beautiful, with a bewildering abundance of armchairs, sofas, and silk cushions. Curtains filtered the light with a golden glow.

“Who?” 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.

“Who?” Josaphat asked listlessly. He had waited without sleeping, and his eyes looked enormous in his thin, almost white face. He never took his eyes off Freder. His gaze was like hands raised in adoration.

“Georgi,” repeated Freder. He smiled happily with his tired mouth.

“Georgi,” Freder repeated. He smiled happily, though his mouth was tired.

“Who is that?” asked Josaphat.

“I sent him to you.”

“Nobody has come.”

Freder looked at him without answering.

“I sat all night in this chair,” continued Josaphat, misinterpreting Freder’s silence. “I 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.”

“I sat in this chair all night,” Josaphat continued, misunderstanding Freder’s silence. “I didn’t sleep a wink. I expected you to come at any moment, or send a messenger, or call me. I also told the watchman. Nobody has come, Mr. Freder.”

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.

Freder still said nothing. Slowly, almost stumbling, he stepped over the threshold into the room. He raised his right hand to his head, as if to take off his hat. Then he noticed he was wearing the black cap that pressed his hair tightly down. He swept it off his head, and it fell to the floor. His hand moved down from his forehead and rested over his eyes for a moment. Then his other hand joined it, as if to comfort its sister. His body looked like a young birch tree bent sideways by a strong wind.

Josaphat’s eyes hung on the uniform which Freder wore.

Josaphat’s eyes lingered on Freder’s uniform.

“Mr. Freder,” he began cautiously, “how comes it that you are wearing these clothes?”

“Mr. Freder,” he began cautiously, “why are you wearing these clothes?”

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.

Freder stayed turned away from him. He took his hands from his eyes and pressed them to his face, as if he felt pain there.

“Georgi wore them....” He answered. “I gave him mine....”

“Georgi wore them....” he replied. “I gave him mine....”

“Then Georgi is a workman?”

“So Georgi is a worker?”

“Yes.... I found him before the Pater-noster machine. I took his place and sent him to you....”

“Yes.... I found him in front of the Pater-noster machine. I took his place and sent him to you....”

“Perhaps he’ll come yet,” answered Josaphat.

“Perhaps he’ll still come,” Josaphat replied.

Freder shook his head.

“He 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.”

“He should have been here hours ago. If he had been caught leaving the New Tower of Babel, someone would have come to me while I was standing in front of the machine. It’s strange, but the fact is, he hasn’t come.”

“Was there much money in the suit which you exchanged with Georgi?” asked Josaphat tentatively, as one who bares a wounded spot.

“Was there much money in the suit you exchanged with Georgi?” Josaphat asked hesitantly, as if exposing a wound.

Freder nodded.

“Then you must not be surprised that Georgi has not come,” said Josaphat. But the expression of shame and pain on Freder’s face prevented him from continuing.

“Then you shouldn't be surprised that Georgi hasn't come,” said Josaphat. But the shame and pain on Freder’s face stopped him from saying more.

“Won’t you sit down, Mr. Freder,” he begged. “Or lie down? You look so tired that it is painful to look at you.”

“Won’t you sit down, Mr. Freder,” he pleaded. “Or lie down? You look so tired that it hurts to look at you.”

“I have no time to sit down and not time to lie down, either,” answered Freder. He walked through the rooms, aimlessly, senselessly, stopping wherever a chair, a table, offered him a hold. “The fact, is this, Josaphat: I told Georgi to come here and to wait here for me—or for a message from me.... It is a thousand to one that Slim, in searching for me, is already on Georgi’s track, and it’s a thousand to one he gets out of him where I sent him....”

“I have no time to sit down, and no time to lie down either,” Freder replied. He wandered aimlessly through the rooms, stopping wherever a chair or table offered him support. “Here’s the situation, Josaphat: I told Georgi to come here and wait for me or for a message from me.... It’s a thousand to one that Slim is already on Georgi’s trail while searching for me. And it’s a thousand to one that he’ll get Georgi to tell him where I sent him....”

“And you do not want Slim to find you?”

“And you don't want Slim to find you?”

“He must not find me, Josaphat—not for anything on earth....”

“He must not find me, Josaphat, not for anything in the world....”

The other stood silent, rather helpless. Freder looked at him with a trembling smile.

The other man stood silent, looking rather helpless. Freder looked at him with a trembling smile.

“How shall we obtain money, now, Josaphat?”

“How will we get money now, Josaphat?”

“That should offer no difficulty to Joh Fredersen’s son.”

“That should be no problem for Joh Fredersen’s son.”

“More than you think, Josaphat, for I am no longer Joh Fredersen’s son....”

“More than you think, Josaphat, because I’m no longer Joh Fredersen’s son....”

Josaphat raised his head.

Josaphat lifted his head.

“I do not understand you,” he said, after a pause.

“I don't understand you,” he said after a pause.

“There is nothing to misunderstand, Josaphat. I have set myself free from my father, and am going my own way....”

“There’s nothing to misunderstand, Josaphat. I’ve freed myself from my father, and I’m going my own way....”

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.

The man who had been the Master of the great Metropolis's first secretary held his breath, then breathed out in streams.

“Will you let me tell you something, Mr. Freder?”

“May I tell you something, Mr. Freder?”

“Well....”

“One does not set oneself free from your father. It is he who decides whether one remains with him or must leave him.

“You cannot free yourself from your father. He decides whether you stay with him or have to leave him.

“There 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 head.... 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 nothing.... Joh Fredersen can set free whom he may; he will never set free his son....”

“Nobody is stronger than Joh Fredersen. He is like the earth. We have no will against the earth, either. Its laws keep us forever perpendicular to its center, even if we stand on our heads.... When Joh Fredersen sets a man free, it is as if the earth stopped pulling that man toward it. It means falling into nothing.... Joh Fredersen may set anyone free, but he will never set his son free....”

“But what,” answered Freder, speaking feverishly, “if a man overcomes the laws of nature?”

“But what if a man overcomes the laws of nature?” Freder replied feverishly.

“Utopia, Mr. Freder.”

“For 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 it—yes, I must take it! I do not know the way yet, but I shall find it because I must find it....”

“For human ingenuity, there is no Utopia. There is only a Not-yet. I have decided to venture down this path. I must take it. Yes, I must take it! I don't know the way yet, but I will find it because I must....”

“Wherever you wish, Mr. Freder—I shall go with you....”

“Wherever you want, Mr. Freder, I’ll go with you....”

“Thank you,” said Freder, reaching out his hand. He felt it seized and clasped in a vice-like grip.

“Thank you,” said Freder, reaching out his hand. Someone seized it and gripped it tightly, like a vise.

“You know, Mr. Freder, don’t you—” said the strangled voice of Josaphat, “that everything belongs to you—everything that I am and have.... It is not much, for I have lived like a madman.... But for to-day, and to-morrow and the day after to-morrow....”

“You know, Mr. Freder, don’t you,” said Josaphat in a choked voice, “that everything I am and have belongs to you.... It isn’t much, because I’ve lived like a madman.... But for today, and tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow....”

Freder shook his head without losing hold of Josaphat’s hand.

Freder shook his head without letting go of Josaphat’s hand.

“No, no!” he said, a torrent of red flowing over his face. “One does not begin new ways like that.... We must try to find other ways.... It will not be easy. Slim knows his business.”

“No, no!” he said, his face flushing red. “That’s not how you start doing things differently.... We must try to find other ways.... It won’t be easy. Slim knows his business.”

“Perhaps Slim could be won over to you ...” said Josaphat, hesitatingly. “For—strange though it may sound, he loves you....”

“Perhaps Slim could be persuaded to take your side ...” Josaphat said hesitantly. “Because, strange as it may sound, he loves you....”

“Slim loves all his victims. Which does not prevent him, as the most considerate and kindly of executioners, from laying them before my father’s 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 I....”

“Slim loves all his victims. But that does not stop him from laying them at my father’s feet. He is the most considerate and kindest of executioners. He was born to be a tool, but only for the strongest. He would never be the tool of someone weaker, because that would humiliate him. And you have just told me, Josaphat, how much stronger my father is than I am....”

“If you were to confide yourself to one of your friends....”

“If you were to confide in one of your friends....”

“I have no friends, Josaphat.”

Josaphat wanted to contradict, but he stopped himself. Freder turned his eyes towards him. He straightened himself up and smiled—the other’s hand still in his.

Josaphat wanted to disagree, but he stopped himself. Freder looked at him. He straightened up and smiled, still holding the other’s hand.

“I have no friends, Josaphat, and, what weighs still more, I have no friend. I had play-fellows—sport-fellows—but friends? A friend? No, Josaphat! Can one confide oneself to somebody of whom one knows nothing but how his laughter sounds?”

“I have no friends, Josaphat. And what weighs on me even more is that I do not have a single friend. I had people to play and have fun with, but friends? A friend? No, Josaphat! Can you confide in someone when all you know about them is how their laughter sounds?”

He saw the eyes of the other fixed upon him, discerned the ardour in them and the pain and the truth.

He saw the other person’s eyes fixed on him. In them, he saw passion, pain, and truth.

“Yes,” he said with a worried smile. “I should like to confide myself to you.... I must confide myself to you, Josaphat.... I must call you ‘Friend’ and ‘Brother’ ... for I need a man who will go with me in trust and confidence to the world’s end. Will you be that man?”

“Yes,” he said with a worried smile. “I want to confide in you.... I must confide in you, Josaphat.... I must call you ‘Friend’ and ‘Brother’ ... because I need a man who will go with me to the end of the world in trust and confidence. Will you be that man?”

“Yes.”

“Yes—?” He came to him and laid his hands upon his shoulders. He looked closely into his face. He shook him. “You say: ‘Yes—!’ Do you know what that means—for you and for me? What a last plummet-drop that is—what a last anchorage? I hardly know you—I wanted to help you—I cannot even help you now, because I am poorer now than you are—but, perhaps, that is all to the good.... Joh Fredersen’s son can, perhaps, be betrayed—but I, Josaphat? A man who has nothing but a will and an object? It cannot be worth while to betray him—eh, Josaphat?”

“Yes?” He came over and placed his hands on his shoulders. He looked closely at his face and shook him. “You say, ‘Yes!’ Do you know what that means for you and for me? What a final plunge that is, what a last anchor? I hardly know you. I wanted to help you. I cannot even help you now because I am poorer than you are. But perhaps that is for the best.... Joh Fredersen’s son can perhaps be betrayed. But what about me, Josaphat? A man who has nothing but a will and a goal? It cannot be worth betraying him, can it, Josaphat?”

“May God kill me as one kills a mangy dog....”

“May God kill me like a mangy dog....”

“That’s all right, that’s all right....” Freder’s smile came back again and stood, clear and beautiful in his tired face. “I am going now, Josaphat. I want to go to my father’s mother, to take her something which is very sacred to me.... I shall be here again before evening. Shall I find you here then?”

“That’s all right, that’s all right....” Freder smiled again, his smile clear and beautiful on his tired face. “I’m going now, Josaphat. I want to take something very sacred to me to my grandmother, my father’s mother.... I’ll be back before evening. Will you be here then?”

“Yes, Mr. Freder, most certainly!”

“Yes, Mr. Freder, absolutely!”

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.

They reached out to each other and gripped hands. They looked into each other's eyes and held each other's gaze. Then they silently let go, and Freder left.

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.

A little while later, Josaphat was still standing where Freder had left him. There was 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 Josaphat’s spine. He stood still, gazing at the door, incapable of calling out “Come in,” or of opening it himself.

Though the knocking was as gentle and modest as a beggar’s, something in it sent a shiver down Josaphat’s spine. He stood still, staring at the door, unable to call out “Come in,” or open 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.

The knocking came again, no louder than before. It came a third time, still just as gentle. But that only strengthened the feeling that it was inescapable. It would be pointless to keep pretending not to hear it.

“Who is there?” asked Josaphat hoarsely. He knew very well who was standing outside. He only asked to gain time—to draw breath, which he badly needed. He expected no answer; neither did he receive one.

“Who is there?” Josaphat asked hoarsely. He knew very well who was standing outside. He only asked to buy time and catch his breath, which he badly needed to do. He didn’t expect an answer, and he didn’t get one.

The door opened.

In the doorway stood Slim.

Slim stood in the doorway.

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.

They did not greet each other. Josaphat’s throat was too dry. Slim’s ever-watchful eye had swept the room the moment he stepped through the doorway. He had spotted something: a black cap lying on the floor.

Josaphat followed Slim’s 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.

Josaphat followed Slim’s gaze. He did not move. Slim walked silently to the cap, bent down, and picked it up. He gently turned it this way and that, then turned it inside out.

In the sweat-sodden lining of the cap stood the number, 11811.

The number 11811 was written inside the sweat-soaked lining of the cap.

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:

Slim weighed the cap in his hands, almost affectionately. His eyes seemed veiled with weariness as he looked at Josaphat and asked quietly:

“Where is Freder, Josaphat?”

“I do not know....”

“I don't know....”

Slim smiled sleepily. He fondled the black cap. Josaphat’s hoarse voice continued:

Slim smiled sleepily. He stroked the black cap. Josaphat’s hoarse voice continued:

“... But if I did know you would not get it out of me, anyway....”

“... But even if I did know, you wouldn't get it out of me anyway....”

Slim looked at Josaphat, still smiling, still fondling the black cap.

Slim looked at Josaphat, still smiling and stroking the black cap.

“You are quite right,” said he courteously. “I beg your pardon! It was an idle question. Of course you will not tell me where Mr. Freder is. Neither is it at all necessary.... It is quite another matter....”

“You’re quite right,” he said politely. “I’m sorry! It was a pointless question. Of course you won’t tell me where Mr. Freder is. There’s no need to, either.... It’s something else entirely....”

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.

He carefully rolled up the cap, put it in his pocket, and looked around the room. He went over to an armchair near a low, polished black table.

“You permit me?” he asked courteously, seating himself.

“May I?” he asked politely, sitting down.

Josaphat made a movement of the head, but the “Please do so,” dried up in his throat. He did not stir from the one spot.

Josaphat moved his head, but the words “Please do so,” died in his throat. He did not move from the spot.

“You live very well here,” said Slim, leaning back and surveying the room with a sweeping movement of his head. “Everything 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.”

“You live very well here,” said Slim, leaning back and looking around the room. “Everything has a soft, dim tone. A warm scent hangs around these cushions. I can understand how hard it will be for you to leave this apartment.”

“I have no such intention, however,” said Josaphat. He swallowed.

“But I don’t intend to do that,” said Josaphat. He swallowed.

Slim pressed his eye-lids together, as though he wished to sleep.

Slim squeezed his eyes shut, as if he wanted to sleep.

“No.... Not yet.... But very soon....”

“No... Not yet... But very soon...”

“I should not think of it,” answered Josaphat. His eyes grew red, and he looked at Slim, hatred smouldering in his gaze.

“I wouldn’t think of it,” Josaphat answered. His eyes grew red as he looked at Slim, hatred smoldering in his gaze.

“No.... Not yet.... But very soon....”

“No... Not yet... But very soon...”

Josaphat stood quite still: but suddenly he smote the air with his fist, as though beating against an invisible door.

Josaphat stood completely still. But suddenly he punched the air, as if beating against an invisible door.

“What do you want exactly?” he asked pantingly. “What is that supposed to imply? What do you want from me—?”

“What exactly do you want?” he asked, panting. “What is that supposed to mean? What do you want from me?”

It appeared at first as though Slim had not heard the question. Sleepily, with closed eye-lids, he sat there, breathing inaudibly. But, as the leather of the chairback squeaked under Josaphat’s grasp, Slim said, very slowly, but very clearly:

At first, it seemed that Slim had not heard the question. He sat sleepily with his eyes closed, breathing silently. But the leather on the back of the chair squeaked under Josaphat’s grip. Then Slim spoke, very slowly but very clearly:

“I want you to tell me for what sum you will give up this flat, Josaphat.”

“I want you to tell me how much money it would take for you to give up this apartment, Josaphat.”

“... When?...”

“Immediately.”

“Right away.”

“... What is that supposed to mean.... Immediately?...”

“... What is that supposed to mean.... Right away?...”

Slim opened his eyes, and they were as cold and bright as a pebble in a brook.

Slim opened his eyes. They were as cold and bright as a pebble in a stream.

“Immediately means within an hour.... Immediately means long before this evening....”

A shiver ran down Josaphat’s back. The hands on his hanging arms slowly clenched themselves into fists.

A shiver ran down Josaphat’s back. His arms hung at his sides, and his hands slowly clenched into fists.

“Get out, sir ...” he said quietly. “Get out of here—! Now—! At once—! Immediately—!”

“Get out, sir ...” he said quietly. “Get out of here! Now! At once! Immediately!”

“The flat is very pretty,” said Slim. “You 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 journey—new outfit—a year’s expenses—all this is to be added to the sum: what is the price of your flat, Josaphat?”

“The flat is very pretty,” said Slim. “You don’t want to give it up. It has value to someone who appreciates such things. You won’t have time to pack any large trunks, either. You can only take what you need for twenty-four hours. The journey, new clothes, and a year’s expenses must all be added to the sum. What is the price of your flat, Josaphat?”

“I shall chuck you into the street,” stammered Josaphat with feverish mouth. “I shall chuck you seven stories down into the street—through the window, my good sir!—through the closed window—if you don’t get out this very second!”

“I’ll throw you into the street,” Josaphat stammered, his mouth feverish. “I’ll throw you seven stories down into the street, sir! Through the window! Through the closed window! If you don’t get out this very second!”

“You 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 flat.... Life on the Adriatic coast—in Rome—on Teneriffe—on a splendid steamer around the world with a woman who wants to be bought anew every day—comprehensible, Josaphat, that the flat will be expensive ... but to tell you the truth, I must have it, so I must pay for it.”

“You love a woman. She does not love you. Women who are not in love are very expensive. You want to buy this woman. All right. Three times the cost of the apartment.... Life on the Adriatic coast, in Rome, on Teneriffe, or on a magnificent cruise around the world. And with a woman who wants to be bought again every day. It’s understandable, Josaphat, that the apartment will be expensive ... but to tell you the truth, I must have it, so I must pay for it.”

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 table-top and threw it into Slim’s 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.

He plunged his hands into his pocket and pulled out a wad of banknotes. He pushed it across the black, polished table, its surface like a mirror, to Josaphat. Josaphat grabbed the wad, leaving nail marks on the tabletop, and threw it in Slim’s face. Slim caught it with a quick movement, swift as thought, and gently laid it back on the table. He laid a second wad beside it.

“Is that enough?” he asked sleepily.

“No—!” shouted Josaphat’s laughter.

“No!” Josaphat shouted through his laughter.

“Sensible!” said Slim. “Very 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 independent, happy, free, the fulfilment of every wish, the satisfaction of every whim—to 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 journey.... Three times the price, Josaphat, if you do not keep the beautiful woman waiting!”

“Sensible!” said Slim. “Very sensible. Why shouldn’t you make full use of your advantages? An opportunity like this comes only once in a lifetime, never again. You could raise your whole life by a hundred rungs and become independent, happy, and free. Every wish could be fulfilled, every whim satisfied. You could have something of your own, with a beautiful woman before you. Seize the opportunity, Josaphat, unless you’re a fool! Just between us, the beautiful woman we spoke of has already been informed. She’s waiting for you near the airplane, which is ready for the journey.... Three times the price, Josaphat, if you don’t keep the beautiful woman waiting!”

He laid the third bundle of banknotes on the table. He looked at Josaphat. Josaphat’s reddened eyes devoured his. Josaphat’s 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.

He laid the third bundle of banknotes on the table. He looked at Josaphat, whose reddened eyes devoured his. Josaphat reached blindly across the table and seized the three brown wads. His teeth showed white beneath his lips. As his fingers tore the notes to shreds, his teeth seemed to be biting them to death.

Slim shook his head. “That’s of no account,” he said undisturbedly. “I have a cheque-book here, some of the blank leaves of which bear the signature, Joh Fredersen. Let us write a sum on the first leaf—a sum the double of the amount agreed upon up to now.... Well, Josaphat?”

Slim shook his head. “That doesn’t matter,” he said calmly. “I have a checkbook here. Some of the blank checks are signed by Joh Fredersen. Let’s write an amount on the first one, twice what we’ve agreed on so far.... Well, Josaphat?”

“I will not—!” said the other, shaken from head to foot.

“I won't!” said the other, trembling from head to toe.

Slim smiled.

“No,” he said. “Not yet.... But very soon....”

“No,” he said. “Not yet... But very soon...”

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:

Josaphat did not answer. He stared at the white paper on the blue-black table before him. It had printing and writing on it. He did not see the figure on the paper. He saw only the name:

Joh Fredersen.

The signature, as though written with the blade of an axe:

The signature looked as if it had been 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.

Josaphat turned his head from side to side, as if he felt an axe blade against his neck.

“No,” he croaked. “No, no, no...!”

“Not enough yet?” asked Slim.

“Yes!” said he in a mutter. “Yes! It is enough.”

“Yes!” he muttered. “Yes! It is enough.”

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.

Slim got up. Something slid off his knees. He had pulled it from his pocket along with the bundles of banknotes without noticing.

It was a black cap, such as the workmen in Joh Fredersen’s works used to wear....

It was a black cap, like the ones workers at Joh Fredersen’s factories used to wear....

A howl escaped Josaphat’s 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.

Josaphat let out a howl. He dropped to his knees. He grabbed the black cap with both hands and pressed it to his mouth. He stared at Slim. Then he jumped up and sprang toward the door, like a stag fleeing a pack of hounds.

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 Josaphat’s hands flew to Slim’s 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.

But Slim got there first. With a powerful leap, he sprang over the table and sofa, bounced off the door, and stood before Josaphat. For a fraction of a second, they stared into each other’s faces. Then Josaphat’s hands flew to Slim’s throat. Slim lowered his head. He thrust his arms forward like the grasping arms of an octopus. They held each other tightly and wrestled, chest to chest. They were burning and ice-cold, raging and thinking, grinding their teeth and silent.

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.

They broke apart and rushed at each other. They fell and rolled across the floor, wrestling. Josaphat pinned his opponent beneath him. Still fighting, they pushed each other to their feet. They stumbled and rolled over armchairs and sofas. The beautiful room was now a mess. It seemed too small for their two twisting bodies. They jerked like fish, stamped like bulls, and struck at each other like fighting bears.

But against Slim’s 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 Slim’s hands, fell on his knees and remained there, his back resting against an over-turned armchair, staring up with glassy eyes.

But his opponent’s white-hot fury could not withstand Slim’s unshakable, dreadful coldness. Suddenly, Josaphat collapsed in Slim’s hands, as if his knee joints had been hacked through. He fell to his knees and stayed there, his back against an overturned armchair, staring up with glassy eyes.

Slim loosened his hold. He looked down at him.

Slim loosened his grip. He looked down at him.

“Had enough yet?” he asked, and smiled sleepily.

“Had enough yet?” he asked, smiling 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.

Josaphat did not answer. He moved his right hand. Throughout the fierce fight, he had held on to the black cap 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 it....

He painfully lifted the cap onto his knees, as if it weighed a hundred pounds. He twisted it between his fingers. He stroked it....

“Come, Josaphat, get up!” said Slim. He spoke very gravely and gently and a little sadly. “May I help you? Give me your hands! No, no. I shall not take the cap away from you.... I am afraid I was obliged to hurt you very much. It was no pleasure. But you forced me into it.”

“Come on, Josaphat, get up!” said Slim. He spoke very seriously and gently, and a little sadly. “May I help you? Give me your hands! No, no. I won’t take the cap away from you.... I’m afraid I had to hurt you badly. I didn’t enjoy it. But you forced me to do it.”

He let go of the man, who was now standing upright, and he looked around him with a gloomy smile.

He let go of the man, who was now standing upright. Then he looked around with a gloomy smile.

“A good thing we settled the price before-hand,” he said. “Now the flat would be considerably cheaper.”

“It's a good thing we agreed on the price beforehand,” he said. “The flat would be much cheaper now.”

He sighed a little and looked at Josaphat.

He sighed softly and looked at Josaphat.

“When will you be ready to go?”

“Now,” said Josaphat.

“You will not take anything with you?”

“You won't take anything with you?”

“No.”

“You will go just as you are—with all the marks of the struggle, all tattered and torn?”

“You’re going just as you are, with all the marks of the struggle, all tattered and torn?”

“Yes.”

“Is that courteous to the lady who is waiting for you?”

“Is that polite to the lady waiting for you?”

Sight returned to Josaphat’s eyes. He turned a reddened gaze towards Slim.

Josaphat’s sight returned. He turned his red eyes toward Slim.

“If you do not want me to commit the murder on the woman which did not succeed on you—then send her away before I come....”

“If you don't want me to kill her after failing to kill you, send her away before I come....”

Slim was silent. He turned to go. He took the cheque, folded it together and put it into Josaphat’s pocket.

Slim said nothing. He turned to leave. He took the check, folded it, and put it in Josaphat’s pocket.

Josaphat offered no resistance.

Josaphat did not resist.

He walked before Slim towards the door. Then he stopped again and looked around.

He walked ahead of Slim toward 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 post....

He waved the cap Freder had worn to say goodbye to the room. Then he burst into endless laughter. He struck his shoulder against the doorframe....

Then he went out. Slim followed him.