Any Survivors (2008) Read Online Free Page B

and called me a crook so he could pay.
    ‘My name is Leopold Karner,’ the young man introduced himself whilst I was already greedily spooning my soup. ‘From Vienna,’ he continued. ‘I was a former illegal; an SS man in the Vitztum legion. You are from Vienna too judging by your accent? Or at least Austrian?’
    I ignored the question. ‘I’ve heard of the legion,’ I interjected. ‘But to be perfectly honest it doesn't win my sympathy vote.’ I went no further as I didn't want to lose my new friends before they had served me the meat course.
    ‘Excellent,’ said my new benefactor. ‘I have also liquidated my relationship with them and think it's time we both came clean with each other.’
    Thank goodness – here was the mixed grill.
    ‘Now, I'm not saying I’ve lost touch completely – on the contrary, I still have some lucrative contacts. But I want nothing more to do with the Gestapo. They are after me. Now let me tell you the story. And you, you are an enemy alien, aren't you?’
    Ah , I thought, he's interrogating me . I nodded.
    ‘Your permit? Is it for residence only, not for work? And where do you live? Do you have any friends or relations? What about your documents?’
    ‘At the moment I have nowhere to stay,’ I disclosed. ‘Hardly any friends, no relations and no documents.’ The music had stopped. There was lukewarm applause from the more good-natured people in the audience. Then quiet.
    ‘How would you like to …’ Mr Leo began. Judging by his face he was about to say something of great importance and I forgot to breathe. At the same time I felt someone kicking me under the table; then, somewhat annoyed, they apologised. It seemed that Leo also received a similar kick that prompted him to stop mid-sentence. After an awkward pause he continued: ‘Some cheese?’
    ‘Yes please,’ I said. But the question was not a serious one. Instead of ordering some cheese he said to the waiter, ‘The bill please’, and the three of them watched silently as I finished my meal. Even the girl pulled herself together. It seemed the drunkenness of the party was wearing off. I was in good spirits. Things had been going wrong for months and now it was time for my luck to change. My first stroke of good fortune was already consumed. The bill was on the table and I was just polishing off my last piece of apple torte. I was ready to go.
    ‘If it's okay with you we will finish our conversation elsewhere.’
    I nodded.
    ‘Gather your things,’ he ordered, upon which I shrugged.
    ‘I have no things.’
    We marched past reception, Leo in front; I was the last. Leo paid with a pound note and then the four of us were in complete darkness. Whilst our eyes had got used to the bright lights inside, it was now impossible to see anything. Leo called for a taxi and a shadow appeared, its faint light getting brighter. All three got into the taxi.
    ‘I fear I won't be able to find the way, even if you describe it to me,’ I said, in what I thought was the direction of the window of the taxi.
    ‘Don't be a fool; you’re coming with us,’ the tenor voice said, his strong fists pulling me into the taxi where I stumbled into some very sharp girlish knees. The thought of getting into a taxi was so far from what I was used to, it was hard to imagine. I hadn't set foot in one since leaving my home country. After only a few minutes’ drive the cab stopped at a big block of flats and Leo and I got out. We must have been on Edgware Road from what I could make out by the faint glow of the traffic lights. The girl was preparing to get out too. ‘No. You stay here Angelica,’ said Leo. ‘I don't think you will lose a pearl from your crown if you have to sleep in your own bed for a change.’ The greying man also remained in the taxi, which had now pulled away and was rolling off into the darkness at a snail's pace.
    Leo grabbed me under the arm and led me into his bachelor's flat where he dumped me in a comfortable