Flotsam Read Online Free Page B

the same,” he predicted.
    “Where are you going?” asked the Chicken.
    “Czecho. And you? To Hungary?”
    “Switzerland. I’ve thought it over. Come along. From there we’ll get them to push us into France.”
    Kern shook his head. “No, I’m going to try to get to Prague.”
    A few minutes later Steiner was brought in. “Do you know the name of the policeman who hit me in the face when wewere arrested?” he asked Kern. “Leopold Schaefer. He lives at Number 27, Trautenau Alley. They read it to me as part of the record. Of course it didn’t say that he hit me. Just that I had threatened him.” He looked at Kern. “Do you think I am going to forget that name and address?”
    “No,” Kern said. “Certainly not.”
    “Neither do I.”
    A plain-clothes man from the Criminal Bureau took Steiner and Kern away. Kern was excited. Once out of the building, he stopped involuntarily. The scene that met his eyes was as soothing as a soft breeze from the south. The sky was blue with a first hint of dusk over the houses, the gables caught the last red light of the sun, the Danube shimmered, and shiny busses pushed their way through the streams of people hurrying home or strolling about the streets. A group of girls in bright dresses hurried by laughing. Kern thought he had never seen anything so beautiful.
    “Let’s go,” said the official.
    Kern winced. He noticed that a passer-by was staring hard at him and he looked down at himself in shame.
    They walked along the streets with the official between them. Tables and chairs had been set out in front of the cafés, and everywhere people were sitting and talking cheerfully. Kern lowered his head and began to walk faster. Steiner looked at him in good-natured derision: “Well, kid, that’s not for us, eh? That sort of thing?”
    “No,” Kern answered and pressed his lips together.
    At the boardinghouse the landlady received them with a mixture of annoyance and sympathy. She gave them their things at once; nothing had been stolen. While he was still inthe cell Kern had made up his mind to put on a clean shirt, but now after walking through the streets he decided not to. He took the shabby valise under his arm and thanked the landlady.
    “I’m sorry you’ve had so much trouble,” he said.
    The landlady dismissed the matter. “Take care of yourself,” she said, “and you too, Herr Steiner. Where are you off to?”
    Steiner made an aimless gesture. “The usual way of the border-bugs, from bush to bush.”
    The landlady stood hesitating a moment, then walked briskly to a walnut cupboard carved in the form of a medieval castle. “Here’s a drink to start you on your way—”
    She brought out three glasses and a bottle.
    “Plum brandy?” Steiner asked. She nodded and offered the official a glass too. The latter smoothed his mustache. “After all, we fellows are only doing our duty,” he explained.
    “Of course.” The landlady refilled his glass. “Why aren’t you drinking?” she asked Kern.
    “I can’t,” Kern said. “Not on an empty stomach.”
    “So that’s it.” The landlady looked him over carefully. She had a cold, pudgy face which now unexpectedly softened. “Heavens, he’s still growing,” she murmured. “Franzi,” she shouted, “a sandwich.”
    “Thanks, that’s not necessary.” Kern blushed. “I’m really not hungry.”
    The waitress brought in a thick ham sandwich. “Don’t put on airs,” said the landlady, “go to it.”
    “Don’t you want half?” Kern asked Steiner. “It’s too much for me.”
    “Don’t talk—eat,” Steiner said.
    Kern ate the sandwich and drank a glass of the brandy, then they took their leave. They rode out of the city by trolley.Kern suddenly felt very tired. The rattling of the car lulled him. As though in a dream he saw the houses glide past, factories, streets, inns with tall walnut trees, meadows, fields in the soft blue dusk of the evening. He was full of food and that affected him like