The Wall (95 page)

“It looks like you had some luck there.”

I deliberately ignored this nastiness and asked to be let into the law pavilion, which the Professor had already reminded me of somewhat impatiently. After Mrs. Mackintosh, the stingy Dr. Blecha was the first from the conference to refuse me free entry. I wanted to pay, but, as was the fixed custom, Kratzenstein insisted that I let him take care of it. This Dr. Blecha refused him with pointed politeness; it was only right that each should pay his own way, that being what was right in and of itself, not just for one person or another, and so it was that one should pay. Thus the Professor could let his pittance cover himself alone. I rifled through my pockets to look for change, but then I realized that when I changed at home I had left my wallet and all my loose change in the other suit. I had nothing on me but the precious check from Herr Singule and his award letter. The lawyer, meanwhile, broke into a coughing fit. I was startled, but there was no need to be, for the coughs were only covering up uncontrollable laughter over my naïveté—yes, “naïveté” was the word the lawyer used. Good faith is naïveté, he insisted absolutely. Here only cash is accepted, whereas a check, even for such a high amount, is useless to him, for the old jurist wasn’t willing to just accept a scrap of paper on faith. The Professor then just wanted to give me some money, but the lawyer wouldn’t allow this. Then Kratzenstein said very carefully that he only wished to lend me the amount needed, but Dr. Blecha stubbornly shook his head, saying that lending money was not allowed at the conference. At Kratzenstein’s insistence, he finally acknowledged that as an honorary member of the society I should not miss the benefit of seeing the law pavilion, which was why Dr. Blecha then decided to make an exception and accept my coconut instead of the usual fee. I sighed deeply, for I wanted to give the coconut to my son, who had long wished for one. Then the lawyer had the shamelessness to say, Good then, not the coconut, it was up to me if I wanted to spoil the rascal, but he would take my pocket watch, if I preferred.

“Then I won’t know the time!” I complained.

“Time is wasting away!” Blecha said emphatically.

“None of us has time,” the Professor assured. “But that’s not the issue. Just give the man the coconut! It will shut him up. As for your son, we’ll ask Guido Lever for another one. He feels that he is in your debt and will be happy to give you one.”

This talk didn’t please me, and I was angry at Kratzenstein, but I gave up the coconut, which Dr. Blecha immediately began to play with. He plucked greedily at the matted tufts. But we were allowed through the cheap heavy curtain to which the greasy dirt clung. Inside, we were set upon by Hannah Haarburger.

“Jolan! Jolan!” she yelled. “The gentlemen are finally here!”

As fast as his paunch would let him, Dr. Haarburger came running up and bowed deeply.

“Here, Dr. Landau, you can marvel at the past. We have gathered all the horrors together. Nothing more can happen to you. All that is over. Pure beneficence has won a clear victory over all the dreck of the earth. The score is one to nothing. If we keep at it and don’t take our hand off the wheel, we can get rid of the world’s sorrow forever. We in this pavilion, however, are witness to harrowing examples of it.”

Dr. Haarburger pushed a button and a bright light lit up a display booth. I saw a crane with a noose attached to it that moved back and forth above a pack of wretched little dolls in its attempt to snatch one by the throat and lift it high.

“Isn’t that something, Dr. Landau? If you turn this lever here, then theoretically you should be able to grab hold of a doll and strangle it. Then it must be taken out of the game, because it’s been killed. If you succeed at that, you then get the doll and a certificate. But I have to tell you, you won’t be able to do it, for no one is able. It’s humanity that prevents you. Just try and test your own humaneness! There’s the lever, just make sure and move it slowly!”

Against my wishes the lever was already in my hand as I pushed it tentatively right and left, at which the crane roamed about, the noose rising and sinking and swirling about the dolls strewn across the bottom of the booth in a frightening array. From a loudspeaker a high-pitched voice sounded: “Adam, where are you?” Another voice answered in an even more piteous squeal: “I’m not Adam. The one next to me is Adam.”

When I heard that, I felt a strong motion in my hand, the lever out of control in my hands, and so I let it go. Dr. Haarburger let go of the button, the display booth went dark, and the phantom disappeared.

“Isn’t that marvelous, Dr. Landau?”

I had to agree and say that I had been beaten.

“You see, humanity won. Didn’t I say it would?”

Dr. Haarburger offered to press other buttons, which would supposedly lead to other astounding things, but I waved him off. He understood why.

“What can be seen here is only what you know better than any other. But now you can see for yourself!”

“You should come see us soon!” Frau Hannah offered. “You and Johanna, with your son.”

“I also have a little daughter, Eva.”

“That’s nice. Then bring both children. You can also visit if you need money. My husband has a lot now.”

“Dr. Landau doesn’t need any money,” said Kratzenstein. “Everything has been taken care of for him.”

“I’m so glad to hear it. Does that mean the Saubermanns? That’s just what I thought. Frau Saubermann has a heart of gold.”

“What are you thinking? Me and Singule! We don’t need the Saubermanns, Frau Hannah. Right now everyone wants to help give Dr. Landau the resources he needs.”

Dr. Haarburger stressed how pleased he was by my good fortune, though he asked me not to forget whom I had turned to when I really needed money. He would have been happy to jump into the breach. I thanked him for all his kindness and suggested that I really should be on my way in order not to disturb their work in the law pavilion any further. The Haarburgers offered to show me some more horrors, but I really wasn’t curious to see them.

“Jolan, then tell our friend quickly what you did for him!”

“Humility forbids it, but truth is what we try to serve, and it’s only just that we do. I picked you up at the train station because I knew who I was dealing with. Along with Hannah, I was the first there for you. I took you in like a son, recommending you and taking you around. The fact that you know the Professor is because of me. I don’t mean to say that without me
nothing would have come of you, but it certainly would have taken until much, much later. I say this in all humility. Isn’t that true, Professor?”

“It’s true,” said Kratzenstein, looking as if he had just bitten into a sour apple. “All of us made him. Now he is who he is.”

“Yes, he is, he is. But it all started with me.”

This Dr. Haarburger said with grandeur, Frau Hannah nodding vigorously a number of times. We said goodbye to the lawyerly couple, who accompanied us as far as the greasy curtain. Outside, I threw a long side glance toward Dr. Blecha, who in the meantime had forgotten about me and continued playing with his coconut. He had already pulled off all its tufts, the fibers lying about the ticket counter in front of him, some of them clinging to his coat. We nonetheless moved on, walking only a few steps before we reached a booth where a parrot picked printed pieces of paper from a holder and gave one to any conference participant who wanted it. The parrot also wanted to give me one. However, I declined when the Professor informed me that it was only an advertisement for the International Society of Sociologists. Nonetheless, we entered, for I recognized Herr Buxinger, who was in charge of this exhibit. He was happy to shake my hand and welcome me. He being as tolerant as he is, it didn’t bother him that I waved away the parrot’s offer, which he warmly offered up to me, saying that I was no fan of propaganda and ads.

“That’s fine, Herr Doctor. Maybe you’ll be more willing to do it if you need me. In any case, I’m in my element here. I’m the sole distributor of
Eusemia
, and I’ll soon start a large publishing house. Then, Herr Doctor, I’d very much like to become the publisher of your work.”

Kratzenstein informed him that, given the many offers that I had, he shouldn’t expect to be getting anything from me. The bookseller was so disappointed by this that I had to comfort him. When he learned that I would submit something to
Eusemia
, his eyes lit up, for with this promise he saw a guarantee of the further success of his journal.

“If you appeared only in every other issue, then it won’t take long for me to make my money back and pay off all my debts with Jolan Haarburger. He still wants to get involved in my business, my old friend Jolan.”

The parrot made a screeching sound and let a piece of paper fall. Someone bent to pick it up, saying, “You have to pick up your own luck from the
ground.” I looked more closely. It was So-and-So, who out of shyness had not even greeted me. It was hard for him that, through my sudden success, I was much better off than he was. He had not yet gained access to the long promised Professor. This made me feel bad, for an old childhood friend should never be neglected. Hence, I acknowledged him with a quiet greeting and met him with a grateful look.

“How nice, Arthur, to think that we are friends. From the very beginning I knew that you would make it the moment you got here. Did I not say that to you in my first letter after the war?”

So-and-So said this so sincerely that I couldn’t disagree, especially when Kratzenstein agreed and said that we all agreed on that. I looked questioningly at the Professor, for to me his assertion seemed a bit too strong. Because he didn’t want to hear any protest from me, he quickly asserted that, of course, I had certainly had some difficulties at the start, but they were nothing that any great talent would not have met. So-and-So wanted to hear whether I had seen Karin at the conference. When I said I had not, he recommended that I come along with him, for she had a very honored position as an attendant at the Wheel of Fortune. We let So-and-So lead the way, and we came to a brightly decorated booth covered with shimmering pearls and glittering jewels, all of it bathed in colored light. I was startled by so much glitter and rubbed my eyes, for I didn’t want to be blinded.

“A Wheel of Fortune and sociology?”

“My dear Landau, you ask as if you were a rank beginner. Do you know nothing of the sociology of fortune?”

No, I didn’t know anything about that; I had never studied this subject. Slowly I got used to the glare and could now almost look about freely. Not only did I see Karin in a luxurious evening dress—she was selling lots with numbers on them to the participants; Frau Saubermann was also here, and I had no desire to renew her acquaintance. She held sway at the Wheel of Fortune and appeared to be the supervisor. The sight of this made me sick, and I didn’t want to stay a moment longer. Kratzenstein and So-and-So, however, wouldn’t allow me to flee, so I had to join in. By then the benefactress had also discovered I was there and was staring at me with her eyes wide and calling out to me with delight. When she saw my reluctance, she stretched out both arms to me.

“Herr Doctor! Herr Doctor! You finally came! I’ve been sitting on pins and needles and waiting the entire time! So come closer! Such a joy! I’m so happy!”

Since I remained standing where I was, Kratzenstein pushed me forward. Unwillingly, I gave Frau Saubermann my hand, which she played with and caressed for a little while almost incessantly.

“You’ve become such a dear, wonderful man—and morally so free! The way you figured out how to do your duty! What satisfaction it brings me—how excellent it is to see you! Do you remember your visit with us? We spoke privately with each other and had such touching exchanges. Karin, dear, go on and give the Herr Doctor a handful of lots so that he makes sure to win something!”

Karin took some lots from a box and handed them to me. Then Frau Saubermann turned to the Wheel of Fortune, and at least ten of my lots won. I received some cheap cigarettes and sour candies, a little silver-plated chain, a toothbrush, a small pocket mirror made of metal, a little bowl made of pressed glass that looked polished, shirt buttons made of sandalwood, a lovely talisman made of golden yellow tin, and other useful little items. I wanted to give some of my winnings to the Professor and So-and-So, but they wouldn’t take anything, so I had to stuff it all into my pockets. As if that weren’t enough, Frau Saubermann handed me the main prize, which I didn’t have the Wheel of Fortune to thank for. It was a chain of artificial pearls.

“That’s for Johanna, Herr Doctor. The chain is long enough to circle the neck three times. I threaded the pearls myself. They were dipped in my husband’s factory. Splendid wares made from a new process, which no one else has, more beautiful than the real ones. When you drape Johanna with them, please give her my best! How happy I am that this dear child has such a worthy man as you for a husband. Do you remember the night with Jolan and Hannah? I saw from the first moment that Johanna and you would make for a fine couple. You were clearly meant for each other.”

Frau Saubermann dropped the pearls into a little box and apologized for not being able to spend longer with me, for she had to thread a new chain, and in record time, since a chain was needed as the main prize of the Wheel of Fortune. But the patroness took enough time to invite me and my
family to visit, and to insist that if I ever needed anything I could count on her and Larry. Had I even looked for him yet? When I said I had not, she cast a disapproving look at the Professor, who apologized for this oversight and promised to walk me straightaway over to the panopticon. We took our leave of Frau Saubermann and Karin, as well as from my friend So-and-So, who during the stringing of the new chain of pearls helped out at the Wheel of Fortune. He nodded at me and then bowed deeply to the Professor. Then we were on our way and paid no attention to the good wishes called out to us.

“Herr Professor, to the panopticon? I’ve learned a lot from this Sociology Conference, but a panopticon here—what can that mean?”