

IRIMIAS GIVES A SPEECH

I am in a state of deep emotion,

you can imagine, I am confused.

I am bewildered and shocked.

Yet I must pull myself together.

Though right now all I can say is that

I share in this broken-hearted

mother's misery

in a mother's never-ending

mourning and sorrow

is the grief of losing the one

who is dearest to our hearts.

This tragic event weighs

us all down with sadness.

I don't think there's anyone

who would disagree with me.

And now the hardest thing is

with our teeth clenched, to get

our minds over the heartbreak,

to defy our tears when our voices fail us.

For, and I would like to

call your attention to this:

Before the police start investigating,

nothing can be more important for us

than to reconstruct

the shocking events,

which led to the terrible

death of an innocent child.

You'd better expect the

inspectors from town

to come and make us responsible

for this terrible event.

Yes, my friends, they're going to ask us.

For, to be quite honest,

with a little caution, care and attention

we could have prevented it.

Just imagine this vulnerable creature

wandering all night long

in the pouring rain,

at the mercy of the first passer-by,

of the first tramp, of anybody.

She was whipped by the wind, she

fell an easy prey to the elements,

and she must have been around here.

She may have looked in

through this window and seen

that you were all drunk and dancing around.

Don't get me wrong, I don't mean

to accuse anyone personally,

I am not accusing the mother,

who is never going to forgive

herself for getting up too late

in the morning of that awful day

I am not accusing the victim's brother

nor other members of the family.

I am not accusing anyone.

But let me ask you the question:

Aren't we all guilty?

You will, of course,

answer we are innocent.

But then, what do we call this poor child?

The victim of the innocent? The martyr

to the pure? The prey of the blameless?

No, she's the only innocent one.

I spent the night turning in

my bed till I realized that

not only we do not know how the tragic

event happened, but we have no knowledge

whatsoever of what happened exactly.

I am quite convinced that

this tragedy was to happen.

Now you seem to suspect that.

It is not enough, however, to suspect

something... things are to be understood.

And said with no delay.

You didn't dare mention it to each other,

but deep down, you knew before coming here

that the farm was doomed.

From now on, you'll have to

let your fate slowly unfold.

You are slouching around in this decay,

far away from everything that means life.

Your plans come to nothing, your

dreams, still blind, are shattered.

You expect some miracle

which will never come.

But what kind of fate

are you the victims of?

Is it the crumbling plaster...

the roofs without tiles...

the crumbling walls,

the sour taste our friend

Futaki keeps talking about?

Isn't it the shattered prospects,

the broken dreams,

that bends our knees that wears us numb?

I'm speaking harshly but let us be honest.

If you felt the farm was ruled by misfortune

why didn't you try to do something about it?

You thought a bird in the hand

is worth two in the bush.

But this is a coward's way, it is disgraceful

and careless and it has serious consequences.

This is called impotence, sinful impotence.

This is weakness, sinful weakness.

This is cowardice, sinful cowardice.

Because, and keep that in your minds -

it's not just to others we can do

unforgivable things but also to ourselves.

And this, my friends, is even more serious.

Yes, if I think about it,

all kinds of sins are

sins against ourselves.

But, you know, my friends,

if I think back and see you lying

half dead on the chairs and tables,

on top of each other, dribbling, exhausted,

my heart sinks and I cannot judge you for

I will never be able to forget this.

From your panting, snoring and groaning

I heard your cry for help

which I have to answer.

We know each other well.

I have been keeping my eyes

wide open for decades,

I bitterly observe that under the

thick veil of trickery and deception,

nothing has changed. Misery

has remained misery.

The two extra spoonfuls of food we can have

only makes the air thinner

in front of our mouths.

But I realized what I have

done so far is nothing.

A much deeper solution is needed.

So, using the opportunity,

I decided to get some people together

and set up a model farm which

will ensure a stable living...

and bind this tiny group of

the dispossessed together.

I am creating an island

where no one is powerless, where everyone

will live in peace and will feel safe.

That is why I left for the estate in Almas.

The main building is in good condition,

the contract is a simple matter.

There's one problem...

no use to try and keep it a secret, money.

Without a penny the thing is dead.

Capital is needed for production

but this is a bit complicated,

there's no point in going into details.

And you'll understand that the

circumstances of our meeting

made me feel uncertain, whether

you would be able to do it.

Whether you would be able to part from

your little money, the

result of hard work and

much difficulty, to realize a sudden plan.

Think about it...

Do not decide straightaway.

But if fate decides that from now

on we stay together, inseparable:

Do remember the price that has been paid.

Do not forget the child...

who may have had to perish

to make our star rise.

Who knows, my friends?

If it is so...

life is very hard upon us.

PERSPECTIVE FROM FRONT

I told you she shouldn't have

been taken from the institution.

I don't know why you brought her out.

Friends,

words fail me now that I

let you go your own way.

It's hard to describe the way I feel.

For what could I say

of your enthusiasm, your generosity,

for the sake of our common prosperity?

Of that precious treasure

I have been given,

your confidence.

What else could I say but

that all this gives me courage

and lays a responsability on me

which I would like to accept

to the best of my ability.

Your enthusiasm and confidence makes

me confident and enthusiastic.

I'm thinking of the future we'll share.

Goodbye, my friends.

See you tomorrow at 6 a.m.

At the estate in Almas.

Go ahead and think of the future.

From now on you are free.

And you were screwed, you mean shitbag!

Go fuck yourselves! Ungrateful pigs!

Fuck off!

Fuck off! Fuck off!

Fuck off!

You see? The stuck up person you were.

- Keep your mouth shut, okay?

- There you are.

Stop crowing and go to hell. Just go home.

- Up and down.

- Go home, will you?

I've been saying you

have to behave properly.

Now you're through. You can close down.

Go home, will you?

Leave me alone.

My husband was the same,

didn't know what's right.

Then where did he end up?

On a rope in the loft.

Stop bugging me. Bug yourself.

Go get your daughters or

they might go with them.

They'll never. They're locked up now.

- Come on, pay for your drinks and go.

- They won't leave me like Estike did.

- Go home now.

- When them from the farm leave, they'll go and dig the ground.

Go home. Go.

Go.

Now, come on, go.

- You've finished it?

- Won't leave it for the gypsies.

"The wind is blowing the clouds,

behind the sky is burning,

Give me your little hand, my darling,

God knows if I'll ever see you again

Whether I'll close my arms around you,

whether I'll kiss you, my darling?

God only knows the day the

battalion is leaving.

Whether I'll close my arms..."

"You're lovely, you're fair, Hungary..."

Folks. We forgot the doctor.

Never mind the doctor.

He would certainly have come but

I didn't mention it to him.

Come on, he couldn't even carry himself.

But he's going to starve now.

He can't even come to an

arrangement with the publican.

Then let him starve to death.

If you miss him so much, go back for him.

I haven't seen him for months.

There's no need to cry over him.

He's fine, gets pissed every

day, then goes off to snore.

I wouldn't mind feeling his

mother's share in my pocket.

Are we all here? No one's lagging behind?

We've done it!

We have done it, no matter what.

Now you're well prepared for this new life.

Come on, Lajos, there

will be lots more of it.

How could those poor fellows heat all this?

Didn't I tell you? We

should never lose heart,

we have to have trust until

we breathe our last.

Otherwise what would become of us?

Tell me, what?

I can imagine.

You've seen the out-buildings,

there's about five of them.

I bet the workshops are going to be there?

Workshops? What workshops?

Please be quiet. My husband's asleep.

He is used to silence.

All right, all right. We're just talking.

I think it'll be the other way round:

We'll get the outbuildings to live in

and the workshops will be here.

Won't you keep quiet? No

one can get any rest here.

Who was that?

Leave me alone. It wasn't me.

Nobody?

Look,

I'll agree to anything you

like, just keep quiet.

Listen,

if everyone works hard, I say one month.

We have great prospects for the future.

Tomorrow we'll find out what

Irimias is planning to do.

By tomorrow.

Halics was pursued by a

hunchback with a glass eye.

And after all sorts of

trials he ran into the river

but he started to lose heart,

every time he came up for air

the little man hit his

head with a long stick.

And each time he shouted

"Now you'll pay for it."

The headmaster persuaded a

man wearing an old suit

to go with him to a place he knew.

The man agreed, like

someone who can't say no.

He could hardly control himself and

when they turned into a deserted park,

he even pushed him to reach a

bench surrounded by bushes.

He made the man lie down and he jumped

on him, kissed him on the neck,

but in seconds some doctors appeared

on the walk dressed in white,

embarrassed, he waved that

he was going but he started

to blame the confused little man, by

then, he seemed to hate his guts.

The ground trembled under Schmidt's feet.

As if he was walking on the moors.

He climbed up into a tree,

but he felt that it had

started to sink too.

He was lying on the bed and tried

to get the nightgown off his wife.

But she started to yell, he jumped

after her, the nightgown was torn.

She laughed, and the nipples on her enormous

breasts were like two beautiful roses.

Mrs Halics was washing Mrs Schmidt's back,

the rosary on the rim of the tub

slipped into the water like a snake.

Mrs Schmidt said she had enough, her

skin was burning from the scrubbing

but Mrs Halics pushed her back into the

bath and went on scrubbing her back,

she said she was afraid that Mrs

Schmidt wouldn't be satisfied.

Mrs Kraner heard a noise from outside

but she didn't know what it could be.

She put on a fur coat and

left for the engine-shed.

She had almost reached the road

when she had a bad feeling.

She turned and saw that

their house was on fire.

"The chopped wood. Christ, I left the chopped

wood out," - she screamed and ran back.

Kraner was sitting at the table, as

if nothing happened, quietly eating.

"Joska, are you crazy?

The house is on fire!"

But Kraner didn't move.

Mrs Schmidt was a bird, flying

over the clouds, happily.

She saw that someone down

there was waving at her.

She came down a bit and

heard Schmidt shouting

"Why didn't you cook anything, you bitch!

Come down here."

But she flew over him and

twittered: Tomorrow.

You won't starve till then.

She felt the warmth of the sun on her back,

she came down a bit.

She wanted to snatch a bug.

Futaki's shoulders were

beaten with an iron bar.

He couldn't move, he was tied to a tree.

He stretched out and felt the rope loosen.

He looked at his shoulders

and saw a long wound.

He turned his head, he

couldn't stand seeing it.

He was sitting on an excavator, the

grab was scooping out some earth.

A man came up to him and said

"Hurry up, I won't give you any

more petrol whatever you say.

But it was no use scooping for the earth kept

falling back. He tried again but failed.

Then he cried...

He was sitting at the window of

the engine-shed and didn't know

whether it was daybreak or

evening, it just had no end.

He was sitting, not

knowing the time of day,

nothing had changed outside, morning

didn't come, night didn't fall,

day was beginning to break or

night was beginning to fall.

GO TO HEAVEN? HAVE NIGHTMARES?

Friends. Words fail me,

now that I let you go your own way.

It's hard to describe the way I feel.

For what can I say

of your enthusiasm, your generosity

for the sake of our common prosperity.

That precious treasure you

gave me, your confidence.

What else could I say but that all this gives

me courage, lays great responsibility on me,

which I would like to accept

and do the best I can.

And that your enthusiasm and confidence

makes me confident and enthusiastic.

I'm thinking of the future we'll share.

Goodbye, friends.

See you tomorrow at 6 a.m.

At the estate in Almas.

Go now and think of the future we'll share.

From now on you are free.

And yet you were screwed,

you mean bold shitbag!

Fuck off! You ungrateful pigs!

Go fuck yourselves! Fuck off!

I'm shit scared, master,

how do we get out of this?

I'd be surprised if you weren't shitting

in your pants. Do you want some paper?

This is no fucking joke,

it's bloody serious.

I wouldn't say I'm bursting with laughter.

Stop it, will you?

Would you be surprised if

I said our time has come?

What the hell are you getting at?

Listen to old Petrina this time.

Look, let's take the first

train and get away from here.

We're going to get in big trouble

if they realize what's going on.

Shut up.

Don't you see that we're partisans in

this hopeless fight for human dignity?

Petrina, our time has come.

Our time has come... You keep

saying this, our time has come.

Our time will never come!

I had faith and confidence...

And here we are.

The web - don't you understand?

Irimias's nationwide cobweb.

Is it getting clear?

Where something stirs...

Let's go on.

You've never seen fog before or what?

The horses got away from

the slaughterhouse again.

Who do you support?

Myself.

What about you, then?

Fine.

You haven't changed a bit.

What about you?

- Still the same.

- I thought...

Two rum and brandy and a glass of wine.

Here you are.

Listen, drink this up then you go see

Payer and tell him I'm waiting here.

Steigerwald.

What is it now?

We're staying here for tonight

but I'd need the car tomorrow.

But then I want the money before you go.

All right.

- And three bean soups.

- Okay.

With ham.

I'm going to dictate.

Dear Captain,

Eternity

lasts forever

because it doesn't compare

to the ephemeral,

the changeable,

the temporary.

The intensity of light penetrating darkness

seems to weaken.

...seems to weaken...

There is lack of continuity,

interruptions,

holes...

then finally the black nothingness.

Then there are myriads of stars so

distant, impossible to reach...

with a tiny spark in the middle... the Ego.

...A tiny spark...

Our deeds can be rewarded or punished

in eternity, and only there,

...punished...

because everything has a place,

a place far away from reality,

where it has its place,

where it has always been,

...where it has been...

where it is going to be,

where it is now.

The only authentic place.

I hope I didn't wake you.

You didn't disturb my dream

and I hope you never will.

- My collaborators.

- My name's Petrina.

- Horgos.

Very nice young man.

He can have a nice career.

Would you get me something now that...

You got me out of bed?

What would you like?

Don't ask me what I'd

like, they don't have it.

Get me a glass of plum brandy.

Sanyi.

Mr. Gundealer...

Sports guns...

I don't love this job, you know that.

We'd better call me Payer.

Mr. Payer... I asked you to

come here so late because soon

I will need rather a lot of explosive.

I'm going to think about it.

And decide as I see best.

And I hope you will do

your best to succeed.

It's not entirely up to me.

But I need to know

whether you can give more emphasis to this

excellent plan with a so called good start?

Certainly.

You are a gentleman...

Mr. Irimias.

Let me ask you something.

This something new which is waiting for

us after realizing your excellent plan...

- Well...

- Don't take me for a savior.

Regard me as a researcher who investigates

why everything is as terrible as it is.

Would you like to have dinner with us?

No, thank you.

Well then, we'll discuss

the details another time?

I'll see you at the weekend.

Well, gentlemen...

Sleep well...

Look... 25 years ago I could sleep

five and a half hours in a row.

Since then I've been turning

in my bed, half-asleep.

Thank you all the same.

Our Father

who art in heaven,

Hollowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come,

Thy will be done.

On earth

As it is in heaven,

...Give us peace and bread too...

...Power...

Amen...

PERSPECTIVE FROM REAR

I don't understand Irimias.

He was one of us. And

now, he's like a lord.

You simply can't make out what he wants...

All the nonsense he said...

Bent knees and cries for help!

Then threatening with the child...

The way he spoke yesterday, I

was beginning to believe it.

Why the hell did he stir the shit up?

If I'd known he wanted the same as

us, I'd have saved him the trouble.

It's crazy to say that it was my fault.

I had nothing to do with that little idiot.

Even her name drove me up the wall.

Estike, what's that? Is that a name?

She's eaten a lot of rat

poison and that's it.

Perhaps it was better for the poor thing.

But what's the whole thing to do with me?

He lured us here, to this rundown dump.

And we acted like sheep.

Meanwhile he slipped away!

God knows where he's drinking on our money!

A whole year's pay!

And I'm flat broke again!

Still, if he's back in a minute,

are you going to shout at him?

- You're the one to say that?

- Stop it for a minute!

Whose fault is it that I was robbed?

Who said that it would be all right?!

Who said that "Irimias and Petrina..."?

You fucker!

Give it back to me or I'll beat you up!

Give me my money back!

Give me back, you prick!

Let's give him two minutes and see

what he's got to say for himself!

- Are the two minutes up now?

- Listen people.

What's this all about? That's

not the way... Use your heads!

Shut up!

Here he is. Your savior's here!

Do you really think it's my fault?

Give me my money back. You hear me?

Give it back!

I can't believe my eyes! What

do you think you're doing?

Get lost!

It's none of your business! Don't

you stick your nose in it!

Get away from here! I won't say it again!

What's going on here?

I want to know what's going on!

We thought you wouldn't come.

You said you'd be here by 6 in the morning.

I do my best to help you.

I've had no sleep for three days,

I walked hours in the pouring rain,

I run from office to office

to overcome the obstacles...

and you behave like piglets

when their dinner is late...

What happened to you?

- My nose is bleeding.

- I can see that. But why?

I never expected that from you.

From you neither.

And we've just started.

What's it going to be like later on?

Are you gonna stab each other?

Sad.

Very sad.

I'm willing to forget it one more time

provided such a thing won't ever happen again.

OK, let's get down to it.

There is something important

I have to tell you.

We must postpone our plans

related to the farm for a while.

Because some people would not appreciate

the creation of an enterprise

on such shady bases.

Their primary objection is

the fact that the farm, being almost

totally isolated and a long way from town,

could hardly be kept under control.

Therefore

in the present situation, the only

way to succeed in our plan is

to scatter around the county for a while.

Until...

these gentlemen get so confused

that we can come back here

and start working on it.

From now on you are special people.

For you are helping in a

matter in which loyalty,

devotion and prudence are

absolutely necessary.

Our goals are significant

beyond themselves.

Scattering is just a tactic,

you may not be in touch with each other for

the moment but I will keep in touch with you.

In the meantime, do not believe that we are

going to remain passively in the background

and wait for things to get

better by themselves.

What you have to do is

to listen to people around you.

Views, stories, events which are

connected to the matter.

Every one of you will need

to acquire the ability

to distinguish between the

good and the bad signs.

In other words, between right and wrong.

And how are we going to

live in the meantime?

Don't worry. Don't worry.

Everything is prepared,

everything is organized.

You will all have work to do.

And at the beginning you'll get enough money

for the basics from our common capital.

But let us not waste our time

asking unnecessary questions.

We are late anyway.

We have to start right now, my friends.

Go pack your things. Hurry up!

Take your things and go.

Take the big things first.

Come on, move!

Kraner, what's the matter with you?

Wait, let's stop all this!

Give us our money back!

You hear me?! Give the money back!

The money?

Is that what you want?

Here, here's your money. Do what

you want to do with it. Good luck.

A year's hard work.

Joska, give the money back.

No. Just split it between you.

Perhaps it's better.

I can see right now that you

have no honor or perseverance.

Good to know from the start

whom I can count on.

Your husband may be right, Mrs Kraner.

I cannot realize my plans with you.

I need people who are at least able

to look after their own interests.

I've got to go now.

Wait!

And...

the farm will be working?

I don't know. Anyway I don't think

you're interested in the any longer.

Give him the money.

I didn't mean that.

Now, take the money.

This rain, you know, and the long journey...

And the cold at night... Don't be mad at us.

I don't care but

the fact is that you gave up

the first time problems arose.

Yet the whole thing is based

on trust and perseverance.

Take the money now!

We trust you. Take it.

I don't feel like wasting

time with your dramas!

I'am very disappointed in you...

however I'll get over it...

I'm going to try and forget

this disgraceful event.

Mind how you sit there it takes two

hours even in this racing car.

Button your coats.

Put on your hoods and hats.

And just turn your backs...

to the bright future, or this bloody

rain will get all over your faces.

The Schmidts, Halicses, Kraners, come on!

Futaki, Mr. Headmaster,

please wait a minute.

What's the matter, you're not coming?

Is there a pub here?

- We could have a drink.

- No.

Schmidt and family, you're going to Elek.

I've written everything down,

who to contact and where.

There you'll get work and a place to live.

And what work is there?

It's a butcher's.

Plenty to do!

You can serve the customers.

Now the Kraners.

You ask for Istvan Kalmar in Keresztur.

Listen carefully, it's not written down.

There's a street before the church.

On the right.

You go down that street until you see the

Ladies fashion sign. That's Kalmar's house.

Tell him

D鰊ci has sent you, he may

have forgotten my real name.

He has a room for laundry at

the back where you'll stay.

- Is that clear?

- Yes. D鰊ci.

A street after the church

and there's a sign...

Right. You, Halics...

You go to the presbytery of Postelek.

- Ask for Gyivicsan, the parish priest.

- Gyivicsan...

There's plenty of church wine there.

And you can clean the church

and do the cooking for the three of you.

Here's a thousand forints per head

if anything comes up.

But don't waste a penny.

And don't forget what

you're supposed to do.

I think all's clear. We'd like to thank

you for what you've done for us.

You don't have to say thank you.

I'm only the servant of a great cause.

So remember what you have to do.

And take good care, you

know we worry for you...

Take care of yourselves.

Listen,

you sit up there...

and we'll take you to the Streber.

We'll pick you up in an hour and

we'll talk everything over.

Okay.

Futaki.

Don't worry about me. I

know where I'm going.

I could find a job as a watchman.

You'd be better off doing something else.

What? No way to come to

terms with you today?

Come to Steigerwald's by eight

and we'll talk it over there.

All right, I'll do it your way. Here...

A thousand forints.

Buy yourself some lunch at least.

Futaki is the biggest sucker I've ever met.

What did he think? That he'd

reached the promised land?

What did the poor devil expect?

JUST TROUBLE AND WORK

Leave out the part about eternity.

"Though I don't believe it's right

to put such things down in writing,

hovever, as a token of my willingness,

I am following your instructions.

It has never escaped my attention that you

encouraged me to be open in all circumstances.

No doubts can be had on my peoples' skills.

I hope I could convince

you of this yesterday.

It is important to repeat because other

conclusions could be drawn from this plan.

I will be the only one to

keep in touch with my people.

Anything else would lead to

complete failure" etc, etc...

- I think it's alright.

- Then we leave it at that.

Mrs Schmidt...

Type it in.

Instead of a stupid female with big tits

you write... mentally immature person, who

mostly emphasizes her female character.

And what about "bloody whore"?

Could be a "lady of easy virtue"

or a "woman of low morals".

We'd better write a "woman selling

her body without any qualms".

Okay.

- Finished?

- Yeah.

"She went to bed with anyone and everyone, and

if she didn't that was only by accident."

She's a paragon of conjugal infidelity.

Finished?

Instead of "a stench created by the mixing

of cheap Cologne with some putrid smell"...

"She attempts to relieve her unpleasant

body odour in an unusual way."

"Mrs Kraner..." Write it.

"A loud-mouthed gossip"

should be replaced with...

"indiscreet transmittor of rumours".

- And instead of "a fat sow"?

- Leave that in.

- We shouldn't.

- Then put "big".

- "Overweight".

- Okay.

- Can we leave Mrs Halics?

- Sure.

And what about "wrinkled

worm, filled with alcohol"?

"Elderly alcoholic, short of stature".

"Clumsy clown. Dull inertia,

blind stumbling around..."

- We could leave that out.

- Okay.

Let's go on.

Schmidt.

What's the meaning of "a cross of crude

insensitiveness and insignificant emptiness,

in an abyss of uncontrollable darkness."?

"Hopeless stupidity, inarticulate

moaning, desperate existence,

crippled paralysing worry..."

OK, write this:

"His dwarfed understanding and

his submissive attitude to...

authority...

make him specially suited...

to accomplish the activity in question...

to a high level."

The headmaster.

He must have been out of his mind here.

Listen to this:

"If someone who's about

to drown himself were

to hesitate at the last moment whether

to jump or not from the bridge,

I advise him to remember the headmaster,

and he will realize

there's only one option:

- To jump."

- Go on.

"He's like a withered cucumber. In

mental ability he remains below Schmidt,

a definite achievement."

Let's put "appearance:

Worn down, no abilities".

- How did the two come together?

- That's what he wrote.

"His cowardice he compensates

with narcissism and conceit.

He tends to be rather sentimental and maudlin

as often is the case with onanic guys."

Then... "weak and sentimental, perverse

personality, sexually immature."

Okay, write that.

As for Kraner, he's a "sloppy

brute reminding of a buffalo..."

Strongly-built, worked as a smith."

"A strongly built smith?"

"A stupid ass with dull eyes." Go on.

"The only dangereous one is

Futaki, but not too much.

A rebel but more of a coward.

He could go far. But he can't

get rid of his obsessions.

He amuses me. He's the one

I can surely count on.

- So?

- Leave it.

No. Write.

"Dangerous but can be of use.

Cleverer than the others. Lame."

- Is that all?

- Yeah.

Then sign his name. Irimias.

Okay.

- Is it still raining?

- Yes.

They shook hands outside the gate

- How are you leaving?

- Bus.

Okay. Bye then, said the head clerk.

Nice day we had, eh? The other added.

Yeah, bloody good.

They shook hands again and parted.

At home, as they came in, both

were asked the same question:

"Difficult day, dear?"

To which, shuddering and exhausted,

they could only say, Nothing

much, the usual, my dear.

THE CIRCLE CLOSES

During the thirteen days...

I spent in hospital...

Mrs Kraner...

didn't misbehave...

again...

Everything is exactly as...

I left it.

Neither of them dares...

leave the house.

They must be...

lying on their beds, snoring...

or staring at the ceiling.

They haven't a clue...

that it is this idle...

passivity...

that leaves them...

at the mercy of...

what they fear most.

A cosmic revolution.

My hearing...

is getting worse.

The Turks are coming! The Turks are coming!

The Turks are coming! The Turks are coming!

I must be crazy!

I thought the bells rumbling in the sky

were tolling the knell.

One morning... at the end of October...

not long before...

the first drops...

of the insufferably long...

autumn rains...

fell...

on the parched...

cracked ground...

on the western side of the farm...

so that...

the stinking bog...

makes the tracks...

impassable...

until the first frosts...

and it cuts off the town too...

Futaki was woken...

by the sound of bells.

The closest church was...

eight kilometers to the South-West...

on the old Hochmeiss field...

a solitary chapel...

But not only was no bell there...

the church tower had collapsed...

during the war...
