Ashes and Diamonds by Jerzy Andrzejewski

Author:Jerzy Andrzejewski [Andrzejewski, Jerzy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780810115194
Amazon: 0810115190
Publisher: Northwestern University Press
Published: 1997-03-01T13:00:00+00:00

Wrona eyed him in his own peculiar way.

‘Don’t you worry,’ he muttered, ‘the time will come. Even if we don’t catch the bandits who committed these murders, sooner or later we’ll lay our hands on all those who are behind this crime and others like it.’

‘Don’t you think, Comrade Wrona, that this may be the insane act of some individual?’

Wrona was silent for a while.

‘After all, that likelihood must be considered,’ Swiecki added.

The other drummed on the table.

‘Can I ask you a question?’

‘Do,’ Swiecki said eagerly. ‘What is it?’

‘Do you believe in miracles?’

The Minister was slightly taken aback.

‘I don’t understand. Why should I?’

Wrona shrugged.

‘How should I know, that’s your affair. I’m simply replying to your question with another one.’

Meanwhile Szczuka had turned to Kalicki again: ‘What plans have you for the future? Will you be staying in Ostrowiec?’

‘I don’t know yet,’ Kalicki replied. ‘They want me to go to Warsaw.’

‘Rightly, I’m sure.’

‘Think so? What is there for me there? What shall I do?’

Szczuka raised his heavy eyelids.

‘I don’t understand. What do you mean? Surely there’s enough work?’

Kalicki made a gesture of dismissal.

‘My dear man, why wrap things up in cotton-wool? People of my stamp are neither necessary nor in favour at present.’

‘People of your stamp? I wouldn’t recognize you, Jan. You, an old Socialist, talking like this!’

‘Unfortunately, it’s the truth.’

‘Whose truth?’

‘Whose? My own, I suppose. You say I’m an old Socialist. Obviously I’m a Socialist of the old school. My skin is too thin, I’ve too many scruples and doubts. I have my own views. And I’m too fond of telling the truth bluntly, and people don’t care for that nowadays.’

Szczuka leaned towards him.

‘Besides, you yourself know it’s as I say,’ Kalicki went on. ‘Why should we lie to each other?’

Szczuka stirred violently.

‘It’s not so,’ he said in a hard voice. ‘It’s nothing like that. Have you really failed to realize that what is happening in Poland now is what we’ve been waiting for all our lives?’

Kalicki smiled bitterly.

‘What has been, has been.’ And he leaned towards Szczuka and lowered his voice. ‘Now it’s the Swieckis you need.’

Szczuka looked at him attentively.

‘Come, come, old man! You’ve lagged behind somewhere on the way . . .’

‘Me? Perhaps it’s you who’re not following the right road?’

‘No, Jan,’ Szczuka replied. ‘The party is following the right road. We may make mistakes but the direction is the right one. You referred to the Swieckis. Of course there are such people with us. Now tomorrow they’ll fall out.’

Kalicki was again silent for a while.

‘I know that,’ he said finally, and I’m not worried about them.’ Kalicki raised his weary gaze to his old friend. For a moment, his dark eyes gleamed with their earlier glow. ‘I’m worried about you,’ he said, ‘I’m worried about where you’re taking Poland.’

At this moment Weychert leaned towards Szczuka.

‘I’m afraid you’re expected to make a speech,’ he whispered with confidential irony.

In fact Swiecki considered that the appropriate moment had come for a toast, so he pulled himself together, his face

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