Every Man Dies Alone by Hans Fallada & Michael Hofmann

Author:Hans Fallada & Michael Hofmann [Fallada, Hans & Hofmann, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Literary, Azizex666, Fiction
ISBN: 9781935554042
Google: v0HwQAAACAAJ
Amazon: 1935554042
Barnesnoble: 1935554042
Goodreads: 6921128
Publisher: Melville House
Published: 1947-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

*NSV: “Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt,” literally, Nazi Public Welfare, an organization partly funded by the Winter Relief Fund.

Chapter 32

ESCHERICH AND KLUGE TAKE A WALK

It was already completely dark when Inspector Escherich left the garden house on Ansbacher Strasse in the company of Enno Kluge. No, in spite of her pulmonary condition, the Inspector had not been able to view the case of Fräulein Anna Schönlein as venial. That old maid really seemed in the habit of putting up criminals quite indiscriminately—or even purposely—without even knowing their story. With Enno Kluge, for instance, she hadn’t even asked his name; she had agreed to hide him merely because a friend of hers had brought him along.

He would also have to take a closer look at Frau Haberle. These Germans were a disgrace! With the greatest war in history being waged to assure them of a happy future, they persisted in their ingratitude. There was a bad smell wherever you stuck your nose. Inspector Escherich was firmly convinced that he would find a knot of secrecy and deceit in well-nigh every German home. Almost no one had a clean conscience—of course with the exception of Party members. And he knew better than to institute the sort of search he had conducted at Fräulein Schönlein’s at any Party member’s home.

Well, at least he had put the concierge in charge of the flat. He seemed a reliable fellow, Party member by the way; he should remember to get him some small well-paid job. That kept people like him on their toes, and sharpened their eyesight and hearing. Stick and carrot, that was the way to go.

The Inspector, arm in arm with Enno Kluge, makes for the poster pillar behind which Borkhausen is waiting. Borkhausen isn’t at all keen to see his erstwhile partner; to avoid meeting him, he sidles round the pillar. But the Inspector changes direction and catches him, and Emil and Enno confront one another.

“Evening, Enno!” says Borkhausen, and puts out a hand.

Kluge won’t shake. A bit of indignation stirs even in this pathetic creature. He hates Borkhausen, who talked him into that break-in that earned them nothing but blows, who made thousands from blackmail this morning, and who has still betrayed him now.

“Inspector,” says Kluge excitedly, “did Borkhausen not tell you that he blackmailed my friend Frau Haberle for two thousand five hundred marks this morning? He promised to let me go in return, but now…”

The Inspector was only going to Borkhausen to give him his money and pack him off home. But now he leaves the little wad of notes in his pocket, and listens in amusement as Borkhausen replies coarsely: “And didn’t I let you go, Enno? If you go and get yourself caught again right away like the bloody fool you are, that’s no fault of mine. I kept my promise.”

The Inspector says: “Well, we can talk about that some other time, Borkhausen. But for now, you should go home.”

“First I want my money, Inspector,” demands Borkhausen. “You promised me five hundred smackers if I hand Enno over to you.

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