The Copenhagen Papers by Michael Frayn

Author:Michael Frayn [Frayn, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

DB:

I kept out of Frayn’s way all through the great April Fools’ dinner, and still the blow had not fallen. Still he had not risen to his feet and pointed the accusing finger at me. I was beginning to relax a little when I became aware that Matthew, who had been sitting next to him, was at my elbow, murmuring something. At once I was on my guard again; he had come to warn me that Frayn was about to begin the great unmasking.

“David,” said Matthew. “I’ve had Michael Frayn going on and on at me about this Rhys-Evans woman and table-tennis tables and keys and birthdays and zip codes and Gerlach and Heisenberg until I think I’m going mad—and I think he may have gone mad already! He’s totally obsessed by it all!”

I could scarcely believe my ears.

“You mean … he doesn’t know? He hasn’t tumbled it?”

“No, but, David, this can’t go on! You can’t let him get madder and madder! Look, it’s April first—you can make a joke of it. Just say something to him to put him out of his misery!”

But I’d stopped listening. My brave Frayn was still a believer, a true zealot. Don Quixote was still on his horse, his trusty lance rampant, ready to chase windmills—my windmills!—all over the beautiful landscape!

It was as much as I could do to stop myself from brushing Matthew aside and rushing up to Frayn to hug him. And thank him, with tears in my eyes. The show could go on!

What a waste it would have been if it had had to stop! I had assembled a star cast, who were fully rehearsed, nay, were already performing to packed houses! And these were only the previews! Celia and Micheal had as yet shown only a fraction of what they could do; I had all sorts of plans for them. Celia was going to reveal a past rich in all manner of famous boyfriends. As for Micheal, there were no depths to which I would not send him. I had a headlong fall planned for him unmatched since Milton took Lucifer by the scruff of his wings and hurled him down to Hades!

And I’m just talking about what was going to be happening in Celia’s covering letters. In the parched and yellow pages of the anonymous chronicler’s manuscript, meanwhile, my German cast were rehearsing for a long season at the Whitehall—the old Whitehall that Frayn and I both fondly remembered—with Walther Gerlach playing the Brian Rix part. Then there was my novel (sorry—Celia’s novel!), based on the excellent literary model of Enid Blyton’s Famous Five, with dear little Hans braving all sorts of perils to win through in the end and prove himself a second Einstein by discovering an antidote to war! And now it could all go ahead! Their brave, silly, tragic, funny stories could all be told!

“Put him out of his misery?” I replied to Matthew. “What misery? He’s having the time of his life! And so am I! This show could run and run!”

Matthew went away, looking more worried than ever.

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