The Murder of Anton Livius by Hansjorg Schneider

Author:Hansjorg Schneider
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781913394899
Publisher: Bitter Lemon Press

Shortly before eight, Hunkeler parked in front of the Säge and went inside. Three tables were occupied by card players engrossed in their games of Rams. They were competing for smoked sausages and sides of bacon, which were laid out on a side table.

He ordered a bratwurst with onions and a bottle of beer. He thought of Sonja Flückiger, the ancient girl with the long, white hair who lived off chicory coffee and potatoes. But still she hadn’t betrayed her dead lover.

When he’d finished eating, Fridu came in with two others. They joined Hunkeler at his table and played doggedly, without talking. They fought for every trick. Twelve sausages were claimed. One of them was won by Hunkeler. It wasn’t much, but still. He wouldn’t have liked to leave the battleground with no trophy at all. Several times he’d forgotten the particular rules of this game. That the Belli, the seven of diamonds, was always the second highest trump. That you had to follow suit, and trump if you couldn’t. He was too tired to persevere against the measured ferocity of his fellow players. Or his mind wasn’t on the job.

He drank another bottle of beer. At one point, when he had to excuse himself, Fridu came with him. “Did she tell you?”

“No,” said Hunkeler.

“Dammit,” Fridu replied. “Why not?”

“Because she’s too proud.”

“And now you’re going to drive back to Basel?”

“What else can I do?”

“That stubborn cow,” said Fridu. “That’s typical of Sonja. She could have easily got married when he was gone. Even though she had Ursli. But she refused point-blank.” He fiddled around adjusting his clothes. Then he took a carpenter’s pencil from his pocket and wrote something on the mirror. It was a name. Russius. He took his handkerchief and wiped the name off again. “I didn’t tell you anything.”

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