A Jew Must Die by Jacques Chessex

Author:Jacques Chessex [Chessex, Jacques]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical
ISBN: 9781904738510
Publisher: Bitter Lemon Press
Published: 2009-01-02T05:00:00+00:00

8

They reach Rue-à-Thomas. On the way, no one has spoken. Arthur Bloch still suspects nothing. Is he tired? Jaded after the morning’s good business? It seems surprising that such a level-headed man should be so lacking in discernment towards Robert Marmier, a failed, degenerate farmer, or the farmhand with his uncouth features, and especially young Ballotte, whose loutish exterior should have made him uneasy. But there is no logic in death. When he enters the cowshed on Rue-à-Thomas, Arthur Bloch is unaware, fails to sense, that the most horrible butchery awaits him.

There are only two cows to be seen, something unusual for a working farm. Yet Arthur Bloch still feels no disquiet.

As the four men enter the dark cowshed, one of the cows turns her head towards them, pawing the ground, rattling her chain. Obviously taken aback, Arthur Bloch hasn’t expected to find such a fine animal.

“This is the one,” says Robert Marmier, pointing his flashlight at her.

A fawn, almost reddish beast, long in the back, with full flanks above a distended udder with its coat of downy hair. The air is heavy with smells of moist belches, saliva and tenderly sexual milk. The female’s eye gleams in the sunlight from the window and the flashlight beam turned on her.

Remaining silent for a long moment, Arthur Bloch probes her flanks and white underbelly with his hand and stick.

“And how much are you asking for this marvel?” he says at last, as if in a dream.

“Two thousand four hundred,” says Robert.

“Two thousand,” counters Arthur Bloch, suddenly waking up.

“Two thousand, two thousand, I couldn’t...”

“And I can’t offer a franc more.”

The haggling has begun. Robert Marmier gets carried away. Ballotte and Fritz are furious at so much zeal. “We’d decided we’d bash him right away!” Robert is going too far. Arthur Bloch, tempted by the animal for sale, and wily as he is, pretends to pull out.

“Too bad. She’s not for me.” Then he adds, disappointed, “That’s what I said, that’s the way it is. I can’t offer a franc more.”

He shakes Robert’s hand, turns away, reaches the door.

Georges Ballotte and Fritz Joss are torn between anger and the relief felt by those who are not as tough as they think. Robert, very pale, leans against the wall.

But Arthur Bloch is tempted. The cow’s a good one, it’s a reasonable deal. He walks a few yards down the street, allows five minutes to go by, then retraces his steps and re-enters the cowshed. It is 10:35. The three accomplices are taken by surprise.

“So, this cow,” says Arthur Bloch. “I’ll do my best for you. Fifty francs more, and I’ll take her.”

“Two hundred,” says Robert Marmier, panicking, as if to postpone the inevitable. Arthur Bloch laughs.

“Are you trying to ruin me! No, that’s too much. Too bad. She’s not for me.”

For the second time he takes his leave, pulls down his hat, slowly goes outside.

The three accomplices are aghast. Ballotte swears at Marmier: “Are you out of your mind, or what?”

“He’ll be back,” says Robert.

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