Gossip From the Forest by Keneally Thomas

Author:Keneally, Thomas [Keneally, Thomas]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical, War
ISBN: 9781504026741
Goodreads: 27424734
Publisher: Open Road Media
Published: 1975-01-01T08:00:00+00:00

ASLEEP IN THE PLUSH

When Count Maiberling said he thought he would sleep as he was, amongst the plush, Erzberger felt grateful and knew he himself did not wish to sleep alone that night. Only von Winterfeldt and Helldorf went off to the sleeping car.

The count laughed and suggested they might have an indecent purpose. Erzberger and Vanselow unlaced their sodden boots and did not join in the joke against the military.

They hung the furnishings of the imperial saloon with wet socks and overcoats. Since it was quite warm they also shed their suitcoats. As they stretched amongst the cushions an orderly came and took their cognac glasses away.

Major Bourbon-Busset, upright in an armchair to see that no shutters were opened, sent him to get blankets for the dignitaries.

As soon as they had settled down the major, like a dormitory prefect, switched off the main lights. Matthias felt some shame at not forswearing the saloon and Bourbon-Busset’s supervision.

Maiberling: Take care, Major. As soon as you’re asleep I intend to raise the window. And read the caliber of your raindrops.

No one laughed. The count muttered amongst the opulent leather.

Maiberling: Good suspension. A nice ride.

Christ, Erzberger thought, in two hours the Buttenhausen clever-boy Matthias must speak up to the victors. He would have consented to ride on on the good suspension, under the rain and even under the major’s direction, for eternity, his feet cramped and blanketed in the plush, his brain blinking and nuzzling in its burrow.

Maiberling: Matthias. Can you hear me?

Erzberger considered lying.

Erzberger: Yes.

Maiberling: Do you have a mistress?

Erzberger: No.

Maiberling: Should I believe you?

Erzberger: Of course. How could I keep a mistress? With my background? It would be in all the conservative press.

Maiberling: I suppose.

Erzberger: Let me tell you, Alfred. They hire detectives to find such things out about me.

Maiberling: You’d like to have a mistress. If it were expedient.

Erzberger: This isn’t profitable talk.

Maiberling: Paula doesn’t satisfy you.

Erzberger: Don’t force me to be angry.

Maiberling: And you have no mistress. So you come on a flirtation with the great whore History.

Erzberger: Go to sleep.

Maiberling: I understand these things.

Erzberger: You have a mistress!

For some seconds the count kept a poignant silence, as if he had not forced Matthias to make the barbarous claim.

Maiberling: I know you, Matthias. And this sort of journey is typical of men your age. Ardent bastards who know they’ll never be satisfied. The bull goes to be poleaxed.

Erzberger: I won’t believe it.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.