Local Anaesthetic by Grass Günter

Author:Grass, Günter [Grass, Günter]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Classics, Modern, Contemporary
ISBN: 9780156529402
Amazon: 0156529408
Goodreads: 46286
Publisher: HarperVia
Published: 1969-01-01T08:00:00+00:00

shortly before the end of the war when I was deputy directress of a camp for evacuated city children . . . .

"

"You've told me. A camp in the western Harz. You were the same age as our Scherbaum is today . . . .

"

"That's right. I was only seventeen . Let's even admit that blind faith in FUhrer, Folk, and Fatherland was general at that time. Nevertheless that hysterical scream-'Bazookas'

-still calls my whole existence into question. I had the gall to arrange for fourteen-year-old boys to be trained in the use of that instrument of murder . . . .

"

"But my dear Irmgard, your combat group was never used . . . .

"

"No thanks to me. The Americans just rolled over us . . . .

"

"And there your story ought to end. Who today would dare to accuse a girl who was then seventeen when our new Chancellor is held to be acceptable in spite of his past . . .

"

"I have forfeited the right to judge the Kiesinger case.

No one can acquit me. To think that I reported a peasant, a simple peasant, to Party Headquarters because he refused, staunchly refused, to let us dig a tank trap in his field."

"That worthy peasant, as you've recently told me, died a natural death ten years later; if you can't manage it yourself, then I'll acquit you."

This acquittal gave me an opportunity to become acquainted with Irmgard Seifert's wrath . A moment ago she had been seated, now she was standing : "Friendship or not, I forbid you to try to resolve my conflict by such superficial means."

( Later, still disgruntled, I noted a few caustic remarks about the chaotic conditions prevailing in her aquarium :

"And how are your vivacious little fishes getting along?

Who's eating whom at the moment?" ) In the faculty room I was still polite : "Your involvement, you r sense of guilt, should give you the strength to guide these young people today who are unable to formulate thei r increasing distrust ."

She was silent and I spoke into the void : "Let's both of us bear in mind that our Philipp Scherbaum is barely seventeen. He's sufrering. The world m akes him suffer. Injustice, no matter how far away, comes as a blow to him . He sees no way out. Or rather, he sees only one : he wants to burn his dog in public and so give the world--or at least the dog lovers of Berlin-a sign."

There she was again : "That's nonsense ."

"Of cou rse. Of course. However, we must learn to understand the inextricable situation the boy is in."

Surrounded by the order of the faculty room, she said :

"It's irresponsible nonsense."

"No need to tell me that. However, I've been unable to dissuade him."

The archangel said : "Then it becomes you r duty to report him."

"You think . . . ?"

"I don't just think. I definitely advise you to."

"To the principal?"

"Bah! Threaten him with the police. Then we'll see. And if you c an't make up your mind, I'll h ave to do it.

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