The Storyteller

The others didn’t say anything. They just stared. And suddenly, A

“Is there an extra chair somewhere?” she said. “I think I saw one before. We …”

She didn’t get any further. For just then, Bertil stood up, made his way past Frauke, and came toward her. He was unsteady on his feet.

“So this is how things are,” he said, very loudly, at least for Bertil. “I get it. I understand. I understand everything now. I’m good enough for math. For helping you study. But that’s the only time. I … you … so you, A

“Bertil,” A

“I’m … I’m not,” Bertil said, but his words were heavy and slow. “I’m … I’m abso … absolutely … so … so-sober. F … f-f-for the first time perf … ectly … sober. You … it must be you … who is drunk. Look at your … yourself, how you’re ru

He came closer, still unsteadily, awkwardly, almost blind, but his eyes were burning with an unexpected and dangerous rage. A

“Bertil, sit down,” Frauke said.

“Don’t … don’t order me around,” Bertil said with his heavy tongue. And with a sudden, flailing movement of his arm, he pushed A

Staring at her and Abel and Bertil.

Abel stood motionless, as if he were made of stone. Even his face had turned to stone. Bertil took another step forward and flicked some snow off Abel’s jacket, like he was attempting to clean it, a strange gesture.

“Sure, I’ll never … never be as cool as T … Ta

Then Bertil noticed the silence. He looked around, seeming to enjoy the fact that everyone was listening to him for once, and turned back to Abel. “If I had a … a weapon,” he said, “I’d just … I’d just shoot you. L … like my fa … father did with that dog. One shot, poof, and that … that would be the end of you.”

When he said that, Abel suddenly came to life. He grabbed Bertil’s arm with his left, uninjured hand. A

“If you want to fight with me, Bertil Hagema

“Yeah. B-b-beating people up, that’s some … something you’re good at,” Bertil hissed. “Just words … words are not your spesh … speciality, are they? But maybe the girls l-l-like that … if a guy doesn’t talk much … but instead does oth-other things to them … maybe he’s good in bed, right, A

At that moment Abel’s right hand slammed into Bertil’s face. His left hand was still gripping Bertil’s arm, and A

“So,” Abel said, his voice still very low, “are you coming out with me or do I have to carry you?”

“He

He

“Let go of him, Ta

Abel released Bertil and folded his arms across his chest. “I think he knows perfectly well what he’s talking about,” he said. “He’s more honest than you, He

“Of … of course, I know …” Bertil began.

“Shut up, Bertil,” He

A

“That’s what I think, too,” the bartender called out to Abel, whom he seemed to know. “Do me a favor, will you? I don’t feel like throwing you out.”

Abel took a deep breath, as if he wanted to say something, but then he turned around silently and left.

“Okay, and when he’s far enough away, you see to it that your friend gets home,” the bartender said to He

“That’s the first sensible thing you’ve said tonight,” A

“Abel!” she cried, reaching out. He swung round, and lifting up his hands, said defensively, “Don’t you dare touch me!”

“I … I didn’t want that to happen!” A

“We’re not living in the Dark Ages,” Abel said. “Yeah, right. And not in India either. There’re no castes here. Ha.”

“But the bartender threw Bertil out, too, same as you! And he told us he doesn’t want to see him there again! Of course, there are no castes! All men are equal!”

“Do you ever listen to yourself when you’re talking such nonsense?” Abel asked.

“No,” A

He hesitated. Finally, he said: “The Elisenhain. The woods behind the village of Eldena. I promised Micha I’d take her there one day. She loves the woods when there is snow. We could go tomorrow.”

“When tomorrow? Where can I meet you?”

“The Russian store at the corner of the last street before the woods. At four.” He turned to go, and she heard him murmur, “I have to be fuckin’ out of my mind. Crazy.”

“Wait!” A

He turned back, and the look in his eyes was strange. “No, A

Linda was sitting in the dark living room, pretending she wasn’t waiting up, when A

“You can go to bed now,” A

“You’re shivering,” Linda said. “Didn’t you wear warm enough clothes?”

“I did,” A

“At what?” Linda asked, but A

“Myself,” she said.

The questions came the next day, all the questions that hadn’t been asked the night before. A billion questions that pierced her like tiny sharp needles. Frauke shot most of them at her, but rumors are quick to spread, and the looks of classmates started to get under A