‘Good for him. Doesn’t mean I want to do it.’

‘What’s infuriating about you,’ she said to Kaspar, with a poke, ‘is your laziness. I wish you’d try something new.’

‘Master Itten’s mad!’

‘Master Itten’s world famous!’

‘I think we should do it,’ said Jenö, out of the blue.

Charlotte looked at him, surprised, as did Irmi. I don’t think Charlotte saw Jenö as an ally as much as me, and I hadn’t yet raised a word of support. Actually I thought her plan was a terrible idea, and embarrassing, given people were going hungry across Germany.

‘Why?’ said Walter. ‘Do you need your desires clarifying?’

‘I suppose it wouldn’t hurt.’

Now that Jenö had consented, Walter would have to as well. ‘Well, why not? I suppose it might get us somewhere. Certainly, I’ve got to find some way of livening up my output. Who knows? A fortnight fasting might help.’

Like me, Walter was struggling in Itten’s workshops; I think we both found it hard to relinquish the rules learnt at school. And, like me, his devotions were channelled elsewhere.

‘Paul?’ Charlotte said, looking at me with her frank eyes.

I was the last one to speak, and I didn’t want to be a voice of dissent. Charlotte was excited about her plan, and I was sure I could play along, if only for the sake of her pride. ‘Sure,’ I said, wondering how to play up my enthusiasm. ‘Let’s start tonight.’

‘Good. Irmi, you’re in too?’

Irmi nodded.

‘Black bread and lemon water for breakfast and dinner,’ she said. ‘Nothing else.’

Kaspar pouted.

‘Agreed?’

He gave a shrug.

‘Bon appétit,’ she said, with a spoonful of stew; ‘this might be our last meal for some time.’

Days later we were in Irmi’s rooms. We were sitting in a circle doing one of the Master’s breathing exercises. We had to take a breath in for ten seconds, then a breath out for five. I felt light-headed. Long ago the air had begun to shimmer.

In the first few days of the fast my limbs had begun to ache. My skin had dulled; the whites of my eyes were grey; my tongue, spongy. Though I had had nothing much to eat there was always the whiff of the eating-house about me. I’d thought of abandoning the fast several times so far: it didn’t feel right, and I was exhausted.

But Charlotte was so full of energy, and so obviously excited, that I stuck with it. Maybe she’d be proved right: I really might start seeing things anew – although I hardly needed to clarify my desires. And besides, Master Itten kept on giving us approving looks, which were of course a pleasure, given that he so rarely commended my work. Now, we were all – not just Charlotte – part of his elect.