I’ll take a train to Hamburg, he decided when he was out on the street. That’s the best thing. I have a fine man there, that Becker. I can talk things over with him and he can intercede, too. Surely today was a case of things getting out of hand. Tomorrow the government might well declare it all happened without their knowledge. Even if it is full of anti-Semites, it’s still the government, and this is something they simply can’t allow. On days like this the task is simply to survive with body and soul intact. Whoever gets hurt is always wrong. Whoever comes through unscathed is right. I want to be right.

He took a streetcar to Bahnhof Zoo. On the way he counted his cash: he had ninety-seven marks left.

He marveled at how quickly it went. From one hundred eighty to ninety-seven. From now on he had to be thrifty, at least until he caught up with Becker, since being short of money in this situation really would be the last straw.

Once at the train station he purchased a ticket to Hamburg and went straight to the platform, even though the train wasn’t due to depart for another hour. He bought a pack of chewing gum from a vending machine, and, thinking that this could calm and distract him, he stuck one piece after the other into his mouth, slowly and meticulously chewing away as he had often seen others do, until the tough substance gradually released its peppermint flavor.

He chewed vigorously for some time, with the intended mindlessness, and without deriving any pleasure—he was merely following a self-imposed task. As he did so he paced up and down the platform. He tried thinking about something pleasant, and finally imagined that his wife was likely already in bed and sleeping. But this thought brought others in its wake and, instead of reassuring him, only made him more anxious and afraid.

She’s bound to be worried, he thought. At least I ought to send her a card.

He went to the waiting room, approached the buffet, and asked for a postcard. Then he sat down, ordered a coffee, and began to write, careful not to interrupt his deliberate chewing:

Dear Elfriede.

I’ve gone to Hamburg for a business meeting. I’ll be back tomorrow. Don’t worry, I’m doing fine. I tried calling but unfortunately couldn’t reach you. I very much hope you’re doing well.

Many heartfelt greetings,

Otto.

He looked over the contents of the card and decided it was in no way suspect, though he couldn’t imagine what he might have written that would have aroused suspicion. He left the waiting room, passed through the ticket barrier to mail the card, then returned to the platform and resumed his pacing. He was cold, and shivered as he rubbed his hands together. He had left his gloves at home. Suddenly he saw a Sicherheitsdienst officer appear next to him.