“So where do you plan to go?” asked Silbermann.

Now it was the other man’s turn to be suspicious.

“I’m not planning to go anywhere,” he said evasively. “I’m just traveling. I was advised to travel first class because that was safer, but it wasn’t good advice. I can see how badly I stick out here. Tomorrow I’ll take a train back to Magdeburg. Things are bound to have calmed down by then.”

“You don’t want to leave the country?” asked Silbermann.

“No, no,” the other was quick to reply. “I’m staying in Germany. Despite everything I am a German!”

“Good night,” said Silbermann.

For a moment he had hoped his companion might give him a useful tip, but he realized that he couldn’t expect such confidence unless he himself was willing to open up, which he was not inclined to do. He tried to fall asleep, but after a few minutes the other man started talking again.

“Did you manage to save your money?” he asked quietly.

Silbermann muttered something incomprehensible.

“Because if you had money,” the other man continued, “it would be easier…”

“What would be easier?” Silbermann sat up, now interested, and lit another cigarette.

“Well … you know…” the other man hesitated.

“I’m not sure I understand,” said Silbermann, who thought he understood quite well and felt a new sense of hope.

“I only kept a hundred marks. That’s not enough to get out of the country—assuming that’s what a person wanted to do.”

“Do you want to get out?”

“Do you?”

“Perhaps. Do you know a way?”

“We don’t know each other at all. I mean, even if I did know something … You understand what I mean?”

Silbermann flicked the ash off his cigarette. “First I’d have to have a clear idea of what we’re talking about,” he said, businesslike. “The rest can all be sorted out.”

The other man thought for a moment and looked at Silbermann, unable to decide. He had his doubts, but he realized that Silbermann would only show his cards after he did.

“I was given an address. Supposedly it’s someone who can arrange something. From what I’ve heard he asks for a lot of money. And in addition to that he’s a Nazi.”

“But basically you think he might be able to get someone out of the country? I’m not necessarily speaking for myself, of course, but in general the matter interests me.”

“They say that he takes anything of value at the border. You’re completely at his mercy, but he’ll see that you get across!”

“Who is this he?”

“I don’t know exactly, and even if I did, as I said before, I don’t know you at all…”

Silbermann nodded. “Of course,” he admitted. “Of course I could easily prove to you who I am and that I’m Jewish, but I don’t know…”

“What don’t you know?”

“If there’s any point.”