Hilde also stopped playing with his blocks. Without him there it was no longer fun for her. She stood outside the kitchen and waited for him.

But when he came back he walked right past her without paying her any attention, because now he had definitively promised himself to Senta. They would get married and move away, and Hilde could stick her tongue out as long as she wanted, it no longer affected him …

Silbermann had probably slept an hour when he was wakened by steps in the corridor. For a moment they stopped in front of his door.

He listened anxiously.

But then they went on.

He jumped out of bed.

“There’s no point,” he mumbled. “I have to leave. I have to get out of the country. I can’t stand it any longer. The anxiety is driving me mad. I’ll go back to Aachen and try crossing the border there.”

He stepped up to the mirror, washed his face, combed his hair, and left the room. In the doorway he thought: What nonsense. I really should stay here. Who knows when I’ll have a bed again.

In addition to the Susigs, two gentlemen were sitting in the dining room, reading the newspaper. Silbermann knocked quickly and went in, and was met with a resounding chorus of “Heil Hitler.”

Without returning the greeting he simply nodded his head and turned to Frau Susig: “I’m going to the station to pick up my suitcase.”

“But my husband can take care of that. He’d be happy to.”

“Go ahead,” said the old man.

His wife looked at him severely.

“All the same…” he added, and nodded encouragingly to Silbermann.

“Thank you anyway,” said Silbermann. “The fact is I have other business in town.” And with that he left the room.

What strange people, he thought, as he climbed down the stairs, but he immediately forgot all about the Susigs and focused on his own affairs. He was surprised to find himself at the station after just five minutes, since he hadn’t really paid attention to where he was going.

What a pity I don’t have Lilienfeld with me, he regretted, since he’s a man with practical experience. Two heads are stronger than one. You strengthen each other. I encouraged Lilienfeld and he did the same for me. Basically each of us was encouraging himself, but it did boost our spirits. Tremendously.

He asked for a third-class ticket for Aachen.

Is that Lilienfeld speaking out of me? he wondered when he heard himself ask for third class. But then he decided that was the right choice, since in second class he would have to be decently shaved in order not to attract attention.

He fetched his suitcase, then asked when the train was scheduled to depart and stepped into the third-class waiting room. Without ordering anything, he sat down at one of the wooden tables. For a few minutes he brooded without specific thoughts.

“All the same…” he said quietly, mimicking Herr Susig. “All the same…”