“And you can leave the car here like that?”

“I took the key. All on account of these stupid thousand marks. It’s not like both of us don’t have paying jobs, too—bloody hell.”

“I’ll give you another thousand marks,” said Silbermann, happy. “No, I’ll even give you…”

“Just get your suitcase,” Franz growled, and set off.

He seemed to know the way well, but he was in such a hurry that he ran more than walked. Silbermann tripped over roots, banged into rocks, and bumped into tree trunks. He was panting from exertion. His suitcase felt like it was made of lead.

After ten minutes of rushing like that without a break—Franz looked back from time to time to make sure Silbermann was following—Silbermann was exhausted and said: “I can’t keep up. I need to rest a moment.”

Franz stopped. “That’s more or less what I imagined,” he whispered. “Do you know what’s going to happen if I get home and discover that the boss asked for the car while I was away? He sometimes goes out at night and he’s also a real swine. He’d hand me over to the police straightaway simply for taking his car for a joyride. Of course it’s just like you to peter out now, too. Hand me the suitcase.”

He went on ahead.

“What’s your guess as to the time?” Silbermann whispered after a while.

“Two o’clock, I think. Early enough to get caught.”

Now Franz was feeling the weight of the suitcase. He set it down and cursed quietly.

“I’d like to know how it is that I wound up being your pack mule? Incredible! If someone had told me I’d be risking my neck for a bourgeois…”

“You’re a decent person,” Silbermann said quietly, pleased to be able to take off his hat and wipe his brow.

“There are no decent people,” Franz replied. “Not according to the materialist concept of history. But what would you know about that?”

“Not much,” Silbermann admitted.

“You see,” said Franz, more graciously. “But I’m sure even you realize that one person’s saint is another person’s devil. And the devil for the working class is … But let’s go. If I start thinking about it, I’ll end up ditching you right here!”

Silbermann laughed.

“Psst!” said Franz, angry. They had reached the clearing.

“Is it much farther?” asked Silbermann.

“Ten minutes, but now be still!”

Franz listened in the darkness. Then he moved quietly ahead, making sure his footsteps made no noise.

Silbermann tiptoed behind him. Franz’s company had given him so much courage that he almost forgot the danger he was in.

At last they came to the forest path.