After Jadlowker had satisfied his hunger other thoughts and feelings began to preoccupy him. Suddenly and without knowing why he thought of the fine carp and pike which he used to sell at the fish-market on Thursdays. He was occupied by the thought that, in order to kill them, he had grasped them by the tail and dashed them against a kerbstone and this made him remember that one destroys men by doing the reverse. One takes a stone – which can also be a sugar-loaf – and dashes it against a man’s head. Strange thoughts come to one when one is shut up in an attic. One remembers, for example, that one has enemies in the world and that the greatest of them all is Inspector Eibenschütz, the source of all ill and Euphemia’s lover into the bargain. Sameschkin is her lover, too, but that’s another story. Sameschkin has old tribal rights, and besides, he is not an official. And further, he has not sent Jadlowker to jail. If there were no Eibenschütz one could live in peace. Sameschkin will go away in the spring. Sergeant Slama has been transferred. Who will recognize Jadlowker with a fair beard? A lot of strangers come to this district! And one’s name isn’t really Jadlowker at all. One has already changed one’s name once before! One has already grasped fish by the tail and struck them against the kerbstone. It’s done the other way round with men. One takes a sugar-loaf and strikes them on the head from behind. But where? But when? Eibenschütz is not there at night, in Odessa harbour.

If Eibenschütz did not exist, one could live in peace. But he does exist. He must not be allowed to exist any longer, he must not be allowed to exist any longer, thinks Jadlowker. He must not be allowed to exist any longer! He thinks of it all the time. The crows sometimes settle near the skylight. Jadlowker throws them some crumbs. He sits and freezes and waits for the spring, for freedom and for revenge.

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