Berlin Alexanderplatz: The Story of Franz Biberkopf (46 page)

They sit opposite each other very quietly, Mieze on the chair, Reinhold on the sofa, both taking it easy. “Well, certainly, he’s yours; say, Fraulein, I hope you don’t think I’m tryin’ to cut him out, wouldn’t think of it. Only some mighty funny things happened between him and me, hasn’t he talked to you about ‘em?” “What kinda funny things?” “They were really funny, Fraulein, I’ll tell you something frankly: if Franz is with our gang now, it’s only on account o’ me, just for me, and because of them stories. We two always stuck together as much as we could. That’s where I could tell you a lotta funny things.” “Is that so? Say, ain’t you got no work that you got time to sit here telling stories?” “Even the Lord sometimes takes a holiday, Fraulein, shouldn’t we plain mortals take two at least?” “Well, I should say you’re takin’ three.” They both laugh. “Maybe you’re not far wrong there; I save up my strength, laziness prolongs life, as otherwise you spend too much energy.” She smiles at him. “A person’s gotta be saving, then.” “You know all about it, Fraulein. One man’s like this, another’s like that. Well, I’ll tell ye, Fraulein, Franz and me, we’ve always exchanged women, what do you say to that?” He turns his head to one side, sips his drink and waits to see what the little girl is going to say. She’s a pretty little thing all right, we’ll soon make her, you bet, and how I’m gonna pinch her legs.

“Better tell that to your grandmother about exchanging women. That’s what somebody told me once, they do it in Russia. Maybe you’re from there, that don’t happen here.” “But I’m tellin’ ye.” “Then it’s just a lot of apple-sauce.” “Franz can tell ye about it.” “Those musta been nice janes, for 50 pfennigs, yes, from the flop-houses, eh?” “Now you’re gettin’ smart, Fraulein, that ain’t our line.” “Tell me, why on earth are you handin’ me that bunk, anyway? What’s your game, heh?” Just look at the little devil. But she’s nice all right, she’s crazy about him, that’s fine. “Nothin’, Fraulein, what do you mean, game? I just wanta get the lowdown (a sweet little devil, she knocks you flat, come, come, Caroline, come), Pums himself gave me them orders, well, I’m go in’ to hop off, won’t you come to our club one of these days?” “So you can tell some more stories like that!” “No harm intended, Fraulein, I thought you knew it all. Well, I also got some business I’d like to talk over. Pums said I’d better come to see you and ask about the money, and so on, seeing as Franz is so sensitive about his arm, but you mustn’t blab it to him. Franz needn’t know about it. I mighta inquired about it in the house, too, then I thought to myself: why all this secrecy? But you were in, and so I’d rather come up to you openly and directly to ask you about it.” ‘Tm not to tell him nothin’?” “No, better not. But if you really insist on it, I can’t do nothin’ to stop you. Just as you wish. Well, so long.” “No, the door’s on the righl.” A fine baby, we’ll swing it, m’boy, sure.

Little Miezeken hasn’t seen or noticed anything on the table, in the room, she just thinks, as she sees the liquor glass standing there, yes, what does she think? She’s thinking something now, as she puts her glass away, she knows nothing. I am so excited, that fellow’s got me all excited, everything is jumping around in me. What a story he told me. Did he just want, what did he want, anyway? She looks at the glass, which is in the closet, the last one on the right. Everything is dithering inside me, I must sit down, no, not on the sofa, that’s where that fellow was layin’ around. On the chair. So she sits on the chair and looks at the sofa where the man had been sitting. I’m terribly excited, what can it be? My arms and my breast, everything’s dithering inside me. Franz certainly ain’t that kind of a dirty dog to exchange women, I could believe it about that scoundrel Reinhold, but Franz, no-they simply got him to act the fool all round, if that’s really true.

She chews her nails. If it’s true; but Franz, why he’s a bit stupid, he let’s ‘em do anything with him. That’s why they threw him out of the car. That’s the kind of fellows they are. That’s the kind of society he goes with.

She chews and chews her nails. Tell Eva about it? I don’t know. Tell Franz about it? I don’t know. I won’t tell nobody. Nobody was here.

She is ashamed, puts her hand on the table, bites her index finger. It doesn’t help any, something is burning her throat. Maybe they’ll do that with me too, they’ll sell me, too.

A hurdy-gurdy grinds away in the courtyard: In Heidelberg Town, I lost my heart. That’s for me, I’ve lost my heart, and now it’s gone blooey, and she moons into her lap; it’s gone, so I ain’t got any left; and what’ll I do about it, and if they drag me through the sewer, I can’t do nothin’ about it. But my Franz don’t do that, he ain’t no Russian, to go about exchanging women, that’s all a lotta hooey.

She stands at the open window in her blue-checked dressing-gown and sings with the organ-grinder: In Heidelberg Town I lost my heart (that’s a deceitful gang, he’s right to smoke ‘em out); on a sweet and luscious summer night (when is he coming home anyway, I’ll go meet him on the stairs), I had been hit by love’s old dart. (I won’t tell him a word, I won’t come to him with such mean stories, not a word, not a word, I love him so. Well, I guess I’ll put on my waist.) Her mouth laughed like a red rose bright. And as before the gates we had to part, the last kiss made me see it clear (and it’s true, what Herbert and Eva say, they smell a rat, and they just want to find out from me if it’s true; they can listen a long time, they must think I’m a dumbbell, if they want to catch me nappin’!) In Heidelberg Town I lost my heart, it beats on the Neckar’s banks, not here.

Brilliant Harvest Prospects, but there’s many a Slip ... !

He goes around and around everywhere, the very picture of tranquility and peacefulness. You can do whatever you please with that boy, he always falls on his feet. There are such people. In Potsdam there was a fellow, at Gorke near Anklam, Bornemann by name, well, he makes a get-away from prison and comes to the Spree. There’s somebody floating on the water.

“Well, Franz, what about it? What’s her name anyhow, your sweetheart?” “Mieze, you know that, Reinhold, her name was Sonia before.” “Is that so? Afraid to show her, I guess she’s too swell for us.” “Go on, d’ye think I got a menagerie and I got to exhibit her? Why, she goes around the streets, has her gentleman-friend and earns good money.” “Only you don’t show her to anybody.” “What do you mean, show her? The girl’s busy.” “Might bring her along sometime, I hear she’s pretty.” “Maybe so.” “I’d like to see her sometime, maybe you don’t want me to.” “Well, you know, Reinhold, we were in business together once, you remember, with boots and fur-collars.” “Nothin’ doin’ in that line any more.” “No, that’s all over. You can’t get me any more for filthy tricks like that.” “All right, m’boy, I only asked about it.” (Dirty goof with his filthy tricks, always talking about them tricks, just you wait, old horse.)

When Bornemann to the water hied, a fresh corpse floating he espied, a bright idea that boy descried. Out of his pocket he pulled all his papers, gave ‘em to him and gave ‘em to her. Certainly we heard that all before, but it can’t harm to hear the tale once more. Then to the tree the corpse he tied, it might have floated away, and got lost upon the tide. He straightway took the local to Stettin, bought a ticket, and when he arrived in Berlin, called up mother Bornemann from a saloon, she was to come at once, there was somebody there. Money and clothes she brings him here, he whispers something in her ear, then, alas, he must leave his lady dear. She promised to identify the corpse, he’ll send her money, if he gets any, but try to find some yourself. Then quickly, quickly he had to leave her behind, or somebody else the corpse might find.

“That’s just what I wanted to know, Franz, so you like her a lot, eh?” “Ah, stop talkin’ about the janes and all that stuff.” “Just wanted to know. Don’t hurt to tell me, does it?” “No, don’t hurt me none, Reinhold, but y’know, you’re such a scoundrel.” Franz laughs, so does the other. “What about your sweetie, Franz, cantcha really show her to me just once?” (My, what a little wag you are, Reinhold, ye kicked me out of the car, but now you’re runnin’ after me.) “Well, what d’you want, Reinhold?” “I don’t want nothin’ at all. Just wanta see her.” “You wanta see if she cares for me? I tell ye she is all heart, from head to foot, a heart for yours truly, that kid. All she knows about is lovin’ and cooin’ and nothin’ else. Ye know, Reinhold, you’d never imagine how crazy she is. You know Eva, dontcha?” “Do P” “Well, y’see, Mieze would like me to … with her. No, I won’t tell you nothin’.” “Well, what is it? Go ahead!” “Nope, you wouldn’t believe it, but that’s the way she is, ye never heard the likes of it, Reinhold. I ain’t never struck anything like it in all my born days.” “Say, what’s it all about anyway? With Eva?” “Yep, but keep it mum, well, she wants, that gal Mieze wants Eva to have a kid by me.”

Bang! Both of them sit still and look at each other. Franz slaps his legs and explodes. Reinhold smiles, starts to laugh, but gets stuck.

And so the fellow’s name is Finke, he goes to Gorke, where he becomes a fishmonger. One fine day who should come along but his stepdaughter. She has a job in Anklam and wants to buy a little feesh; she goes to Finke with a net in her hand, and says.

Reinhold smiles, starts to laugh and gets stuck. “Maybe she’s a dike.” Franz goes on smacking his legs and snickers. “Nope, she’s got a case on me.” “I can’t imagine it.” (Unbelievable that things like that should happen, but it’s happened to this boob, and he’s grinning about it at that!) “What does Eva say about it?” “Why, they’re friends, those two, she knows her all right. In fact I got to know Mieze through Eva.” “Say, Franz, you certainly make my mouth water. Look here, can’t I see Mieze some day, at twenty yards’ distance, through bars, as far as I am concerned, if you’re afraid?” “Gee, I ain’t at all afraid; she’s as true as gold and that sweet, you’d never imgine it. Ye remember I told you that time you should stop that business with so many girls, it ruins your health, why the best nerves can’t stand that. A man can get a brain-storm from that that’s where you ought to watch out it would do you a lotta good. Well, you gotta see how right I am, Reinhold, I’ll show her to you.” “But she mustn’t see me.” “Why not?” “Nope, I don’t want to. Can’t you just show her to me like that?” “Certainly, old horse, glad to do it. That’ll do you good.”

And then it gets to be three o’clock in the afternoon, Franz and Reinhold are walking along the streets. Enamel signs of every kind, enamel ware, German and genuine Persian rugs, payable in 12 monthly installments, hall runners, table-and sofa-covers, quilts, curtains, awnings, Leisner & Co., do you read
Fashions for All,
if not, ask to receive it free by return post, look out danger of death, high-tension wires. They go to Franz’s house. You are now going into my home: all’s well with me, nothing can touch me, you’ll see how things stand with me, my name’s Franz Biberkopf.

“And now, we’ve gotta walk quiet. I’ll open the door first to see if she’s here. Nope. Wait, here’s where I live. But she oughta be here soon. Now let’s see, how we’re gonna do it. It’s just a lotta playactin’, but mind you, not a peep outa you.” “Dontcha worry.” “Best thing is, you lie down here in bed, Reinhold, it’s not used during the day anyway, and I’ll watch out so she don’t come in here, and then you can look through the lace-cover from up above. Go ahead, lie down, can you see anything?” “Yep, sure. But I gotta take my boots off,” “Might be better, at that, I’ll put ‘em out in the hallway and afterwards when you go, you can take ‘em yourself.” “Gee, Franz, if only that don’t go wrong.” “You afraid? Ye know I ain’t afraid, even if she spots something, you ought to know her.” “Nope, it’s better if she don’t see me.” “Now lie down. She might come in any minute.”

Enamel signs, enamel ware of all kinds, German and absolutely genuine Persian Persian rugs, Persians and Persian rugs, ask for free mail delivery.

In Stettin Chief Detective Blum says: “How did you come to know that man? How did you recognize him, by what, you must have recognized him by something?” “He is my stepfather.” “Well, then, we might as well go to Gorke. And if it’s true, we’ll bring him along right away.”

Somebody puts the key into the lock of the door downstairs. Franz calls out in the hallway, “Well, are you frightened, Mieze? Well, honey, here I be. Come on in! Don’t you put nothin’ on that bed. I got a surprise for you there.” “I’m gonna see what it is right away.” “Stop, first you gotta swear! Mieze, hands up, swear, everybody stand up, now, repeat after me: I swear.” “I swear.” “That I won’t go near the bed.” “That I won’t go near the bed.” “Till I tell you.” “Till I go over there.” “You’re to stay here. Swear again! I swear.” “I swear I won’t go near the bed. “ “Till I put you in it myself.”

She is serious now, she clings tight to his neck, and stays a long time like that. He notices there is something wrong with her, and he tries to push her towards the door out to the hallway, the thing can’t be done today. But she stands still: “I won’t go near the bed, lemme go.” “What’s the matter with my Miezeken, my little pussy cat, my li’l kitten?”

She pushes him to the sofa, where they sit together, clasped tight, and she says nothing. She begins to mumble something, starts pulling his necktie, and then it comes out: “Franzeken, can I tell you something?” “Why, of course, Miezeken.” “It’s about my old man, somethin’ has happened.” “Well, kitten.” “There.” “Well, what is it, kitten?” She fumbles with his necktie, what’s the matter with the girl, too bad that guy should be there just today.

The Chief Detective says: “What do you mean your name is Finke? Have you got any papers?” “Well, all you need to do is go over to the City Hall.” “What’s in the City Hall doesn’t concern us.” “Papers, yes, I got ‘em all right.” “Fine, we’ll take them along first of all. There is an officer from Neugard outside, who had a man named Bornemann from Neugard in his section, we’ll ask him to come in.”

“Franzeken, the last few times the old man has always had his nephew with him, that is, he didn’t really invite him, he just came along.” Franz mutters something and grows cold. “I see.” She keeps her face close to his. “Ye know him, Franze?” “Why should I know him?” “I was just wondering. Well, he’s always been around, and then one day he came along with us.” Franz is shaking, things are growing black before his eyes. “Why didn’tcha tell me nothin’, heh?” “I thought I could get rid of him. And why should I, if he just comes along.” “Well, and so ...” The twitching of her lips against his neck grows more violent, then he feels a certain moisture there, she clasps Franz tightly, the kid’s sure holding me close, that’s how she is, stubborn as a mule, she don’t say nothin’. Ye can’t get the hang of it, when she starts like that, and what’s she blubbering about anyway, and now that guy’s laying there, I’d like to take a Slick and beat on that bed till he couldn’t get up any more, damn ass, to make a fool out of me like that. But he’s shaking. “What’s wrong now?” “Nothin’, Franzeken, you mustn’t worry, only don’t hurt me, there wasn’t anything at all. Well, he came along again, was watchin’ all morning till I came away from the old man’s, and there he was, and I hadda go out driving with him, just couldn’t help it, I just hadda.” “Of course you hadda, didn’tcha?” “Yes, I hadda, what could I do? Franz, when a man acts that crazy. And he’s such a young man, too. And then ...” “Where did you go?” “Before this we always went across Berlin, Grunewald, I don’t know myself, then we walked, and I kept askin’ him to go away. And he cries and begs like a child and gets down on his knees before me. He’s such a young fellow, a locksmith.” “Well, he’d better be workin’, the lazy hound, instead of runnin’ around like that.” “Don’t know. Please, don’t get mad, Franz.” “I still don’t know nothin’ about what happened. Whatcha cryin’ for, anyway?” She says nothing again, just cuddles up to him and fondles his necktie. “Don’t get mad, Franz.” “Got a case on the guy, Mieze?” She says nothing. How afraid he is, he goes ice-cold, from head to foot. He whispers through her hair. he has forgotten all about Reinhold: “Got a case on him, eh?” She has clasped his body tight to hers so that he can feel every line of her body, and now comes her whispered word: “Yes.” Ow, he’s heard it, yes, heard it. He wants to release her, shall I hit her. Ida, that man from Breslau, now it’s coming, his arm goes numb, he is paralyzed, but she holds him tight, like an animal, what does she want, she says nothing, holds him tight, her face pressed to his neck, he looks stonily beyond her toward the window.