Chasing the King of Hearts (Peirene's Turning Point Series) (17 page)

She sits at the head of the table. The way her mother always sat… Her father ought to be across from her. Let’s hope he wouldn’t go on about women’s smiles. Better he should talk about that new colour. And even better – let him explain how he could possibly have gone to them. To the Germans! Answering their call!

Why didn’t those people want to listen to her?

If her mother hadn’t moved out of the gatehouse…

If Halina hadn’t trusted a stranger…

If her father hadn’t gone to the Germans…

If the couple hadn’t been so loud at the stove…

If Janka Tempelhof hadn’t stayed in Guben…

And if your Shayek had gone to get his sisters a little sooner. Couldn’t you have prodded him more: Go to your sisters, they need to get out…

Whose voice is that? Is that Hela’s husband? He could have prodded his wife himself. His fair-haired wife… Anyway, Hela isn’t the absurd age of ninety – she’s suntanned and pretty, with a long slender neck… Her bronzed skin looks good with light-coloured hair. With hair like that and such blue eyes, couldn’t Hela have…?

Shayek asked her not to say anything against his sisters.

She doesn’t say anything against them, just asks questions.

She too is allowed to ask a few questions.

Besides, Hela doesn’t begrudge her the questions, she just wants to know…

What does that Hela want to know now?

What was it like at Pawiak? asks Hela. Did you really turn away…?

After all, Shayek’s mother doesn’t hold it against her, on
the contrary, my daughter-in-law was smart, very smart, only (her mother-in-law asks) couldn’t you have… I know it would have been hard, but couldn’t you have tried to take Halina and her father to Vienna…?

I couldn’t, I didn’t have money…

Maybe I did have money, but that was for him, I had to save him…

Him… For him… He…

Remember, don’t tell him that he survived because of you…

Who is saying that? Lilusia? But Lilusia, it was because of my prayers, my thoughts, my strength, believe me, that was why he survived!

And then what? He left you… Your king of hearts wrote you a letter and moved out…

Who…? Who’s saying that…?

After all, I carried him inside me, like you carry a child. Is it my fault? Is a pregnant woman guilty for having her belly?

*
I wrote about the ‘author in Poland’ and Izolda R. in a piece entitled ‘A Novel for Hollywood’ – which may be regarded as a draft for this book. – HK

*
How was India?

Great. That’s the best place on earth for someone who’s just finished the army. You have this physical sense of being able to do anything and that you’re allowed to do anything…

What’s with the hair? Shaving your head made you feel even freer?

I know it sounds strange, but it’s true… It’s hard for me to come back – to my hair, to studying, discipline. At night I dream about India…


What kind of fish is that?

I’m sure it’s farmed. Everything is farm-raised these days.

Do you know how to make
gefilte fish
? I made it once. You have to clean the entire fish without spilling the bile… And not use too much matzoh meal.

*
No, I’m not going. I’ve made up my mind and stop asking questions. 

But you love him.

I said stop asking questions, please.

You could spend some time with him and some time here with us, with the girls.

I couldn’t. I have to be OK with everything. I’m asking you…

*
We left a large wooden statue at the beach, dedicated to our friend (he drowned in the sea saving a child…). Then we set fire to the statue. It was evening, the sea, there was music, a fire. The burning wood started to fall apart and suddenly a man appeared. Everyone froze: a man in the flames? Of course it wasn’t a real man, just a figure made of plastic, but it made an incredible impression. Can you imagine? A man in the flames, with the sea in the background…

Subscribe

Peirene Press publishes series of world-class contemporary European novellas. An annual subscription consists of three books chosen from across Europe connected by a single theme.

 

The books will be sent out in December (in time for Christmas), May and September. Any title in the series already in print when you order will be posted immediately.

 

The perfect way for book lovers to collect all the Peirene titles.

£35
1
Year Subscription
(3 books, free p&p)

£65
2
Year Subscription
(6 books, free p&p)

£90
3
Year Subscription
(9 books, free p&p)

Peirene Press, 17 Cheverton Road, London
N
19 3
BB

T
020 7686 1941

E
[email protected]

 

www.peirenepress.com/shop

with secure online ordering facility

Peirene’s Series
FEMALE VOICE: INNER REALITIES

NO
1

Beside the Sea
by Véronique Olmi

Translated from the French by Adriana Hunter

‘It should be read.’
GUARDIAN

 

NO
2

Stone in a Landslide
by Maria Barbal

Translated from the Catalan by Laura McGloughlin and Paul Mitchell


Understated power
.’
FINANCIAL TIMES

 

NO
3

Portrait of the Mother as a Young Woman

by Friedrich Christian Delius

Translated from the German by Jamie Bulloch

‘A small masterpiece.’
TLS

 

………..

MALE DILEMMA: QUESTS FOR INTIMACY

NO
4

Next World Novella
by Matthias Politycki

Translated from the German by Anthea Bell

‘Inventive and deeply affecting.’
INDEPENDENT

 

NO
5

Tomorrow Pamplona
by Jan van Mersbergen

Translated from the Dutch by Laura Watkinson

‘An impressive work.’
DAILY MAIL

 

NO
6

Maybe This Time
by Alois Hotschnig

Translated from the Austrian German by Tess Lewis

‘Weird, creepy and ambiguous.’
GUARDIAN

 
SMALL EPIC: UNRAVELLING SECRETS

NO
7

The Brothers
by Asko Sahlberg

Translated from the Finnish by Emily Jeremiah and Fleur Jeremiah

‘Intensely visual.’
INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY

 

NO
8

The Murder of Halland
by Pia Juul

Translated from the Danish by Martin Aitken

‘A brilliantly drawn character.’
TLS

 

NO
9

Sea of Ink
by Richard Weihe

Translated from the Swiss German by Jamie Bulloch

‘Delicate and moving.’
INDEPENDENT

 

………..

TURNING POINT:
REVOLUTIONARY MOMENTS

NO
10

The Mussel Feast
by Birgit Vanderbeke

Translated from the German by Jamie Bulloch

‘An extraordinary book.’
STANDPOINT

 

NO
11

Mr Darwin’s Gardener
by Kristina Carlson

Translated from the Finnish by Emily Jeremiah and Fleur Jeremiah

‘Something miraculous.’
GUARDIAN

 

NO
12

Chasing the King of Hearts
by Hanna Krall

Translated from the Polish by Philip Boehm

‘Combining steely lyricism with a thriller’s tension.’

INDEPENDENT

Peirene Press is proud to support the Maya Centre.

The Maya Centre provides free psychodynamic counselling and group psychotherapy for women on low incomes in London. The counselling is offered in many different languages, including Arabic, Turkish and Portuguese. The centre also undertakes educational work on women’s mental health issues.

 

By buying this book you help the Maya Centre to continue their pioneering services.
Peirene Press will donate 50p from the sale of this book to the Maya Centre.

 

www.mayacentre.org.uk

Other books

Finding Cassie Crazy by Jaclyn Moriarty
Unquiet Dreams by Mark Del Franco
Burned by Benedict Jacka
Queen's House by Edna Healey
Reality Jane by Shannon Nering


readsbookonline.com Copyright 2016 - 2024