Fatal Lies

25

Steininger, Freitag, and Drexler were playing cards on the floor. They were sitting cross-legged on an old blanket that had been spread out for their comfort. The tableau they created recalled the Middle East: they might have been gamesters at a bazaar. Wolf was lying on some cushions a short distance away reading Beyond Good and Evil. They were all smoking, and the lost room was filled with gently undulating hazy veils of cigarette smoke.

“I'd like to get into the cavalry” said Steininger. “I have a cousin in the cavalry. He wears a very handsome uniform. He told me to join because you get to ride spirited horses and attract the attention of girls.”

“My father disapproves,” said Freitag.

“What? Of girls?” said Steininger, grinning.

“No, of the cavalry,” said Freitag. “He says it's corrupt. Who do you want to join, Drexler?

Freitag swigged some slivovitz from a bottle and handed it to Steininger.

“I haven't decided yet,” Drexler replied.

“You're not thinking of the civil service, are you?” said Freitag indignantly. “I can't think of anything more dull.”

Drexler looked over his spectacles. “I haven't decided yet,” he repeated calmly.

Steininger belched.

“Must you be so disgusting?” asked Wolf, without taking his eyes from his book.

Steininger shrugged, and, ignoring Wolf, said: “What about the infantry, Freitag?”

“The foot rags?” Freitag replied. “Possibly.”

Wolf tutted.

“What?” said Freitag.

“I suppose the infantry are all right,” said Wolf sarcastically. “If you want to die an utterly pointless death defending Greeks from Turks and Turks from Greeks.”

Steininger and Freitag looked puzzled.

“He's talking about Crete,” said Drexler.

“Crete?” said Steininger. “What about Crete?”

“That's where the Eighty-seventh were sent,” said Wolf. “The Christians rebelled against the Muslims, and the Greeks landed two thousand soldiers to help them overthrow the Ottoman sultan. The Eighty-seventh were sent over to separate the opponents-and they were given excellent new white uniforms so that they would be especially conspicuous in the bright sun and easy for agitators to pick off! Yes, you two join the infantry… I can't think of anything more noble, can you, than to selflessly lay down one's life for one's Greek and Turkish brothers? Your parents will be most proud.”

Steininger pushed out his lower lip. “Well, it's easy for you to criticize us, Wolf. But you haven't told us where you're going.”

“Yes, Wolf, where are you going?” Freitag repeated, the pitch of his voice raised slightly in irritation.

Wolf sighed and-still without turning to look at them-said in pointedly weary tones: “I do not intend to prance around on a horse in order to attract the attention of witless females. Nor do I intend to waste my life in some garrison town-where the only person who can read without moving his lips is the local doctor. I do not intend to meet a premature end trying to suppress some meaningless peasants’ revolt in Transylvania, and I most certainly don't intend to stand between two barbarian races hell-bent on each other's annihilation, thousands of miles away from home. No… I have other plans.”

“What plans?” asked Freitag.

“Oh, do shut up, Freitag,” said Wolf. “Can't you see that I'm trying to read?”