NEW POLISH WRITING
511
Bryk. He signs his columns with a pseudonym : "Smog." Short.
Stout body on crooked, cavalry legs . A soldier of the Second Corps.
Fought at Monte Cassino. Has several orders, among them one
British . Writes historical articles about World War II. Frequent con–
flicts with censorship. Impulsive, stubborn character. Likes to drink.
Red face, grey hair. Always wears fatigues.
Today he was evidently drunk. He reeled and staggered. And
staggering he reached the middle of the room.
In
the room there was
a chair specially prepared for the convenience of those seeking reac–
creditation. Tymoteusz did not care for the chair. He pushed it away
with his leg. His blue, somehow glazy, eyes sparkled when he fixed
thern on the Commission seated behind a long table covered with a
green cloth.
Starting from the left there sat: the representative of the
Department , that is, the Ministry for Home Affairs; the representa–
tive of the Polish People 's Army ; the representative of the District
Committee of the Party; the representative of the RSW " Prasa"
Publishing House; and, at the end of the table, one person of
unknown alliance.
Journalist Tymoteusz Bryk looked at them with his sparkling
eyes and smiled . His broad face resembled a ripe apple. H e briskl y
walked up to the table and rested both hands on it. H e breathed out
the odor of fresh alcohol.
"And what a re you doing here, H enryczku? " he asked, and
with a swift hand movement caught the rep re sentative of the RSW
"Prasa," Mr. Kopycinski, by the ear. Kopycinski pulled his head
back, but Tymoteusz Bryk held his ear between his two fingers and
evcn tugged it slightly.
"Shame on you," he said, still smiling. "Real shame,
H enryczku ."
Instead of rebuking this impertinence, the representative of
RSW "Prasa," an inebriate himself, which could be easily read
from the complexion of his face (he probably used
to
drink in the
company of journalist Bryk), retreated like a criminal caught in the
act and started to mumble something unintelligibly.
The chairman of the Commission, a colonel with a Ph.D. , a
portly and uncompromising man ,. blushed, and lifted his broad,
thick hand. At the same time journalist Bryk released the ear of the
representative of the Publishing House and lifted his own hand in
the same gesture.
