436
PARTISAN REVIEW
ter. In the past, their "Indian file" relation to each other signified a
certain social structure, a paradoxical integrity rooted in political an–
tagonism. By stepping on each others' heels they were connected by
an official bond of hostility; their clashes were tangible. Today the
"Indian file" line, treated as a social model, lacks even this kind of in–
tegrity. True, agents of power exist, like Grzesio, furnished with
blue denims, but they are not distinguishable by their convictions
but rather by their privileged position in line.
If
they are "nosing"
after somebody , it is not ideological fanaticism; it is simply their job.
(Jerzy Lee's aphorism is apt here: "He suffered from a persecution
mania. He thought someone was following him, and it was only an
agent of the State Security.")
A befitting symbol of a conservative hierarchical state would be
a human pyramid composed of people standing on one another's
shoulders . Similarly, a symbol for an ideal democracy would be a
circle of people seated around a table and looking squarely into each
others' eyes. The symbol for a state like ours is the queue: one can
only see the back of the person standing in front of him , and the only
movement is an anxious pushing forward.
5.
Here we go! The door to the "Delikatesy" has just opened, and
a human tide, pushing and trampling, surges inside. The last resid–
ual forms of social self-discipline disappear. One might say Kon–
wicki's line was more civilized . Not because it was a line for gold,
rather, the difference was in numbers. When attendance reaches a
critical point, every queue transforms into a mob - a desperate mob ,
since the supplies will certainly fall short of the demand . I am too far
back, but how would I act if I were , say, thirtieth in line and saw
only ten hams on the counter.
After the first assault on the door, the commotion subsides .
Rumors spread down the line that the shipment hasn't arrived , but is
expected soon, maybe in a half hour. Most probably carp.
6.
Well, we'll wait and see . Now that we have more time , let's re–
turn to Konwicki . To recapitulate : a queue is both a symbol and
model of a society that pursues the most mundane values required to
