VASILY GROSSMAN
19
enemies. Yes, yes. . But our victory will be your victory . Do you
understand? And if you should conquer, then we shall perish only to
live in your victory. It's paradoxical: through losing the war we shall
win the war- and continue our development in a different form."
Why on earth had this all-powerful Liss, instead of watching
prize-winning films, drinking vodka, writing reports to Himmler,
looking at books on gardening, re-reading his daughter's letters,
having fun with young girls from today's transport, or even just tak–
ing something for his digestion and going to sleep in his spacious
bedroom - why on earth had he decided to summon an old Russian
Bolshevik who stank of the camps?
What did he have in mind? Why was he keeping his motives so
secret? What was the information he wanted?
Mostovskoy wasn't afraid of torture. What did terrify him was
the thought : "What if the German isn't lying? What if he's sincere?
What if he really does just want someone to talk to?"
What a horrible thought! They were both ill, both worn out by
the same illness, but one of them hadn't been able to bear it and was
speaking out, while the other remained silent, giving nothing away,
just listening, listening .. .
Finally, as though answering Mostovskoy's silent question,
Liss opened a file on his desk and very fastidiously, with two fingers,
took out some sheets of dirty papers . Mostovskoy immediately
recognized them as Ikonnikov's scribblings .
Liss evidently expected him to feel consternation at the sight of
the papers planted on him by Ikonnikov .. . But he felt quite calm .
He even felt glad to see these scribblings: once again everything was
clear - as absurdly simple as every police interrogation.
Liss pushed the papers to the edge of the desk and then drew
them back again. Suddenly he began to speak in German :
"I've never seen your handwriting, but I knew from the first
words that you could never have written rubbish like this."
Mostovskoy remained silent.
Liss tapped his finger against the papers. He was inviting Mos–
tovskoy to speak, affably, insistently, with good will .. .
Mostovskoy remained silent.
"Have I made a mistake?" asked Liss in surprise . "No, it's not
possible . You and I can feel only disgust at what's written here . We
two stand shoulder to shoulder against trash like this!"
"Come on now," said Mostovskoy hurriedly and angrily. "Let's
get to the point. These papers? Yes, they were taken from me. You
