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expression. "
"Yes. It won't be easy to find you a job. But that's not the most
difficult problem."
"Well, if there's a more difficult one, we're really in for it! In fact,
I'm just starting to correspond with Argentina."
"It's the business with that hotel. But you know what things are
like there. The staff, the various connections and obligations."
"Ah! So you know the network, I see. You must have worked in
that branch as well! After all, you've practiced all the trades, including
that of professional revolutionary, haven't you? Isn't that so? Tell me, is–
n't that so?"
"Stop playing the fool. No one will believe you were a receptionist
who knew of nothing but work and wages, day shift and night shift, for
a fortnight at a stretch. A receptionist at that hotel is not the best of
recommendations. Or only if you want to be taken on as a flunky. You
know what I mean."
"Sure I do.
It
means we can't go on discussing it in the dark, com–
rade. They mustn't think there's a conspiracy, Comrade Gafton - that
we've taken advantage of the dark."
Suddenly the light came on, another one of Tolea's tricks. A candle–
thin bulb, held up by a metal clasp attached to the table leg. A weak
light, just enough to outline the Roman-consul face of the receptionist.
Perfectly shaved, almost too pale.
"Now that you mention it, m'sieur, you're going to end up in re–
ally hot water with those freelance journalist's letters. A petitioner for
the good of humanity! I didn't understand that business with your name,
either. Why should you be doing good under a changed name? After all,
my ancestors or yours changed their names for quite different reasons,
didn't they, eh? Aliens that we are, isn't that so?"
No answer could be heard, not even a whimper.
"Was it all for effect that you took your wife's name? Precisely after
the war? Because she had one of those brothers, a Heil Heil man, but she
herself was innocent? And in the fifties you risked your spotless record as
an apostle just to defend the principle of objectivity! Is that how you
justified it to yourself? Like that, Herr Gafton?"
Nothing from Herr Gafton, not a word. Or rather yes, there did
come a whisper. "I thought you might try some translating for a while.
You can still find a connection at one of those cooperatives that do
technical translations. Or even at a publisher's. It would help out until
something else comes along."
"A translator, goo-ood!
Tradutore traditore,
or however it goes. We
