H. Adler - The Wall

“That’s fine, Herr Doctor. Maybe you’ll be more willing to do it if you need me. In any case, I’m in my element here. I’m the sole distributor of Eusemia , and I’ll soon start a large publishing house. Then, Herr Doctor, I’d very much like to become the publisher of your work.”

Kratzenstein informed him that, given the many offers that I had, he shouldn’t expect to be getting anything from me. The bookseller was so disappointed by this that I had to comfort him. When he learned that I would submit something to Eusemia , his eyes lit up, for with this promise he saw a guarantee of the further success of his journal.

“If you appeared only in every other issue, then it won’t take long for me to make my money back and pay off all my debts with Jolan Haarburger. He still wants to get involved in my business, my old friend Jolan.”

The parrot made a screeching sound and let a piece of paper fall. Someone bent to pick it up, saying, “You have to pick up your own luck from the ground.” I looked more closely. It was So-and-So, who out of shyness had not even greeted me. It was hard for him that, through my sudden success, I was much better off than he was. He had not yet gained access to the long promised Professor. This made me feel bad, for an old childhood friend should never be neglected. Hence, I acknowledged him with a quiet greeting and met him with a grateful look.

“How nice, Arthur, to think that we are friends. From the very beginning I knew that you would make it the moment you got here. Did I not say that to you in my first letter after the war?”

So-and-So said this so sincerely that I couldn’t disagree, especially when Kratzenstein agreed and said that we all agreed on that. I looked questioningly at the Professor, for to me his assertion seemed a bit too strong. Because he didn’t want to hear any protest from me, he quickly asserted that, of course, I had certainly had some difficulties at the start, but they were nothing that any great talent would not have met. So-and-So wanted to hear whether I had seen Karin at the conference. When I said I had not, he recommended that I come along with him, for she had a very honored position as an attendant at the Wheel of Fortune. We let So-and-So lead the way, and we came to a brightly decorated booth covered with shimmering pearls and glittering jewels, all of it bathed in colored light. I was startled by so much glitter and rubbed my eyes, for I didn’t want to be blinded.

“A Wheel of Fortune and sociology?”

“My dear Landau, you ask as if you were a rank beginner. Do you know nothing of the sociology of fortune?”

No, I didn’t know anything about that; I had never studied this subject. Slowly I got used to the glare and could now almost look about freely. Not only did I see Karin in a luxurious evening dress — she was selling lots with numbers on them to the participants; Frau Saubermann was also here, and I had no desire to renew her acquaintance. She held sway at the Wheel of Fortune and appeared to be the supervisor. The sight of this made me sick, and I didn’t want to stay a moment longer. Kratzenstein and So-and-So, however, wouldn’t allow me to flee, so I had to join in. By then the benefactress had also discovered I was there and was staring at me with her eyes wide and calling out to me with delight. When she saw my reluctance, she stretched out both arms to me.

“Herr Doctor! Herr Doctor! You finally came! I’ve been sitting on pins and needles and waiting the entire time! So come closer! Such a joy! I’m so happy!”

Since I remained standing where I was, Kratzenstein pushed me forward. Unwillingly, I gave Frau Saubermann my hand, which she played with and caressed for a little while almost incessantly.

“You’ve become such a dear, wonderful man — and morally so free! The way you figured out how to do your duty! What satisfaction it brings me — how excellent it is to see you! Do you remember your visit with us? We spoke privately with each other and had such touching exchanges. Karin, dear, go on and give the Herr Doctor a handful of lots so that he makes sure to win something!”

Karin took some lots from a box and handed them to me. Then Frau Saubermann turned to the Wheel of Fortune, and at least ten of my lots won. I received some cheap cigarettes and sour candies, a little silver-plated chain, a toothbrush, a small pocket mirror made of metal, a little bowl made of pressed glass that looked polished, shirt buttons made of sandalwood, a lovely talisman made of golden yellow tin, and other useful little items. I wanted to give some of my winnings to the Professor and So-and-So, but they wouldn’t take anything, so I had to stuff it all into my pockets. As if that weren’t enough, Frau Saubermann handed me the main prize, which I didn’t have the Wheel of Fortune to thank for. It was a chain of artificial pearls.

“That’s for Johanna, Herr Doctor. The chain is long enough to circle the neck three times. I threaded the pearls myself. They were dipped in my husband’s factory. Splendid wares made from a new process, which no one else has, more beautiful than the real ones. When you drape Johanna with them, please give her my best! How happy I am that this dear child has such a worthy man as you for a husband. Do you remember the night with Jolan and Hannah? I saw from the first moment that Johanna and you would make for a fine couple. You were clearly meant for each other.”

Frau Saubermann dropped the pearls into a little box and apologized for not being able to spend longer with me, for she had to thread a new chain, and in record time, since a chain was needed as the main prize of the Wheel of Fortune. But the patroness took enough time to invite me and my family to visit, and to insist that if I ever needed anything I could count on her and Larry. Had I even looked for him yet? When I said I had not, she cast a disapproving look at the Professor, who apologized for this oversight and promised to walk me straightaway over to the panopticon. We took our leave of Frau Saubermann and Karin, as well as from my friend So-and-So, who during the stringing of the new chain of pearls helped out at the Wheel of Fortune. He nodded at me and then bowed deeply to the Professor. Then we were on our way and paid no attention to the good wishes called out to us.

“Herr Professor, to the panopticon? I’ve learned a lot from this Sociology Conference, but a panopticon here — what can that mean?”

“Sometimes it feels like you are a first-semester student and not a mature scholar. There’s nothing simpler than that. In the panopticon we find the contemporary museum, which is equal to the most modern scientific achievements, for which we have the trailblazing work of our colleague Herr Saubermann to thank. Consider the word: ‘panopticon.’ That means everything is seen, a museum that is not just for the purpose of true learning but, rather, also speaks to the experience of the broad masses. And that is applied sociology.”

I cringed when the Professor talked of the “broad masses,” for I didn’t like this unuseful misnomer. It prodded me to want to ask what he meant by that, but then I decided it was better to avoid a lecture from my benefactor and kept quiet until we were before the gaudy sign of the booth that said

PANOPTICON — THE CONTEMPORARY MUSEUM

in brightly colored letters. The entry price was cheap, but we didn’t have to pay anything and were immediately met at the door. Herr Saubermann greeted us wearing tails, his long face beaming, and clapping his hands. I thought at first that it was with pleasure he was doing so, but it soon became clear that this was a sign to his two assistants dressed in black coats. To my pleasant surprise, they were none other than Herr Schnabelberger and Frau Dr. Kulka. He bowed deeply, and the doctor nodded delicately, yet neither said a word and needed me to speak to them first before they mouthed their spare, almost submissive phrases. Herr Saubermann, to whom I raised my left hand while continuing to wave him off, patiently suggested that I should take a little time to speak with my old colleagues, though he also longed to have my undivided attention for himself. I didn’t wish to wear out his patience and thus looked for the Professor to engage Saubermann for a while. Then I told my co-workers from the museum that I had seen Herr Geschlieder already and was surprised that he was not among those working at the panopticon. Herr Schnabelberger explained to me that Geschlieder had applied. He had been turned down because he seemed too uneducated, he not having understood how Saubermann had wanted to renovate the museum. Instead, Herr Woticky was employed as an assistant.