Arnon Grunberg - Tirza

In the plane to Wind Angle he sits next to an Italian who belongs to a group. The Italian examines a travel guide. With a pin striped he occasionally something.

To Hofmeesters surprise they also get on this short flight food. Meat with beans. He eats a few beans, he has not hungry.

'First time?" asks the Italian in almost inaudible if the trays again English are retrieved.

'First time what?'

'Africa? First time?'

'First Time,' says ship's steward. 'My first time.'

'To me,' says the Italian, 'second time. I hold of Africa.'

Ship's steward nods.

He will fall asleep, he wants to sleep, Long and deep. A winter sleeping which is gradually transformed in a total absence of everything alive of life itself.

The landing is accompanied with a great deal of turbulence. Ship's steward is not afraid, but the shaking back and forth makes him nauseous. Afraid if it has been that he will have to give in, he is securely fixed to the seat.

If they are landed almost looks out of the window in the expectation something of a city, or at least a few houses. But he sees only desert. Desert in different colors. A little red, a little gray.

The airport of wind angle is small, on the endearing af, ship's steward.

In the overhead baggage compartment he retrieves his hat. He let others lead courageously. He has no rush. The others do.

There is only one other aircraft at the airport, a large, gray aircraft on which 'Luftwaffe'. If a ship's steward the staircase is descended, he remains stationary. He breathes the warm air in. Here is landed Tirza, here she seized. This is Wind Angle. In the nearby area should they are, here they wanted.

He looks at the air. Sheep clouds, very many sheep clouds. The heat is still inform him. It is dry heat.

If it after a minute or ten waiting in a row is arrived at a regular sums owing, give it the form that was on the plane has already completed.

'What is the reason for your visit?' she asks.

'Tourists' he had nevertheless underlining it on the form? They believe him?

He takes the envelope from his inside pocket. He let her see the photo. My daughter,' he says, 'I come its surprise you.'

She looks not to the photo. They put a stamp on his passport.

At the baggage band in a small, somewhat cramped hall is only really him that he looks slightly different than the other passengers, with its neat trouser from Amsterdam, are slightly worn but neat required, his hat. He is the alien. It cannot be denied. It is a state that it is not concerned. The temporary that the alien is stuck him. The actions of the alien beyond never far, the consequences of his actions are limited, the alien is so gone again. He is naturally light. If a leaf. If a plastic bag.

When he has his suitcase, he runs and determination to the arrivals hall. On a determined step in such cases. In fact he always has been temporarily. A temporary man, so they could also him so easy on non-active.

Also the arrivals hall will see it endearing. A doll house. In a corner he sees an ATM. He tries to get cash, but it is not possible.

The exchange office is closed.

In his pocket he retrieves a handkerchief and wipe clean his face. He takes a deep breath. In vain he looks something on a tourist information point appears.

Then he walks with determined step out. His shoes, which he still in Amsterdam has polished, Glimmen.

A young man called upon: 'Taxi?' he has Hofmeesters suitcase already and for ship's steward good bite and can understand what is going on, he sits behind in a blue Mercedes from the seventies.

'Wind Angle?" asks the young, dark driver.

'Wind Angle,' says ship's steward.

'It is over forty kilometers, you know, boss?' The driver speaks English with an African accent.

'I do not know. But it does not matter. I have to go to Wind Angle.'

The vehicle is started. Ship's steward is running the window open.

'Where in Windhoek, boss?" asks the driver.

'I do not know yet. I find a hotel, a good hotel, you can recommend something? And call me a boss.'

He takes the handkerchief back from his pants, but he will receive his face not dry.

'I will call you not a boss. I am Jefried. You do not hear in the event of a group?'

'No, I am not one of a group. I travel alone.'

Jefried Runs fast. But there is no traffic so that saves. However are looking for ship's steward sitting on the rear bench seat to a belt. That they must learn to die does not mean that the à la minute must be done.

There is no belt. Or rather: the seat belt is broken.

'you will view the country?'

'I come for my daughter.'

Ship's steward retrieves the photo come out and leave it to see Jefried him from his hands and grabs.

Jefried kicks hard on the brake pedal. They are silent along the side of the road in the sand. The driver opens the glove box of the car, retrieves a dingy booklet from, vist a scraps photo from the booklet and press that ship's steward in the manual.

Ship's steward tail to five black children.

'My Family,' says Jefried. 'My children.'

Ship's steward opens the door. 'I need to go outside,' he answers, 'Want a bite to eat.' He gets the car from, with his hat and his briefcase.

He puts the hat on, binds the briefcase under his arm. No traffic on the road. No houses. Sandy and withered grass. Here and there a half bare tree. Gently rolling hills. The sandy seems to the kilometers to change color. Where am i? Calls on ship's steward, what am I doing here? What is this?

It is now also Jefried disembarked. It is next to a ship's steward.

'Not afraid, a boss,' says Jefried. 'I believe in Jesus.'

'I am not afraid, i had to get a bite to eat. And call me a boss.'

A GUST OF WIND does Hofmeesters afwaaien hat. Jefried rent after that. As a dog. He gives the hat back to ship's steward, which he set up but not more.

'Jefried, where are the beasts?'

'What beasts, boss?'

'Call me a boss.'

'What beasts, gentleman?'

Ship's steward points to the empty, half withered plain.

'De wild beasts. Where are they? I see nothing.'

'Die are hiding, sir, it is in the middle of the day. It is too hot for them. They are there, but we do not see them. But of course they see, Mr. They see us and they smell like us."

So they remain. Two men along the side of the road. The first is waiting on the second, the second waiting for something he cannot appoint itself. On a brainwave. A reminder. The reminder of what he came again.

'Meneer,' says Jefried after five minutes, 'You will find the very if we continue the drive to Wind Angle?'

Ship's steward shakes his head. 'no problem at all. To which hotel you go me? I searched on the airport to a tourist information point, but everything was closed. What is a good hotel? Do you know the hotels in Windhoek?'

'In Windhoek. There are many good hotels. What exactly are you looking for? Great hotel, small hotel?'

'The best hotel.'

The best, why not? Such a first night in a foreign country wants to ship's steward take any risks. And duration will not be here. Now the financial independence is destroyed, it may also be wasted. something best

Jefried starts to think out loud and ship's steward feels how are dry mouth is. He gets into the vehicle. On the rear bench seat is still the photo of Jefrieds children. He gives it to the driver and in return they receive the picture of his youngest daughter back. Also he looks back to. Lively eyes. Yes, perhaps that is the first thing you notice if you go to Tirza looks, on this photo. Lively eyes. In a peculiar way of reassuring eyes. As if the world has reassured, and they in turn now to do the same with the world.

'Heinitzburg,' says Jefried.

'What?'

'Heinitzburg.'

'What is there with Heinitzburg?'