Ivan Klima - Lovers for a Day

'We didn't because there wasn't the time. And I didn't realize then how dreadful life would be without you.'

'But we talked about that too, didn't we? About how we'd miss each other. And you told me you wouldn't put me under pressure, that I was to take my time and decide for myself

'But of course you must be free to make up your own mind. That goes without saying.'

'There you are, then.'

'It would never occur to me to put you under any sort of pressure.'

'That's okay then. But you want me to come over there and live with you. And I can't. And I don't want to either. I can hardly be expected to leave now after staying through all the rotten Communist years? I happen to like this country. And my family's here.'

'But I've never tried to force you.'

'No, you haven't. But what other hope do we have of living together? After all, you can't fly back and forth every month.'

'Why not? Anyway, I've come up with another solution, apart from flying back and forth.'

'What solution?'

'Sweetheart, I've decided to move over there.'

'To Czechia?'

'To your country. What exactly is it called now?'

'Czechia. Czecho, if you like. It makes no difference. But that's insane. What job would you do here? We've no sea.'

'That doesn't matter.'

What do you mean, it doesn't matter? You're a naval officer and we don't have any ships.'

'Yes you do, as a matter of fact. I made enquiries. You've got five ships.'

'But those ships are out at sea six months at a time.'

'Not quite so long. And ships are always at sea.'

'But I wouldn't see you for six months at a time.'

'If I stay here I'll have to fly back and forth or you wouldn't see me either.'

'I know.'

'But I thought you told me you wanted to be with me always.'

'I did, I do. You're so far away, though. And your wife and your little daughters are there. And I'm married.'

'That's why I want to move over there. After all, there must be some way of working it out so that the two of us can be together.'

'But your career is with the navy.'

'I wouldn't have to find a job at sea. I could earn my living some other way. I could drive a taxi perhaps. Besides, you've got river navigation.'

'You want to re-train to take care of a raft?'

'As a matter of fact they've got some rather nice little steamers. And they'd have a job for me starting in September.'

'The fact that you're a sea captain was one of the things that appealed to me most about you.'

'That's another thing I need to talk to you about. We've got manoeuvres in September.'

'And you'll be in command.'

'Something like that.'

'That must be fascinating.'

'That's not the point right now. But I can hardly give them just one week's notice that I'm going.'

'Where to?'

'I told you. I'll have a job with that navigation company of yours from September onwards.'

'But it's only June now.'

'Exactly. It's June already. Which means I'd have to give my notice in straight away.'

'But you couldn't, could you, not with those manoeuvres?'

'I could, but I'd have to let them know before the end of the week.'

'And you want to hear from me by the end of the week whether you should come over?'

'I need to know, in order to make my decision.'

'But you promised me you'd give me time to make up my own mind.'

'Naturally. I can't force you, can I?'

'But you're forcing me now!'

'What am I forcing you to do?'

'Hello, Bill, can you hear me? There's someone talking in Maori again. Can you hear me?'

'Yes, I can hear you, and that blithering idiot too. That's not Maori, that's Japanese.'

'What's he saying?'

'Who?'

'The man talking Japanese.'

'It's not important. To hell with him. He says it looks like margarine prices are going to fall. He's talking about the Dow-Jones index.'

'I can hear you fine now. The margarine man has disappeared. What were we saying?'

'That you have to be free to make up your own mind. I'd never put you under any pressure. You're a free woman, Tereza. With me you'd be free at last. I just need to know whether I'm to withdraw from those manoeuvres.'

'Exchange here. Is that seven one zero, eight one three?'

'Hang on! What did you say? Lord, I can't even remember my own number now.'

'It's all right, I recognize your voice. You've got Wellington on the line again.'

'Tereza?'

'Yes, Bill.'

'Are you alone?'

'Yes. There's only my little boy with me.'

'Tereza, it'll soon be Friday here.'

'Not here though. It's only Thursday morning.'

'I realize that. But I'll have to give my reply today.'

'About those manoeuvres?'

'About whether I'm going to leave the navy.'

'But you always told me that it was your business what you did.'

'Naturally. I just wanted to know if you agreed with me that I should leave.'

'The navy, or New Zealand?'

'The one depends on the other.'

'But Bill, I was trying to tell you last time. You have your family there. What will become of them?'

'My family would stay where they are now.'

You'd leave your little girls there?'

'Tereza, I love you. I can't live without you. What am I to do? I have to give up something, or someone. I've already told them.'

'You've told them you're leaving and coming here?'

'I told my wife.'

'And how about her?'

'I've already told you. First she said she wouldn't get over it. Then she said I was off my head.'

'Stop that, for heaven's sake!'

'What did you say?'

'It's awful. My little monster has tipped salt into the sugar bowl.'

'That's not important, is it?'

'I didn't say it was important. Listen, do you really want to live here?'

'I've already found a job there.'

'Have you accepted it yet?'

'No, I've just discussed it with them. And I've already started learning Czech.'

'You really are crazy.'

'Yes, about you, sweetheart.'

'But, Bill, you promised me, you said you'd let me have time. .'

'You can have all you want, but I have to give them a reply.'

'Because of those rafts?'

'They're quite nice little steamers.'

'When do you have to give your answer?'

'Soon. And the people here today. Or by next week at the latest.'

'But we can't come to any agreement over the phone, can we?'

'And that's precisely the reason I told you last time I wanted to come over. Don't you agree?'

'I'm not sure. Anyway I told you I'm here with my husband and the children.'

'I'm aware of that, aren't I? I'd get on fine with your kids.'

'Stay out of here, for God's sake!'

'What did you say?'

'It's my little one. He's trying to climb into the oven when it's switched on. And what about my husband?'

'You told me, if I'm not mistaken, that you have a dog's life with him.'

'Bill, that's something we can't solve over the phone. And it costs a fortune.'

'I don't care about the money. I care about you.'

'I care about you too.'

'I love you. And I can already say it to you in Czech. Milovávám tě na celou duši. Did I get it right?'

'Not quite, Bill. But I understand you. And I love you too. Z celé duše!

'There you go.'

'And that's precisely the reason I don't want you to do something you'll regret later. Something that will drive us both to despair.'

'I'll never regret it so long as I'm with you. I'd only despair if I had to live without you.'

'And without your little girls?'

'They'll grow up all the same. And they'll be married in a few years' time.'

'How can you talk about your own children that way? They're still only little. You have to live for the present, for heaven's sake. You can't act according to what might or might not happen.'