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"No, no, no!" They were the loudest sounds he could make. "She must not see me." He kept

that up for some time, as long as his strength lasted. He was not fit to see anybody. He wanted

to go to sleep and not wake up. "Some powders!" he kept whispering.

Lanny saw that the sick man was weakening himself by trying to argue, so he said, all right. He

had already called for a doctor, and when the man came he whispered the story. Here on the

border they knew a great deal about the Nazis, and the doctor needed no details. He gave a

sleeping powder which quieted the patient for a while. The doctor wanted to examine him, but

Lanny said no, he would wait until the patient's wife had arrived to take charge. Lanny didn't

reveal that he had in mind to get an ambulance and take the victim to Paris; he could see that

here was a case that called for a lot of work and he wanted it done by people whom he knew and

trusted. He was sure that Rahel would agree with this.

XII

A moment not soon to be forgotten when the two travelers arrived, and Freddi's wife came

running into the hotel suite, an agony of suspense in her whole aspect; her face, gestures, voice.

"He's here? He's alive? He's ill? Oh, God, where is he?"

"In the next room," replied Lanny. "He's asleep, and we'd better not disturb him."

"How is he?"

"He needs to be gone over by a good surgeon and patched up; but we can have it done. Keep

yourself together, and don't let him see that you're afraid or shocked."

She had to set her eyes upon him right away; she had to steal into the room, and make it real to

herself that after so many long months he was actually here, in France, not Germany. Lanny

warned her: "Be quiet, don't lose your nerve." He went with her, and Jerry on the other

side, for fear she might faint. And she nearly did so; she stood for a long while, breathing hard,

staring at that grayhaired, elderly man, who, a little more than a year ago, had been young,

beautiful and happy. They felt her shuddering, and when she started to sob, they led her out

and softly closed the door.

To Lanny it was like living over something a second time, as happens in a dream. "Listen,

Rahel," he said: "You have to do just what my mother did with Marcel. You have to make him

want to live again. You have to give him hope and courage. You must never let him see the least

trace of fear or suffering on your face. You must be calm and assured, and just keep telling him

that you love him, and that he is going to get well."

"Does he know what you say to him?"

"I think he only half realizes where he is; and perhaps it's better so. Don't force anything on

him. Just whisper love, and tell him he is needed, and must live for your sake and the child's."

The young wife sat there with her whole soul in her eyes. She had always been a serious,

intellectual woman, but having her share of vigor and blooming. Now she was pale and thin; she

had forgotten to eat most of the time; she had dined on grief and supped on fear. It was clear

that she wanted only one thing in the world, to take this adored man and devote her life to

nursing him and restoring him to health. She wouldn't rebel against her fate, as Beauty Budd, the

worldling, had done; she wouldn't have to beat and drive herself to the role of Sister of Mercy. Nor

would she have herself painted in that role, and exhibit herself to smart crowds; no, she

would just go wherever Freddi went, try to find out what Freddi needed and give it to him,

with that consecrated love which the saints feel for the Godhead.

Lanny told her what he had in mind. They would take him in an ambulance, to Paris, quickly

but carefully, so as not to jar him. Rahel could ride with him, and talk to him, feed him doses

of courage and hope, even more necessary than physical food. Jerry and Lanny would follow,

each in his own car; Jerry would stay in Paris for a while, to help her in whatever way he

could. Lanny would instruct the surgeon to do everything needed, and would pay the bill. He told

Jerry to go and get some sleep—his aspect showed that he needed it, for he had driven five or six

hundred miles with only a few minutes' respite at intervals.

XIII

Lanny had food and wine and milk brought to the room, and persuaded Rahel to take some;

she would need her strength. She should give Freddi whatever he would take—he probably had

had no decent food for more than a year. Preparing her for her long ordeal, he told more of the

story of Marcel, the miracle which had been wrought by love and unfailing devotion. Lanny talked

as if he were Parsifal Dingle; incidentally he said: "Parsifal will come to Paris and help you, if

you wish." Rahel sat weeping softly. With half her mind she took in Lanny's words, while the

other half was with the broken body and soul in the next room.

Presently they heard him moaning. She dried her eyes hastily, and said. "I can never thank

you. I will do my best to save Freddi so that he can thank you."

She stole into the other room, and Lanny sat alone for a long while. Tears began to steal

down his cheeks, and he leaned his arms upon the table in front of him. It was a reaction from

the strain he had been under for more than a year. Tears because he hadn't been able to

accomplish more; because what he had done might be too late. Tears not only for his wrecked

and tormented friend, not only for that unhappy family, but for all the Jews of Europe, and

for their tormentors, just as much to be pitied. Tears for the unhappy people of Germany, who

were being lured into such a deadly trap, and would pay for it with frightful sufferings. Tears

for this unhappy continent on which he had been born and had lived most of his life. He had

traveled here and there over its surface, and everywhere had seen men diligently plowing the soil

and sowing dragon's teeth—from which, as in the old legend, armed men would some day

spring. He had raised his feeble voice, warning and pleading; he had sacrificed time and

money and happiness, but all in vain. He wept, despairing, as another man of gentleness and

mercy had wept, in another time of oppression and misery, crying:

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent

unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her

chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate."

Document Outline

DRAGON'S

TEETH

Upton Sinclair

The Viking Press New York 1942

Contents

Book One: The Morning Opes Her Golden Gates

I. THE OLD BEGINNING 3

II. THOSE FRIENDS THOU HAST 22

III. AND THEIR ADOPTION TRIED 42

IV CAN CALL SPIRITS 64

V. FROM THE VASTY DEEP 82

Book Two: A Cloud That's Dragonish

VI. DEUTSCHLAND ERWACHE! 103

VII. I HAVE SEEN TEMPESTS 126

VIII. TO GIVE AND TO SHARE 147

IX. LAND WHERE MY FATHERS DIED 167

X. CONSCIENCE DOTH MAKE COWARDS 188

Book Three: Blow, Winds, and Crack Your Cheeks

XI. 'TIS WOMAN'S WHOLE EXISTENCE 211

XII. PLEASURE AT THE HELM 234

XIII. EVEN TO THE EDGE OF DOOM 255

XIV. THE STORMY WINDS DO BLOW 276

XV. DIE STRASSE FREI 299

Book Four: As on a Darkling Plain

XVI. ROOT OF ALL EVIL 323

XVII. WILL YOU WALK INTO MY PARLOR? 346

XVIII. I AM A JEW 369

XIX. NO PEACE IN ZION 392

XX. SUFFERANCE IS THE BADGE 415

Book Five: This Is the Way the World Ends

XXI. IN FRIENDSHIP'S NAME 441

XXII. STILL GET MONEY, BOY! 463