I’m terribly sorry. It must have been misshelved.

It really is all right.

She smiled again, so sad, and he felt his own smile sadden and depart.

We will search for it, however.

Thank you.

She left for her counter, her plump behind shifting under her skirt.

He turned the remaining pages in the book glancing at random passages, at his watch.

Trn.

He looked up at Dolezal taking a last step forward.

I see you’re hard at work.

Trn shrugged. Dolezal leaned over his paunch to gaze into the book.

Come on, man. You’re not still on this? Now’s the time to get on with all that research we’ve always wanted to do. A state salary and no teaching to be done.

At any rate, Trn said, some still draw a salary.

Sad business about Miroslav’s pension.

Especially sad for Miroslav.

Why did they drop him, do you know?

I suspect someone lied.

Well, Dolezal said, good thing he’s a son-in-law to support him. Kupka has finished his book and begun another. I saw him here last week. I’ve an article coming out on political economy next quarter.

Congratulations.

Dolezal removed his glasses, gasped on the lenses, plucked the belly of his sweater to wipe them.

Squinting at the book he said, I thought you would have moved on to other work.

What could be more appropriate?

How so?

Five trains left for the interior of the Reich yesterday. I’m sure you saw it in the paper. Five special trains in a single day.

But that was voluntary labor. They raised their hands to go. They’ll be well paid.

Isn’t voluntary an ambiguous term under the circumstances? And more importantly, from the standpoint of political economy, if the Reich’s so overcrowded and so desperately requires Lebensraum why do they need foreign labor?

Still squinting Dolezal replaced his glasses, his nose wrinkled to set them right as he glanced round.

You should be careful.

Trn lifted his cuff, closed the book as he stood.

So. I must be off. Goodbye, Trn.

Goodbye, Dolezal. Congratulations again.

At the counter the clerk said, Will you be taking it with you, sir?

No. No thank you.

Thank you for returning it to the desk, sir. You’re always very kind to do that.

The least I can do.