Child of All Nations Read Free Page B

graduate.
    “Yes. So you haven’t been reading the newspapers. Robert’s name wasn’t mentioned. It was Ezekiel’s name that was printed.”
    “You’re right, I haven’t been reading the papers. You mean the Ezekiel who owns the jewelry shop?”
    “Who else? Surely there is only one Ezekiel left in this world, eh?”
    The diamond ring jumped in my pocket, piercing my thighs and demanding to be taken to Ezekiel’s shop. So Suurhof had stolen it.
    “That’s the kind of person our friend Robert Suurhof is,” Vic said with disappointment. “He had big ambitions. He wanted to master the world in a week. In the end…”
    “Oh, so now it’s
in the end
, Vic. Robert stole from Ezekiel’s.”
    “If I were you, Minke, perhaps I wouldn’t be reading newspapers either. You’ve been through too much lately.”
    “Forget it, Vic. Tell me about Robert.”
    The diamond ring started jabbing and stabbing me in the thigh again. Imagine what would happen if a policeman stopped and frisked me; it would mean another trial.
    “It’s just like any other crime story. It always starts with someone’s great ambition to overwhelm the world in a week. Pity the Suurhofs, Mr. and Mrs. Suurhof. Both were already so gaunt, perhaps they’re even worse now. Two of their children gave up school altogether just so Robert can graduate from H.B.S. Straight after graduating, he turns into a bandit, and a cheap bandit at that.”
    “What did he take from Ezekiel’s?”
    “Not even that! If he’d robbed Ezekiel’s shop, at least he’d have had some style. At least he would have had to fight several neighborhood guards or speak with a golden tongue and outwit them. All he did was rob a Chinese grave, shaming his school friends, his school, and his teachers. It’s lucky he’s disappeared and escaped arrest. Who knows where he is now?”
    “I know where he is. But keep on with the story.”
    “The story’s quite simple. Remember how he used to carry on about becoming a lawyer? His parents would never have beenable to pay for it, especially as he’d have had to finish another five years of H.B.S. in Holland. His parents could never pay his boat fare, let alone his school fees there. They’re both ill; they’ve used up all their money for medicines. Ah! That Robert! He wanted to be rich, to have a wife of unrivaled beauty, to be number-one man, a lawyer—and all in a week. Straight after graduating he goes and knocks down the watchman at the Chinese cemetery, hitting him from behind and stealing from one of the graves.”
    So that’s the story, I thought. Damned bejeweled ring, that’s how you’ve come to be in my pocket! If somehow the police knew where to find you now.… I became a bit nervous. I asked: “How was the crime discovered?”
    “You’re going pale, Minke. Are you ill?”
    I shook my head.
    “He sold the booty to Ezekiel. It was discovered by the dead man’s family. They checked all the jewelry shops and found one of their things at Ezekiel’s; then they reported it.”
    Vic then told the rest of the story; it was easy to guess. The crime was exposed; the police searched Suurhof’s house. Robert had vanished. Nothing was found. No one knew where Robert had gone, not even his parents.
    “You say you know where he is, Minke?”
    “Well, at least where he’s been sending his letters from.”
    “Letters? To you?” he asked, amazed. His eyes questioned mine. Then, abruptly, he turned the conversation: “There’s no point, Minke. There’s no point complaining to his parents about those letters. You’ll only cause more grief.”
    I became suspicious. How embarrassing if he knew about Suurhof’s letters to my wife! How humiliated I would be as a husband! The ring itched in my pocket. Perhaps this cursed ring was the cause of all our misfortune.
    Victor could tell I was trying to hide something. “No, Minke, don’t go there. That scoundrel Robert is capable of anything.”
    I turned the conversation: