The Best Book in the World Read Free Page A

smiling.
    They live in the best of worlds.

CHAPTER 2
Battles and Ideas
    B y the time Eddie gets backstage, Titus has already managed to drink half a bottle of red wine. Eddie sees him sitting alone on a bench at the far end of the beer tent and carefully pushes his way through the partying masses.
    The tent is filled to the brim with people, but the seats right next to Titus remain empty. He himself has never been able to decide whether this is due to exaggerated respect or pure and simple distaste. The pattern has pursued him all his life. Do they love him or hate him? Is he appreciated or despised? Pah! Who knows? Whatever, it feels better – and less important – with a bottle of red wine inside him.
    But the amiable Eddie, of course, sits down next to Titus. In Eddie’s world there is plenty of room for love and all of its synonyms.
    ‘Hi, Titus! Many thanks. You were really funny. You can make great theatre out of anything at all. You are fantastic.’
    ‘Er, thank you very much,’ Titus mumbles, embarrassed. ‘And how did you get on?’
    ‘Yup,’ says Eddie articulating the sound as he breathes in. ‘A lovely response this evening. We were close to each other. I love the festival public.’
    ‘Well, that’s great then.’
    Titus has mixed feelings about what he had experienced earlier in the evening. Of course it’s nice to do these improvisations. People appreciate his readings. But it would be even nicer if they just for once were to ask him to read something from his own books.
    ‘Eddie,’ says Titus. ‘There’s something I must ask you about.’
    ‘Yes?’
    ‘I am old enough to be your father. And I don’t really understand your generation. When I read… do you think… I mean… everybodylaughs so much… do they like me? Or are they making a fool of me? Do you understand what I’m getting at?’
    ‘Titus, Titus, Titus. I’ll be completely honest. Perhaps love is too strong a word, I don’t know… but they are fascinated by you. You are a living legend. I am quite sure they don’t really understand you properly. But they like what you give them. And what you give them is great experiences, that much is for certain. And all those who give something are liked. It’s the people who take things from you who aren’t liked. The people who take things from you deserve to be despised. You give, Titus. You are one of those who gives.’
    Titus raises his eyebrows in surprise. He has never thought of it like that before, that he was generous. Eddie makes him feel good.
    ‘Yeah, right. It’s nice of you to say that…’
    ‘No doubt about it, Titus. And royal diseases was the best reading for a long time. Absolutely on a par with when you read
Handbook for a Volvo 245
at the Debaser club last winter. Do you remember that?’
    ‘Well, vaguely. I reckon I had had quite a binge before that reading.’
    ‘I can guarantee it. You
are
popular. And I like you a lot. Can I get you something?’
    ‘A bit of the hard stuff would go down nicely, thanks.’
    ‘Coming up, maestro,’ says Eddie, and slips over to the bar.
    Eddie has a strong aura which serves as a heat shield when he makes his way through a crowd. He never has to push and shove, or use his elbows to keep his place. Effortlessly he is suddenly standing at the bar and can order a round. He swaps a few artiste coupons for some booze and slips back to Titus.
    ‘Are you dark or light?’ Eddie asks, holding a large brown rum and soda in one hand and a smaller vodka and mixer in the other.
    ‘I’ll take the brown one, thanks,’ says Titus in a somewhat strained voice.
    He greedily reaches for the big glass and fills his mouth with such a large gulp that he has to swallow it in two parts so as notto start coughing. His eyes look grimly down into the rest of the liquid. Don’t sneak off, you nice drinkie. Stay with daddy.
    Eddie sips his light vodka and mixer. He puts the glass down on the table and circles with his index finger around the