The Other Side Read Free Page B

you want?’
    ‘You’re quite right there’, I cried with feeling. ‘There’s nothing better than a well-ordered, simple existence. But the inhabitants, the people. Who do you meet over there?’

    The agent cleared his throat, his spectacles flashed and he went on, ‘That’s true. I haven’t told you about the people yet. Well, just like everywhere else, there are some delightful characters among them.’
    ‘For example?
    ‘Well, for a start there is our well-educated, respectable middle class, also the numerous officials … the army too, they’re nice and presentable, you often see officers around … then we mustn’t forget the large number of erudite scholars and, finally, all those characters who escape precise classification, circus performers, freelance artists and the like, just like everywhere else: ..’
    ‘And above all my friend, the Master himself?’ I interjected.
    ‘You probably won’t meet him that often. Patera is too busy, weighed down with work. The responsibility! Just think of it! Of course’, he went on hastily, ‘they’re all people who fit into the whole. You, as far as I am aware, were selected because certain of your drawings made an impression on the Master. As you see, you are not entirely unknown there … In order to preserve the purity of the way of life, the style of life there it is necessary, as I mentioned before, to shut off the outside world entirely. Ensuring that is the overriding aim of the Master’s policy. And indeed, so far we have been successful in keeping out those who do not belong there.’
    I expressed my enthusiastic support for these ideas. In my mind I had resolved to accept the invitation and was already looking forward to a rich artistic harvest from the whole adventure.
    How weak, how unpredictable is the human heart! Had I known then, when the idea of going there began to form within me, had I had even a vague premonition of the tragedies I would undergo, I would not have accepted the invitation and would probably be a different person today.

    IV
    At this point in the narrative I feel I should add that at that time I was very close to fulfilling a wish that had long been close to my heart. This was a journey to Egypt and India which until now had been impossible for financial reasons. My wife had just received a small legacy and the money was to be used for that journey. But, as always in life, things turned out differently from what we had imagined. When I told Gautsch about this plan he immediately expressed the idea that had occurred to me.
    ‘Simply swap projects. Instead of India, go to the Dream Realm.’
    ‘But what about my wife? I don’t want to travel without her.’
    ‘I have been instructed to invite her as well. If I forgot to mention it previously I do so now.’
    I still had some misgivings, however. My wife was not of a strong constitution and could not be expected to take on an arduous journey.
    The agent immediately reassured me. ‘That will not be a problem’, he said. ‘The general level of health in the Dream Realm is excellent. Pearl is on the same latitude as Munich, but the climate is so mild that even the most neurasthenic soon feel fit and well again. A large proportion of the inhabitants used to be regular residents in clinics and sanatoriums.’
    ‘Oh, that’s all right then. In that case I accept’, and I shook Gautsch joyfully by the hand.
    ‘And as far as the expenses for the journey are concerned’–he had a rapid look round the room before going on–‘you would have no objections to a small advance, I presume?’
    Jokingly I laughed, ‘Well, if you insist on giving me a thousand marks, why not?’
    At this Patera’s agent just shrugged his shoulders, took out his cheque-book, scribbled down a few words and handed me the slip of paper.
    It was a cheque drawn on the Reichsbank for 100,000 marks.

    V
    Whenever we hear tell of something fantastic, something far from everyday reality, there is always a