A Choice of Enemies Read Online Free PDF

Nicky was his friend.
    “You’re the strong, silent type,” Nancy said. “I can tell.”
    “Come into the garden with me.”
    “Want to show me your etchings? Mm?”
    “Come,” he said.
    Nancy led Ernst out into the hall and to the foot of the stairs. “Look,” she whispered, “you can’t come up with me. It’s not allowed, you know, and Captain Hodge might see.” She squeezed Ernst’s hand. “I’ll go first. You count to ten and then follow. But for God’s sake don’t let anyone see you, and
no
noise. I’ll meet you at the top of the stairs.”
    Before Ernst could protest, she was gone. Not that he was against her little scheme. It would be nice to have a girl, he thought.
    Ernst counted to twenty-five, looked around twice, and then started softly up the stairs.
    He didn’t see Malcolm, however. Malcolm, who had nobody to dance with himself, watched Ernst sneak up the stairs and then hurried off in search of Peggy.
    Ernst couldn’t find Nancy anywhere.
    “Here,” she whispered.
    She was in the bedroom where all the coats and hats were piled. Ernst took her in his arms and kissed her expertly. Her cheeks were very hot, but her breasts, as he had feared, were small. Suddenly Nancy broke free of him. “I’m going to be sick,” she said, and she ran off, holding her hand to her mouth.
    Ernst heard the toilet door slam. He sat down on the bed and lit a cigarette.
    Malcolm and Peggy found each other at last.
    “Malcolm,” Peggy said, “have you seen that German boy around?”
    “You mean the one who swiped Frank’s wallet?”
    “The one who what?”
    “You heard me.”
    “Oh, Nicky’ll drive me nuts yet. He’s always picking up people and things and five minutes later he can’t stand them.”
    “Nicky told you that?”
    “He told me himself that he couldn’t stand the German boy.”
    “Look, I just saw the little bastard sneak upstairs. I’m sure he’s after the coats and stuff. You go phone the M.P .s, Peg, and meanwhile I’ll keep my eyes open for him. Hurry.”
    Nicky passed from room to room, but he couldn’t find Ernst, so he refilled his glass and went down to the basement. He found Milly sitting there, alone.
    Frank, who had passed out on the sofa, was snoring loudly.
    “I’m clobbered.” Milly giggled and drank from Nicky’s glass. “Happy birthday,” she said as Nicky took her in his arms. “Happy – Oh, no, Nicky, I’ve got the curse.”
    When Nicky came upstairs again Peggy was waiting for him.
    “Wipe the lipstick off your mouth,” she said. “You could do that. At least that.”
    And then Peggy ran off.
    Turning away Nicky caught sight of a girl sprawled out on an easy chair with her legs dangling over one arm and her head resting on the other. Her partner had just left her, maybe to get another drink, and so she was alone in the dark. The girl brushed back her brown hair with a white little hand and then absently did up one or two buttons of her blouse. Next she lit a cigarette very slowly and without concern, as though time and headlines and coarse boys could never strike at her. There were beads of sweat on her forehead, a little golden slipper dangled from one foot. Bright eyes, a pretty polished face, a tiny waist. Nicky was afraid to stir lest he distract her attention. The absolutely unselfconscious poise withwhich she smoothed down her skirt made him almost unbearably happy. Then, as the girl smiled a full satiated smile, Nicky hoped that she would fall asleep and that her soldier, whoever he was, would not return and make more demands or talk obscene about her in the barracks the next morning. The pretty girl rubbed her lips where they had been bruised a little. Nicky, watching, suddenly wished that this stuffy room could be transformed into a wood and that all the girls, full of sun and pain and laughter, could go dancing round the trees. The soldier returned. “Hell,” he said to the pretty girl, “Peggy’s locked herself in the can. She’s