Abahn Sabana David Read Online Free PDF Page B

look.
    The silence is unpierced. Then Abahn speaks.
    â€œYou’ve given the Jew to Gringo.”
    He answers without doubt in a simple, clear way. His response springs forth from sleep.
    â€œYes.”
    His eyes questioning still.
    â€œThe dogs.”
    He struggles visibly against immense fatigue. His eyes questioning still.
    â€œYes,” says Abahn. “You gave up the Jew in order to have his dogs.”
    â€œYes.”
    The softness of his voices is penetrating. Gratitude in his eyes.
    â€œListen,” says Abahn. “David spoke. David said, ‘I gave up the Jew in order to have his dogs.’”
    â€œYes,” says David.
    He is talking to Abahn without looking at him. Abahn looks deep into his eyes.
    Sabana slumps against the body of the Jew. She continues to gaze out at the darkened park. The Jew is looking at David.
    â€œDavid said, ‘I repeated what the Jew said in the café,’” says Abahn. “‘Gringo asked me and I repeated it. Gringo said that I had to make the connection and that it wasn’t what the Jew said in the café, but a different thing. A simpler thing: that the Jew said one thing in the café but meant another.’”
    Abahn pauses. David waits. He has a look of deep interest on his face. The pack roaming the field of death growl and bark out one after the other. The dogs in the park howl in response. Then, silence falls anew.
    David calls out:
    â€œSabana!”
    No one answers him.
    â€œHe said, ‘I did what Gringo wanted,’” continues Abahn. “‘I said the Jew offered me money if I would tell him what Gringo did with the other Jews. The Jew said to me: Freedom. Gringo said that what he meant was: money, money to leave Staadt if I gave up the names of the Jews who were executed.’”
    David makes a great effort. He finds the words:
    â€œNo. The dogs.”
    â€œHe said, ‘I at once tried to say that the Jew proposed to give me the dogs if I gave up the names of the executed Jews, but Gringo said no: No, the Jew proposed to give you the dogs to sell for a high price. Don’t forget, the Jew said he would give you money. Money.’”
    â€œNo, the dogs.”
    â€œMoney,” repeats Abahn.
    David does not answer.
    At any moment it seems sleep might finally overcome David. Abahn continues speaking in a low voice as if they were still in danger.
    â€œHe continued, ‘Gringo asked Jeanne to make the connection. I didn’t know. Gringo said that the Jew had gotten money from powerful foreigners. Jeanne had talked about this with Gringo. I didn’t understand what Jeanne meant.’”
    David’s eyes fall from Abahn, search the shadows.
    â€œSabana!” he cries out in his sleep.
    Sabana does not answer. He calls out again:
    â€œSabana!”
    He falls silent. Abahn continues calmly:
    â€œAnd he said, ‘I didn’t know what Gringo meant.’”
    â€œWhere is she?” David asks in his sleep.
    Abahn does not answer him. He continues:
    â€œDavid recounted, ‘In the café the Jew said: I am hopeless, desperate.’”
    â€œSabana!” David cries out.
    â€œHe said, ‘I didn’t understand what the Jew meant,’” continues Abahn.
    David does not cry out anymore. He has been conquered.
    Slumber won, his head sags to the side.
    â€œHe said, ‘Gringo told me: Forget this desperate, dirty word, this Jewish word.’”
    Abahn tries to reach David faster than sleep.
    â€œHe said, ‘I told all of this to Sabana.’”
    â€œSabana,” murmurs David. “Sabana.”
    He struggles against sleep. His eyelids flutter.
    â€œâ€˜And Sabana told me: Don’t worry. David, you will have the dogs of the Jew. I will give them to you.’”
    â€œYes.”
    Sabana still looks out at the darkened park.
    David leans his head against the back of the chair. His eyes are half-closed, his gaze