Adam and Evelyn Read Online Free PDF

hat and opened the door. “Good morning,” he said.
    “What do you think you’re doing?” Evelyn asked. “Are you a spy now, too?”
    “I knew it!” Simone gave the car roof a slap. “That’s Adam standing down there puffing on a stogie.”
    “Since when is smoking on the sidewalk forbidden?”
    “What do you think you’re doing, Adam?”
    “I didn’t want to wake you up, had no way of knowing when you’d be getting up. But here’s your straw hat, you should take it with you.”
    “Thanks,” Evelyn said. “Anything else?”
    “It’s nice to see you.”
    “That’s not the impression I had yesterday.”
    “Yesterday was a horrible day.”
    “You’re right for once.”
    They eyed each other.
    “Is there anything else?”
    “Yes, in fact there is.” Adam looked from her to Simone and then back at her.
    “I’ll be right there,” Evelyn said.
    Simone rolled her eyes. “Don’t let him sweet-talk you,” she said and walked across to the red Passat. The hatch was open.
    “I’m on pins and needles, Adam. So what is it?”
    “I wanted to ask you if you’d like—or better, ask you if you won’t please come along with me to Hungary.”
    Evelyn burst into laughter. “You can’t be serious.”
    “Sure I am. Everything’s all set to go. And Elfi’s in the car too.”
    “You’re crazy!”
    “Our Heinrich here,” Adam said patting the roof of the Wartburg, “is going to make it all the way, really, he promised me.”
    “No, it’s too iffy, in all sorts of ways. See you.”
    “Then we’ll take the train, like you wanted, Evi, please.”
    “You’re one day too late with that, Adam. Bye. We’re on our way.”
    Evelyn turned around and walked off.
    “Evi!” Adam called. “Evi!” He wanted to ask her why she was wearing one of Simone’s skirts. Evelyn tossed the hat in the back, someone was pushing down on the hatch door—and now he saw the cousin, and it came to him. His name was Michael. Michael was tall, midforties maybe. He was wearing jeans and a loose white shirt that made his face look even redder. It took several tries to close the hatch. A flame shot up from Michael’s lighter. He fiddled with it until the flame was almost invisible, lit a cigarette, and stuffed the pack back in his shirt pocket. Spreading his arms wide, he opened both car doors at once. Simone beat Evelyn to the punch and squeezed into the back. Evelyn protested, they argued and laughed. Michael just stood there, like a silent chauffeur.
    Adam flung himself behind the wheel. Although he was looking straight ahead, as the Passat drove by he could see that they were staring at him. Michael even gave him a nod.
    Adam wanted to make a slick U-turn at the next intersection, but was forced to back up to complete it. But as he started down Martin Luther Strasse again, the Passat was just pulling away, and Adam sped up close behind them—closer than the traffic law allows.
    He followed them down to the Polyclinic, they turned right at the gas station, drove along below the castle and past the theater, then took a left into the Street of Worker Unity, which would lead them to the Large Pond. The light turned yellow, the Passat came to an abrupt stop, and Adam could already hear the crunch—but nothing happened. He got out, walked up to them, and rapped at the window behind the driver’s seat. The music was so loud they didn’t hear him. Even Evelyn was smoking. Simone let out a quick shriek when she saw him.
    “The hat, you’re squashing your straw hat!” Adam shouted. He was amazed she hadn’t noticed, Michael at any rate ought to have spotted it in the side mirror. Adam walked back to his car, shifted into first gear, and waited.
    When the Passat pulled away and picked up speed as it climbed the hill leading out of town, Adam fell back. But he knew the way. They were taking the road through Gössnitz, at Meerane they would cross the autobahn and then keep going in the direction of Zwickau. He guessed Bad