Memoirs Found In a Bathtub Read Online Free PDF Page B

remember left you alone with an open safe? Come now, let’s think up something a little more original!” It was hot, sweat streamed down my neck and back. My throat was dry. I tried to close the safe. The bolts wouldn’t lock. No matter how much I turned the dials, the door stubbornly sprang back. It refused to stay shut. Then there were footsteps in the hall. I jumped back, caught my sleeve on the file and the whole stack of folders tumbled out onto the floor. The doorknob moved—I lost my head—I crawled under the desk. All I could see of the man who entered were black, pointed shoes. For a moment he stood still. Then he quietly closed the door and tiptoed over to the safe, out of my field of vision. I heard the rustle of paper and then another sound, a faint clicking, like a distant bell. Of course! He was photographing the secret documents! That meant this wasn’t the other officer, but…
    I crept out from under the desk and crawled towards the door. Then, as I reached it, I sprang up and leaped out into the hall. In the split second it took me to slam the door, I caught a glimpse of a pale, horrified face and a camera falling from trembling hands—then I was far away. I walked straight ahead, keeping an even step, passed various bends and curves in the hall, rows of white doors through which I could hear the muffled noise of office work and a faint bell-like tinkling, a sound that was no longer a mystery to me.
    Now what? Report the whole incident? But obviously, that man would no longer be there. All that would remain was an open safe, papers strewn about the room. Suddenly I froze—I had left my name in the office there. They knew me, they were searching for me. The whole Building must have been alerted by now; all staircases, exits, elevators were being watched…
    I looked around. The corridors were filled with the usual activity. Several officers were carrying folders, folders as like the ones in the safe as peas in a pod. A janitor went by with a steaming percolator. An elevator opened right in front of me and two adjutants stepped out. They didn’t even see me. Why wasn’t anything happening? Why wasn’t I being hunted down? Could it be that … that all this … was only a test?
    I made a quick decision. The nearest door read: 76/941. No, I didn’t like it, I moved on … 76/950 suited me. Knock? What for?
    As I entered, two secretaries were stirring their coffee, and a third arranged sandwiches on a plate. They ignored me. I passed them and tried another door, the next room. I walked in.
    “So you finally got here! Come in, come in, make yourself comfortable.”
    A tiny old man in gold spectacles smiled at me from behind the desk. His hair was white as milk, and so sparse that pink skin innocently peeked out here and there. The eyes were like small nuts, the smile was cordial, the gestures full of welcome. I sank into a soft armchair.
    “General Kashenblade—” I began. But he didn’t let me finish.
    “Of course, of course … will you allow me?”
    His palsied fingers pressed a few buttons. Then he rose with great ceremony, a grave smile on his face. The lower lid of his left eye had a slight twitch.
    “Undereavesdropper Blassenkash. Permit me to shake your hand.”
    “You know me?” I asked.
    “And how could I not know you?”
    “Oh—really?” I stammered, completely thrown off balance. “Then—then perhaps you have my instructions?”
    “Why certainly! But there is no hurry, no hurry… So many years of isolation … the zodiac … how the thought saddens my heart! At such great distances, you know … a man finds it hard to believe, to reconcile himself to the fact, don’t you think? I’m an old man, I talk too much… You know, I never flew, not once… Well, that’s our work … always behind a desk … sleevelets, you know, to protect the cuffs—I wore out eighteen pair.” He shook his head. “So you see, that’s how it is … an old man rambles on…”
    He conducted me