The Land Across Read Online Free PDF Page A

had not asked, but we nodded. Anyway, I did.
    “The police will come. If they are kind, they will permit the tenants to move out their personal belongings. If they are not, they will not. Then those who are too poor to pay will be poorer still.”
    Martya translated and added, “They have no money.”
    “They must get some.” The fat man pointed his pen at her. “Let me tell you, young woman, it is one thing to be without money, quite another to be without the means of getting money. The state finds employment for everyone who applies.”
    I said, “Then why don’t they apply?”
    He turned his attention to me. “You are German?”
    “American.”
    “Ah. You are most ignorant. I have heard this. They do not apply because they do not want to work. What is the purpose of the state?”
    Neither of us spoke.
    “I ask seriously, sir. What is it?” He laid aside his pen and fanned himself with a painted fan of thin wood.
    “To defend the country,” I said. I was trying to recall the Constitution. “To secure the property of its citizens.”
    He shook his head. “You have not been to school. For those things and more the nation is responsible. It is on the state that we rely to make all work, and to reward good work should there be any. This I explain in these letters you see, with certain other things. What is it you wish?”
    “I want to rent a house,” I said.
    “You are German. Why would you rent a house here?”
    “I will stay here in Puraustays for some time. It should be cheaper to rent a house here than to live in a hotel. Do you rent houses here? In this office?”
    “I do. The houses I rent belong to the state, sir. When taxes are not paid, the state takes the house. Also for certain criminal offenses. If a serious offense is committed by the owner in his house, the house is forfeit.” Grunting, the fat man lifted a heavy book onto his desk.
    Martya said, “He wants to rent the Willows.”
    The fat man ignored her. “These houses I have, sir. All good houses, though some are in need of minor repairs.” He flipped pages. “Here is one of the sequestered kind I just described. The owner lured women to his house, raped them, strangled them, and raped them again. He was put to death and his house confiscated. Seven rooms, full bath. Full of interest, too, for a visitor. It is said that one of the dead women walks up the cellar stairs by night.” He smacked his lips. “I would advise keeping the cellar door shut and bolted by night, and not going down there save in a case of dire necessity. Which is not likely to arise.”
    He waited for my comment. When I did not talk he said, “Think of the tales you will tell when you return to Germany. Why, a man might dine out for a year on it!”
    “He doesn’t want that one,” Martya said.
    I explained that I had already selected a house, the Willows, and asked him to rent it to me.
    He pursed his lips. “You are bold, sir. Indeed you are bold. I myself … Well, no matter. You have seen it, sir?”
    “The exterior, yes. We looked at that and peeped in through the windows. We couldn’t get in.”
    “It is kept locked. I see to it that all the vacant houses are locked.” The fat man paused to fan his sweating face and became business-like. “Normally, sir, we require a security deposit equal to three months’ rent. It is to be refunded when the tenant vacates. I inspect the house. If it is in good condition, your deposit is refunded.”
    I said, “I understand.”
    “In this case…” He was paging through his book. “For the house you have selected, sir, we will not. The house is not in good condition.”
    Martya said, “We know that.”
    I promised I would make any necessary repairs.
    He cleared his throat. “You may post the bills to me. Should I approve them, they will be settled by the state. Should I decline them, you must pay them yourself.… Ah, here it is. The rent will be twenty euros per month, sir.”
    I said it seemed quite