The Other Side Read Online Free PDF Page B

assume?’
    ‘I most certainly have not. I’ve not heard a thing’, I cried, eager to hear anything connected with the Dream Realm.
    ‘A new idea of the Master’s! The building’s been up for a month now. Only last week a cartload of flats, backdrops and old wigs caused me all sorts of problems when I was sending it on.–I’m afraid you’ll have to leave that here, madam’, he went on, pointing to the gleaming alcohol stove my wife was just carrying in from outside. She didn’t hear this as she was engrossed in watching a child playing in the courtyard.
    ‘What on earth do you mean?’ I cried, giving my wife a nudge.
    ‘I’m afraid there’s nothing to be done about it’, he replied. ‘Only recently there was an opera singer who was quite furious when I laid an embargo on her wardrobe. Take my advice and you’ll save yourself a lot of unnecessary bother.’
    I stared, speechless, as I listened to the fellow. ‘But I need my things’, I said indignantly.
    ‘But you are surely aware, sir, that there is no cause for concern. You will not be deprived of anything, will not want for anything. You can be assured of that.’
    My wife turned to me. ‘Perhaps we could leave our things in safe keeping here? For a few days we can manage with the bare necessities and then your friend will have our trunks sent on.
    The agent exploited this alliance to press home his argument. ‘The opera singer’s quite happy now, too. You’re not setting off into the wilderness, sir. In two days you’ll be in Pearl where you can find everything you need.’

    ‘What’s this? Two days did you say? From the map I thought it would take at least a week.’ I was astounded.
    ‘In that case you can’t be quite clear about the route’, said our half-Armenian mongrel with a discreet smile. ‘Even with frequent rests it wouldn’t take more than three days at most.’
    My wife broke in. ‘What may we take with us, then?’
    ‘Our Bavarian agent must have mentioned it already, madam. The rule is that only used goods are allowed through the gate.’
    This was too much for me. ‘It’s not junk we’ve brought with us!’
    ‘I said “used”, sir, not “worn-out”.’
    ‘There’s no need to take that tone, dear. Perhaps this gentleman would be good enough to check our luggage.
    We went out to have our baggage examined. For safety’s sake I immediately seized my tobacco cushion. One after the other our cases were opened and the contents subjected to a strange inspection: a camera with all its accessories was immediately put on one side, to be followed by an excellent pair of binoculars; when he saw my patent razor the fellow exclaimed, ‘For heaven’s sake!’ My wife’s vanity case was gone through in detail. He seemed to be in some doubt about our clothes. When he came to my beautiful overcoat in the latest fashion–an item I was very proud of–he said, ‘I’m sure you’ll have that altered, sir. A gentleman doesn’t want to attract attention.’ However when we reached my wife’s lingerie and the idiot was going to check that too, I broke in. ‘That stays. None of that’s being removed!’ The books were also scrutinised, but I was allowed to keep my fine old editions.
    ‘Sir and madam will lack for nothing … for nothing’, Herr Teretatian kept repeating mechanically. At the same time not the least trifle escaped his scrutiny.
    ‘Everything is in order now, sir.’ He made a low bow. By this time it was four o’clock.
    In the hour we had left in Samarkand I bought some things to replace those that had been confiscated, so to speak. I acquired a magnificent old samovar, not as practical as our alcohol stove, but much more beautiful. When I returned to Herr Teretatian’s, two roomy carts with huge wheels were standing outside, each with a camel harnessed in front. I gave these sorry-looking vehicles a rather dubious look.

    ‘Sir and madam will have a comfortable journey, we’ve spread blankets over the