“GRÜSS GOTT. Did the gentleman sleep well?”
Adam nodded. “We would like some breakfast.”
“But of course, please, the buffet is in the public room. Would you like coffee or tea?”
“Is it included in the room charge?” Adam asked, as his finger traced two circles.
“Yes of course, please, have a seat, what can I bring you?”
“Then coffee, two coffees.”
“Would you perhaps like an egg as well?”
“Yes, I would, thanks.”
“And how would you like it, soft- or hard boiled?”
“In between.”
“Four and a half minutes, would that be all right, sir?”
“Yes, please.”
“And where would you like to sit?”
“Doesn’t matter.”
“Please, sir, the choice is yours.”
“Good morning,” Evelyn said as she came down the stairs.
“Grüss Gott. Did you sleep well?”
“Yes, thanks,” Evelyn said.
“I’m glad to hear that. The gentleman ordered coffee for you. Is that right?”
“And an egg perhaps?”
“Yes, sure.”
“Four and half minutes, like the gentleman?”
“Yes.”
“Thank you,” the waitress said and went into the kitchen.
“You planning on saying grace?” Adam whispered as they were standing side by side at the buffet. “Why’d you drag that along?”
“That was your idea. You wanted to give it back.”
Adam clamped the Bible under one arm, handed Evelyn a plate, and removed the transparent plastic dome from the platter of cold cuts. “All this still seems a bit weird.”
“Hm?”
“I keep thinking they want something in return.”
“What do you think they want?”
“So damned friendly. They don’t even know us.”
“I want some of that too—a little more, and a couple of pieces of that red fish there.”
They returned to a corner table with full plates. Adam laid the Bible beside him on the bench and slipped it under the overhanging tablecloth.
The waitress arrived carrying two bright silvery pots of coffee on a tray, and right behind her was a young man in sneakers.
“Oh, our savior!” Evelyn cried.
“Grüss Gott, Rudi,” the waitress said.
“And what are the odds?” Adam asked, pushing a chair in place for Rudi.
“We’ve tried everything, a whole raft of starters, but none of them worked. We can jump-start it, that’s no problem, but then you’ll have to drive straight through.”
“I was planning to do that in any case.”
“I’m sorry. We’ve never had one of those in our garage.”
“It’s a sixty-one,” Adam said.
“Well, same as yesterday, what else?”
“But then why did we stop here for the night in the first place?”
“I’m sorry, I thought we’d be able to get it running again,” Rudolf said.
“I didn’t mean that the way it sounded,” Evelyn said. “Except if we stall again—”
“Then I’ll come and tow you. No problem.” He gave her his business card.
“We’re just going to have to risk it,” Adam said.
“Where are you headed?”
“To Trostberg, it’s not far, they say there’s a camp there.”
“Don’t you know anyone here?”
Evelyn shot Adam a glance. “I don’t know anyone here.”
“In Trostberg they’re putting them in tents, a thousand four hundred people, maybe more, and they’re only going to send you on your way again.”
“And so where should I be heading for?” Adam asked.
“If I only knew. If I were you I’d try and find some more permanent arrangement. There are just the two of you, right?”
The waitress arrived with the eggs and served Rudolf a cup of coffee. “Enjoy your breakfast.”
“This was really a crazy idea,” Evelyn whispered. “I’ll take a train or a bus to the camp, and that’ll be that.”
“I don’t know, maybe this is just flapdoodle,” Rudolf said, looking now at one, now at the other. “And if it is, then I apologize, it’s only a suggestion. I don’t want to interfere in your affairs.”
“What’s this about?” Adam asked.
“As I said, it’s just a suggestion, I don’t know how much your car is worth, it’s something of an old-timer, and I’m just saying—”
“It’s not an old-timer.”
“I might give you, I could give you three thousand for it. I don’t know if that’s too much or too little, just a suggestion. I like the car, it’s got some style, that steering wheel, the dashboard, the fenders—some real style.”
“Three thousand?” Evelyn asked.
“A suggestion, like I said—I really haven’t got the foggiest—”
“But that’s a car that’s lived its life in a garage,” Evelyn said.
“That’s obvious, you can see, no rust—been really well taken care of.”
“You mean three thousand Westmarks?” Adam asked.
“Yes, of course. Three thousand, cash.”
“Cash?”
“You’d have it within half an hour.”
“Cash in my hand?”
“Yes, a suggestion, just a suggestion. Might you be interested?”
“On the whole, yes, that’d probably be the best thing. I mean, in our situation.” He glanced at Evelyn, who was glaring at him.
“Don’t want you to think that I’m trying to take advantage of your situation.”
“But you are,” Evelyn said softly.
“Evi, that wasn’t helpful.”
“I’ll also take you wherever you need to go, that’s no problem.”
“It’s none of my business,” Evelyn said, “but three thousand for a car like that—that’s peanuts.”
“Evi, it’s an offer.”
“I thought your car was not for sale, that’s what you’ve always said. That car was the reason you wanted a second garage.”
“We’re just talking here.”
“Why all of a sudden now, at the first offer that comes along?”
“I’m really very sorry, I didn’t intend for you to—”
“It’s a good offer.”
“That’s not true, Adam, you know yourself that’s not true.” Evelyn burst out laughing. “He’s married to that thing, Rudolf. Did you know that? He belongs to it.”
“Ohmymymymy, it was just an idea. I’m going to go poke my head in the kitchen,” Rudolf said, stood up, and took his coffee cup with him.”
“Three thousand is damn good, Evi. I can exchange it at eight or nine to one and it’d be like getting that Lada for free.”
“Does it take just three thousand Westmarks to turn you into a madman?”
“I know what I’m doing,” Adam said, picking up his egg and beheading it. He cut a roll open and smeared the halves with butter and began to eat. Evelyn watched him as he swallowed and hastily took another bite.
“Do what you want. But then you do that in any case.”
She lit a cigarette.
“Aren’t you going to eat any more of that?”
“It’s all yours.”
“I’m just saying it’d be a shame to waste it.”
Adam took the roll she had already bitten into and laid it on his plate. “Let’s fix up a couple of sandwiches to take along—or is that something you’d rather not do.”
Evelyn pulled the ashtray closer. “I should have taken the train, that would have simplified everything.”
“Then they would have shoved you into some sort of tent. The nights are really cold here now.”
“At least go get him,” Evelyn said. “It’s all embarrassing enough as it is.”
“It’s good coffee, almost better than at the Angyals’.”
“Should I leave?” Evelyn asked.
“One step at a time,” Adam said and went on eating.
Evelyn stubbed out her cigarette, grabbed a couple of grapes, reached for the room key, and stood up.
“Evi, wait a sec, please.”
She turned halfway around.
“Evi,” he said, then wiped his mouth with his napkin and was sliding his way out from behind the table when the Bible fell from the bench.
“So what is it?”
Adam bent down. He couldn’t find the Bible right away. “I wanted to ask you …,” he said as he straightened up, pressing the book to his chest, “I wanted to ask you if you’ll marry me.” He took another step in her direction. “I’m very serious, will you?” He took hold of her right hand and rubbed his thumb across her fingers and the ruby red ring. “You are so beautiful,” Adam said and smiled.
“What made you ask that?”
“Would the lady and gentleman like anything else?” the waitress asked, staring at the Bible in Adam’s hand.
Evelyn and Adam shook their heads in sync. “Or wait,” Adam called after her. “Maybe two more coffees, please, if that’s all right? Is Rudi still here?”