All Backs Were Turned by Marek Hlasko Read Free Book Online

thought that when your big brother came, he’d beat them up for you. Nothing doing. I’m almost forty. I want peace and quiet. And one more thing: if I start even the tiniest brawl, they’ll put me behind bars for a few years. Remember, I’m on parole. If anything happens, I go right back in the slammer. If I jostle somebody in the street, it’s all they need to lock me up.” He took the bottle of beer his brother was holding in his hand and finished it with one gulp. “Look, if my presence in this house bothers you in any way, just tell me. I’ll move to a hotel.”
    â€œNo,” Little Dov said. “You’re my brother.” He paused. “You really won’t help me, Dov?”
    Dov raised his tired eyes.
    â€œSee that bag in the corner?” he asked. “Do you see it?”
    â€œYes,” Little Dov said.
    â€œThat’s all I have. The jeep isn’t mine. Try to live differently than I did.” He slowly stepped up to Esther and pulled her into the center of the kitchen, into the circle of light. “You have a beautiful wife.” He placed his heavy hands on her shoulders. “You don’t want to lose her. Try to live differently than I did, that’s all I can say.”
    â€œI heard those guys want to buy another boat,” Little Dov said. “If they do I might as well pack my bags and leave Eilat.”
    â€œSo leave. You’re young and you have a beautiful wife. All you need to be happy is a bed and neighbors who sleep hard.” He went to the corner and picked up his bag. “Where will we sleep?”
    â€œI thought I’d put you up in Pop’s room,” Little Dov said. “But now I guess you’d better sleep with us.”
    â€œIn the same room with you and Esther?”
    â€œYou’re my brother.”
    â€œYes, I’m your old, worthless brother who is unable to help you. I’d like to get some sleep now. We didn’t sleep at all last night.”
    â€œFine.”
    They went into the bedroom. Israel pulled out two blankets from their bag; Esther gave him two more.
    â€œThese will be enough,” Dov said. “Here, in Eilat, almost everybody sleeps on the floor. Are you two going to bed, too?”
    â€œNo,” Little Dov said. “I’d like to borrow your jeep and take Esther to the beach.” He paused. “I don’t have a car.” He walked over to the window and closed it. “Can’t they park that goddamn truck somewhere else?” He paused again. “Can I borrow the jeep?”
    Dov gave him the keys and said, “Good night. Good night, Esther.”
    She didn’t say anything. For a moment she stood in the doorway, then turned and left. Soon afterward Dov and Israel heard the roar of the jeep’s engine. They turned off the light, but neither of them could fall asleep at once.
    â€œTiles again,” Dov said. “Last night I was looking at them, now I have to lie on them.”
    â€œThink about something else.”
    â€œToo bad we don’t have any sleeping pills. I won’t be able to sleep. When Dina was with me, I never needed any pills.” He propped himself on his elbows. “You know, sometimes I would drop off to sleep on top of her, and she’d lie like that half the night, not moving so as not to wake me.”
    Israel didn’t say anything. They lay in the dark listening to their own breathing. Through the wall they could hear the monotonous voice of Dov’s father, praying.
    â€œHe’s such a contrary bastard he even says his prayers at night and not in the morning,” Dov said. “He does everything he can to make people hate him. And he quarrels with everybody, even God.” He pounded the wall with his fist. “Let us sleep! Maybe you don’t need your rest, but others do!”
    They heard the old man’s steps coming down the hall. Dov jumped up, picked up a chair from