Berlin Alexanderplatz: The Story of Franz Biberkopf by Alfred Döblin Read Free Book Online

he smells her again, at the throat, it’s the same skin, the same odor, it makes him dizzy, what will it lead to? And she, the sister, what strange thing is happening to her? She feels from his face, from his lying still on her, that she has to give in, she defends herself, but a sort of transformation comes over her, her face loses its tension, her arms can no longer push him off, her mouth grows helpless. The man says nothing, she lets lets lets him have her mouth, she grows soft as in a bath, do with me whatever you please, she dissolves like water, it’s all right, just come, I know it all, I love you, too.
    Magic, quivering. The goldfish gleams in the bowl. The room sparkles, it is not Ackerstrasse, no house, no gravitation, no centrifugal force. It has disappeared, it has sunk away, extinguished is the red deflection of radiations in the sun’s dynamic field, the kinetic theory of gases, transformation of heat into energy, electric vibrations, induction phenomena, the density of metals, of liquids, of non-metallic solids.
    She was lying on the floor, tossing herself about. He laughed and stretched himself: “Well, go ahead and choke me. I’ll keep still, if you can do it.” “You deserve it, all right.” He clambered up, laughed, and spun around with joy, delight, beatitude. The trumpets are blowing, hussars ride forth, hallelujah. Franz Biberkopf is back again! Franz is discharged! Franz Biberkopf is free! He had pulled up his trousers, hobbling from one leg to the other. She sat on a chair, was on the point of bursting into tears: ‘Til tell my husband about it, I’ll tell Karl, they oughta’ve kept you there another four years.” “Tell him right away, Minna!” “So I will, I’ll get a copper right away, too.” “Minna, my li’l Minnakin, pull yourself together, I’m so happy, I’m a human being again, li’l Minna.” “You’re crazy, you are, they must have turned your head around in Tegel.” “You haven’t got anything to drink, a pot of coffee or something?” “And who’s going to pay for my apron, just look at it, all in shreds.” “Leave it to Franz, leave it to Franz! Franz is alive again, Franz is back again!” “Take your hat and beat it. If he meets you, and me with a black eye! And don’t let me see you again.” “Bye-bye, Minna.”
    But next morning he came back again with a little package. She did not want to open the door, he wedged his foot in between. She whispered through the crack: “You oughta go about your business. I’ve told you that before.” “Minna, it’s only the aprons.” “What aprons?” “You can pick out a couple.” “You can keep that stuff you pinched for yourself.” “Didn’t pinch it. Go ahead, open that door, Minna.” “The neighbors’ll see you. Go away.” “Open that door, Minna.”
    And so she opened the door, he threw the package in, and as she did not want to come in with the broomstick in her hand, he hopped around the room alone. “I’m so happy, Minna. I’m so happy all day long. Dreamt about you last night.”
    Then he opened the package on the table; she came nearer, touched the material, chose three aprons, but wouldn’t yield when he grabbed her hand. He wrapped up his package again, she still stood there with the broom, insisted: “Now quick, get out of here.” He waved to her from the door. “So long Minnakin.” She pushed the door shut with the broomstick.
    A week later he came to her door again: “Just want to ask about your eye.” “Everything’s fine, you got no business here.” He appeared stronger, had on a blue winter overcoat and a brown derby: “I just wanted to show you how I’m making out, how I look.” “Makes no difference to me.” “But just let me drink a cup of coffee.” At that moment steps were heard coming down the stairs, a child’s ball rolled along the steps; scared, the woman opened the door, pulled him in. “Stay there, that’s the Lumkes, now you can go again.”