The Journey to the End of the World (Joel Gustafson Stories) by Henning Mankell Read Free Book Online

ask a sensible question I expect to get a sensible answer,’ said Samuel. His voice was shaking. He was angry.
    The bald man lowered his newspaper.
    ‘If you’re not satisfied you can always go and find another hotel.’
    ‘Where can we get breakfast?’ Samuel asked. ‘And where can we get dinner?’
    He was still angry.
    ‘There are lots of cafés and restaurants around here.’
    Joel could feel Samuel’s anger brushing off onto him.
    Joel took a step forward and stood shoulder to shoulder with Samuel.
    ‘We also need to find a clothes shop,’ he said. ‘Somebody’s stolen my rucksack.’
    ‘First turning on the left,’ said the bald man.
    They went to the lift. The room they had been given was on the third floor. Samuel paused and turned round.
    ‘One other thing,’ he said. ‘If we get a telephone call, we’re not in.’
    The bald man bowed and nodded.
    They walked up the stairs.
    ‘What was all that about?’ asked Joel. ‘What telephone call? Why aren’t we in?’
    Samuel chuckled.
    ‘We can’t have him thinking that he can treat us however he likes. If you’re expecting a telephone call, people think you are on important business. People are stupid.’
    ‘I’m stupid,’ said Joel. ‘I let somebody nick my rucksack.’
    ‘You’ll learn,’ said Samuel. ‘I’ve had things stolen, in the past. When I was a sailor. And had gone on shore leave in various places. You do silly things at times. And clever things at other times. That’s life. You’ll learn.’
    It was dark in the corridor.
    They eventually located room 303.
    They unlocked the door and went in. Everything in the room was brown. There was a patch of damp on the wallpaper, which was also brown. Samuel looked round and went over to the window.
    ‘At least we’ve got a view of the street,’ he said. ‘It’ll do.’
    Joel thought the room was fine. It was the first time he’d ever stayed in a hotel. He couldn’t imagine how it could be any better. Two big beds with a table and bedside lamp between them.
    ‘Choose which of the beds you want,’ said Samuel.
    Joel took the one closest to the window. From it he had a view of a rooftop.
    Joel carefully unpacked the present they’d brought for Mummy Jenny. He was worried in case it had been damaged. He and Samuel examined it.
    ‘All in one piece,’ said Samuel.
    Joel placed it gently on the chest of drawers.
    ‘ Celestine has travelled just as far as we have,’ he said.
    They both stretched out on their beds.
    ‘Take your shoes off,’ said Samuel. ‘So that you don’t dirty the cover.’
    In his head Joel unpacked his invisible rucksack. No doubt The Black Wave would throw away everything he found in it. Joel’s shirts, and his best trousers. Not to mention his trainers. That was the worst thing. Not having those any more.
    ‘Don’t think about the rucksack,’ Samuel said out of the blue. ‘That’s life. It’s gone.’
    ‘I wasn’t thinking about the rucksack,’ said Joel. ‘I was thinking about my trainers.’
    They lay there in silence. It was pouring with rain now. Drops were hitting hard against the windowpane.
    I’m in Stockholm, Joel thought.
    I’ve left school. I’ve travelled here with Samuel. And somewhere out there in the rain is Mummy Jenny.
    He turned his head to look at Samuel. His dad’s eyes were closed, but he wasn’t asleep.
    ‘What shall we do now?’ Joel wondered.
    ‘Wait until it stops raining,’ said Samuel, without opening his eyes.
    ‘But it might rain for a whole week.’
    Samuel didn’t respond. He smiled. Joel wondered what he was thinking about. Most probably about Jenny. But were his thoughts anxious ones? Or was he angry?
    Joel decided it might be easier to ask Samuel questions when they weren’t at home. Perhaps it was easier to get answers to your questions when you were in a hotel room?
    ‘What actually happened?’ he asked.
    Samuel turned his head and opened his eyes.
    ‘Happened?’
    ‘When Mummy Jenny