Page 12 of Edge of Eternity (The Century 3)

"We should all move west," said Walli.

"Mother won't, you know that," said Rebecca. "She says we must solve our problems, not run away from them."

Walli's father came in, dressed in a dark-blue suit with a waistcoat, old-fashioned but elegant. Grandma Maud said: "Good evening, Werner, dear. Rebecca needs a drink. She's been fired." Grandma often suggested that someone needed a drink. Then she would have one, too.

"I know about Rebecca," Father said shortly. "I've talked to her."

He was in a bad mood: he had to be, to speak ungraciously to his mother-in-law, whom he loved and admired. Walli wondered what had happened to upset the old man.

He soon found out.

"Come into my study, Walli," said Father. "I want a word." He went through the double doors into the smaller drawing room, which he used as his home office. Walli followed him. Father sat behind the desk. Walli knew he was to remain standing. "We had a conversation a month ago about smoking," Father said.

Walli immediately felt guilty. He had started smoking to look older, but he had grown to like it, and now it was a habit.

"You promised to give it up," his father said.

In Walli's opinion it was none of his father's business whether he smoked or not.

"Did you give it up?"

"Yes," Walli lied.

"Don't you know that it smells?"

"I suppose I do."

"I could smell it on you as soon as I walked into the drawing room."

Now Walli felt a fool. He had been caught out in a childish lie. This did not make him feel any more friendly toward his father.

"So I know you haven't given it up."

"Why did you ask me the question, then?" Walli hated the petulant note he heard in his own voice.

"I was hoping you'd tell the truth."

"You were hoping to catch me out."

"Believe that if you wish. I suppose you've got a pack in your pocket now."

"Yes."

"Put it on my desk."

Walli took the pack from his trouser pocket and angrily threw it onto the desk. His father picked up the pack and casually tossed it into a drawer. They were Lucky Strikes, not the inferior East German brand called f6, and it was almost a full packet, too.

"You'll stay in every evening for a month," his father said. "At least you won't be visiting bars where people play the banjo and smoke all the time."

Panic made Walli's stomach cramp. He struggled to remain calm and reasonable. "It's not a banjo, it's a guitar. And I can't possibly stay in for a month."

"Don't be ridiculous. You'll do as I say."

"All right," Walli said desperately. "But not starting tonight."

"Starting now."

"But I have to go to the Minnesanger club tonight."

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