Page 6 - Ausländer
P. 6
of sound. It was as if far greater forces were at
work. As if Nature was suddenly unnatural:
dwarfing and alienating the two joggers.
The girls didn't look at each other or the dead
boy. They fearfully scanned the woods and
bushes, the smaller children's play area in the
distance, the shuttered buildings, the play of light,
the shadows and corners.
Kathrin dug under her tracksuit top into a small
pocket of her tight jogging trousers. Eventually she
retrieved her handy and Silke watched her fumble
tapping in the numbers 110.
"Stop crying," Silke said impatiently. She wanted
to suggest that she make the call. Instead she
closed her eyes and the terrible image of the hung
youth branded in her mind was fixed with Poe's
concluding words:
And my soul from out that shadow that lies
floating on the floor
Shall be lifted — nevermore!
When she snapped her eyes open, she too
couldn't focus. "Now look, you've started me off."
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