If anything, I’m in the next room (Book about the Holocaust). English edition

“Yes, Chuck works hard,” Mr. Gould agreed. “If it weren’t for him, I don’t know how I would have coped.” He reassured me, saying that almost everything was ready for the premiere, and what remained to be selected from the props – candlesticks, a couple of mugs and other utensils – I myself wanted to buy at a flea market: after all, you need to choose something special, something that will convey the atmosphere of that era, but nothing suitable was found in the warehouse.

– Do you have to do this yourself, could you send someone? – asked Miss Blunt.

– Julie, you know my method of work, I have to control the entire process: from how to properly arrange the light in each act to the purchase of missing equipment. For a good director, in every scene everything should be carefully selected, thought out to the smallest detail, since the smallest detail is part of a big action, and it should not distract the viewer’s attention from the main thing. I learned this from my theater mentors.

– What days is the flea market open?

– Only on weekends – on Saturday and Sunday until four o’clock. “I was going to go in the morning, but my heart just stopped,” the director put his hand to the left side of his chest. “Now he’ll let me go, and I’ll get ready.” Will you join me?

“It’s already three o’clock and you don’t look good today,” Julie said worriedly. “Your face is red, your blood pressure has probably jumped.” You rest, but today I have a day off and have nothing to do with myself. I’ll go get the mugs and antique candlesticks myself, and you, please, try to stay in bed.

The director shared Julie’s fears that if his condition actually worsened, Mr. Drayson would postpone the premiere indefinitely. He decided to heed the request not to leave the house.

– Fine! I might actually better lie down. I’ll now write you a list of the necessary props for the performance, and it is advisable to buy it all today, since tomorrow I plan to hold another rehearsal.

– Tomorrow is a day off!

– I’ll ask Chuck to call the sound engineer, lighting engineer and other workers, I want to go through all the material.

– Fine. I hope that by tomorrow you will feel much better, and if your condition remains the same, then you should remain in bed for a few more days.

“I assure you that I will be completely fine,” Mr. Gould said smiling and added: “There is money on the nightstand.” Take as much as you need.

– I have. Let me buy everything I need, and then you give it to me.

“I don’t understand how you still have anything left from the meager salary you receive in the theater.”

– This is art. We are artists and must be good at our craft,” Julie joked.

– So, take the money and don’t argue with your director! – Mr. Gould pointed to a low old cabinet by the door. “Otherwise, my stress may cause my blood pressure to rise even higher, although, in my opinion, it can’t go any further.”

– You always knew how to work with actors and make them do it the way you wanted.

They laughed.

Miss Blunt went to the flea market, located four blocks from Mr. Gould’s house, admiring the old streets and squares along the way. Approaching the place, Julie saw only two rows where merchants were offering old things, coins and other goods of the same kind. Having purchased everything she needed, she was about to leave the market, but, passing by an elderly woman selling paintings, she stopped. Julie’s attention was drawn to three unrolled, unframed canvases.

She was interested in painting and had long been planning to decorate the walls of her apartment with it. Why not start making your dreams come true now? Julie moved closer to get a better look at the canvases. The woman noticed her interest:

– Hello, miss. Which one did you like? If you take all three, I’ll give you a discount.

But Julie was looking at the canvases so intently that she didn’t even hear her. She slowly looked from one picture to another, studying them. The first, entitled “Bear,” dated 1929, depicts a clear morning in the forest and a bear chasing someone. The second painting, called “Pisces,” captured the day and the sun’s rays passing through the water. Two fish frolicked in the transparent waves. This painting was dated 1932. The third, from 1939, called “Owl,” depicted a sunset. The sun was gradually setting behind the horizon, the dense forest was green, and an owl was sitting on a tree branch…

Having once again carefully examined the paintings, without listening to what their owner was saying, Julie asked:

– Who is author?

Unfolding the picture and squinting, the woman read syllable by syllable: “Josef Schwarz, Mainz.”

– You sell paintings and don’t even know whose they are? – the actress was surprised.

“I’m far from painting, I’m a simple milkmaid…” the woman answered, as if justifying herself. “My father died last month, and when I was sorting out old things in the attic, I saw these pictures. He hid them from the authorities.

– Which authorities?

Ignoring the question, the saleswoman continued:

– He brought them from Germany after the war. There was also a watch and a German officer’s flask. Take these three paintings, the watch and the flask, all for a hundred pounds…

“I don’t need a watch and a flask, especially a German officer,” Julie answered. – I only want these paintings. How much are you asking?

After thinking, the elderly woman said:

– Sixty pounds.

Miss Blunt did not bargain. Having paid the required amount, she rolled up the canvases and carefully placed them in a bag along with her other purchases.

At home after dinner, she repeated the role, and then took out the purchased paintings from the closet. Laying them out on the table and pressing the edges with books to prevent them from curling up again, Julie began to look at the painting with even greater attention. She could not understand why she liked these pictures so much. The earliest one had the inscription: “Mainz, Germany, 1929.” Carefully folding the other two, Julie moved the bear canvas to the center of the table, pressed the books into the corners, and began studying again. The clock showed midnight when Julie, impressed by the picture, went to bed.

MAINZ, GERMANY, NOVEMBER 13, 1929

– Josef, why don’t you dance, but sit and be sad on such an important day for me? Your best friend is getting married today! – said a man of about thirty, patting a friend on the back sitting at one of the tables in a luxurious restaurant.

“Klaus, I’m not in the mood for dancing right now.” “I must have fallen in love,” the thin young man answered thoughtfully.

– What got into you? asked the groom, dressed in an expensive white suit with a red bow tie. – Let’s go have fun!

– I’m quite serious. Tell me please, who is this beautiful girl?

– Which? – not understanding who exactly we were talking about, Klaus asked.

“A slender brunette with big eyes, sitting alone over there,” Josef nodded towards the table against the wall.

Looking in the indicated direction, Klaus saw his young wife’s childhood friend.

– This is Leah. She works as a teacher at school. By the way, she’s Jewish, like you… but you’d better forget about her, since she’s not alone here.

– And with whom?

– With Paul. He must have gone out somewhere. Although he usually doesn’t leave her side for a second. A terrible bore… By the way, they are going to get married soon, so look for other girls to meet. Do you see how many of them there are?

“Tell me about Leah,” Josef asked.

Sitting down next to him, Klaus Nolde poured a glass of water to quench his thirst and at least take a little break from dancing, and said:

– She moved to Mainz with her parents in early childhood, I can also say that she does not like noisy companies and prefers a quiet pastime.

– Who is this Paul?

“I met him at Leah’s twenty-fifth birthday, where Tilda and I were invited back in the spring, and since then I’ve been avoiding him. – Looking around and making sure that none of the guests of the celebration could hear him, Klaus continued: – Paul is a mathematics teacher at the school where Leah works. It is simply impossible to be in his company: he constantly lectures her, finds fault with everything, even the little things. It comes to the point that he teaches how to behave, how to stand, how to sit, even how to pour water into a glass… But since Leah endures all this, it means he suits her. So find yourself another girl. You are unlikely to meet another Leah at a German wedding, but there are plenty of beautiful girls here…

– I want to meet her. I will never forgive myself if I don’t do this… Klaus, my friend, you understand: this girl is exactly my type. Calm, beautiful, gentle, with good manners and also a teacher. She will be a wonderful wife and mother. Do you agree?

– Josef, I now understand why you and I have been friends for so many years. The thing is, we like different girls,’ Klaus smiled. ‘Even at the university, we always chose different ones and never conflicted on this issue. I’ll tell you straight, Leah is not my type: I like more relaxed girls, like Tilda, slender blondes with blue eyes. Well, you understand me…

“No, I don’t understand,” Josef interrupted his friend. “I don’t understand anything now and I can’t think about anything.” All my thoughts are only about her.

– And mine are only about how this will all end as soon as possible, and Tilda and I will be left alone. And if she sees that I have approached another… You know what this could threaten me with.

– That’s what you’ll definitely be in danger of – if Tilda finds out about the affair with that blonde in Hamburg last summer. What was her name? Martha, right? And if you do not fulfill my request right now, then this night you will definitely be left alone, but with yourself.

– Stop blackmailing me with that story! – Klaus muttered dissatisfied. “You know that I was drunk… and if Tilda finds out anything about this, I’ll be in trouble.”

“I give you my word that I will stop – from the very minute you introduce me to Leah.” Please, Klaus, do this for me, I beg you.

– Have you decided to get married? – the friend grinned.

“I don’t know yet, but nothing like this has ever happened to me before.” I feel like I met the girl from my dreams. – Josef rolled his eyes dreamily. “I need to get to know her, and you can help me with this.”

– How?

– You know her! You come up and introduce: “This is Joseph Schwartz, my friend and colleague, also a doctor, he wants to meet you.”

– What if this bore appears? – Klaus asked.

“Then let’s walk by and just say hello.” Do it for the sake of our friendship.

“You always knew how to find compelling arguments,” Klaus sighed, getting up from his chair and gathering his resolve.

“Thank you, friend,” Josef said, stood up, buttoned the top button of his jacket and smoothed his hair.

“Just let me think about how to do it without ruining my relationship with the bore.” – Klaus wrinkled his brow. “If they get married and we become friends as families, then Paul will remind me until he’s old that I introduced you to his fiancée.”

“Don’t worry in advance,” Josef chuckled. “She can change her mind at any moment.”

– Let’s go before I change my mind. “I’ll try to help you, but remember that I’m doing this only for your sake, since you are my best friend, and not because of your vile blackmail,” Klaus emphasized.

They approached Leah and Klaus introduced them to each other. Joseph looked at the girl carefully and, hearing a gentle voice, thought: “Up close, she is even more beautiful, gentle and graceful… She is exactly the one I always dreamed of meeting.”

* * *

Having woken up early, Julie thought for a long time about what she had seen in her dream. She rolled up the canvas and put it on the cabinet in the hallway, deciding that today she would take the canvases to the framing workshop. For this she is ready to part with even the thirty pounds remaining in her wallet.

CHAPTER THREE
SUNDAY

Despite the day off, the actors and other theater workers, at Mr. Gould’s request, unquestioningly agreed to hold an extraordinary rehearsal on Sunday afternoon. Mr. Gould, who began calling everyone on Saturday afternoon about the urgency of moving the rehearsal from Monday to Sunday, referred to his improved health, but Ms. Blunt guessed that it was due to her departure.

On this Sunday afternoon, Julie, as usual, was a little late for the rehearsal, but the first thing she did was run into a framing workshop not far from the theater. Laying out the canvases in front of James Clark, the owner of the workshop, the actress said:

– Good afternoon, Mr. Clark. It’s good that you are open despite the weekend.

“Hello, Miss Blunt,” the older man answered politely. “We are a family business, and extra orders won’t hurt.” How can I help you?

– Can you frame these three paintings?

– Certainly. What color do you prefer?

– Unfortunately, I don’t know anything about painting design. I would like to completely trust your taste. What are your rates?

– Based on the size of this canvas, one frame can cost from seven pounds.

– What do they look like?

“I’ll now bring you several samples that, in my opinion, will harmoniously combine with the colors on these canvases.” And you will choose the ones that you like the most.

Having rolled up the canvases, James Clark headed deeper into the studio and within a minute laid out several samples in front of the actress. Miss Blunt chose the baguette she liked and asked how much it would cost.

“Forty-five pounds to decorate three paintings exactly like this,” Mr. Clarke replied. – You chose one of the most expensive options, it will fit perfectly with these paintings. If it’s expensive, you can choose, for example, these white ones – only seven pounds per painting…

– No, I liked these ones, and the price is not the main thing. I have thirty pounds with me, I can give it to you now, and I will bring the remaining fifteen tomorrow.

“You can pay after finishing the work,” said the master, rolling up the canvases. – Miss Blunt, we have known each other for several years. Although you do not often spoil us with your presence, your posters are always before our eyes.

Mr. Clark pointed to the glass door. Through it, Julie saw a billboard with her and Chuck. In large letters it read: “Akiva and Rachel,” and a little lower, in a smaller font, “A love story that will not leave anyone indifferent.”

“My family and I will definitely come to see you and all the action,” Mr. Clark smiled.

– Come! I promise: you won’t regret it.

– Thank you, we will definitely come.

– How long will it take to complete all the paintings?

– I have other orders. It will take at least two to three days.

Miss Blunt urgently asked the master to finish work on at least one painting by tomorrow evening. Out of respect for the actress, James agreed, and promised to complete work on the other two on Tuesday.

Having thanked the master and handed him thirty pounds, Julie hurried to the exit, but then Mr. Clark asked:

– Which painting should be completed first?

After weighing the pros and cons, the actress chose the oldest one, signed “Mainz, Germany, 1929.”

Julie decided to take a taxi because she was late for rehearsal. Sitting in the back seat, she gave the address and, lulled by the steady movement, fell asleep.

MAINZ, GERMANY, NOVEMBER 13, 1929

“Thank you for agreeing to dance with me,” said Joseph Schwartz, holding the girl’s tender hand in his palm.

“Klaus really asked, and on his wedding day I couldn’t refuse,” answered Leah, who barely reached his shoulders.

“I told Klaus that you are incredibly beautiful and that I won’t be able to sleep tonight if I don’t dance with you.”

Leah was embarrassed and, to change the subject, asked:

– What a beautiful melody, do you know who its author is?

– This is Fryderyk Chopin, Waltz in C sharp minor. This work is sometimes called Waltz number seven, C sharp minor, since it is considered the seventh waltz composed by Chopin.

– Are you that good at music? – the girl looked at Joseph in surprise.

– This is all my mother. She dreamed of me becoming a famous pianist, and even as a child she enrolled me in piano. I had some success, but I quit music school after studying for about five years, which I sometimes regret very much. Of course, I would not become a famous musician, but I could spend long evenings performing such beautiful works for my beloved woman and my children.

– Who is your favorite composer?

– Beethoven. But from now on, Chopin’s seventh waltz will take a special place in my heart,” Josef replied. – Which composer do you prefer, beautiful Leah?

– I really like Johann Strauss. In my opinion, his music is light and airy.

“You have excellent taste,” the young man said, continuing to waltz, and after a pause he continued: “Leah, let me note, you dance beautifully.”

– I did ballet as a child, but then I had to quit.

After a pause, Leah asked:

“Joseph… isn’t that a Jewish name?”

“In your mouth, my name sounds like it has never sounded before.”

– If you don’t want to, you don’t have to answer.

– Yes it is. You and I are of the same nationality, and the fact that we met here today, at a German wedding, is fate.

“In our city, meeting, as you put it, ‘people of our nationality’ is not such a rare occurrence,” the girl smiled. – It’s not for nothing that Mainz is called Jerusalem on the Rhine.

“Let me disagree with you,” Joseph continued, trying to defend his point of view. “You still won’t be able to convince me about the fate of our meeting.” As for Jerusalem am Rhein, everyone interprets it differently. For example, local Jews say that the city has such an informal name because they settled in Mainz at the beginning of the tenth century and founded the largest Jewish community in Germany here, and the Germans believe that this name comes from the fact that the city was the main center of Christianization of the Germans.

– Okay, I won’t argue with you.

“That’s smart of you,” Josef joked awkwardly.

After a short pause he asked:

– How long have you known Tilda?

– I moved here when I was ten. Tilda lived in a neighboring house and helped me get used to the new city, to new people. Since that time we have been friends. How do you know Klaus? Are you working with him?

– We studied at the university together.

– Klaus said that you are a doctor, is that a fiction or true? – the girl asked with interest.

– Yes, I am a doctor, and I dare say, a very good one.

– What kind of doctor are you? A surgeon like Klaus?

– No, I chose a different specialization – dentistry.

– You must have a very interesting job! And I am a simple elementary school teacher.

“There are no simple teachers,” Joseph objected. “This is a very important specialty, since it is teachers who shape the personalities of children.

Looking towards the table, where Paul, already red with rage, was sitting, the girl lowered her head and said quietly:

– Sorry, but I have to go.

– Is it because your boyfriend has returned? – Josef asked gloomily, also looking at Paul.

“I really need to go.”

– Please, let’s at least finish the waltz. I’ve never felt so good.

Looking at the angry Paul, the girl continued the dance. After some silence, Joseph said:

“I hope that you will forgive my frankness, but you and him are absolutely not suitable for each other.”

“I also ask you to forgive me, but I don’t want to discuss this,” Leah answered, turning slightly pale.

“Believe me, you are meant for someone else,” the young man continued.

– And for whom, if not a secret? – she asked sarcastically.

“You are meant for me,” Josef said confidently. “I knew it from the very second I saw you.”

– Please, don’t throw around such words. “I don’t believe in all these stories about love at first sight,” the girl said excitedly. “On top of that, this is all unnecessary, since I’m getting married soon.”

“I’ll bet you a box of chocolates that if you give me a month, I’ll prove that I’m exactly the one you need.”

Smiling faintly, Leah replied:

– Unfortunately, you don’t have a month. After this dance we will stop our communication.

“Then you’ll have to work in extreme conditions,” Josef joked. “In that case, I will try to convince you during this dance.” I hope that after my words you will come to your senses and not commit such a rash act.

– You’re just wasting your time.

– Leah, are you ready to argue or are you chickening out? Only as a decent person, I must warn you that at the university, among other things, I studied psychology.

– Well, let’s try, but it’s all in vain. “I’ve already said that I don’t believe in miracles and I’m getting married soon,” the girl said seriously, deciding to accept the challenge.

Josef collected his thoughts and asked:

– Answer me, and first of all yourself, do you want to spend your whole life next to an unloved person? Live with him, give birth to his children, meet him after work, go to bed and wake up next to him?!

– Why are you saying this? “I’ve already decided everything,” Leah said sadly.

But Joseph was not going to back down and continued:

– I ask you not to do this. Give me a chance to prove that you deserve the best, that you can love and be loved…

The girl became embarrassed and lowered her head. Josef squeezed her hand even tighter and whispered in her ear:

– Leah, my words may seem strange to you, but I don’t want to part with you. I would like this music to last forever.

“Alas, Josef, as you probably know, everything has an end.” Very soon the last chords will sound and we will say goodbye forever.

Joseph did not even think of giving up.

– Leah, please answer me, doesn’t the end of something mean the beginning of a new one? Doesn’t the end of the day mean the beginning of the evening, and the end of the evening the beginning of the night? It is not at all necessary that everything ends for us with this dance. I would like it to serve as the beginning of the next stage of our acquaintance. You know what, after the dance I invite you to take a walk. Let’s get away from everyone and walk through Mainz at night.

Looking again towards Paul, who was seething with anger, Leah replied:

– Thank you for the invitation, but very soon I’m going to leave, and without you. You can invite someone else for a night out: there are a lot of pretty girls here.

“I don’t need anyone but you,” Joseph continued to persist. “If you refuse, then I won’t even look at the other girls at this celebration.” With thoughts of you, I will wait until the end of the wedding, and then I will go home and draw,” the doctor whispered.

– Can you draw? – Leah asked interestedly.

“Yes,” Josef nodded. – At a young age, I attended art clubs and even took private lessons. I had a lot of sketches and sketches, but today, no matter how symbolic it may sound, I want to start my first serious work.

“Since childhood, I dreamed of learning to draw,” admitted Leah, “but I never could.” And what are you going to depict?

– Your dream.

– What? – she asked again. – Did you say “dream”?

– Yes, I saw him last night. I was looking for an interesting story for a long time, and this dream touched me so much that I decided to dedicate my debut to it.

“How interesting…” the girl breathed out.

– In general, I rarely have dreams, especially colorful ones. And I decided to capture today on canvas.

– And what kind of dream is this?

“Oh, it’s a secret, and I’m not going to share it with the girl who so cynically refused to walk with me through the city at night,” Josef said, hoping to interest Leah.

– Well, that’s your right. As you wish.

When the last chords sounded, Josef made another desperate attempt:

– Leah, maybe you will agree to meet me tomorrow evening? I will tell you about the dream and the process of working on the painting…

– No, sorry, I have to go. And the music has already ended.

“I need to see you again,” Josef asked. – Please give me a chance.

“Chances are not given by people, but by the One who sits in Heaven, so if we have a chance, we will meet.”

“And I believe that people decide their own destinies, and if we decide that we want to be together, then no one and nothing can stop us,” Josef said with complete determination to meet with Lei.

– I won’t argue with you.

Saying goodbye and gradually releasing the girl’s tender palm from his, Josef said quietly:

– I am very glad to meet you. This night, while painting a picture, I will only think about you, Leah.

* * *

Arriving at the address, the driver woke up the sleeping passenger. Julie looked at her watch, realized that the rehearsal had already begun, and hurried to the main entrance. Entering the hall, she saw Mr. Gould, from his seat in the auditorium, making comments to Chuck, who was rehearsing a monologue in the absence of his partner. The director wanted to once again convey to the actor his vision of the main character so that Chuck could better get used to the role. He listened to Mr. Gould’s words with due respect, while the theater employees were putting the scenery in order for the first act. The performance consisted of four acts, separated by an intermission.

Mr. Gould was explaining how to arouse greater sympathy, empathy and love from the audience by acting, but he caught the actor’s eye, turned and saw Julie standing at the door. He did not reprimand her, only said: “Change and run to the stage.”

Julie walked into the dressing room, quickly slipped into the robes of a first century AD Jewish woman and walked onto the stage. There already stood a wretched shack with a haystack inside.

When Mr. Gould was sure that everything was in place, he stood up from his chair and asked:

– You are ready?

Julie and Chuck nodded in agreement.

The director said:

– We ask everyone to take their places on the stage… So, if you are ready, then let’s begin.

In the first act, Julie portrayed young Rachel, and Chuck played almost his own age, the illiterate shepherd Akiva. Rachel, the raised daughter of Kalba Savua, one of the richest men in Jerusalem, met a shepherd who worked on her father’s estate. The kind girl felt sympathy for the illiterate Akiva, whom everyone mocked, and saw in him a wise man. She decided that Akiva would make a good rabbi, and against her father’s wishes she married him. When Rachel’s father found out about this, he kicked them out of the estate and deprived his only daughter of his inheritance.

The spotlight illuminated the actor and actress lying on the hay. Selecting straws from the girl’s head, the young man spoke:

“Thank you very much, Rachel, for the fact that you, the daughter of one of the richest and most respected people in Jerusalem, agreed to marry me.”

– Akiva, I believe that our dreams will come true. Let us not despair that my father kicked us out of the house and deprived me of my inheritance.

“I can’t understand what you see in a shepherd who, at thirty-five years old, can neither read nor write…

“Do you remember the condition that I set for you before agreeing to become your wife?”

– Yes, sure. Go learn to read and write…

– Exactly. Akiva, you need to study. I think you will make an excellent rabbi. I am sure that over time you will learn and become a respected person. And I will help you with everything…

“I hope that you won’t get tired of all this and won’t run away from me to your father’s estate.”

The girl smiled:

“Do I look like a fool, ready to leave such a treasure unattended?”

– Rachel, are you ever serious? What treasure are you talking about? I don’t have a penny to my name…

– Rest assured, I won’t run away from you anywhere, don’t even hope. You will certainly become a great rabbi. And if you ever want to get rid of me and go to another, I will cling to your leg, since I cannot grab both, and I will drag along the ground behind you even to the ends of the earth. Understand, if I chose you, it’s forever.

The first act lasted about thirty minutes, and Mr. Gould was pleased with the performance of Chuck and Julie. On his instructions, the stage workers changed the scenery, and the actors rehearsed all subsequent actions, and then played the entire performance from beginning to end.

After five hours of work, the director let everyone go. Miss Blunt did not linger that evening, but immediately went home. She had dinner, turned on the computer and checked her email, once again reading the letter from the London theater with detailed information about the upcoming audition. The actress went to the online bookstore website and ordered several of the latest new titles for home delivery, and then began rehearsing the audition text. She played Gertrude in Mr. Gould’s production for two years until the play was withdrawn from repertoire last summer, and knew the role practically by heart. Julie was afraid that the way she presented the material or her appearance would not be to the taste of the London director, and thoughts about this depressed her. The clock showed a quarter past ten when Julie finished rehearsing and went to bed.