Walter said:
‘Is there any news?’
And I said:
‘Yes . . . there is something . . . about the Americans . . .
they have been fighting somewhere, I think.’
Walter said:
‘That is not important, what about the German retreat??’
I turned over the pages of the newspaper, and began to read aloud.
My voice sounded to myself very odd, and remote, and unnatural,
but Walter did not notice it.
I read that the German Front was breaking, that Allied troops
were pressing forward at all points. I could not tell if the
words I read made sense, but he seemed satisfied.