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Veronika decides to die :: Coelho Paulo
Страница: 111 из 115Although they don’t yet know me, and I don’t know them. But I’m sure I can be useful, and the danger of an adventure is worth a thousand days of ease and comfort.”
When he had finished reading the note, the members of the Fraternity all went to their rooms and wards, telling themselves that Mari had finally gone insane.
Eduard and Veronika chose the most expensive restaurant in Ljubljana, ordered the finest dishes, and got drunk on three bottles of 1988 wine, one of the best vintages of the century. During supper they did not once mention Villete or the past or the future.
“I like that story about the snake,” he said, filling her glass for the n th time. “But your grandmother was too old to be able to interpret the story correctly.”
“Have a little respect for my grandmother, please!” roared Veronika drunkenly, making everyone in the restaurant turn around.
“A toast to this young woman’s grandmother!” said Eduard, jumping to his feet. “A toast to the grandmother of this madwoman sitting here before me, who is doubtless some escapee from Villete!”
People turned their attention back to their food, pretending that nothing was happening.
“A toast to my grandmother!” insisted Veronika.
The owner of the restaurant came to their table.
“Will you please behave!”
They became quiet for a few moments but soon resumed their loud talking, their nonsensical remarks, and inappropriate behavior. The owner of the restaurant went back to their table, told them they didn’t need to pay the bill, but they had to leave that instant.
“Think of the money we’ll save on that exorbitantly expensive wine,” said Eduard. “Let’s leave before this gentleman changes his mind.”
But the man wasn’t about to change his mind. He was already pulling at Veronika’s chair, an apparently courteous gesture intended to get her out of the restaurant as quickly as possible.
They walked to the middle of the small square in the center of the city. Veronika looked up at her convent room and her drunkenness vanished. She remembered that soon she would die.
“Let’s buy some more wine!” said Eduard.
There was a bar nearby. Eduard bought two bottles, and the two of them sat down and continued drinking.
“What’s wrong with my grandmother’s interpretation of the painting?” said Veronika.
Eduard was so drunk that he had to make an immense effort to remember what he had said in the restaurant, but he managed it.
When he had finished reading the note, the members of the Fraternity all went to their rooms and wards, telling themselves that Mari had finally gone insane.
Eduard and Veronika chose the most expensive restaurant in Ljubljana, ordered the finest dishes, and got drunk on three bottles of 1988 wine, one of the best vintages of the century. During supper they did not once mention Villete or the past or the future.
“I like that story about the snake,” he said, filling her glass for the n th time. “But your grandmother was too old to be able to interpret the story correctly.”
“Have a little respect for my grandmother, please!” roared Veronika drunkenly, making everyone in the restaurant turn around.
“A toast to this young woman’s grandmother!” said Eduard, jumping to his feet. “A toast to the grandmother of this madwoman sitting here before me, who is doubtless some escapee from Villete!”
People turned their attention back to their food, pretending that nothing was happening.
“A toast to my grandmother!” insisted Veronika.
The owner of the restaurant came to their table.
“Will you please behave!”
They became quiet for a few moments but soon resumed their loud talking, their nonsensical remarks, and inappropriate behavior. The owner of the restaurant went back to their table, told them they didn’t need to pay the bill, but they had to leave that instant.
“Think of the money we’ll save on that exorbitantly expensive wine,” said Eduard. “Let’s leave before this gentleman changes his mind.”
But the man wasn’t about to change his mind. He was already pulling at Veronika’s chair, an apparently courteous gesture intended to get her out of the restaurant as quickly as possible.
They walked to the middle of the small square in the center of the city. Veronika looked up at her convent room and her drunkenness vanished. She remembered that soon she would die.
“Let’s buy some more wine!” said Eduard.
There was a bar nearby. Eduard bought two bottles, and the two of them sat down and continued drinking.
“What’s wrong with my grandmother’s interpretation of the painting?” said Veronika.
Eduard was so drunk that he had to make an immense effort to remember what he had said in the restaurant, but he managed it.