In a Strange Room

What’s wrong, what has she done. She’s overdosed, she’s taken her medicine. Two hundred and fifty pills, he says, amazed at the figure all over again.

Now I’m watching myself move, like somebody who isn’t me. See him run around the bed and grab her by the arm and shake her. Hear him calling out her name

But this is also one of the most compelling elements in travel, the feeling of dread underneath everything, it makes sensations heightened and acute, the world is charged with a power it doesn’t have in ordinary life.

Their country, I don’t believe in countries, that’s just lines on a map.

Reiner has the calm triumphant look of someone who knew all the time, what his look implies is that he is attuned to the rhythms of the universe, the rhythms of walking no different to those of living, go bravely to extremes and everything will be provided.

I am a philosopher, Reiner says, and the conversation stops there, he is silenced by the idea, a philosopher, what does this mean.

he feels no connection with anything around him, he’s constantly afraid of dying.

Why do you always wear black.

The German smiles. Because I like it, he says.

The train starts to move.