Chez Max

by Jakob Arjouni

  So you’ll understand that almost nothing could have been better for me. My arrest, the prison sentence, the grey, bleak atmosphere here, the terrible food – I often think of you, and God knows I wouldn’t say no to a plate of your Königsberg meatballs now – the hard mattresses, the awful light, the smell of my fellow prisoners, their dreary conversation – well, all that was the shot in the arm that I needed to break free of my artist’s block, my state of lethargic depression. I’m back! There’s wholegrain pasta and courgette puree for lunch, the others are all talking about fucking, some kind of downmarket pop music, all thud, thud, is coming through the loudspeakers as it does all the time, everywhere – and I feel happy. Because back in my cell my easel is waiting for me.

  So, my dear friend, at last I have news for you. Naturally I’d be very glad if you answered, but don’t go to any trouble.

  See you – well, not so very soon (they gave me three years, two with good conduct, anyway time enough to prepare for several exhibitions), but see you sometime. And warm good wishes from your friend,

  Leon.

  I dropped my hand holding the letter, and stared into space for a while. There were tears in my eyes. At that moment I could hardly have imagined better news.

  It was as if Fate had at long last patted me on the shoulder and said, ‘You have trodden your own path in the face of all obstacles and all doubts, you have done your duty. In spite of betraying your best friend, you did not weaken, but on the contrary you drew from that the energy you needed to see the truth about your Ashcroft partner clearly at long last. You freed society from Chen, and in the end you saved your friend’s life, as he himself says. Well done, Max, all credit to you. You’re a remarkable guy.’

  I didn’t move until Ravelli came into the hall about half an hour later, on his way to prepare for lunch. When he saw me sitting on the dimly lit stairs near the back door of Chez Max, he said in surprise, ‘Morning, boss. Everything all right?’

  I looked up. I was probably smiling as happily as a drunk. ‘Oh yes, Ravelli, everything’s all right.’ And then I pointed my forefinger at him. ‘I tell you what, we’ll serve champagne today, and the bubbly will be on the house!’

  ‘Wow!’ Ravelli looked intrigued for a moment, and then he grinned. ‘Did the fox by any chance find his vixen?’

  ‘No, not that, Ravelli, but the fox has found himself again. Here,’ I said, slapping myself on the chest, ‘he’s found himself again in here. He has what matters to him back, he’s himself again. He’s a happy fox!’

  ‘Ah,’ said Ravelli, hesitating. Which made sense, because how could he understand. ‘Well, that sounds great.’

  I nodded and said, folding up Leon’s letter and putting it in my shirt pocket, ‘It doesn’t just sound great, Ravelli, it is great.’

  And then we went into the kitchen of Chez Max, and I helped him to open the oysters for the first course.

  This ebook edition first published in 2013

  First published in the UK by No Exit Press in 2010,

  an imprint of Oldcastle Books Ltd.,

  P O Box 394, Harpenden, AL5 1XJ

  noexit.co.uk

  All rights reserved

  ©JakobArjouni 2010

  Translation by Anthea Bell 2010

  Supported by Arts Council England, through Grants for the Arts

  The right of Jakob Arjouni to be identified as author of this work has been asserted in accordance with Section 77 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988

  This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights, and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly

  ISBN

  978–1–84243–259–4 (print)

  978–1–84243–778–0 (epub)

  978–1–84243–779–7 (kindle)

  978–1–84243–780–3 (pdf)

  For further information please visit

  crimetime.co.uk / @crimetimeuk