Iron Gustav

Read Iron Gustav for Free Online

Book: Read Iron Gustav for Free Online
Authors: Hans Fallada
though.’
    ‘There!’ cried Rabause, ‘we’re in trouble now. Come, Ottchen.’ And he ran to the stable door.
    ‘Wouldn’t it be better to stay here?’ asked Otto indecisively, but then followed Rabause out of the stable.
§ IX
    Across the courtyard came old Hackendahl shoving Erich, dressed only in shirt and trousers, in front of him. The women, frightened and curious, were peering out of the windows. The son’s defiance had ended in the father getting beside himself with rage.
    ‘So you want to be a student, eh?’ the old man was shouting, pushing Erich so that he stumbled. ‘Well, you’re a blackguard, a thief!’
    ‘I’ll not put up with it,’ cried Erich, ‘I’ll …’
    ‘Sir! Please, sir, you’re waking the neighbours,’ begged the alarmed stableman.
    ‘Just have a look, Rabause, at this young gentleman who’s squandered eighty marks in one night and says he has the right to do it. Stand still, you, when your father speaks to you. I’ll show you who’s master in this house. I’m taking you away from school today.’
    ‘You can’t do that!’
    ‘I can. I swear I’ll do it, and today.’
    ‘Sir, don’t upset yourself so …’ began Rabause.
    ‘Father!’
    ‘Yes, you can call me Father now, when it’s too late. But there’s an end of fathering for you, my lad; henceforward I’m just your boss – and I’ll see that you learn to obey. Quick, into the stables! From today on you’re a stable hand here. And I can promise you, you’ll have so much mucking-out and cleaning …’
    ‘I’ll never do it, Father! I’d rather run away than touch a pitchfork!’
    ‘Think about it, Governor – such a good head on him.’
    ‘Good? For what? For theft! No, Erich. Into the stables with you!’
    ‘I won’t!’
    ‘At once!’
    ‘Never!’
    ‘You refuse to obey your father?’
    ‘I’ll never set foot in the stables, and I’ll never lay hands on a pitchfork!’
    ‘Erich, don’t go too far! Go into the stables, do the work, obey – and we’ll see at the end of a year—’
    ‘A year? Not an hour, not a minute!’
    ‘You won’t go?’
    ‘Never!’
    His father stood, thinking, almost calm.
    ‘Ottchen, do talk to Erich,’ begged old Rabause. ‘He must be sensible. It needn’t be for a year, your father’ll be satisfied with a month, a week even – once he’s sure of his good intentions.’
    ‘Erich …’ entreated Otto.
    ‘Be quiet,’ shouted Erich. ‘You poor worm! If you hadn’t cringed to Father he wouldn’t have got like this.’
    ‘Come!’ said the old man, as if he had heard nothing. ‘Come!’ He put his hand on his son’s arm. ‘Let’s go.’
    ‘I won’t go into the stables.’
    ‘Come!’ said the father, dragging his son along in the direction of the house. ‘Bring me the cellar key, Otto.’
    Otto ran off.
    ‘What are you doing?’ exclaimed Erich.
    ‘Come,’ said his father.
    They had reached the house. Not to go upstairs, however, but down into the cellar.
    ‘And here you stay till you come to your senses,’ said the father, opening the cellar door. ‘I give you my word I won’t let you out till you knuckle under.’
    ‘Here?’ demanded Erich incredulously, looking into the dark cellar. ‘You’re going to lock me up in here?’
    ‘You’ll stay here till you’ve come to your senses.’
    ‘You can’t, you mustn’t!’
    ‘Oh yes, I can. Give me the key, Otto. Go in, Erich! Or will you obey me and work in the stables?’
    ‘Father!’ The son held onto the door jamb. ‘Listen, for God’s sake! You give way for once. Perhaps I’ve been a bit silly. I promise I’ll change …’
    ‘Good! Change by going into the stables, then.’
    ‘Never!’
    ‘Then in you go!’ Abruptly the father pushed his son into the cellar. Erich flung himself against the door. ‘Father!’
    Hackendahl turned the key. Fists were heard drumming from inside, and an almost unrecognizable voice shouted, ‘Tyrant, slave-driver, hangman!’
    ‘Let’s feed

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