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"You don't dare tell me what to do, Karlchen!"
"I don't like her any more than you do, Billy, but we don't need to humiliate her, or Otto, and make everybody else uncomfortable. Including Hermann and Willi."
"Go fuck yourself, Karlchen!"
Castillo shrugged.
"Suit yourself," he said. "I know better than to argue with an old drunk wallowing in self-pity."
"Self-pity? You arrogant little ..."
By then Castillo was halfway back to his chair.
That was not one of my smartest moves, Charley thought as he went.
Why the hell did I do that?
Not as a considered move.
I guess the Boy Scout in me suddenly bubbled up and escaped.
Well, I certainly managed to make things worse than they were.
Helena reappeared several minutes later.
"It'll be just a few more minutes, Billy," she said.
Castillo looked at Kocian, who he found was already glaring at him.
Kocian drained his second glass of Slivovitz.
"Helena," Kocian said, "it has been pointed out to me that my behavior toward you and your family tonight has been shameful."
"I don't know what you mean, Billy," she said.
"Pray let me finish." He waited until she nodded, then went on: "I can only hope you can find it in your heart to forgive an old drunk wallowing in self-pity over the loss of a man who was like a son to him."
"Billy, you've not said nor done anything to apologize to me for."
"Otto," Kocian announced, "your wife is a lousy liar. One with a kind and gracious heart. She's much too good for you."
Helena went to Kocian and kissed him.
Kocian looked at Castillo.
"In case you're curious, Karlchen, that was my heart speaking, not the Slivovitz."
Castillo felt his throat tighten and his eyes start to water. He quickly got out of his chair.
"Did you drink all the Slivovitz, Onkel Billy? Or can I have one?"
"I think," Otto Gorner said, "that we should get into the arrangements for tomorrow."
[TWO]
Das Haus im Wald
Near Bad Hersfeld
