Read Online The Concert by Ismaíl Kadaré - Free Book Online Page A

wasn’t looking for anything in particular: he was just opening and shutting drawers at random. In desperation he got out a packet of cigarettes and a lighter — for some strange reason he kept them in a drawer — put a cigarette in his mouth but didn’t light it, thee left the room.
    â€œHe looks furious,” said Linda.
    Then Silva went out, to take some papers to the minister’s secretary. All was quiet in the corridor. A phone was ringing unanswered in one of the offices: the person concerned must be at the meeting. Once again Silva thought fleetingly of the meeting that would seal her brother’s fate, bet she repressed the idea. But she made up her mind to phone him that day.
    Back in her office she found Linda in conversation with Illyrian, from a neighbouring room. They were laughing over something they’d been saying. Why didn’t they see more of each other, Silva wondered. They’d make a handsome couple.
    â€œI was telling him about the boss,” explained Linda. “And how he’s all on edge whenever there’s a Party meeting.”
    â€œToday’s is probably about our relations with China,” said Illyrian.
    â€œReally?” said Linda.
    â€œI think so. Because of the visit of the American president, In some ministries the subject’s already been raised with members of the Party, and even with executives who aren’t members of the Party.”
    â€œOur attitude on the subject was made quite clear from the outset,” said Silva. “You’ve only got to look at the papers to see that.”
    â€œAbsolutely,” said Illyrian. “Everywhere else in the world the press and the radio hyped the trip up like mad, while our own papers dismissed it in three or four lines. Our television didn’t show a single shot of it.”
    The sound of doors opening and closing came faintly from the direction of the corridor. A telephone, perhaps the one Silva had heard earlier, shrilled insistently in the distance.
    â€œIn other words,” observed Linda, “all we’ve heard about China lately is true.”
    â€œApparently,” said Illyrian.
    â€œAnd it could actually come to a breach?”
    As Linda spoke she blinked incredulously.
    Illyrian shrugged and turned to Silva as if for her opinion.
    â€œI don’t know what to think…”
    She gazed at the top of her desk.
    â€œâ€¦ Perhaps a peaceful severing of relations. Which is quite different from-”
    She was interrupted by the entrance of Simon Dersha from the office next door.
    â€œMay I use your phone?” he asked. “Ours is out of order.”
    â€œOf course,” said Silva.
    She was just about to turn back and resume her conversation with Illyrian when she realized they couldn’t discuss a subject like that in front of the newcomer. Although he worked in the adjoining office he’d always remained a kind of stranger: they never noticed he even existed except on payday, when he sat beside the accountant, subtracting the union dues from everybody’s wages. His presence didn’t make any difference to them one way or the other, but even so Silva didn’t like talking about anything whatever when he was there. So she just sat watching his hand as it dialled its number, and she could have sworn Linda and Illyrian were doing the same.
    â€œHey, Simon!” said Linda. “You’re wearing a new suit! It 
does
look good on you!”
    â€œThanks,” said Simon, pressing the receiver to his ear, “but I’ve had this suit for ages!”
    â€œI haven’t seen you wearing it before.”
    Simon smiled faintly and hung his head. The dark blue of his suit made his face look even more gloomy than usual
    It was the first time Silva had really looked at him. He had always struck her before as narrow-minded and withdrawn, and she was surprised to see on those wan features, drawn after what had probably