Read Online Therefore Choose by Keith Oatley - Free Book Online

finished her first glass. It occurred to George that he himself was only on his second.
    â€œBut, Fräulein, this is very good. It is generally thought that the Germans cannot make red wine, only white. I do not wish to contradict that opinion, instead I change the subject. I offer a Hungarian wine, against which there can be no argument. Egri Bikavér. In English, Bull’s Blood, to give courage. It’s a blend of course. The harvest of the East, brought to the German homeland.”
    â€œLet me get some clean glasses,” said Anna.
    She jumped up quickly, as if eager to escape. After a while she returned with three fresh glasses, put one at each place, and sat down again.
    â€œHere,” said Werner.
    â€œJust a half a glass,” said Anna.
    â€œFor you, Herr Schmidt?”
    â€œHalf a glass for me too.”
    â€œTo match the Fräulein,” said Werner.
    He poured himself a full glass, sat down, and took two or three mouthfuls as if experimentally.
    â€œThere,” he said. “Well up to the standard of the French wine, I think. Wouldn’t you say?”
    George took a sip. “It is good,” he said.
    â€œI think it’s so much better, really,” said Werner.
    â€œThe wine?”
    â€œWe have moved to a new topic. I mean, what you are doing. You two.”
    â€œI see.”
    â€œIndulging in sexual intercourse before marriage. So much better.”
    Neither George nor Anna spoke.
    â€œIt is absurd, is it not, to wait until one is married? It never mattered to aristocrats, who take advantage of their serving maids. Why should it matter to educated people?”
    â€œYou are trying to provoke,” said Anna.
    â€œIf you think biologically, how could one make a commitment, which is a social matter, before sexual consummation, which is biological?”
    â€œWhy do you say biological?”
    â€œThat is what it is, is it not? Or perhaps I should be more blunt. Because the German is always blunt. That is the part we have to play in the drama of Europe. The French is obsessed with food and flirtation, the Dutch is gloomy, the English is perfidious, the German is blunt.”
    â€œAnd the Belgians like chocolate,” said Anna.
    â€œBe direct,” said Werner. “That is best. Use the proper medical term. Copulation. No. Coitus. Better still. It has the Latinate sound beloved of the medical profession.”
    â€œShall we next hear about eructation and flatulence?” said Anna.
    â€œWhatever are you talking about?”
    â€œLatinate sounds. Are you speaking generally or about us?”
    â€œGenerally, of course. We are conversing.”
    He took another mouthful of wine.
    â€œOne needs to take things in order.”
    â€œCome on,” George said. “Why are you talking like this?”
    â€œConversation, ethics, sociology … And we should not neglect the medical. We can progress, if you please, towards consequences for health, because as a first priority society must be healthy. The first priority: not to allow the entry of any contaminating influences. Or we can, if you please, progress towards the literary because often, in the literary, once coitus is performed, outside the confines of marriage I mean, certain consequences are to be expected.”
    â€œShall we all go out tomorrow?” said Anna. “We can take a picnic. If the weather is nice we can walk by the river.”
    â€œNo,” said Werner. “I speak in the English way once more. I shall say what we shall do, then we shall do it. We shall undertake an adventure.”
    â€œWe shall?”
    George and Anna waited to hear what the adventure would be.
    â€œYou borrow some bicycles,” said Werner to Anna. “You can do that, can’t you? We cycle to the Wannsee. Through the Grunewald woods. It will be most romantic.”
    â€œI have my own bicycle. Where would I get two others?” said Anna.
    â€œI am sure you can,”