Read Online Therefore Choose by Keith Oatley - Free Book Online Page A

said Werner.
    A plan was made.
    It was late when Werner said he was going.
    â€œI’ll walk with you to the S-Bahn.”
    â€œI’ll walk to the Zoologischer Garten.”
    â€œI’ll come with you to the main road then.”
    â€œAs you wish.”
    They descended the big staircase: Werner first, George following.
    â€œPerfidious Albion,” said Werner as they reached the front door.
    â€œWhat did you say?”
    â€œYou know very well.”
    They walked in silence along the quiet side street.
    â€œI’m sorry,” said George.
    As they reached the main road, Werner said abruptly, “I’ll leave you here. Good night. Thank you for dinner.”
    â€œI’ll see you tomorrow,” said George.
    George got back to the flat to find Anna clearing up, washing dishes.
    â€œI’m sorry,” she said.
    â€œNo, I am sorry,” said George. “It’s my fault. It has come as a shock to him. I should have written to him while he was in Konstanz. A long letter, explaining things.”
    â€œIt is my fault,” she said. “I have known him longer than you.”
    â€œWas there anything between you?”
    â€œNot on my part. But now I wonder. I am not very observant. I should observe more carefully. I should be more careful.”
    â€œWe should have thought more.”
    â€œI think Werner is shy with women, when it comes to, how do you say? A relationship. He probably feels bad. We press his face in it.”
    â€œI thought it would be nice for him, now that he is back in Berlin. I thought we would be able to welcome him. He does not find his parents easy. Not his father, at least.”
    â€œYou think we should not be together?” she said.
    â€œI don’t think that, not at all.”
    â€œNow your friendship with Werner is spoiled. One can see it is very important to you. Important to both of you.”
    â€œI think he feels excluded. I think that’s the problem. I will spend time with him before I go back.”

13
    Anna was able to borrow bicycles , and next morning the three rode through the Grunewald Forest, pedals whirling, amid flashes of light through the trees. It was farther than they thought, but, at last, on the Kleine Wannsee, they found a beach, laid down their bicycles with some sense of relief from the unaccustomed exercise, and sat in the sunshine. With trees behind them, they looked out across a calm strait of water. A rowing boat inched across the scene. The occupants could be made out, figures without faces, the one who rowed moving as if by clockwork.
    â€œThis is where my relative Heinrich came,” said Anna. “One hundred and twenty-five years ago. With Henriette Vogel, with whom he was deeply in love.”
    â€œThey came to commit suicide,” said Werner.
    â€œRight here?” George said, looking round.
    â€œNot far away,” said Anna. “Heinrich has a tombstone, over there.”
    â€œIt’s a morbid subject,” said Werner.
    â€œNot at all,” said Anna. “Much of Heinrich’s literary work was about misunderstandings between people. It is an important theme, the misunderstanding.”
    â€œIt is not misunderstanding that is at issue,” said Werner. “The issue is not epistemic. Between people, it is not about knowledge but intention, so if there is any such word, it’s misintention.”
    â€œHeinrich felt that Henriette understood him,” said Anna. “He felt he understood her completely.”
    â€œMutual understanding,” George said to Werner. “The problem you want to do your thesis on.”
    â€œEither it is easier than one thinks, or it is insoluble,” said Werner.
    â€œHow should one approach it?” said George.
    â€œI’ll start, I think, with Hegel. Identity in difference. And Husserl — understand the workings of the mind.”
    â€œâ€˜Let me not to the marriage of true minds admit