Magda
Paul and Magda sit in her office overlooking the inner rose garden of Humboldt’s University. The desk is covered with papers, on the wall three white boards are covered with mathematical equations and diagrams. For the past three hours they have been reviewing Paul’s thesis, line by line. Paul keeps refilling his coffee cup, Magda drinks herbal tea.
“You are pretty close to concluding this now. The Uni wants us to finish this us by end of May, latest. You are allowed a second paper, after that you will need to apply for a permanent position… as long as this is compatible with your contract.” Magda has encouraged Paul to go for an astrophysics PhD. She says: “I heard about “The Hour of the Bull” from colleagues who are Efremov’s enthusiasts, and I am gonna read it too.” Paul continues scribbling on his pad. Magda asks: “And how’s Sarah?” Paul replies comes with a bright smile: “She’s here with us, that is Solange and I, for as long as she wishes. She sends her regards, I am going to meet her later, lunch at the Gendarmen Markt!”
First draft
“You must arrange for the four of us to meet, Paul,” says Magda as she starts pulling her notes together. “Let me have the revised version next week, if you can, then we have to print out the first draft, check again everything, then it’s on to the printer!” They stand up and hug, Paul kisses Magda and says he will arrange for them four to meet in Tegel. He picks up his bike and rides slowly to the beloved square.
Tempelhof
Sarah’s waiting for him at the Bavarian pub, she wears a blue polo shirt and immaculate white shorts, Paul has just the time to admire her youthful legs when they embrace and indulge in a long kiss. Sarah tells him about a penthouse she’s gone to visit on the edge of the Dreieck near Tempelhof. “There is no rush, the times of over-speculation are over in this city, and the promoters expect too high a price, so we can visit when you feel like it.” They laugh. Paul orders some beer and a glass of white wine for Sarah. Rays of sunlight play in her blond hair, enhances her light suntan.
“I have received a letter from Dr Martin, Solange’s mentor, about various things, and some thoughts about dad. I forwarded to you.”
Phillipe Martin, a young forty year-old physician, psychologist and neurologist, had discussed the case of Julian with his student, Solange, at some length before her coming to Berlin and joining her course at La Charité. This is what he wrote to Paul prior to his visit to Berlin:
No cloud
“Dear Paul, Solange has spoken to me about your research on your father’s illness and ultimate departure. I would be interested in looking at Julian’s papers, and discuss with you and your mother the circumstances of his death. I hope this is all right with both of you etc…”
Paul and Sarah ride back home, along the canal, under the cloud-less sky.
At home Paul re-reads an entry in Julian’s blog which he wants to discuss with Dr Martin:
“In his sleep Melissa was talking to him about higher mathematics, about the marvels she was learning with her new teacher.
Her new interest in physics amazed him, his recollection of her was of a rather simpler type of girl: how she had changed, his school sweetheart…
But he was trying to follow, she was so keen for him to understand, she was talking with passion, of their future, of the new sense of her own existence, of her search for him.
She said she would never give him up, she was learning to achieve something: to reach him in his world, the world of the living.
In his dream, her devotion was palpable, as real as her presence, and he did not want to let her go.”
Progress
Were Julian’s choice of words showing the story of Melissa was pure fiction? Was he, Paul, wrong to link the story Julian was writing, and his real life, his illness, his demise? This is what Julian had written at the start of the new year in 2013:
“I can’t complain about 2012: writing progressed well after the summer vacation, and new ideas were in abundance. Editing was slow, and, as is usual, shorter pieces took time to mull over and eventually post! Building the platform is an important part of a “writer in learning”’s life… The characters have also evolved in the right direction, their relationships becoming clearer, and perhaps more distinctive too: but I know that there is something still missing in all three strands of work, and for the Page, this knowledge is not without frustration after three rewrites! So goes the inspiration.
Still this winter break was a complete write-off: not much work in three weeks! And I feel almost guilty for it, ignoring my lovely characters for so long… One of them, I won’t tell who just yet, is very cross. Her anger is understandable, being left in a precarious position, as it were, between worlds. From this point onward the plot gets more hectic, so she should take it easy for now: what follows shortly won’t be restful!
And, yes, I have set myself some targets: finish the novel by end November 2013! It will be about 100k long in the final version. I still don’t know if this will be published at all, in any form, or just sit on the blog… Does it matter? I will then continue with the other pieces, long term stuff still immature. Peace. And Happy New Year to my readers and followers!”
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