Inspiration
My thesis was completed, although I still had to do some editing, and, of course, prepare a formal typed version. There were norms, and, with Inga’s help, I prepared a first set for my tutor. We would have to wait for his comments, and then proceed to a final submission. In the meantime I was selling a few stories to local magazines, and even one literary journal. I was lucky: thanks to Inga’s coaching, my knowledge of the local dialect had greatly improved, so that I was able to get a local audience for some of my stories. Inspiration for the stories came also from my academic work, so that, at the time, I started thinking about turning the thesis into a book for a larger audience. At the same time I published some articles in the US.
This is how we got to know, and later started a correspondance with Ursula, a German literary agent, originally from Dresden, now working in New York City, who had read some of my stories in a New-Jersey on-line magazine. One of the stories was about a young explorer in the late 19th century, who had travelled from Berlin to what was still Mexico, and visited the Mesas of the Hopi Indians. It was partly based on articles I had read about the US South-West, and local Hopi legends. In one of of those, there was a wolf story that attracted Ursula’s attention. She got in touch, wanting to explore the source of my inspiration. I stalled my reply for some time, not wanting to engage much while I was busy with the thesis. Inga and I talked about it and she suggested I told Ursula about my academic interests. In fact Ursula wanted to know about my professional work.
Proof-reading
My tutor suggested several changes to the thesis, and the next couple of weeks were busy editing and proof-reading. I realised I would not have done it without Inga, who was reading, encouraging, prompting me to complete the work. Finally it was ready. I met my tutor and we agreed this was it. We had the final version printed and bound, and despatched to the board. I had a lengthy interview at the University about my submission. Then we had to wait.
Family
Having some time on our hands, we went finally to visit Hans and Henrietta, Inga’s grand parents. They were a charming couple, young-looking still, and very happy to see us. Hans explained that they had never reconciled themselves with the loss of Inga’s parents, Sonja and Albrecht. They were thinking about it, all the time, and preferred not to talk about the accident itself. The picture of Sonja, as a young woman, could have been that of her daughter Inga: I looked at my lover who smiled, knowingly. Their small farmhouse was well kept, comfortable and surrounded by dense woods. Both still worked on a small plot with Ewa’s and Marco’s occasional help. Hans wanted to know about my thesis, and said he wanted to read it, which made me very proud. I said it was a big read, well over four hundred pages, “a good winter read”, then said Hans. I was a little puzzled as to why Inga had appeared hesitant to go and see them with me, but postponed asking her about it. We promised to come back to see them, and I told Hans I would bring the thesis. Later I realised that we’d never touched upon the story of Hans I, the father, who had gone all the way to the Caucasus, and made a pact with the wolf. Inga said she was glad we did not, there would be time to do that, but not now.
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