to speak, he would break out into laughter. Finally he said, “My name’s Leo.”
“Ulli,” she said, extending her hand across the table.
“Isaac,” he called to his friend. “Isaac, come over here and meet my friend Ulli.”
Isaac waved and went back to his book.
“He’s always got his nose in a book,” Leo explained.
“There’s nothing wrong with reading,” Ulli said.
“I didn’t say there was anything wrong with reading. I was just trying to explain his rudeness.”
“Rudeness?”
“You don’t think it’s rude to sit there reading a book when I’ve very nicely asked him to make your acquaintance?”
“No.”
That made him laugh again. “Would you like to take a walk?” he suggested.
“No, thank you,” Ulli replied.
“Well. Then we’ll just have to order another drink.” He called the waitress over and ordered a round of drinks for them and for Isaac at the other table. “So,” he continued, “tell me the truth. Who is this person you’re waiting for?”
“I’m not waiting for anyone,” Ulli answered.
“But you told Isaac you were waiting for someone.”
“Yes, but I’m not. I just said I was in order to be rid of you.”
“Well, I’m glad you told me.”
“Why?”
“Because I like to know where I stand in situations like this.”
“Situations like what?” Ulli asked.
“Complicated ones.”
“I don’t think this situation is at all complicated,” Ulli answered. Now it was her turn to laugh.
“What’s so funny?” he asked.
“The situation,” she said, and they both laughed, but she didn’t really know why she was laughing, only that she wanted to, that it had been a long time since she had done so.
“Excuse me a moment,” he said, getting up and returning to the table where Isaac sat. They talked for a while, but Leo kept watching her out of the corner of his eye, as if doing so would keep her from leaving. Ulli had time to smoke a cigarette before he returned to her table with Isaac in tow.
He formally introduced them to each other, and Isaac and Ulli shook hands. Leo pulled his chair up next to Ulli’s, and Isaac sat across from them.
“What were you reading?” Ulli asked Isaac.
“Oh, some kind of French poetry,” Leo answered for him. “He takes that book everywhere he goes.”
“You speak French too?” she asked.
“Yes,” Isaac answered.
“I don’t know why he needs the book,” Leo said. “He knows all the poems by heart.”
“Not all of them,” Isaac said. “I don’t have a photographic memory like you do. All he has to do is look at a page once, and it’s in his head.”
“I always thought there wasn’t really such a thing as a photographic memory,” Ulli said.
“Well, there is,” Isaac said. “Show her.”
“Now come on; it’s not really so interesting. Why don’t we all go for a walk? I’m getting tired of this place.”
“But it is interesting. I’m sure she would be interested, wouldn’t you?”
“Her name is Ulli, Isaac.”
“I’m sorry. Of course. Ulli. You would be interested, wouldn’t you, Ulli?”
“It’s not necessary,” she said, realizing only then that Isaac was drunk. He had seemed so quiet, so steady, sitting there reading his book, so she had attributed his awkwardness to his height, not to alcohol.
“Nothing is necessary, except for food and shelter,” Isaac said.
“And love,” Leo said, turning to Ulli. “Don’t you think love is necessary?”
“Not in the same way as food and shelter,” she replied. Isaac was looking away, watching the dancers.
“But necessary in some way, right?” Leo continued.
“Well,” Isaac interrupted. “I thought we were going for a walk.”
“Then let’s go,” Leo said, jumping up and grabbing Ulli’s hand, whisking her toward the door. Isaac grabbed their coats and followed.
It had been snowing for quite some time and the snow was accumulating rapidly. Isaac walked ahead, his long legs making faster progress so that he had to stop every so often to let Leo and Ulli catch up. But as soon as they were at his side, off he would go again at his long-legged pace.
“He doesn’t usually drink so much,” Leo told her. “I’m the one who always ends up not remembering what happened the night before. If it weren’t for him, half my life would be a total mystery to me.”
“He seems angry with you,” Ulli said.
“Angry?” Leo laughed.
“Why is that funny?” she asked.
“I don’t know. It just is,” he said.
At some point, Isaac started running. Ulli and Leo watched him take off at full speed, his unbuttoned army coat billowing behind him. He fell and picked himself up and started running again, only to fall a few steps later. “Stop!” Leo called after him, but Isaac kept running and falling, running and falling. “Let’s just sleep out here,” Isaac said. He lay in the snow, out of breath, his arms and legs spread out. He seemed thinner lying in the snow like that, a stick man in a child’s painting, and Leo grabbed her hand and twirled her round and round, first in one direction, then the other so that she would not get dizzy and fall. Isaac began clapping faster and faster, so they spun faster and faster. Then they fell to the ground next to Isaac, and the three of them lay there looking up at the sky. “It’s always warmer when it’s snowing,” Isaac said.
“If you fall asleep, you’ll still freeze to death,” Leo said.
“Like in the siege of Stalingrad,” Isaac said. “That’s what happened. After a while people couldn’t stay awake. As long as you stay awake, you’re okay.”
Leo got up. “Well. I’m not taking any chances,” he said. “Come.” He held a hand out to each of them, and he pulled them up out of the snow. They ran then, holding each other up, ran as if something dangerous were
