The bushes behind him parted with a crash. Pepper glanced around warily, but it wasn't the director, just Hausbotcher once again. He was carrying a fat file folder and halted some distance away, looking Pepper up and down with his moist eyes. He clearly knew something, something very important, and had brought this strange alarming information that no one in the world knew of save himself, here to the cliff-edge, and it was plain that everything that had gone before was no longer significant and from everyone would be required to contribute all he was capable of.
"Hello," he said, and bowed, clasping the case to his hip. "Good morning. Did you rest well?"
"Good morning," said Pepper. "Well, thank you."
"Humidity today seventy-six percent," Hausbotcher announced. "Temperature - seventeen degrees. No wind. Cloud cover - nil." He had drawn nearer noiselessly, arms along the seams of his trousers, and, inclining his body toward Pepper, continued: "Double-u today - sixteen."
"What's double-u?" asked Pepper, getting up.
"Quantity of spots," said Hausbotcher swiftly. His eyes became shifty. "On the sun," he said. "On the s-s-s..." He ceased, staring Pepper in the face.
"And why are you telling me this?" asked Pepper with distaste.
"I beg your pardon," said Hausbotcher rapidly. "It won't be repeated. So, just humidity, cloud cover ... hmm ... wind and ... you won't require me to report planetary oppositions?"
"Listen," said Pepper dismally. "What do you want from me?"
Hausbotcher retreated a pace or two and hung his head. "I beg pardon. Perhaps I intruded, but there are a few papers that require ... that is, immediate ... your personal..." He held out the file folder toward Pepper, like an empty tray. "Do you order me to report?"
"You know what..." said Pepper menacingly.
"Yes ... yes?" said Hausbotcher. Without relinquishing the file folder, he began rummaging through his pockets, as if in search of his notepad. His face was blue-tinged as if from sheer zeal.
Fool, fool, thought Pepper, trying to control himself. What was I expecting from the likes of him? "Stupid," he said striving for restraint. "That clear? Stupid and not in the least witty."
"Yes-yes," said Hausbotcher. Bent double, with the file folder clasped between elbow and thigh, he scribbled frantically on the notepad. "One second ... yes, yes?"
"What are you writing there?" asked Pepper. Hausbotcher glanced fearfully at him and read out:
"Fifteenth June ... time ... seven forty-five ... place: cliff-edge..."
"Listen, Hausbotcher," said Pepper, exasperated. "What the hell do you want? Why d'you trail about after me all the time? I've had enough of it, just lay off! [Hausbotcher scribbled.] This joke of yours is sheer stupidity and there's no need to spy around me. You should be ashamed at your age... Now stop writing, idiot! It's damned stupidity! Why don't you do your exercises or get washed, just take a look at yourself, you're like nothing on earth! Ugh!"
He began doing up his sandal straps with fingers trembling with fury.
"They're probably right about you," he panted. "They say you get everywhere and take a note of the conversation. I used to think these were your stupid jokes... I didn't want to believe it, I can't stand that sort of thing at all, but it looks as though you're quite brazen about it now."
He straightened up and saw that Hausbotcher was standing staunchly at attention, tears were flowing down his cheeks.
"Just what's the matter with you today?" asked Pepper, alarmed.
"I can't..." mumbled Hausbotcher, between sobs.
"What can't you?"
"Exercises... My liver ... chit... and washing."
"Good God in heaven," said Pepper. "Well if you can't, you needn't, it was just a manner of speaking... Well anyway, why are you following me around? Don't you see, for God's sake, it's not exactly pleasant... I've nothing against you, but can't you grasp? ..."
"Won't happen again!" cried Hausbotcher, ecstatic. The tears on his cheeks dried instantly. "Never again!"
"To blazes with you," said Pepper wearily and walked off through the bushes. Hausbotcher forced his way after him. Old clown, thought Pepper, feebleminded ...
"Absolute urgency," Hausbotcher was muttering, breathing heavily. "Only extreme necessity... Your personal attention."'
Pepper looked around.
"What the hell?" he exclaimed. "That's my suitcase, give it here, where did you get it?"
Hausbotcher placed the case on the ground and was on the point of opening his mouth twisted by the effort of breathing, when Pepper snatched the case handle, not bothering to listen to him. At this, Hausbotcher without a word lay belly-down on the case. "Give me that case!" said Pepper, going ice-cold from fury.
"Never!" croaked Hausbotcher, scraping his knees about in the gravel. The file folder was in his way so he gripped it between his teeth and embraced the suitcase with both arms. Pepper heaved with all his might and succeeded in ripping off the handle.
"Stop this outrageous behavior!" he said. "At once!"
