Читать книгу Czechmate - Michael Condé-Jahnel - Страница 4

My cousin Edi had become the self-appointed family historian in retirement, totally pre-occupied with any scrap of information about the fate of other Sudeten Germans following their expulsion from Czechoslovakia between 1945 and 1946.

“Just a few months prior to her death, your mother asked whether I could help her with some missing pieces in your father’s manuscript. In fact, she left me the only copy, the one you now have. She encouraged me to read it and fill in blanks as best I could.”

“And did you?” I asked.

“It’s so many years back and I don’t recall every detail. But I remember doing some research, finding a few answers. Before I could discuss it with her, she passed away and I returned it to her estate.”

“What was he writing about?”

“Perhaps your question should be ‘Why was he writing....?’”

“What do you mean?”

“I think it was his way to work through unresolved problems. Your father was a pacifist, a humanitarian perhaps, given time and resources. Unlike our grandfather, who was known as a stern and dour man with nationalistic ideals.”

“I had no idea.”

“What about your father?”

“No, no, I remember him as kind, always helping others - I mean our grandfather.”

“I believe your father’s nature suffered under his misgivings. Hugo Sr. could be a tough man on his family even prior to the rising tide of nationalism at home. Naturally, what followed during later years, including Hitler’s troops occupying our town, didn’t help matters.”

“Anything else that he……………

Edi raised his hand, severing my question.

“When you’re ready to read it and want my thoughts, call me. Perhaps you might even want to finish the manuscript for him.”

And so our conversation had ended.