Chapter 21 Twenty Hertens in 1948

He woke me up rudely and shook my shoulders hard.Come on, let me make you a cup of tea.It wasn't him shaking me awake that alarmed me, but the white smoke coming out of his mouth like a devil.I am going to work.Smoke wafted from him, as if there was indeed fire inside him.I pulled the quilt over.I don't touch you.I am going to work.I lifted my head from the pillow and saw the breath, like a curtain of steam, coming out of my mouth.The exposed cheeks made me feel stinging, bitingly cold, and I remembered that I was in England. It's cold today, isn't it?After waking up, my body began to tremble because the quilt was too thin.Come on, drink tea and warm yourself up.I'm going to work.He put the cup of tea on the table and I glanced at the window to see it was still night.The man didn't say he worked at night.He drew back the tattered curtains, still not very bright, only caused a cold wind to pierce the other side of my cheek.He told me: It's already morning.

Morning? Yes, it's almost seven o'clock. There is no sun, not even the thinnest shadow.How do birds wake up and know to sing in this country?Did Gilbert wake them up with a cup of tea?I said: too dark. He told me: It is winter now.Winter mornings are always dark.The man sat heavily in an armchair and tied his shoelaces.It was also dark early.It's just that instead of speaking to me, he thinks in words, he said.Mostly dark during the day.Sometimes you blink and a day goes by.I stretched my arms to serve the tea, but the cold wind threatened to peel the skin off my hands, so I tucked them back under the covers.

I built a fire for you.He has a big dark coat wrapped around him, but if it goes off, you have to put money into the meter.Do you think you can get in?I didn't answer, just turned my head away.I'm not stupid.I won't be back until six o'clock.Can you help me prepare something to eat?There are some eggs and potatoes in the closet by the sink.Can you get me some chips? He spoke so sadly that I almost felt sorry for him.I told him: of course.Then he left.