In the afternoon they encountered Tonio again.<\/p>\n
Or, more precisely: the figure who could be called Tonio.<\/p>\n
Today she was not wearing festive clothes; she was wearing simple trousers, a shirt, and on her chest hung a small badge with the hotel logo. Employed, she had said. That is an art too.<\/p>\n
She came toward them on a bridge, stopped because she recognized Hans, and smiled.<\/p>\n
Not on duty.<\/p>\n
More like the way one smiles when one recognizes someone who has awakened something in oneself.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou are still on the road,\u201d said the person.<\/p>\n
Hans Castorp nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you are still\u2026 employed,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The person laughed softly.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne can also be employed and on the road,\u201d she said. \u201cThat is the most modern form.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gustav von A. stood beside them.<\/p>\n
He said nothing.<\/p>\n
Tonio \u2013 let us, dear reader, dear readers, for the sake of simplicity call the figure that, because she has placed herself in this position \u2013 looked at Gustav.<\/p>\n
The gaze slid over Gustav\u2019s hair.<\/p>\n
Over the face.<\/p>\n
Over the scent that, when one is close enough, one cannot not smell.<\/p>\n
Tonio did not smile.<\/p>\n
Tonio only said:<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have\u2026 changed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gustav raised his chin.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne must be well-groomed,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Tonio nodded slowly.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne must many things,\u201d said Tonio. \u201cIt is recommended.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hans Castorp felt a small laugh rise in his throat.<\/p>\n
It was a bitter laugh.<\/p>\n
For this \u201cIt is recommended\u201d was suddenly everywhere. It was like a refrain that turns the world into a cure.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is recommended?\u201d asked Hans Castorp.<\/p>\n
Tonio looked at him.<\/p>\n
And in this look there was something that was not a joke.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat one does not fall ill,\u201d said Tonio.<\/p>\n
Gustav waved it away.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne does not fall ill if one\u2026,\u201d he began.<\/p>\n
Hans Castorp did not know what he wanted to say: if one is proper? if one washes oneself? if one has discipline? if one does bestforming?<\/p>\n
Tonio interrupted him.<\/p>\n
Not impolitely.<\/p>\n
Just clearly.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are people in the house who have diarrhea,\u201d said Tonio. \u201cThere are people who have fever. The kitchen disinfects more. The handrails are wiped more often. People smile more. And when people smile more, that is never a good sign.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hans Castorp looked at Tonio.<\/p>\n
Gustav looked away.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is Venice,\u201d said Gustav. \u201cThere is always something here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tonio nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d said Tonio. \u201cThere is always something here. But sometimes it is more.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hans Castorp thought of the water.<\/p>\n
He thought of the brown, reddish trace in the sink.<\/p>\n
He thought of the hibiscus red.<\/p>\n
He thought: red is never only beautiful.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy are you telling me this?\u201d asked Hans Castorp.<\/p>\n
Tonio shrugged her shoulders.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause you look as if you wanted to know,\u201d said Tonio. \u201cAnd because I\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Tonio hesitated.<\/p>\n
Then Tonio said, softly:<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause I do not want people to stay too long.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hans Castorp felt a stab.<\/p>\n
He thought of the last sentence of his previous evening.<\/p>\n
That one stays too long.<\/p>\n
He looked at Gustav.<\/p>\n
Gustav did not look back.<\/p>\n
Gustav looked, over Tonio\u2019s shoulder, toward the lagoon.<\/p>\n
And Hans Castorp knew: Gustav is staying.<\/p>\n
Not because he does not understand.<\/p>\n
Because he understands and stays anyway.<\/p>\n
Such is the human being, dear reader, dear readers: he knows, and he does it anyway.<\/p>\n
Tonio left.<\/p>\n
Not offended.<\/p>\n
Only with that small shadow on the face that employees are not supposed to show, but which sometimes slips through, because employees are also human, and humans, as said, are bad at wearing masks when things get serious.<\/p>\n
Hans Castorp remained standing with Gustav on the bridge.<\/p>\n
The water beneath them was green.<\/p>\n
It smelled sweetish.<\/p>\n
It was warm.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe should perhaps\u2026,\u201d began Hans Castorp.<\/p>\n
Gustav interrupted him.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Just this one word.<\/p>\n
No.<\/p>\n
It was not a defiant no.<\/p>\n
It was a no like a punctuation mark.<\/p>\n
Hans Castorp was silent.<\/p>\n
He thought of Morgenstern.<\/p>\n
He thought of the donkey mask.<\/p>\n
He thought: Morgenstern wants to take off the mask because he no longer wants to assert blue.<\/p>\n
And Gustav puts on a mask because he cannot bear the gray.<\/p>\n
It is, dear reader, dear readers, one of life\u2019s bitter comedies that we often apply our morality most strictly precisely where it does not hurt us \u2013 and that we soften it where it could save us.<\/p>\n