'But things will clear up soon.'
The telephone rang and he was occupied for a while. Martin Beck understood nothing of the conversation except now and again the word '
'Yes, of course.'
'The girl lied to you, by the way. She's not studied at the university and doesn't work at a museum. She doesn't really seem to do anything. Got suspended from competitive swimming because she didn't behave herself.'
'There must be some connection.'
'Yes, but where? Oh well, we'll see.'
Szluka shrugged his shoulders. Martin Beck turned and twisted his mangled body. It ached in his shoulders and arms, and his head was far from what it ought to be. He felt very tired and found it difficult to think, and yet did not want to go home to bed at the hotel, all the same.
The telephone rang again. Szluka listened with a frown, and then his eyes cleared.
'Things are beginning to move,' he said. 'We've found something. And one of them is all right now, the tall one. His name's Frobe, by the way. Now we'll see. Are you coming along?'
Martin Beck began to get up.
'Or perhaps you'd rather rest for a while.'
'No, thank you,' said Martin Beck.
18
Szluka sat down behind the desk with his hands clasped loosely in front of him, a passport with a green cover at his right elbow.
The tall man in the chair opposite Szluka had dark shadows under his eyes. Martin Beck knew that he had not had much sleep during the last twenty-four hours. The man was sitting up straight in the chair, looking down at his hands.
Szluka nodded at the stenographer and began.
The man raised his eyes and looked at Szluka.
'Your name?'
'Theodor Frobe.'
SZLUKA: When were you born?
FROBE: Twenty-first of April, 1936, in Hanover.
SZ: And you are a West German citizen. Living where?
F: In Hamburg. Hermannstrasse 12.
SZ: What is your occupation?
F: Travel guide. Or to be more correct, travel-agency official.
SZ: Where are you employed?
F: At a travel agency called Winkler's.
SZ: Where do you live in Budapest?
F: At a boarding house in Ujpest. Venetianer ut 6.
SZ: And why are you in Budapest?
F: I represent the travel agency and look after parties traveling to and from Budapest.
SZ: Earlier tonight you and a man called Tetz Radeberger were caught in the act of attacking a man on Groza Peter Rakpart. You were both armed and your intention to injure or kill the man was obvious. Do you know this man?
F: No.
SZ: Have you see him before?
F:…
SZ: Answer me!
F: No.
SZ: Do you know who he is?
F: No.
SZ: You don't know him, you've never seen him before and don't know who he is. Why did you attack him?
F:…
SZ: Explain why you attacked him!
F: We… needed money and…
SZ: And?
F: And then we saw him down there on the quay and—SZ: You're lying. Please don't lie to me. It's no good. The attack was planned and you were armed. In addition, it is a lie that you've not seen him before. You have been following him for two days. Why? Answer me!
F: We thought he was someone else.
SZ: That he was who?
F: Someone who… who…
SZ: Who?
F: Who owed us money.
SZ: And so you followed him and attacked him?
F: Yes.
SZ: I've already warned you once. It is extremely unwise of you to lie. I know exactly when you are lying. Do you know a Swede called Alf Matsson?
F: No.
SZ: Your friends Radeberger and Boeck have already said that you know him.
F: I know him only slightly. I didn't remember that that was his name.
SZ: When did you last see Alf Matsson?
F: In May, I think it was.
SZ: Where did you meet him?
F: Here in Budapest.
SZ: And you haven't seen him since then?
F: No.
SZ: Three days ago this man was at your boarding house asking for Alf Matsson. Since then you have followed him and tonight you tried to kill him. Why?
F: Not kill him!
SZ: Why?
F: We didn't try to kill him!
SZ: But you attacked him, didn't you? And you were armed with a knife.
F: Yes, but it was a mistake. Nothing happened to him, did it? He wasn't injured, was he? You've no right to question me like this.
SZ: How long have you known Alf Matsson?
F: About a year. I don't remember exactly.
SZ: How did you meet?
F: At a mutual friend's place here in Budapest SZ: What's your friend's name?
F: Ari Boeck.
SZ: Have you met him several times since then?
F: A few times. Not very many.
SZ: Did you always meet here in Budapest?
F: We've met in Prague too. And in Warsaw.
SZ: And in Bratislava.
