At No Particular Time

Translation by David Lautenschlager

STUDENT: Enters attic, closes the door and heads to a box of books behind a wooden pillar. He bends over the box and starts looking.

DWARF: Always so busy?

STUDENT distracted: Yes. Just now noticing the dwarf in a green hat, standing on a box and looking over the city: What are you looking for here?

DWARF: Nothing.  Just the city. There's the green cupola on the castle over there. Points to his cap. I'm comparing shades of green. There's no end to it. All the more so since this region is covered with gardens.

STUDENT Bent over his books, doesn't answer

DWARF: I'm always here between three and four. It brings a certain rhythm to my day, and gives me the feeling that I'm always standing here. And you?

STUDENT: I'm looking for manuscripts.

DWARF: Always between three and four?

STUDENT: Only when I need them.

DWARF: And when do you need them?

STUDENT: When I don't find them downstairs. I'm studying ship building.

DWARF: At what time?

STUDENT: Always.

DWARF: At no particular time?

STUDENT: At all times.

DWARF: That's too bad. Otherwise we might meet here more often.

STUDENT: I wouldn't get very far that way.

DWARF: How far do you want to get?

STUDENT: As far as possible. On a ship –

DWARF: I frequently see ships gliding down the river when I'm comparing the green of meadows with that of my hat. I could give you a recommendation.

STUDENT: I've got to graduate first, and I want to continue my studies here.

DWARF: I also compare the green of the horizon with my hat. I have connections there as well.

STUDENT: But first I must…

DWARF: You passed a test today.

STUDENT: How do you know that?

DWARF: When I was comparing the green patina growing over the roof of the technical building, you were just receiving your excellent rating.

STUDENT: It was my second to last test. Not until the last…

DWARF: Then perhaps you’ll turn to me.

STUDENT: I have a number of prospects.

DWARF: I would gladly recommend you.

STUDENT: First I’m heading home where I’ll get married. Then…

DWARF: I’m always here between three and four.

STUDENT: I have opportunities in Germany and America. It’s just a question of…

DWARF: I can be of service to you, wherever there are shades of green. They are often found on ships.

STUDENT: Not on new ones.

DWARF: But the sea is full of them.

STUDENT: I’ll be constructing ships, not oceans.

DWARF: Rivers!

STUDENT: I wouldn’t consider river boats.

DWARF: I would be so pleased to bring all my connections to green into play for you.

STUDENT: Straightens up and brushes back his hair. Here’s my manuscript.

DWARF: You have no idea how many greens there are in the world, not just the green of roofs and gardens, but also of seaweed, algae, the ocean floor, readable in subtle  comparisons.

STUDENT: I’ve got to go now.

DWARF: I could prove it to you. Just look at my hat or the tower of the Polish church, or the tree tops surrounding the armory.

STUDENT: While leaving. Unfortunately…

DWARF: If you would just come here from time to time.

STUDENT: It’s my last semester.

DWARF: Just between three and four.

STUDENT: That’s when I have my lectures or laboratory exercises. And when I’m free, I’ve got to prepare for my final test and I’ve got to complete the cross section drawing of my ship

DWARF: Perhaps on your last day, the day after your last test. Between three and four.

STUDENT: I’ll be packing then.

DWARF: That will be a dreary day, the meadows gray the onions in the fields yellow, the roofs black. You will have received excellent marks across the board.

STUDENT: May God be so gracious.

DWARF: You will have taken leave of your friends.

STUDENT: Then I’ll go to the train station.

DWARF: That still leaves and hour, a good hour. You’ll remember that there’s a box of books up here, that you might need one or two. You’ll open the door in the attic floor, you’ll bend over to look, but no, you don’t need the books any more. That’s all behind you. You straighten up…

STUDENT: Growing inpatient, with the manuscript in his hand. And?

DWARF: You glance out the attic window. You sigh.

STUDENT: With just his head visible in the attic door.  I will certainly not sigh.

DWARF: I assure you. You’ll sigh. And then…

STUDENT: I’m going now.

DWARF: Then I’ll recommend you to the green of the sea. The attic door slams. The dwarf chuckles and gazes at the city through the attic window.