Summary

Martin explains to Alex that the reception has been called for an early hour because West Germany refuses to sell coal to the East, resulting in shortages and difficulties returning home in the dark. The two arrive at the Kulturbund, the site of the reception, and Alex is surprised that it is the same location as the “old Club von Berlin” (55). He enters and is met by a huddle of men all eager to meet him, their “polite [questions] after another...blended into one, the usual official welcome” (56).

Brecht approaches Alex, telling him that Ruth is still in Leipzig, but that he is still overjoyed that everybody is there, meeting together and speaking German again. He tells Alex to make sure he does not join any artists’ organizations because “A writer works alone” (58). Alex continues the conversation when another man joins the two...