I count on getting cold food and on putting up with cold water at the baths. Through the trees, the insane asylum built out of red brick looks like a bakery. Farther away is the Delousing Station, with a tall chimney and still farther along, the post office. At one time the cavalry regiments of Empress Maria Theresa rode through the large barracks yard of the insane asylum. Juicy stories are told about Maria Theresa, how she took her pick of the soldiers and, when not enough soldiers or officers could be found, was inclined to choose horses.
Nothing remains of the horses.
Just the stifled soil in all the barracks yards, and on the roofs of residential buildings and former stables where the sick lie now, everything is grown over with green-gray moss. It has become our custom to take a walk when Ludmila comes by. Sometimes Milena joins us. Once, Milena said, In any case, there is nothing worse that can happen to us. You could go mad.