Dear Cyndy,

Please don't be shocked by the promptness of my answer.
As I've explained before, I find it most efficient to write down
what's on my mind, and once it's in the computer, I find it best
to click on the "send" button right away, so as to avoid the
temptation to revise, if not indeed to expunge what I have written.

In the Office of Commissioner Brandes:
======================================
In describing the PANIC, I was also mindful of the introduction to
Th. Mann's ultimate novel "Der Erwaehlte" (I don't know how the title
has been translated into English.) which opens with a description
of the tumultuous tolling of all the bells of all the churches in Rome 
to celebrate the consecration of the new Pope who was in fact the
child of incest.  - It's quite a story - . What happened on the Island,
after I sent my last letter to you, was the appearance of the Chief of
Police, - maybe I should rename him the Commissioner of Public Safety, -
if I can find a suitable equivalent term in German - perhaps 
"Sicherheitskommissar", or perhaps "Minister fuer Freiheit und Ordnung."
In any event, Martin Brandes, - that turns out to be his name -, why
or where he got it, I don't know. Martin is a first name ineluctably
linked in my mind with the unsavory contamination of spirituality and
worldly authority, while Brandes is the surname of the influential
19th century literary critic who "discovered" both Nietzsche and
Kierkegaard. In any event Commissioner Brandes explains to Buddy
the policeman that Mengs who looks to be of Social Security age,
can't possibly be expected to make the 6 foot leap from the cage to
the pavement. Brandes orders Buddy to fetch from the garage the ramp
that's used at the airport to enable VIP's to disembark from their jets.
This takes a while, but in the end, Mengs is escorted to the ground
on a set of stairs carpeted in brilliant red. Meanwhile, although the
crowd has started to disperse, the blare of the horns, the wails of
the sirens and the clanging of the church bells continues, because no
one knows how to deactivate a system which it turns out was installed
by an unlicensed do-it-yourselfer. This anonymous character finally puts
in an appearance and restores peace and quiet. Now it's Commissioner
Brandes' turn to demonstrate that he's worth his salary. He summons the
suspects and their captors to his office, which is too small to seat
them all. Brandes has the two suspects sit in the armchairs and directs
Buddy and Billy to stand at either side as sentries. When asked about
their occupations, and Mengs and Magus disclose their roles in the
University Department of Literature, Commissioner Brandes becomes almost
ecstatic, having encountered for the first time on the Island two persons
who share his passion for literature. He relates that at Seashore
Community College which he attended, he majored in literature and
graduated summa cum laude with a senior thesis on Nancy Drew. Indeed,
it was his fascination with detective stories, which he declares is
the true literature, that persuaded Commissioner Brandes to make law
enforcement his profession. There ensues a comic episode when Magus and
Mengs, who have never heard of Nancy Drew, not to mention of her
achievements as a detective, try to bull-shit (if you forgive my lapse
into the vernacular) their way out of jail, - and almost succeed in doing
so, but not quite, because just as Commissioner Brandes is apologizing to
them for the inconvenience, and wishing them pleasant, sunny days for the
remainder of their stay on the Island, Buddy reminds him that there
is yet a third suspect, Maximilian Katenus, who has been kept locked
in a jail cell for the past several hours. Katenus is brought in,
and seated in the chair hitherto occupied by Joachim, who, though not
in uniform, takes his stand next to Billy, as the third sentry. Katenus,
with whose idiosyncracies and antics the authorities are only too
familiar, is in no mood to be conciliatory. Without being asked, he
expounds to Commissioner Brandes his theory that the essence of
government is the exercise of authority; that all government is 
inherently fascist; that our revulsion againt National Socialism is
an expression of the conflict that arises for us from our subconscious
recognition of the cruel, mindless and irrational beings who we really
are, and the generous, tolerant and charitable neighbors we idealize
ourselves to be; that we inveigh against inhumanity because we ourselves
are inhuman. Commissioner Brandes should look at him, Maximilian Katenus,
as at a mirror in which Brandes will see reflected his own foolishness,
his own mendacity and his own cruelty.  Brandes is dumbfounded. Mengs
very much aware of the perilousness of the situation which Katenus'
candor has precipitated, launches into a lecture in which he purports
to distinguish between theoretical knowledge and practical knowledge. 
In theory, says Mengs, Katenus may be correct, but in practice, says
Mengs, Katenus is mistaken, because Commissioner Brandes is a learned
and intelligent and sensitive individual who is discharging complex and
arduous obligations with consummate skill. Katenus turns to Mengs,
snarling, with the words: Et tu, Brutus?  It's now Joachim's turn to be
embarrassed; he is torn between his loyalty to Mengs and his loyalty to
Katenus. He feels he must say something, but he doesn't know what to say.
Starts therefore to ramble, to contradict himself, in one sentence endorsing
Mengs, in the next sentence endorsing Katenus. However, Joachim's words
make no difference to either Brandes or Mengs, because neither is listening:
only Katenus. When Joachim who has been repeating himself over and over,
and, not knowing what else to say, pauses, - Katenus interjects:
"Verily I say unto thee, this day shalt thou be with me in paradise."
The long silence that ensues is broken by Buddy, who says to his chief:
"Sir, if we let these guys go, they'll say we're soft on terrorism." -
=========================
For what happens next, stay tuned.

My congratulations to Manuela for purging your computer of virus.
Klemens has bought all kinds of anti-virus software. I never have,
because on account of my Bill Gates allergy, I use nothing but Unix -
now Linux -; the only exception being the downloading of images from
my little Nikon Coolpix digital camera into the computer. When last
I tried, I couldn't find the pertinent Linux software. But it will
probably be included in the next upgrade. So far as I know, none of
my computers have ever been infested with a virus, - but do I know?

I hope by now, your roof has been repaired. With just the bit of
rain that we've had, the basement walls are moist again, and it's
too late to apply the waterproofing paint with which I planned to
experiment. Probably wouldn't have worked anyway. I haven't made
any the effort to divert the rain water from the roof. Too busy
writing.

Give my best to Ned and stay well.

Jochen