in them. But the knowledge of misery drives us to need to
believe--the longing for new, stronger belief. We are searching. We
find nothing anywhere. We torment ourselves because

we have been helplessly abandoned. Why doesn't someone come, teach
us non-believers, who thirst for God." Kohn was quiet, full of
expectation. Mechenmal had secretly been amused during the lecture.
Now he broke out. Then he said: "Don't take this wrong, little Kohn.
But you certainly have funny ideas. This is really crazy." Kohn
said: "You have no feeling. You are a superficial being. It is also
certain that you are a psychopath." Max Mechenmal said: "what do you
mean by that?" Kuno Kohn said: "You'll find that out soon enough."
Max Mechenmal said merely, "Ah, so." He was angry that Kuno Kohn had
called him superficial. He thought of Ilka Leipke.

Then Kuno Kohn said: "Death is an unbearable thought. For those of
us who are without God. We are damned to live through it in advance
hundreds of nights. And to find no way past it." He became very
quiet. Mechenmal wanted to show his friend Kohn that he too could
express himself about perverse problems. He thought it over, and
said: I have different version, little Kuno, little Kohn. However,
it is an emotional matter. I also tell myself thank God for those
who have no God. God is nonsense. To waste a word on the topic is
unworthy of a thinking man. But listen, I have no need of God--not
in life, not in death. Death without God is very beautiful. It is
my wish. I think it's wonderful simply to be dead. Without heaven.
Without rebirth. Utterly dead. I'm can't wait. Life for me is too
hard. Too stimulating.."

He wanted to speak further. There was a knocking at the door; Kohn