If on a Winter's Night a Traveler

While splitting apart the new novel’s pages with a paperknife, the Reader notices a printing error. Each page has text on one side only. Thus, the Reader comes to believe that this book isn’t Outside the town of Malbork. Fueling this suspicion, Brigd and the other characters’ names don’t “sound particularly Polish” (43). Rather, the Reader suspects that the story is set in Cimmeria. The Reader thinks about contacting the young woman from the bookstore. Her name is Ludmilla. When the Reader calls Ludmilla, however, her sister, Lotaria, answers the phone. Lotaria explains that Ludmilla reads all the time. She quizzes the Reader about the novel. The Reader isn’t sure whether the novel is even Outside the town of Malbork, however, and thus can’t provide answers. Lotaria invites the Reader to a university seminar, but the Reader is evasive, as “you prefer not to commit yourself” (45). Eventually, Lotaria explains that Ludmilla gives out Lotaria’s phone number to maintain a comfortable distance from strangers. Although the Reader is initially disappointed, the sound of Ludmilla’s distant voice on the line brightens the Reader’s mood. Ludmilla takes over the call.