After a little, nap I open my eyes again. What do I see? My companion is reading Detective Rat is chasing the Super Clown! Of all things, my most successful book, an explosive cocktail, mixed from detective stories, skits and some Bukowski. I stare at him, wide eyed. He seems to notice something and stares back, wide eyed.

  »Do you know that book?«, I am asked.

  »Its mine. I wrote it.«

  »You are the author? What a coincidence! Or better said what a joy! There are no coincidences anyway. Your story is thrilling, it captivates me. Super clown wants to blow up a sightseeing attraction, the Cathedral in Cologne, because for him, a big multi-story car park should be built instead. He tries to blackmail the City Council, until the ingenious Detective Rat sets up a trap for him. Only, stupidly our hero gets held up by two Polish controllers in the subway, being deeply indulged in his work and having forgotten to buy a ticket.«

  »The controller of the Cologne Municipal Transport Service later found out to be illicit workers.«

  »What? I’m not at this point yet.«

  My fan starts to laugh. He seems to have a sense of humor, I like that. I remember someone who was of the opinion that humor is the art of putting your own fear in its place and a mirror for the fact that we are not infallible.

»And the car chase with the Turkish cabdriver through the inner city! Very funny and thrillingly written. One climax chased by the next one.«

  One climax chased by the next one, as in Tina’s last film, when she was doing it with a whole Canadian rowing team.

  »Are you still writing?«

  »For quite a while I can’t come up with anything brilliant, Sir, I’m artistically pooped.«

  »Writer’s block? Your creativity is leaving much to be desired?«

  »Yes, approximately. I always try hard with a story about the perfect crime; this is the main reason for my holiday journey to the ocean as maybe that scenario helps.«

  »A story about the perfect crime? To write a book about the perfect crime, well, well, well… books. Books are very dangerous. And only God is perfect. Mister Author, let me tell you, that there is no perfect crime and there will never be a perfect crime. A culprit that cannot be convicted by men is facing God’s Court of Justice at the end of his life, and dear Mr. God is never missing anything. God just knows everything and only therefore he is just in all judgments that he pronounces. And no witnesses are needed.«