The night train rolled purposefully northward toward it’s destination. That’s how mundanely our story begins. The lights outside the window of the car traced a line in the darkness that sometimes ran straight and sometimes in arcs. Seen from above, it slid through the dark landscape like a luminous snake. The man whose story will occupy our attention stood in the corridor of the second sleeping car from the front, holding a plastic bottle of mineral water which made a popping noise everytime he drank from it. At first glance, he gave the impression of being younger than he really was. On the other hand, this was because his clothes fit perfectly although intended for younger wearers, but above all it was because of the upright, confident way he carried himself, suggesting that he regularly played some sport. And yet This Sturder (the name of the man we shall accompany on his journey) is an inactive, even a lazy person who would rather not move at all. And if we look more closely, his forty-eight years are clearly evident. - today I bought a short novella for ‘the cool cousin who joins us for christmas every five years’. note to self, I must also buy myself a copy of ‘A Happy Man’ by Hansjorg Schertenleib