Muddled animated protestReversals Yes, of course. What is it again? Arnbjartur asks whether he should send the cat out east by parcel post, and then immediately answers his own question: No, I’ll just bring it myself. “Things inside are-” Duncan searched for a word, “unsettled. We found the station true enough. But the stationmaster is nervous. You need to stay out of sight until I come back out.” In Venice, on his way back from Salzburg, in front of our very eyes, Diaghilev has just died. Present are Catherine d’Erlanger, Misia, Boris Kochno, Lifar. He cast a quick look around. Nothing. Then he glanced again down the river. The rippling, swirling torrent rushed past at speed. Just for a second he doubted that the man was still in the car. Every now and again he would be overcome by a sense of unreality. Sponer could well have imagined leaving the street, driving to a cab rank, picking up a fare, and opening the door for him. And in the car— nothing. The body and the luggage — a mere figment of the imagination. I went to her and hunkered down. It was a familiar movement, a sex position without a partner. Zen ich shall give you here brant-new biodynamische potatoes zat ich gazzered for zahmwahn elze. Hei?ur leans on the horn. I glance over my shoulder, startled, to see whether the passenger in the backseat’s going to rain curse words down on us from her hungover trap, but she doesn’t stir. The church gates were open but no lights burned. I checked my watch. Five past three, which meant it was five past eight. Had I the right hall? The car park was empty. Nothing unusual per se about that. We like to keep our gatherings discreet, and who can blame us? So we park down side streets or around corners and slip out individually after the meetings to go our separate ways, feigning that we don’t know each other although we know one another intimately. At least one of our number is here. My success dates from that evening; to begin with it was an English success. I have always succeeded with the English, I don’t know why. Relationships between England and France have been through many trials, but my English friends have always remained loyal to me. One of them confessed to me, not long ago: “Since I’ve known you, I’ve come to like France again.” “Because I, your husband, forbid you!” Rock of Ages House of Worship had grown since I was a little girl. When I was small the church was too: a little mauve-colored bungalow on a big lot at the dead end of a small downtown block. Now it was a stone fortress standing as high as a five-story building, with three thousand seats and twice that many active members. The parking lot was protected by high fences. The driveway had three uniformed guards. Jude drove a dark blue Cadillac. “So?” He managed a light tone and I was impressed. Luckily, I’ll be dead, which is fine with me, Arnbjartur says. I wouldn’t want to have experienced this country gaining its independence and then losing its independence again. It’ll be good to be allowed to die in the meantime. muddled animated protest who slurps down mother’s milk with loud moans.. |