101 Detectives by Ivan Vladislavic

Author:Ivan Vladislavic
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Contemporary fiction, literary fiction, short stories, South Africa, Johannesburg, Cape Town, American South, Route 66, Mauritius, East Africa, Acholi, Germany, Teju Cole, Architecture, art, photography, storytelling, reading, theatre, translation, letters, detective, crime, humour, Pierneef, Neville Lister, science fiction, surrealism, Sunday Times Fiction Prize, Double Negative, Restless Supermarket, The Folly, Portrait with Keys, Flashback Hotel, The Exploded View
Publisher: And Other Stories Publishing
Published: 2015-06-10T04:00:00+00:00

Letter 1

L. S. to Maryvonne, 1978, Paris (tr. from French)

17, rue Boulard, 75014 PARISSeptember, 1978

My dear Maryvonne,

I worry about you! The news reaching us from S. Africa is not good. On Sunday when I came back from Jean-Richard in Auxerre I saw the most terrible thing on television. I was so upset I phoned J-R at once, although we had only just been together. To see a man doused with gasoline and burnt alive, and no one lifting a finger to prevent it, and all for being black. Or is it some other reason? You must write again and tell us what is happening, especially with you. J-R and everyone else in Auxerre are worried sick.

Your last letter troubled me. What is the meaning of this fancy dress? I understand, I think, that you must go to dangerous places because of your work. I am the first to say that the research is important. But that you should go about in disguise, dressed as a man, as a black man, seems strange to me. Surely a minstrel costume is more likely to get you into trouble than to protect you? Who are you hiding from? And who are the comrades you mention? I believe that Orlando is in Soweto. I told J-R it makes me think of Orlando Furioso and he said he doubted very much they had heard of Ariosto where you are.

You always tell me not to sound like a professor, but that’s who I am. And to me you will always be a student, even after your habilitation, please God! In any event, sounding like a professor is one of the few benefits of the job, so here goes. Picturing you with your face painted black (is this really what you do? – it seems so strange) I was reminded of the episode in Homer where Ulysses creeps into Troy disguised as a slave. Helen tells the story to Telemachus, who is looking for news of his father. Does it come back to you? No half measures for Ulysses: he beats himself black and blue, he takes the lash to his own back until the blood seeps through his filthy rags, he pounds bruises into his cheeks. Then he skulks through the streets of the enemy city. The disguise is a good one. Apart from Helen, who says nothing, not a soul recognises him.

It’s a remarkable story, not so? But that’s enough of the Ancients. When I hear from you, I will write again to say what I mean by it. Please be careful. Perhaps you should think about coming back to Paris for the summer. Maude says you can stay with her. You will always have a home here.

Your affectionate teacher and worried friend,

[Signed] L. S.

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