Heat Wave by Penelope Lively

Author:Penelope Lively [Lively, Penelope]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780141968834
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Published: 2011-08-23T04:00:00+00:00

10

‘I did wonder a bit about dragon’s breath setting fire to a tree,’ says Pauline. ‘Would it?’

‘I tried with a blow-torch,’ says Chris Rogers. ‘I borrowed my neighbour’s and had a go at some old fencing. It started smouldering, and I reckon dragon’s breath would be more powerful still.’

‘In that case I stand corrected,’ says Pauline.

‘The problem really is whether or not the reader will accept dragons or unicorns at all,’ Chris continues. ‘And whether anyone’s going to be interested in a story about undying passion. Bit of an unfashionable concept.’

‘I think the setting is a distinct advantage. The fantasy helps you suspend disbelief. It’s merely a quibble – the dragon’s breath.’

‘What about the death of the Lady?’ asks Chris anxiously. ‘Talusa’s suicide. Does that work? I hope so. I sweated my guts out over that bit.’

‘Oh, it’s very powerful. Unbearably sad.’

‘Are you sure? You sound a touch doubtful.’

‘Oh no. You’ve done it just right. It’s me reacting inappropriately.’

‘Inappropriately?’

‘Oh, well … she shouldn’t have done it, of course.’

‘Why?’

‘Because in the fullness of time she would have recovered. She’d have ceased to give a hang about the Knight. Maybe she’d have got herself another Knight. Or found that she could get on quite well without one.’

‘That is a very cynical view,’ says Chris sternly. ‘Are you sure?’

‘Oh, I’m sure,’ Pauline tells him. ‘I’m fifty-five. I know about this sort of thing.’

There is a pause. ‘Well, that’s one way of looking at it, but it won’t do for an allegory about romantic love, will it?’

‘Of course not. Actually I rather prefer your version, even if it does mean killing off the Lady. It’s a much stronger story.’

‘Stronger than what?’ enquires Chris, again after consideration. He seems to be a person who takes conversational exchange seriously. Pauline approves of this.

‘Stronger than disillusion, I suppose. Not much of a story there – just a kind of fading away. Passion isn’t supposed to do that. Good thing they didn’t have any children, incidentally.’

‘Out of the question. Or if they had they would have been irrelevant. The children, I mean.’

‘I doubt that,’ says Pauline. ‘They tend to have an awful relevance. But I’m being very literal-minded. An occupational hazard. And entirely inappropriate in this context.’

‘You’re the editor. You’re supposed to raise objections.’

‘Copy editor,’ she corrects. ‘I deal in nuts and bolts, not large aesthetic judgements. That’s been done elsewhere.’

‘Hugo. Yes. Actually he had a problem with the Lady’s death. He made me rework it in some places.’

‘Well, it reads very well now,’ says Pauline. ‘Is your new book along the same lines?’

‘No way. I’m through with that sort of thing. This one’s sci-fi. Mainstream sci-fi for the devotees. But it’s going slowly. I’ve just climbed to the top of our local mountain in search of inspiration.’

‘Successfully?’

‘Frankly, no. All I got was a blister, but the view was good.’

‘Well,’ says Pauline, ‘I’ll leave you to it. Send me the chapter you’re rewriting once you’ve squared it with Hugo, and I’ll go through it.’

‘You’ll be glad to see the back of me – chopping and changing like this.

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