Madame Sosotris & The Festival for the Broken-Hearted by Ben Okri

Author:Ben Okri
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781035910724
Publisher: Head of Zeus
Published: 2025-01-30T00:00:00+00:00

2

WANDERING ABOUT IN the grove of acacias, sycamores and oaks, chased by forms that emerged from the trees, by revellers who became people he had once known, Alan stumbled into a clearing and found a woman sitting there. She was dressed like a queen and was regal in her bearing. Her presence brought him back to himself. He straightened up, swaying slightly.

‘Sorry to bother you,’ he said.

The woman remained noble and silent.

‘I can leave if you prefer.’

She did not respond.

‘I was lost in the forest. Every path seemed to multiply and led me back to the same place. I couldn’t escape. I feel dizzy.’

The woman remained silent and still.

‘I saw, among the trees, faces of people I’ve wronged. Is that normal? Am I in hell?’

‘If you are, then I must be the queen of the night,’ the woman said, barely moving.

‘Who are you?’

‘Are you interested?’

‘I wouldn’t ask if I wasn’t.’

‘Are you really interested in anything apart from yourself?’

‘What?’

‘Why do you think you’ve seen the faces of people you wronged?’

‘Something to do with the woods. Someone said they were… but I don’t believe it. If I did, what else would I end up believing?’

‘Your past follows you. Your truth clings to you—’

‘My truth?’

‘Have you ever done anything good for anyone in your life?’

‘What?’

‘Da: Dharma. Who have you helped?’

‘You’re speaking in tongues. Are you here for the festival? Are you wearing a costume?’

‘No.’

‘Who are you?’

The woman turned so he could see her in silhouette. Something about her stopped him coming nearer. He stood there in a half trance.

‘Who are you?’

‘Madame Sosostris sent me to ask you something.’

‘Does this mean she’s definitely not coming?’

‘It depends on your answer.’

There was a pause while Alan considered the courses of action open to him. He realised there was no escape.

‘What do you want to know?’ he asked meekly.

‘If she is unable to come to the party tonight, will you take her place?’

‘What?’

‘Would you consent to take her place?’

‘How can I take her place? I’m a man, she’s a woman—’

‘So what? Men have been women, and women men, since the beginning of time.’

‘But I can’t be a woman!’

‘Why not? You’ve been a woman several times before.’

‘Have I?’

‘Madame Sosostris has studied your charts and seen your past incarnations. She says you’re struggling with the women in you.’

‘What nonsense!’ roared Alan. ‘There are no women in me.’

‘Oh, yes, there are, just as there are men in me.’

‘You can have as many men in you as you want, but don’t put any women in me.’

‘Do you fear women?’

‘Of course not!’ shouted Alan again.

‘Then why are you afraid to take Madame Sosostris’s place?’

‘Because it would be inappropriate. Because I don’t have her abilities. Also, what would people think if they saw me?’

‘You mean your business associates?’

‘My reputation would never recover if it got out that I was pretending to be some batty old lady—’

‘It could be the making of you.’

‘You think I’m not made already?’

‘Not by a long shot.’

‘Did she see that in my charts? The woman scares me.’

‘Batty? Old? Have you ever met Madame Sosostris?’

‘No, but she must be batty.

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