The Journey to the End of the World (Joel Gustafson Stories) by Henning Mankell

Author:Henning Mankell [Mankell, Henning]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Random House UK
Published: 2011-02-25T06:00:00+00:00

9

Just for once, Joel told the full story, exactly as it had happened.

He left nothing out. Samuel was able to relive the whole thing, from the moment when Joel slipped out of the hotel door. He told his dad how he’d stood in the shadows outside the building where she lived, how the door had opened and a woman wearing a green coat had come out.

Samuel listened in astonishment. When Joel got to the point where he’d been standing in the changing room holding the open handbag and the door suddenly opened, Samuel seemed to give a start.

He’s with me, Joel thought. He understands exactly what it felt like.

But Joel didn’t say anything about his visit to the Seamen’s Employment Exchange. He thought that might be too much for Samuel to take – he still looked very pale.

As Joel told his story, he kept thinking over and over again that Samuel really was very ill. But he brushed the thought aside. Stowed it away in a corner of his mind.

‘This is an amazing story you’re telling me,’ said Samuel when Joel had run out of steam. ‘But how could Jenny know that you were staying at this particular hotel?’

‘I suppose I must have mentioned the name of it. The Raven. And the man who caught me in the act must have remembered it.’

‘And so she phoned here?’

‘Yes. I thought it must be a nurse. Because she didn’t ask for you, she wanted to talk to me.’

‘All these things you are recounting are making me tired. I think I’d better lie down.’

Samuel lay on his bed. Joel sat down beside him.

It used to be the other way round, he thought. Samuel used to sit on the edge of my bed: now it’s me sitting on his.

‘What did she think of Celestine?’ Samuel asked after awhile.

‘She remembered it. From the kitchen.’

Samuel frowned.

‘Could she really remember that? It’s not just something you’re making up?’

‘No, it’s really true. She remembered it.’

‘And she wanted us to ring?’

‘Yes.’

Samuel shook his head.

‘Funny, how things turn out,’ he said. ‘We were going to track her down together, and knock on her door. But nothing happens the way you’d expected. Never ever.’

‘I have two sisters,’ said Joel. ‘Maria and Eva.’

‘Two half-sisters,’ said Samuel.

Joel said nothing. But he didn’t like the idea of having half-people as sisters.

‘Their father’s called Rydén. But he’s not there.’

Samuel pricked his ears up.

‘Where is he, then?’

‘He’s gone. I don’t know where.’

Samuel sat up.

‘Tell me what she looked like.’

Joel did his best, but he didn’t think he was very successful.

‘How was she?’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Was she cheerful? Or nervous? Or what?’

‘She was nervous.’

Samuel pulled a face.

‘I should think so, too.’

There was a hard edge to his voice now. Something that surprised Joel. Something hard and firm.

‘The bottom line is that she abandoned you and me.’

Joel felt the need to defend her.

‘She said she left because it was too cold.’

‘Eh? She left because it was too cold?’

‘And too much forest. And too few people.’

‘That’s rubbish,’ said Samuel. ‘Nobody abandons their child because it’s cold.

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