The Tiger in the Tiger Pit by Janette Turner Hospital

Author:Janette Turner Hospital
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: University of Queensland Press

Emily rushed toward Tory at the speed of thought, hurtling through air. Don’t stop, she wanted to beg the pilot. This was her preferred relationship to the past: skimming over it in the arms of a Boeing 747.

Montreal was a long way off, eight years to starboard.

But New York and Tory came closer by the minute.

(ii)

“I think it’s Thursday,” Victoria said to herself, aloud. She wrote it at the top of her page, and then she wrote New York. Dear Emily, she continued.

It is beautiful here in Jason’s apartment. There are soft things and white things and the sofa feels like lying on rough grasses doum by the creek near old Mr Hamilton’s house. You remember, the school cleaner? Ruth’s kitchen smells of cinnamon. I love it here and I hope I won’t have to leave. At the place where I was staying everything smells of nurses. Jason has a Ruth, did you know? But they do not sleep in the same bed which is very wise in case Father finds out.

I am so excited you are coming. Jason said he will bring you home tonight. From the airport. I remember the airport. When you came to the airport you were with a young man but I promised I would not tell Father and I have never told. I keep my promises though you did not keep yours, Emily. You did not write to me. You promised to write and you did not did not.

Jason says Australia and England and all over Europe. Did you come to Elsinore in Denmark? There’s something rotten in the state of Denmark and in the rest of the world too. Remember how Father made us memorise Shakespeare? These tedious old fools. Or was it just me and Jason? Did he make you too? Still harping on his daughter. I am but mad north-north-west; when the wind is southerly I know a hawk from a handsaw.

Til tell you a secret Emily. I wanted to go all over the world, I wanted to have young men. You have got too much and have to share. In our family haven’t you noticed} I got all the loneliness? Do you think this is fair?

One is one is one is one.

What’s this on the butcher’s bench

slit open.

for all the doctors to stare at?

They feed her honeysuckle

which is poisonous,

and take measurements

analysing

analysing

You owe me letters. Letters and letters. You owe me 416 letters, one a week for eight years, since you sent me away from Montreal with promises. You say to yourselves: Tory will forget, she knows nothing.

When I saw your pretty young man at the airport I said it would result in a son. Remember I said that?

When I said son, seeing him through the veins

of blood,

your skin blanched like almonds

in fire.

But the young man touched you

and said

tell we more.

Jason said yes, there is a son. When he comes I will see if he has the young man’s eyes.

Emily, I will forgive the letters, only speak to Father for me.

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