The collected stories by Theroux Paul

Author:Theroux, Paul [Theroux, Paul]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: New York, N.Y., U.S.A. : Viking
Published: 1997-08-20T07:00:00+00:00

DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS (i): THE CONSUL'S FILE

She said, 'You should be ashamed of yourself. I'm fifty-two years old.'

'And not that either,' I said. 'Your payment will be a picture. One of your water colors for every night you stay here from now on.'

'I can't find my brushes.'

'I'll buy you some new ones.'

'I see,' she said, and as soon as we finished eating she went to her room.

Late that same night the telephone rang. It was Peeraswami. He had just come from a meeting outside the mosque. Ali Mohammed was there, and Mekmal, and City Bar, and the men from the river, the rubber tappers - everyone with a grievance against Miss Harbottle. They had discussed ways of dealing with the woman. The Malays wanted to humiliate her; the Chinese suggested turning the matter over to a secret society; the Indians had pressed for some expensive litigation. It was the first time I had seen the town united in this way, their single object - the plump Miss Harbottle -inspiring in them a sense of harmonious purpose. I didn't discourage Peeraswami, though he reported the proceedings with what I thought was uncalled-for glee.

'I'm afraid there's nothing I can do,' I said. She was Rogers's guest, not mine; Rogers's friends could deal with her.

'What to do?' asked Peeraswami.

'Whatever you think best,' I said. 'And I wouldn't be a bit surprised if she was on the early bus tomorrow.'

In the morning, Ah Wing woke me with tea and the news that there were twenty people in the garden demanding to see me. I took my time dressing and then went out. They saw me and called out in Malay, 'Where is she? Where is the orang putebV

Ah Wing shook his head. He said, 'Not here.'

'Liar!' Peeraswami yelled, and this cry was taken up by the others.

Ah Wing turned to me and said, 'She left early - on the Singapore bus/

'Liar!' said Peeraswami again. k We were at the bus station!'

'Yes,' said Ali Mohammed. 'There was no woman at the station.' He had a stick in his hand; he shook it at me and said, 'We want to search your house.'

'Wait,' I said. 'Did you see a European? 1

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