It has also had its practical side. When the time is ripe we will perform our
disappearing act. That is how we are going to sneak our way out of the
major’s consciousness.”
Helene Amundsen took hold of her daughter’s arm.
“You are not leaving me, are you, Sophie?”
Sophie put her arms around her mother. She looked up at Alberto.
“Mom is so sad . . .”
“No, that’s just ridiculous. Don’t forget what you have learned. It’s this
sort of nonsense we must liberate ourselves from. Your mother is a sweet and
kind lady, just as the Little Red Ridinghood who came to my door that day had
a basket filled with food for her grandmother. Your mother is no more sad
than the plane that just flew over needed fuel for its congratulation
maneuvers.”
“I think I see what you mean,” said Sophie, and turned back to her
mother. “That’s why I have to do what he says, Mom. One day I had to leave
you.”
“I’m going to miss you,” said her mother, “but if there is a heaven over
this one, you’ll just have to fly. I promise to take good care of Govinda. Does it
eat one or two lettuce leaves a day?”
Alberto put his hand on her shoulder.
“Neither you nor anyone else here will miss us for the simple reason that
you do not exist. You are no more than shadows.”
“That is the worst insult I’ve ever heard,” Mrs. Ingebrigtsen burst out.
Her husband nodded.
“If nothing else, we can always get him nailed for defamation of
character. I’m sure he’s a Communist. He wants to strip us of everything we
hold dear. The man’s a scoundrel.”
With that, both Alberto and the financial adviser sat down. The letter’s
face was crimson with rage. Now Joanna and Jeremy also came and sat at
the table. Their clothes were grubby and crumpled. Joanna’s golden hair was
caked with mud and earth.
“Mom, I’m going to have a baby,” she announced.
“All right, but you’ll have to wait till you get home.”
She had immediate support from her husband. “She’ll simply have to
contain herself,” he said. “And if there is to be a christening tonight, she’ll
have to arrange it herself.”
Alberto looked down at Sophie with a somber expression.
“It’s time.”
“Can’t you at least bring us a little more coffee before you go?” asked
her mother.
“Of course, Mom, I’ll do it right away.”
Sophie took the thermos from the table. She had to make more coffee.
While she stood waiting for it to brew, she fed the birds and the goldfish. She
also went into the bathroom and put a lettuce leaf out for Govinda. She
couldn’t see the cat anywhere, but she opened a large can of cat food,
emptied it into a bowl and set it out on the step. She felt her tears welling up.
When she returned with the coffee, the garden party looked more like a
children’s party than a young woman’s philosophical celebration. Several
soda bottles had been knocked over on the table, there was chocolate cake
smeared all over the tablecloth and the dish of raisin buns lay upside down on