Indeed, Sophie had no answer to that question. Before she ate, she put
the note in the closet together with all the other stuff she had collected in the
past weeks. She would learn soon enough why the question had been asked.
The following morning Joanna came by. After a game of badminton, they
got down to planning the philosophical garden party. They needed to have
some surprises on hand in case the party flopped at any point.
When Sophie’s mother got home from work they were still talking about
it. Her mother kept saying: “Don’t worry about what it costs.” And she was not
being sarcastic!
Perhaps she was thinking that a “philosophical garden party” was just
what was needed to bring Sophie down to earth again after her many weeks
of intensive philosophical studies.
Before the evening was over they had agreed on everything, from paper
lanterns to a philosophical quiz with a prize. The prize should preferably be a
book about philosophy for young people. If there was such a thing! Sophie
was not at all sure.
Two days before Midsummer Eve, on Thursday, June 21, Alberto called
Sophie again.
“Sophie.”
“And Alberto.”
“Oh, hi! How are you?”
“Very well indeed, thank you. I think I have found an excellent way out.”
“Way out of what?”
“You know what. A way out of the mental captivity we have lived in for
much too long.”
“Oh, that.”
“But I cannot say a word about the plan before it is set in motion.”
“Won’t it be too late then? I need to know what I am involved in.”
“Now you’re being na’i’ve. All our conversations are being overheard.
The most sensible thing would be to say nothing.”
“It’s as bad as that, huh?”
“Naturally, my child. The most important things must happen when we
are not talking.”
“Oh.”
“We are living our lives in a fictional reality behind the words in a long
story. Each single letter is being written on an old portable typewriter by the
major. Nothing that is in print can therefore escape his attention.”
“No, I realize that. But how are we going to hide from him?”
“Ssh!”
“What?”
“There’s something going on between the lines as well. That’s just where
I’m trying to be tricky, with every crafty ruse I know.”
“I get it.”
“But we must make the most of the time both today and tomorrow. On
Saturday the balloon goes up. Can you come over right now?”
“I’m on my way.”
Sophie fed the birds and the fish and found a large lettuce leaf for
Govinda. She opened a can of cat food for Sher-ekan and put it out in a bowl
on the step as she left.
Then she slipped through the hedge and out to the path on the far side.