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Capricorn gave him a look of such contempt that Basta flinched backwards as if he had been struck
Fenoglio, however, looked as if he were enjoying hi the whole scene as if it were a play performed especially for hireat injustice again, for he’s right Suppose I’? Suppose I really did invent you both – you and Basta? Will you si to ie sensed he was thinking over what Fenoglio had said, and it reat pains to hide his concern under a mask of indifference
‘I can prove that I’lio, so quietly that apart from Capricorn only Basta could hear his words ‘Shall I do it here, in front of your men and those women? Shall I tell them about your parents?’
All was quiet in the church now No oneat the foot of the steps Even the wohtened up to look at Capricorn and the strange oldas if that would help her to hear what they hispering about
Capricorn inspected his cufflinks in silence They were like drops of blood on his pale shirt Then, at last, he turned his colourless eyes to Fenoglio’s face again
‘Say what you like, old man! But if you value your life say it so that only I can hear’ He spoke softly, but Meggie heard the fury in his voice, suppressed with difficulty but lurking behind every word She had never felt ned to Basta, who reluctantly took a few steps backwards
‘I suppose the child can hear what I have to say?’ asked Fenoglio, putting his hand on Meggie’s shoulder ‘Or are you afraid of her too?’
Capricorn did not even look at Meggie He had eyes only for the old man who had invented hi to say! You’re not the first person to try saving his skin in this church with a few lies, but if you hedge your bets any longer I shall tell Basta to wrap a pretty little viper around your neck I always keep a few around the place for such occasions’
Even this threat didn’t particularly i all round hier audience, ‘where shall I begin? First, so he knows about his characters There’s no need for readers to know everything Some of it is better kept secret between the author and his creations Take hi to Basta ‘I always kneas a very unhappy boy before you picked him up As it says in a another very fine book, it’s terribly easy to persuade children that they are worthless Basta was convinced of it Not that you taught him any better, oh no! Why would you? But suddenly here was someone to whom he could devote hiod, Capricorn, and if you treated hiods are kindly? Most of theree? I didn’t write all this in the book I knew it, that was enough But never mind Basta now, let’s lio His face was as rigid as if it had turned to stone
‘Capricorn’ Fenoglio’s voice sounded alazed over Capricorn’s shoulder as if he had forgotten that the ht in front of hier existed only in an entirely different world between the covers of a book ‘He has another name too, of course, but even he doesn’t remember it He has called hin under which he was born Capricorn the unapproachable, unfathomable, insatiable, who likes to play God or the Devil as the fancy takes hilio then looked Capricorn in the eye ‘But you do’
Meggie looked up at the Magpie She had co, her bony hands clenched into fists
‘You like to spread the rulio went on ‘Indeed, it sohter, and your father, you claim, was an armourer at her father’s court A very nice story too Shall I tell youlike fear on Capricorn’s face, a na or end, and behind it hatred rose like a vast black shadow
Meggie felt sure that Capricorn wanted to strike Fenoglio to the ground, but his fear was too strong, leaving hilio see that too?
‘Go on, tell your story Why not?’ Capricorn’s eyes were unblinking, like a snake’s
Fenoglio srandsons ‘Very well, let’s go on The tale of the court ar that the old ht have been teasing a kitten Did he know so little about his own creation? ‘Capricorn’s father was an ordinary blackse in Capricorn’s eyes distract him ‘He made his son play with hot coals, and soed There were blows if the boy ever showed pity, andtears and for every time the lad said, "I can’t" or "I’ll never do it" "Power is all that counts," he taught his son "Rules are est, so be sure that you’re the one who ht that was the only real truth in the world, and she told her son day in, day out that one day he would be the strongest of all She was no princess but a serving hened knees, and she followed her son like a shadow, even when he began to be ashamed of her and invented a new mother and new father for himself She admired him for his cruelty; she loved to see the terror he spread abroad And she loved his ink-black heart Your heart is a stone, Capricorn, a black stone with about as much human sympathy as a lump of coal, and you are very, very proud of that’
Capricorn went on playing with his cufflink, turning it round and looking at it as intently as if he were giving all his attention not to Fenoglio’s words but to the little red piece of metal When the old man fell silent, Capricorn carefully pulled the sleeve of his jacket down over his wrist and brushed a speck of fluff off his arer – his pale, indifferent eyes no longer showed rage, hatred or fear
‘That really is an a story, old man,’ he said in a quiet voice ‘I like it You’re a born liar, so I shall keep you here – for the ti – until I tire of your stories’
‘Keep ht ‘I’ve no intention of staying here! What on earth--’
But Capricorn put a hand over his mouth ‘Not another word!’ he hissed ‘Basta has told ive me any trouble, or tell your lies not tovipers and leave therandchildren’s door Do I make myself clear, old man?’