[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
to display, and in both that and a desire to live frugally and unfussily
out-with conventional society, with a respect for the wisdom of the past, for
nature and for all mystic faiths, it might be true that my Grandfather was one
of the first hippies.
Cecil and Gertie left at the end of that first summer, as Aasni and Zhobelia
bloomed bigger, and shortly after Gertie discovered, to her alloyed joy, that
she too had fallen pregnant (this was the lump that would turn out to be
Lucius). They swore that they would return, and that they would spread the
good tidings of the new Faith's birth, both by word of mouth and by financing
the publication of the
Orthography once
Salvador had completed it. They took all their exotic trappings with them,
stowing them in the back of the shooting break without a thought for the finer
sensibilities of the pregnant sisters, who to their dismay suddenly found
themselves dumped back into the world of creaking iron beds and curling lino
after a heady existence amongst the luxuries of perfume-saturated
cloth-of-gold cushions and silk rugs of fabulous design.
I think that was when Salvador, who bore the brunt of the sisters' complaints
in this matter, finally turned his back on extravagance and luxury and made
simplicity an article of faith.
The Fossils kept up an almost daily correspondence with the farm at
Luskentyre, telling of their mission amongst the heathen folk of Edinburgh and
their efforts at spreading the good word amongst those who sought game fish in
still pools and those who angled after the words, warnings and entreaties of
the dear-
departed.
Meanwhile Aasni and Zhobelia each grew big with child, and jointly developed a
passion at a certain point in their confinement for the pungent pickles and
condiments they remembered from their childhood. Forbidden from contacting
their parents, having no wish to do so anyway and knowing of no other nearby
source of spiciness, they started to make their own, ordering supplies of the
rarer raw ingredients - chillis, coriander, cardamom, etc. - by mail from an
Indian grocer in Edinburgh whom Gertie had put them in touch with.
Their experiments with the likes of chilli and garlic sauce, lime and brinjal
pickle, apple and ginger chutney and so on did not always meet with complete
success, but they persisted, and Salvador -
discovering along with Mr McIlone a liking for the sisters' fiery concoctions
which might not have been
file:///F|/rah/Iain%20Banks/Banks,%20Iain%20-%20Whit.html (108 of 300)
[5/21/03 1:55:46 AM]
all totally unconnected with the commonality of effect produced in the mouth
by both cheap whisky and any chilli-laced comestible - happily encouraged
these fragrant forays into the Epicurean realm.
Aasni and Zhobelia's original cravings proved to be the pump-priming
inspiration for an avocation that lasted decades, and after a long period of
initial reluctance which persisted well beyond the time when
Aasni had been delivered of Brigit and Zhobelia of Calli and the sisters again
fitted comfortably behind the counter of their converted library van, their
chutneys and pickles eventually became their most successful line in the
travelling shop, giving the more broad-minded citizens of Lewis and Harris a
taste for palate-scalding sub-continental condiments that has persisted to
Page 87
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
this day.
*
The train carrying Zeb, Boz and me back to London broke down just outside the
town of Brentwood and limped into the station at little more than walking
pace. We detrained, and encountered some confusion amongst the railway staff
on the subject of a relief service, but the consensus seemed to be that we
might have an hour or so to wait.
'Fuck. Shit. Man. Trains. Fuck.'
'How annoying.'
'Hey, maybe we should get somethin' to eat, yeah?' Boz suggested.
We headed off to find a public house. Outside the station on the street we
passed four men with very short hair dressed in large boots, short jeans, and
shiny green blouse-style jackets; they seemed to be selling papers. I don't
think I'd have noticed them further but for the fact they started to make a
sort of
'Oo-oo oo-oo-oo' noise as we passed by. One of them spat on the pavement in
front of Boz, who just lifted his head a little and strolled serenely on.
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]