but not here for your enjoyment. I’m What reparations will you make?” clearly been a “There’s grave mistake.” [179] 18/3 Art cries, exultant. “A grave mistake!” been a grave mistake, she said! “There’s Who needs a management consultant to tell this is a watershed? My days of living here are numbered, my friend. soon be disencumbered You’ll of all my whining and complaining.” The sky is resolutely raining; skyscrapers are decapitated; the harbour rolls with ships of mist, and to resist Art’s unable a soggy two-step. elated, He’s lost in a haze of gleeful madness, and notice sadness. doesn’t Murray’s [180] 19/3 His ranger comes apologising early next morning, but his frown and careful coldness are surprising. He says, come to shut this down. “I’ve clear to me that insane. It’s you’re I know what you hoped to gain don’t by telling stories to my boss— it matter. your loss. doesn’t It’s You only caused me trouble, haven’t brought it on yourself as well. you’ve You know this a hotel. isn’t And now out, and on the double. you’re After today, interdicted, you’re and be you’ll forcibly evicted.” [181] 20/3 a hotel? The “Not ignoramus!” Murray explodes as Arthur packs. hotel hoped to be more famous “What than Arthur says, Starlight?” “Relax. all you come and visit? It’s right.” “Will sure still is it? I’m that’s allowed.” “Well, not sure that I want to risk I’m it.” have a smoke, a biscuit, “Come. Come! We’ll let me know how things are you’ll going....” Art ties and yokes his bags. They stand. Arthur extends a trembling hand; Murray embraces him, cheeks flowing with dirty, unrepentant tears;
but I’m not here for your enjoyment. What reparations will you make?” “There’s clearly been a grave mistake.” [179] 18/3 “A grave mistake!” Art cries, exultant. “There’s been a grave mistake, she said! Who needs a management consultant to tell this is a watershed? My days of living here are numbered, my friend. You’ll soon be disencumbered of all my whining and complaining.” The sky is resolutely raining; skyscrapers are decapitated; the harbour rolls with ships of mist, and Art’s unable to resist a soggy two-step. He’s elated, lost in a haze of gleeful madness, and doesn’t notice Murray’s sadness. [180] 19/3 His ranger comes apologising early next morning, but his frown and careful coldness are surprising. He says, “I’ve come to shut this down. It’s clear to me that you’re insane. I don’t know what you hoped to gain by telling stories to my boss— it doesn’t matter. It’s your loss. You haven’t only caused me trouble, you’ve brought it on yourself as well. You know this isn’t a hotel. And now you’re out, and on the double. After today, you’re interdicted, and you’ll be forcibly evicted.” [181] 20/3 “Not a hotel? The ignoramus!” Murray explodes as Arthur packs. “What hotel hoped to be more famous than Starlight?” Arthur says, “Relax. It’s all right.” “Will you come and visit? I’m sure that’s still allowed.” “Well, is it? I’m not sure that I want to risk it.” “Come. Come! We’ll have a smoke, a biscuit, you’ll let me know how things are going....” Art ties and yokes his bags. They stand. Arthur extends a trembling hand; Murray embraces him, cheeks flowing with dirty, unrepentant tears;