The Shallows. Ingrid Winterbach
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‘What did they draw?’ I ask.
He makes an impatient gesture. ‘Anything. Animals. Aeroplanes. What do you call them – superheroes.’
‘As children, did they attend puppet shows?’
‘I took them once or twice.’
‘Do you have any idea where their fascination with puppetry came from?’ I ask.
‘That you’ll have to ask them,’ he says.
‘And do you still have regular contact with them?’ I ask.
The man hesitates a moment before saying: ‘They are busy. They have a high international profile. But they faithfully send me catalogues of each of their exhibitions.’
Then he extends his hand wordlessly in Miss De Jongh’s direction, who gets to her feet, produces a small plastic dish from somewhere in his wheelchair and hands it to him. Now he starts feeding the koi. The obscene mouth of the fish appears above the surface at rapid intervals, gobbling at the food. I stand watching in fascination and revulsion. The interview hasn’t exactly got off to a flying start. The old father could hardly have been less cooperative. I ask another question or two, but they’re not really to my purpose. Before long he makes another hand gesture in the woman’s direction. She steps on her cigarette end, gets up, kick-releases the brake, and I get the impression the interview is over. Not once did the old man look at me. Or give any sign of recognition.
*
I carry on working at the monograph. When I try to make another appointment, Miss De Jongh alleges that Professor Olivier is in bed with a severe flu. I don’t believe a word of it, but I don’t give up that easily. I still have quite a few questions I want to ask him. Why should I let him off the hook so easily?
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