APPENDIX A – Venice
If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing
evil deeds and it were necessary only to separate them from the
rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil
cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing
to destroy a piece of his own heart?
ALEXANDER SOLZHENITZYN
My history of madness ends here. In a room bathed with natural
light. That is why they’ve put me here. It’s a nice little box. Nothing
fancy, but then I’ve long been accustomed to modest surroundings.
All I require is a good desk and a lot of illumination. I must leave the
room now to attend an important meeting.
I am outside among the noises and the smells and the people.
The harsh sun burns directly overhead me as I stroll down the
Promenade. The warmth is intoxicating. Often the thermostat in the
building is set too low for my taste. It is marvelous to perspire.
They’ve called me down to the police station. Some loose ends to
tie up. I’m running early so there’s time to stop by the new
Biddenbrooks store. I’ve heard that they’ve changed their image.
Yes, the first thing I can see is that the logo is completely
different. It is rare for a company to change it so, but in this case I can
understand their logic. It is now a Buddha meditating by a brook. The
gestalt shifts. Suddenly all is peaceful, innocent, calm. All is forgiven,
cleared up. Dredged, dragged and trawled. The attitude inside is also
new. Serene, understated, more serious. More wood, less marketing.
But then I read the drink names and I see that the attitude has
remained. Impossible promises, idealistic elixirs served in recycled
paper cups.
“What is Gala Tea?” I ask the young lady behind the counter.
She takes a deep breath, tries to remember. “Um, Galatea was a
beautiful mermaid loved by Cyclops…” She stops and looks away,
embarrassed.
“Don’t worry about that. I meant, what’s in it?”
“Oh. It’s a foamy green tea shake.”
“I’ll just have a regular coffee.”
ABYSSINIA
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