Hovering Over the Water Page #5

is an image of happiness.

I have not great doubts about it.

If they question me...

Ah, if they question me,

I'll be perfectly willing to deny

the nature of that image:

it's intolerable

in the present times.

I brought some red wine...

It's very good.

Maria wants a starfish.

I don't want to remember you.

All my days are memories of ghosts.

There's never

anything to drink in this house.

If it isn't eaten right away

it will loose the zest.

Dinner is served!

You children eat right here.

The fish-stew has lots of pepper in it

and isn't good for your bellies.

Where is Laura?

Miss Laura,

it had to be this very day,

has left some while ago and told me

not to expect her for dinner.

God bless her!

Take me away with you,

very far away.

I see you made a night of it.

You've already got there your food.

But I fancy you aren't hungry.

Are you in a hurry?

Won't you even say good morning?

Good morning, senhora Amelia.

Good morning, madam.

Do you want me to make you some tea?

That's filthy!

It's not filthy, it's a mosquito.

Don't make so much noise.

He dropped a mosquitoe into my milk.

What doesn't kill you

is good for you.

Do you think that's reasonable?

Uncle Robert eats lizards.

Then eat the mosquitoe. He was in the

desert and had nothing else to eat.

- There are some who eat stones.

- And the sole of their shoes...

I'll drink this one.

We all know Maria's a saint.

After they've eaten,

the mosquitoes belly becomes red.

I looked at the mosquitoe

through aunt Sara's microscope.

He looked like a hairy monster.

If the mosquitoe

is plunged into the milk,

the mosquitoe will turn pink.

Thus, the mosquitoe

becomes less repelent,

quod erat demonstrandum.

- What redeems you is being funny.

The lady should take the children

to the toad-hole in Castro Marim.

- What's a toad-hole?

- It's a swamp.

With toads?

Whit toads and frogs and leeches

and lots of vermin.

And very pretty birds.

Many tourists go there

to take pictures of the royal heron.

Do you know

what a royal heron is?

It looks like those flamingoes

you saw at the Zoo, you remember?

We know.

The flamingo is that pink bird

with big legs and a long neck

who sleeps on one leg

only with its head under the wing.

That's it.

Some call it a crane.

In days past they came in the Autumn,

in big flocks.

Now only one or two can be seen.

But no one takes the picture

of what there are lots of:

gnats and mosquitoes.

It's a place of fevers,

one of the most disgraced.

How is your son?

He's a heavy drinker.

There's nothing one can do.

Good morning, everybody.

Is there any coffee left?

Yes there is, miss.

I'm heating it.

Are you still coming with us

to the beach?

Of course I am.

And what about the trip

to the toad-hole?

I suppose that's all.

- The milk is missing.

- It's not necessary.

You were about to forget the honey.

I don't want

to see anyone ever again!

They came to fetch Roberto!

I won't let you go.

I would have liked to drink

a cup of tea with you.

I only wanted to say goodbye.

I don't know what else to say.

Have a good trip,

mister Roberto.

What did he say?

That he would like

to have a mother like you.

How nice...

Ship in sight!

It's the Angelus!

Uncle Robert!

We'll have to learn how to use up

the remaining unhappiness.

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