The Salamander Page #3

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Mother took him at once.

What was one more or less to her?

Simple as that.

What's the child's name?

- Jean.

- A boy?

Yes. My uncle thought that I was a

b*tch.

He wanted to put me in reform school.

No, that was after the car business.

That was nothing.

Albert, a friend of mine,

had taken a car to go for a drive.

We had a drink in the village,

and a cop asked for our papers

just as we were leaving.

They only took my name,

but they nabbed Albert.

No, wait, I had to go to court.

And reform school?

I never went. What for?

Then I started as a dressmaker's

apprentice.

That satisfied my uncle.

- Are you a dressmaker?

- No, I never finished.

Why not?

I don't like dressmaking.

Pierre thought that was as good a

reason as any.

And Paul wrote:

"Heliodore", that was

Rosemonde's name in the story,

"had little taste for what is called

a trade."

"Where one learns an honest,

which means poor, living."

"Where one's at everyone's beck and

call."

"Where freedom means...

...a quick smoke in the bathroom."

I was told I was pretty enough to be

a hostess.

A stewardess, perhaps?

No, you need languages for that.

Some other hostess.

A department store hostess, with a

little hat?

Maybe, but I like to dress how I like.

I don't like uniforms.

What did you do after the dressmaking?

Mostly housework for my uncle.

I was used to such work.

There was always plenty at home,

scrubbing my brothers and sisters.

I did some other jobs too.

I was a salesgirl,

and I worked in a macaroni factory.

But not for long.

Others stay.

I never do.

I'm not quite normal.

At least that's what people say.

"It slowly dawned on Heliodore

that it was not the others,

but she who was normal."

"That her desires were basically

normal."

"Consequently, what wasn't normal...

...had to be outside her,

since she and the world didn't hit it

off."

Once I went to the Riviera with

Albert.

He had his own car then.

My uncle informed the police.

I'd gone off without telling him.

He thought I'd gone off on the loose.

Anyway, they never found us.

It was fantastic!

We went where we liked, slept on the

beach.

One evening...

I nearly recorded some porn for you!

That was the last time I saw the sea.

Uncle takes his holidays in the

mountains,

in a total dump.

He took me there once.

There were two old bags who sang

after dinner.

I never left my room.

He almost called the police to

have them pry me out.

You don't like them much, do you?

Who, the cops?

I couldn't care less.

Were you involved with them before?

Me? No, I never did a thing.

My brother, when he was

working on a farm, did something

stupid once.

The cops came to our house.

And then, when my father slugged a

guy,

they came again.

And after the thing with my uncle,

they hounded me for ages.

Until finally, they left me alone.

And now?

Now?

I feel old. Even more so than before.

I wonder what will become of me.

I never used to worry about that.

But nevermind.

That's enough for now. Turn that

thing off.

How often must I tell you that

people eat what you handle?

Tidy your hair or wear a cap.

Come in!

Is that you?

No, it's me..

What are you doing here?

Aren't you working today?

Is it raining?

No, I went swimming.

A day off?

No, I quit.

Did they fire you? Lay you off?

No, I left. I was fed up.

- Do you need money?

- No.

I wanted to see you.

Good idea. No, bad idea.

It's a good idea, but now's not a

good time.

I was hoping you might cheer me up.

Not now.

I don't want to lose my train of

thought.

Come back this evening.

You're not much fun!

I don't want to go anywhere.

May I stay here?

I won't say a word.

If you like.

The question of Swiss capital

investment in Brazil

gave Pierre trouble.

Two hours have passed since Rosemonde

arrived.

Outside it was pitch dark.

It's pitch dark out.

I'm staying.

Fine, stay.

I'm sleeping here.

Fine, sleep here.

I'm sleeping in your bed.

I'm staying, I'm sleeping in your bed,

and I'm sleeping with you.

I'm staying, I'm sleeping in your bed,

and I'm sleeping with you.

I'm taking off my skirt.

Where's the bathroom?

Downstairs,

First door on your left. No, right.

Is your novel almost finished?

Is your novel almost finished?

Is it all about me?

No, it's about Brazil.

Have you been there?

Really?

The Carnival in Rio, is that in

Brazil?

Have you seen it?

No!

Sorry.

Can I watch TV?

Quietly?.

Very quietly.

How's it work?

Turn the little knob on the left.

I'll be done in a couple minutes.

Are you a nice guy?

Very nice.

Me too.

It depends on the person.

Sometimes I'm terrible. I'm wild, you

know.

But I'm easily tamed.

I believe you.

That's it. I'm stopping.

I'm hungry. Are you?

I'll heat the stew Paul made for

lunch.

Who is Paul?

My friend. We work together.

I'll have some too.

Can I stay?

I don't want to go out in this

weather.

I wouldn't have let you go, anyway.

Your thigh touched my hand in passing.

I noticed. How did it feel?

Soft.

Here I am.

- How's your little family?

- Good.

Really good?

Yes, sure.

In the midst of total moral misery.

Fantastic!

One makes do with what one can.

- And how are you?

- Alright.

- Have you been working?

- A little.

I left my deluxe pen here.

- It's in my room.

- You used it?

I told you never to touch it!

I used it to sign a letter. I didn't

eat it.

Go get it, see for yourself.

There's a girl in your room.

How do you know?

It smells good.

She's asleep.

Aren't you asleep?

Pierre said you were.

I was, earlier.

Good morning, then. Excuse me.

No harm done.

The girl wasn't asleep.

The girl is Rosemonde.

I got you, didn't I?

You've seen her, after all.

You didn't picture her like that?

She's pretty, isn't she?

I forgot to take my pen.

I came for something,

but I already forgot what it was.

You know how to make coffee?

Of course.

Will you make some?

Yes. I'll call you when it's ready.

I'll call you then.

Paul had problems.

Since he had met Rosemonde three days

ago,

everything looked different.

Only time remained the same. It

passed.

It's November 23rd.

You shouldn't have slept with

Rosemonde.

Why not?

Wouldn't you like to?

It's going to complicate our work.

What do you mean? We're almost done.

We know a lot about her

and about her past. I've talked to

her uncle,

her old boss,

her coworkers.

I looked up her file at the paper.

I've seen the cops. Now it's up to

you.

I know.

I haven't written a line since I met

her.

I knew it would change everything.

Die Ereignisse verwirren mich.

Two Rosemondes are one too many.

And which one's superfluous?

Mine, not the real one.

I've gotta start over.

I have to know more about the real

one.

Where are the recordings?

In the bathroom.

I listened to them while I cut my

toenails.

The entrance is around back.

Where's the door?

What do you want?

I'm a Civil Defense Inspector.

A real inspector or a phony?

Paul, come here!

A Civil Defense Inspector. A real one!

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