The Sheltering Sky Page #3

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Can't stay here a week. I'll be dead.

Good morning.

Good morning.

My God!

What are all these flies?

Welcome to Ain Krorfa!

It does have a smell

all of its own, doesn't it?

Do you think Port suspects something?

I think he knows.

But he doesn't know that he knows.

What is that song?

I keep hearing it.

"I am weeping on your grave."

I am weeping for my gin and tonic.

But according to Port,

one eventually gets used to anything.

If that were true,

it'd be the end of progress.

It's true. I just don't know

whether it's good or bad.

Neither.

This may be the only hotel in town...

but I can do better at the market.

Look.

Corpses.

They're weevils.

Must have been in the noodles.

Well, they're in the soup now.

The bowl's thick with them.

You all can eat here

at Carrion Towers if you like.

I can find better stuff

than this at the market.

So long then.

All right.

It seems as if bad food is the only

way I can be alone with you.

It is fairly awful, isn't it?

- It truly is.

- Maybe they have eggs in the kitchen.

- Oh, no.

- Oh, yes.

Away with these little brats.

Come here, Mommy.

- Go away!

- Go away!

Sod off, you little bugger!

Could you be happy here?

Happy?

Happy? How do you mean?

I mean, could you like it here?

How do I know?

God, I wish you wouldn't

ask me questions like this.

Really, I can't answer them.

What do you want me to say?

Yes, I'll be happy in Africa.

I like Ain Krorfa so much.

But I can't tell if I want

to stay a month or leave tomorrow.

You couldn't leave tomorrow

even if you wanted to.

- Hi.

- Hi.

I can't get any information

about how to leave.

No buses. Not even a fruit truck.

Nobody speaks English.

- Anybody for a nightcap?

- Not for me.

Well, then good night.

You sure?

That's kind of you. Thanks, but no.

- Good night.

- Port?

Good night.

Come in.

It's me, Eric.

I hope I'm not disturbing you,

old man.

Why are you tiptoeing?

I don't know.

It's about the money you lent me.

I came to pay it back.

You don't need to. It was a gift.

I'd like to all the same really.

It was 300...

Three hundred francs, wasn't it?

Mother and I are leaving

in the morning.

I knew you were here.

Hope you have change for 1000.

- Would you like me to look?

- Lf you could.

- Where are you going tomorrow?

- Messad.

You're kidding.

That is exactly where my friend

would like to go. Mr. Tunner.

- Oh?

- Yes.

I...

Well, we're leaving before dawn.

I could go and tell him right away.

I mean, you wouldn't mind

giving him a lift, would you?

Could you stomach

one of my cigarettes?

Oh, yes. Thank you.

We can forget about the money.

Oh, well... all right.

If you really want to get rid of him.

Excuse me.

"K:
Gone to Messad with the Lyles.

Maybe I can find you

some more champagne.

See you in Bou Noura. Love, Tunner."

- So, what happened to Tunner?

- Gone with the monsters.

- He left me his cushion.

- Good.

So the plan is to meet

in Bou Noura in a few days?

More or less, yes.

More or less?

Less, actually.

- Port, are you packing?

- Yes, I am.

- There's a bus to Bou Noura after all.

- A bus today?

It only leaves in the afternoons.

Strange kind of bus.

It didn't exist yesterday.

You know how transport is around here.

Always improvised.

This trunk...

You wrote Mexican Overture sitting

on top of this trunk. Remember?

- Did I?

- Yes.

So we're off on our own then?

Yes.

We've been married a long time, Port.

I don't think 10 years

is such a long time.

- What in God's name are you doing?

- Celebrating.

I'm not sure what I'm celebrating,

but I am.

I felt like I was going to die

if I didn't see my things.

We've been living like refugees.

I haven't unpacked since the boat.

The only trouble is,

there are no mirrors here.

- So how do I look?

- Well...

Have you seen my glasses?

The ones with the clip-ons?

Have you seen my passport?

The one with the photo?

No!

- I lost it.

- You haven't!

Well, in that case,

I feel much better. Yes, I have.

God, what a bore!

Have you seen anyone in my room

since we got here?

Are you sure

you looked through everything?

- Port, are you cold?

- Yeah, I am a little bit.

Well, I should notify someone.

The sooner the better, I suppose.

Do you think sooner is better?

By the way...

you look okay.

Hi.

My passport wasn't lost.

Eric Lyle stole it.

I told you he was a criminal!

The lieutenant says it'll end up at

the Foreign Legion barracks in Messad.

It'll bring a high price.

That's exactly where Eric was headed.

I find it awfully peculiar that

someone could be constantly cold...

in the Sahara Desert in September.

I'll feel better

once we get to El Ga'a.

El Ga'a?

It's the most beautiful city

in the Sahara.

It's odd to be here

without official proof.

When are we going to El Ga'a?

We could have taken the bus

tomorrow, but it was full.

Don't worry. I'll pack your things.

So, what about our plans?

What about Tunner?

What about Tunner?

He'll catch up,

or maybe we'll still be here.

- We're standing in a cemetery.

- We are?

Look at the markers.

No names, no dates.

Just pieces of broken pottery.

Don't you ever think we should stop?

- Stay somewhere, at least for a while?

- Stop?

Really stop? Stopping?

Maybe we could in El Ga'a.

It's supposed to be very beautiful

there and much warmer.

Timbuktu, El Ga'a,

it doesn't make any difference.

But if you'll be happier or feel

better, then we'll go to El Ga'a.

Then we'll stay in El Ga'a.

Wait.

Port?

Come on, get up.

Honey, you'll ruin your back. Get up.

Come, sit up.

Port, please.

Come on. Sit up. I'll help you.

Port, please.

Come on, Port. Come on.

There.

Here, let me cover you.

You're freezing.

Is that better?

My God!

Something is really wrong with me.

What do you think it is?

When do we arrive? Until noon?

You need to sleep. Come on, darling,

put your head here.

You just need to sleep. Okay?

Can you rest?

You'll feel better if you sleep.

Can you sleep?

You haven't called me darling

for more...

than a year.

You all right?

- You all right?

- Yes, I slept well.

- It's great here.

- Oh, my God. It's wonderful.

Look at it.

And you've arranged my suite of rooms?

- I found the four-star restaurant too.

- Drinks on the veranda in a half-hour.

- I love them together like this.

- As opposed to individually.

I didn't mean that. Why must you...?

Port, what is it? What's wrong?

Port, can you get up?

Get up. Try to stand.

Just try to stand, please.

Can you walk? Please?

Are you here? Are you here?

- Yeah.

- Stand up. Put your arm around me.

I bit my tongue.

Right this way. It's all right.

I always wondered what

it would be like to bite my tongue.

Can you walk

just a little bit further?

If you stay in one place,

you'll be fine.

Port, stand up, please!

- Please! Are you all right?

- Do I have a fever?

Yes, sweetie, you're very hot.

Please, Port...

- Don't panic. I'll take care of you.

- What was that hotel in Salzburg...

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