Paul Murray: The Mark and the Void

Outside, the rainbow flag cracks in the wind; the blue air seems to tinkle, as if with secret chimes. ‘Thank you,’ I say.

‘Just seemed like a better ending,’ she says.

‘So what would you do next?’

‘It’s not me, is it, it’s the character.’

‘Okay, what does the character do? In the epilogue? I can tell Paul.’

‘I don’t know … maybe she takes up anthropology again. Goes back to the island, lives with the tribe, tries to help stop them being washed away.’

‘That would work.’

‘Then she meets a handsome island chieftain and falls in love.’

‘Yes.’

‘He’s tall, has a nice body.’

‘Of course.’

‘And he’s really good at racquetball.’

‘Let me write this down.’

‘What about you, Claude? What happens to you?’

Before I can reply, Ariadne appears at the table with a plate of baklava. ‘You want to try?’ she says. ‘I have changed the recipe.’

She waits while we dig in with our spoons.

‘Fuck,’ Ish says. ‘This is incredible.’

‘ Nostimo ,’ I agree. ‘Very nostimo .’

‘That’s because this time I use Greek honey,’ Ariadne says; then adds, looking at me, ‘Once you taste it, always you will be coming back for more.’

With that, she dances away again. Ish raises an eyebrow.

‘What?’ I say.

‘You need to ask her out.’

‘In the book, you mean?’ I say. ‘Or in real life?’

Ish grins at me over her cup.

‘That’s up to you, mate,’ she says. ‘That’s up to you.’

Thanks to Simon Prosser, Mitzi Angel, Anna Kelly and Caroline Pretty for their invaluable editorial work; to Natasha Fairweather for her support and insight; and to all at United Agents. Thanks to Donna Tartt for her inspired early reading. Thanks also to Anna Ridley, Cliona Lewis, Patricia McVeigh, Neil Stewart, Mark C. O’Flaherty, Tim Jarvis, Ronan Kelly, Jonathan Hanly, Jon Ihle, Stephen McGovern, Adam Kelly, Sarah Bannan and Linda Fallon. A big ευχαριστώ to Viviana Miliaresi for all of her help. Thanks to the Arts Council of Ireland, An Chomhairle Ealaíon, for their financial assistance. Miriam and Sam — for real life, my love and gratitude to you always.