Read Online The Ivory Swing by Janette Turner Hospital - Free Book Online

non-Indian world.
    The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, he thought. From this sea had come Christ’s own apostle, St Thomas, with salvation. Missionaries from Europe had used boats as pulpits, preaching to the fisher people. And daily the ocean took back their converts to the bosom of God himself.
    Then again he saw the vision coming to him from the sea, fair and strange as the Blessed Virgin.
    â€œHello,” she said, smiling. She had a vague sense of having seen him somewhere before, but could think of no context.
    He had not expected to be addressed and could think of nothing to say. He simply stared at her.
    She bit her lip and looked away and he felt a rush of dismay and sympathy.
    It is hard for them in a strange land, he thought. This is the way it would be for Kumari.
    â€œIs it lonely?” he asked without thinking. “Away from your native country?”
    â€œYes.” She was surprised. “Sometimes it is very lonely.”
    She looked directly into his eyes, her own wide and blue-green like the sea.
    It was disconcerting to be looked at by a woman in that way. Improper. He lowered his own eyes nervously. Did Kumari gaze at other men in that way now?
    The fisher children swarmed like flies, pressing against her, touching her, chanting. Mr Thomas clapped his hands sharply and shouted an order. Immediately the children fell silent and backed away, scampering off to their boats.
    â€œThank you,” said the woman in evident relief.
    They began to walk along the beach together, her two children darting in and out of the water like dragonflies, laughing and calling to each other. He was relieved that the woman herself was now walking sedately beside him. He did not know what he would do if she began to dance again. Perhaps she had only been doing it because she thought no one but the children could see her.
    He said: “I am having a daughter in America.”
    â€œReally?”
    He looked at her sharply. Of course really. Was she accusing him of lying?
    â€œShe is living in Burlingtonvermont.”
    â€œAh. Vermont is very beautiful. If you visit her, you must go in the fall when the leaves change colour”
    What astonishing things the woman said! If he were visiting his daughter!
    â€œWhat is your daughter’s name?”
    â€œKumari. And I myself am being Mr Matthew Thomas, who is now humbly requesting the honour of knowing your name.”
    â€œIt’s Juliet,” she said, unable to match his quaint and charming verbal flourishes.
    â€œI am very happy to be meeting you, Mrs Juliet.”
    They walked on in silence. But it seemed a friendly companionable silence.
    Mr Thomas marvelled. Who would have dreamed that he would be walking and talking like a kinsman with someone who knew of Burlingtonvermont. It was quite astonishing how simple it was to talk to a western woman.
    â€œMy daughter Kumari is going to have a baby,” he said.
    â€œAh. Your first grandchild?”
    â€œNo, no. I am having already seven grandchildren. But this will be my first American grandchild.”
    She smiled. “Then you will be visiting them.”
    He looked at her with amazement. “How could I do that?”
    â€œIt is so expensive,” she said contritely. “Perhaps it will be easier for her to visit you. If her husband is on an American salary.”
    â€œIt is not that,” he said. “I am having sufficient money.”
    It was simply that he had never thought of it, and now he wondered why.
    â€œYou don’t wish to visit them?”
    â€œI do not know,” he said uncertainly.
    It was such a novel idea. He could not grasp it properly. His mind did not know how to hold it. It shivered about like quicksilver, tantalizing.
    â€œAnd why,” he thought to ask, “are you living in this country? Your husband is doing something with the government?”
    â€œNo. With the university. He is writing a book.”
    She looked at the sun