Read Online Tricksters by Norman Maclean - Free Book Online

in conspiratorial fashion. ‘Since I’ve got shot of Sam the Scam, there’s nothing I’d like better than a little chat with someone like yourself.’
    â€˜Sam the –’
    â€˜An arrogant braggart. He’s made the odd programme for the Beeb. They’re all crap. He’s also terribly mean. He’d steal the worm from a blind hen.’
    â€˜What a despicable miser!’
    â€˜That’s the word we’re looking for. He wants to buy this place. But he’s constantly cutting the price. My biggest fear is that he’ll get to Nigel – that’s my husband – and he’ll be tempted by a very large sum of ready cash.’ She looked at Rachel seriously. ‘What did you want to talk about, Rachel?’
    â€˜Uh, well, I, I was looking for some . . . advice. I mean . . .’
    â€˜Advice! You’ve come to the right place, haven’t you? All the wisdom of the East just pours out of me.’
    â€˜Was it from China this wisdom came?’
    â€˜Kyles Scalpay. That’s where my granny on my father’s side came from. “Shanghai’s Wife” she was known as. My grandfather was a river pilot in Shanghai once upon a time and he was the one who brought all this furniture home.’
    â€˜Well, I thought . . . I mean . . .’
    â€˜That I had more than a drop of Chinese blood in me? No, though my skin is a tad yellow, but there’s folk on Scott Road far darker than me. No, I’m as Heilan’ as peat. Oh, I like to have the things my grandfathercollected round about me. The Tartan Pagoda is a kind of shrine to my granny.’
    â€˜Oh, I get it.’
    â€˜But what are you going to do about Murdo?’
    â€˜I don’t know. I’ve given him an ultimatum: unless he comes up with money, I’m off on the ferry this afternoon and I’m leaving him here.’
    â€˜Good decision, Rachel. That’ll keep him on his toes . . . that is, if he’s really fond of you.’ She paused for a moment. ‘So, what’s all this talk of yours about money?’
    â€˜It’s . . . it’s to do with Murdo as well.’
    â€˜Everything seems to revolve around him.’
    â€˜Yeah, it does, doesn’t it?’
    â€˜Now,’ Suki said, ‘shall I make up your bill?’
    â€˜As the old guy from Barra said, “I’m in a quadrangle”.’
    â€˜Won’t you tell me?’
    â€˜I can pay for last night’s lodgings and still have just enough to get home, or I can stay another night – with Murdo.’
    â€˜Give me both hands, Rachel.’ Suki held Rachel’s hands lightly.
    â€˜What is it we’re doing?’ Rachel said.
    â€˜Let us pray.’
    Rachel rapidly took her hands away. ‘Uh, I don’t think so, if it’s all the same to you.’
    â€˜Don’t be silly. You’re not going to be praying to the Lord God Almighty. You’re just going to be putting some questions to yourself.’
    â€˜No,’ Rachel said. ‘Look, I don’t want to hurt your feelings. It’s a matter of indifference to me what religion other people believe in, just so long as they don’t try to put iron horseshoes on my feet.’
    â€˜You’re not listening to me, Rachel.’ Suki seized Rachel’s hands in her own once more. ‘All I’m trying to do is teach you how you can have a conversation between yourself and the Rachel that’s deep inside you.’
    â€˜So that I can talk to myself?’
    â€˜That’s it,’ Suki said. ‘So that you can draw upon the huge amount of power and love you hold inside.’
    â€˜God be round about me! If I start talking to myself in public, guys will be on the phone saying “Check all mental hospitals for empty beds”!’
    â€˜Have you heard of yin and yang?’ Suki said.
    â€˜No. I’d hazard a guess they had something to do with