Books Burn Badly (73 page)
Authors: Manuel Rivas
Gabriel’s own voice surprised him, ‘Come in, Mr Ren. The judge insisted you leave whatever you brought with you.’
‘He said that?’
‘With great interest.’
Ren looked doubtful. He knew about the old disagreement between father and son. Glanced at the suitcase with metal rivets. ‘I’ve brought the judge something very special.’
Gabriel’s voice carried on and he decided to let it, ‘I’m sure you have. That’s what he’s expecting. That’s what we’re expecting. Something special.’
He invited him into the study. For old times’ sake. Ren alighted on the mahogany table, opened the suitcase very slowly, as if something might escape. Gabriel Samos wondered what effect a handful of
Coccinella septempunctata
might have, carrying seven little dots on their wings. The tic in his hand had gone, the way it opened and closed.
Coccinella septempunctata
might have, carrying seven little dots on their wings. The tic in his hand had gone, the way it opened and closed.
‘Here it is.’ Ren’s face was red. His cheeks, inflamed.
‘Borrow’s book. The New Testament. Here, look at the signature. The dedication written with a quill. A wild goose quill, I dare say.’
For Antonio de la Trava, the valiente of Finisterra.
‘See! Look at the date:
Madrid, 1837
.’
Madrid, 1837
.’
‘Is it very valuable?’ asked Gabriel Samos with a show of indifference.
‘Very valuable, you say? You’ve no idea how much work a thing like this can give. Your father’s been after this book for years. But I told him, “For books, you needs must wait.”’
The pimple, the spot on his nose, was also inflamed.
‘Like this one. See, it’s in English. A first edition.
Ulysses
. Now I’m no expert, but I have a rough idea of the value of things. And this is worth a lot.’
Ulysses
. Now I’m no expert, but I have a rough idea of the value of things. And this is worth a lot.’
‘That’s strange!’
‘What is?’
‘That you should find it now. Here.’
‘What’s strange about that, Master Samos? Here there were always highly cultivated people. And good libraries. Even workers had libraries. No, Master Samos, this is not the back of beyond.’
To start with, Gabriel thought he might be teasing him. The way he called him ‘master’. The way he praised workers’ ransacked libraries. But then he realised he wasn’t. He was being serious.
‘It’s not easy to find what you’re looking for. And I’m in no fit state to rummage around. If I made an effort now, it was because of your father. He called me from hospital the first time he was admitted. He was excited. Very excited. Had a lead. So old Ren here got back on his feet.’
He flourished
Ulysses
. ‘It would seem half the world would go crazy for this book. It has only one little defect, apart from the fact you can’t understand it. A flyleaf is missing.’
Ulysses
. ‘It would seem half the world would go crazy for this book. It has only one little defect, apart from the fact you can’t understand it. A flyleaf is missing.’
Gabriel anxiously flicked through the pages. Muttered, ‘I wonder if it has an ex-libris.’
Ren was sweating. Took off his hat and laid it on the suitcase. Wiped his stunted head with a handkerchief. Breathed in through his nose. Seemed to be sniffing a new scent that had found its way into the house. A scent sewn to the plants.
‘It may have. I don’t know, nor do I care.’
‘It’d make it more valuable,’ said Gabriel.
‘More valuable? I doubt it. Who the heck cares about ownership? These pieces are of incalculable value.’ He whispered the word again, like an echo, ‘Incalculable.’
‘How much is incalculable, Ren?’
Ren dried his hands on the handkerchief and stuffed it, withered and hanging, back into his jacket pocket. Said, ‘Let’s see. These objects are difficult to value. Some things are just priceless. Your father would have paid well. Extremely well. In this case, I’d have said the payment would have been splendid.’
‘How much?’ asked Gabriel again.
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