Observatory Mansions by Edward Carey Page B

tugged her elbow. Emma did not look up.
    The library was closed, the stories were padlocked under her stiff tongue and would come out to play no more. All the creatures from trolls to princesses, all her heroes and adventures had sunk down her throat into the abysses of her stilled organs, amongst blood that had lost the idea of action. Emma was a dead thing. The centre of her lips were burnt, she had been smoking a liquorice-papered cigarette when she had died and it had gone on living after her. It had extinguished itself in the cooling blood of her mouth, it had heated her lips while the rest was going cold. The last warm place on theperson who had taught me how to speak and to think, how to use my imagination and how to conceive histories, had been the lips and the tip of her celebrated tongue.
    On a table by the fireplace was a tin of tobacco and a wad of black cigarette papers, I took them for my friends, I gave them to my pockets (lots 44 and 45).
    But Emma was still to be found in the neglected graveyard of the church. I sat, that day, looking at the tombstone:
EMMA

Our second conversation .
    I became aware of the new resident standing in the church porch, smoking a cigarette, looking at me.
    You’ve been following me, haven’t you?
    No, thank you.
    Why have you been following me?
    I’m laying flowers at the grave of a friend.
    No. Do you want something from me?
    You’d better be out by the end of the week.
    I’ve no intention of leaving.
    It’s been known for people to change their intentions.
    I won’t.
    It’s been known that people who promise never to change their intentions actually do change their intentions.
    Well, I won’t.
    We’ll see.
    Are you trying to threaten me?
    You may come across unforeseen obstacles.
    You really are an exceedingly malicious little man.
    If you have to put it like that, I prefer the word malignant. In any case, I’m taller than you.
    I won’t be frightened.
    We’ll see.
    The Porter said you were slightly backward, is that true?
    I’ve had enough of this conversation. (I began to leave.)
    Is it the truth?
    The Porter knows nothing about me. (I began to leave hurriedly.)
    My name is—
    I’ve no need for names!
    Oh, you’ll need this one, Francis Orme. Learn it.
    I’m not listening!
    My name is Anna Tap.

The findings of Peter Bugg, retired schoolmaster,
retired personal tutor, etc .
    Peter Bugg was waiting for me when I returned that day, just after my second conversation with the new resident who now, I was forced to understand, went by the name of Anna Tap. Peter Bugg was puzzled. Puzzlement in the guise of drops of sweat and tears trickled out of him. Had he been into Anna Tap’s temporary residence? He had. Had he made an inventory of her possessions? He had. He held the sweaty list in his sweaty hands. Had he moved the objects into new positions? He had. He promised. Though, he said, it had been difficult. Heavy objects? No. Too many objects? No. Delicate objects? No.
    He showed me the list of his findings:
An inventory of the possessions of Anna Tap,
18 Observatory Mansions.
Temporary resident.
     
Bed
1
Sheets, pillowcase
(of each) 4
Pillows
2
Blankets
2
Towels (white, identical)
3
Chairs (identical design – Prussian blue, plastic, metal frame)
2
Tables (identical design, Formica top, metal frame)
2
Coat (black)
1
Blue dresses (identical)
8
Black lace-up shoes (flat soles, all identical)
(pairs) 3
Socks (black, identical)
(pairs) 8
Undergarments (bras, knickers)
(pairs) 8
Spectacles case (empty, steel)
1
Toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, deodorant
(of each) 1
Bottle of pills (labelled DIHYDROCODEINE TARTRATE)
1
Suitcase (black)
1
    These were all the objects to be found in flat eighteen. I insisted that there must be more. Some writing implements, some letters? Some photographs, books, periodicals? No. Some paintings, posters, ornaments? None. He had not searched everywhere. He insisted that he had. The only things he neglected to place on his list were,