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water.’
    ‘Water, yes, water. I could do with some water.’
    ‘I’m thirsty.’
    ‘I’m parched.’
    ‘Let’s go.’
    ‘Dreaming about water.’
    There was silence. Then they left the clearing in opposite directions.

Book Four

One
    IN ANOTHER CLEARING in the forest there stood a white building with a blue door. On the door was the legend: ‘Eden. Closed for restoration.’
    Old Man and Old Woman sat impassively in a far corner of the clearing. Pinprop emerged from the forest with the table on his head, which he deposited in front of the old couple.
    ‘I’m definitely exhausted,’ he said.
    He sat on the ground.
    ‘A new arrival, I hope.’
    He laughed.
    ‘I wish you both weren’t being so quiet.’
    There was silence.
    ‘It’s been a long journey, I suppose. I don’t even feel like being talkative now that you are both so quiet.’
    He laughed again.
    ‘A yes to this, a no to that. Yes, sir, yes, madam. A solid yes. The vote is taken. Skeletons. Biographical trees. Routines and routines. Tiredness, sir, and old age. Slavery and acceptance. Secret freedom. A dance to all that, sir and madam. A dance and a song.’
    He giggled.
    ‘I’ve carried both of you for so long that I feel like a hunchback. And now you are both silent. Definitely a dance and a song.’
    Pinprop got up, shook his feet, and walked crab-like around Old Man and Old Woman. He performed an absurd little dance. He laughed again. Then he sat back on the ground, in front of them, cross-legged.

Two
    ‘I’M TIRED,’ SAID Old Man, waking up.
    ‘I’m tired,’ said Old Woman.
    ‘Pinprop, have we arrived?’
    ‘Oh, sir, em, only temporarily.’
    ‘Why aren’t you being long-winded?’ asked Old Woman.
    ‘I feel as if I’ve taken on both your ages.’
    ‘I wish we could hang him,’ she said.
    ‘Yes. Hang him by his testicles.’
    ‘That’s a good idea.’
    ‘Let’s arrive first,’ Old Man suggested.
    ‘I’m tired.’
    ‘Let’s sleep.’
    ‘I’m afraid of sleeping.’
    ‘Let’s not talk about fear.’
    ‘Fear, fear, fear,’ said Pinprop.
    ‘Stop it,’ cried Old Man.
    ‘Terror, terror, terror.’
    ‘Shut up,’ cried Old Woman.
    ‘They are just words,’ said Pinprop.
    ‘Words can be made manifest,’ said Old Woman.
    ‘Too many of them have been,’ said Old Man.
    ‘Pinprop, where are we?’
    ‘Somewhere, madam.’
    ‘A most satisfactory answer.’
    ‘Definitely pointed,’ agreed Old Man.

Three
    AFTER A SHORT silence Pinprop laughed.
    ‘Slave,’ Old Man said, ‘why are you laughing?’
    ‘Can I be dishonest?’
    ‘Certainly. That breeds proper understanding,’ said Old Woman.
    ‘A stupid question, Pinprop. You know how much we …’
    ‘Well, sir and madam. The thought struck me …’
    ‘Where?’ enquired Old Woman.
    ‘And how did it strike you?’ enquired Old Man.
    ‘In a flash,’ said Pinprop.
    ‘I never saw it,’ said Old Woman.
    ‘Well, the thought struck me …’
    ‘Again!’ said Old Man. ‘What a solid head you must have.’
    ‘Stony, I would think,’ Old Woman said.
    ‘Anyway the thought occurred to me …’
    ‘The thought has suddenly changed its form,’ said Old Man.
    ‘A new chemistry, no doubt,’ observed Old Woman.
    ‘Will you listen to me, both of you,’ Pinprop said loudly, almost shouting.

Four
    THERE WAS A long silence. Then:
    ‘Hysterical insolence!’ cried Old Woman.
    ‘Unforgivable rebellion!’ cried Old Man.
    ‘I suggest a chaining, a skinning and a hanging.’
    ‘All at once.’
    ‘With great celebration.’
    ‘And relief.’
    ‘Let’s proceed at once,’ cried Old Woman.
    ‘Definitely.’
    ‘I’m tired.’
    ‘I’m tired.’
    ‘I can’t move.’
    ‘I can’t move.’
    ‘Let’s sleep on it.’
    ‘I can’t sleep.’
    ‘I can’t sleep either,’ said Old Woman.

Five
    ‘THE THOUGHT OCCURRED to me,’ said Pinprop, after a short silence, ‘that both of you are beginning to look like skeletons.’
    ‘Blasphemy!’ roared Old