Free Shadow of a Hero by Peter Dickinson Page B

Exilia,’ said Grandad, ‘never to belong to any country of which there is a map. What about your momma?’
    ‘Oh, I think she’s still a real Varinian underneath. Don’t you? That’s why she keeps trying so hard not to be. Steff’s pretty real in his quiet way. I don’t know Van well enough to say. What were they here for? Just to see you, like an ancient monument? Oh, sorry, I didn’t mean that! Really!’
    Grandad was tired but he laughed, which he didn’t do often.
    ‘In fact they came to ask me if I would inaugurate a festival of Varinian culture in Potok this summer.’
    ‘Oh, I know all about that.’
    ‘You do? It is not yet publicly announced.’
    ‘Nigel told me. Momma wanted to talk to Mollie about something last night and she asked me to get the number because her hands were wet, and Nigel said Mollie was out whooping it up with Mr Orestes at the Varinian Dance Society. You know Mollie’s gone really to town about Varina since the vigil? She’s learning Field and she’s joined Mr Orestes’ Dance Society – he’s a hot number at it, Nigel says, and now they’re mad keen to take a team out to the festival. Have I said the wrong thing?’
    ‘No, my darling. Tell me about the Dance Society.’
    ‘Oh. Nigel’s been to see, but he decided it wasn’t him. You know what boys are like about dancing.’
    ‘English boys. In Varina dance is regarded as a primarily masculine activity. Go on.’
    ‘Actually one of the girls told Nigel she thought Mr Orestes was sexy. Can you imagine? He did a sort of exhibition, playing bagpipes and dancing at the same time with his feet going so fast they’re an absolute blur. And he wowed them all. He’s a real fanatic, Nigel said. Anyway, he’s got Mollie hooked. She’s making herself a national costume, can you believe? Are you going to go, Grandad? Do you think we can all go?’
    ‘I shall have to think about it. The new authorities in Bucharest are unlikely to welcome any manifestation of cultural independence in a minority population. They have a large and restive Hungarian minority in the north of the country, whom they won’t want to encourage. On the other hand they will want to prove their liberal credentials, and if the festival brings in a large number of exiles, which I think it may, that will provide useful hard currency. Still, it will take some careful diplomacy. Fortunately Mr Kronin’s brother is a senior official in the new Ministry of Culture. I had better talk to Hector. Mollie too, perhaps, before she looses her organizational fervour on the project . . .’
    ‘But if it happens, can I go? Please? Will you help me persuade Momma?’
    ‘Yes indeed. You must go while you can, on any basis available. So should your momma. I will tell her so.’
    Letta stared at him. He had spoken quietly, but in the same tone of authority he’d used when he’d stopped the argument between Mr Orestes and Mr Jaunis.
    ‘It may be our one chance,’ he explained. ‘As far as I can see there is no settlement in the Balkans which all the participants could regard as reasonable. In fact there never has been. So fighting will take place, and it may be severe. But for this year, at any rate, everybody is still too shaken and exhausted and uncertain to start on fresh turmoil, so there may for a while be an illusion of peace. After that, who knows? But certainly while the opportunity is there, all who regard themselves as Varinians should return and renew their knowledge of who and what they are. If the festival takes place, they should come to that. If not, they should go as tourists. It may be twenty years before they can do so again.’
    ‘All right. You work on Momma. And if she digs her heels in I’ll go with Mollie. She’s bound to want to. Do you know she’s insisting on everyone talking Field at Sunday lunch? And Steff’s backing her up. Nigel is not amused.’
    ‘She has not started to learn Formal yet?’
    ‘It won’t be long now. And I’ll