Mirza Hussain’s explanation made clear why Pau was a clandestine artist: The Black Turban wouldn’t have liked to see his paintings.
“Don’t lie to me, Zahra Bayda,” I told her that night, at the shore of the Red Sea. “Confess there’s something between you and Pau.”
“A long time ago. Something.”
“Something? Or a relationship?”
“If you want to know, you can ask me questions. But I’ll only reply with yes or no.”
“Here’s the first question: A relationship, you and Cor d’Or?”
“Who is Cor d’Or?”
“The man in charge, the Catalan with a heart of gold. Don’t you remember him? Cor d’Or, your idol.”
“Don’t call him that, his name is Pau.”
“You’re supposed to answer yes or no.”
“What’s the premise?”
“A relationship between Pau and you.”
“The answer is yes.”
“A long and happy relationship.”
“No.”
“Short and unhappy.”
“No.”
“Short and happy?”
“Long, a little happy, and a little unhappy.”
“In the present, or in the past?”
“I’ll only answer yes or no.”
“Present.”
“No.”
“Past?”
“Yes.”
“And there’s nothing left?”
“Nothing.”
“Nothing at all?”
“Rien de rien.When you live this kind of life, love is... How can I explain it? Love is a different kind of love. It’s not a bond with a specific person, it’s more of an ambient sexual attraction.”
“Ambient sexual attraction?”
