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“Has Chacko Saar‟s Mol come?” Kuttappen asked.
“Must have,” Rahel said laconically.
“Where‟s she?”
“Who knows? Must be around somewhere. We don‟t know.”
“Will you bring her here for me to see?”
“Can‟t,” Rahel said.
“Why not?”
`She has to stay indoors. She‟s very delicate. If she gets dirty
she‟ll die.”
“I see.”
“We‟re not allowed to bring her here… and anyway, there‟s
nothing to see,‟ Rahel assured Kuttappen. “She has hair, legs,
teeth–you know–the usual, only she‟s a little tall.” And that was
the only concession she would make.
“Is that all?” Kuttappen said, getting the point very quickly.
“Then where‟s the point in seeing her?”
“No point,” Rahel said.
“Kuttappa, if a vallom leaks, is it very hard to mend?” Estha
asked.
“Shouldn‟t be,” Kuttappen said. “Depends. Why, whose
vallom is leaking?”
“Ours–that we found. D‟you want to see it?”
They went out and returned with the grizzled boat for the
paralyzed man to examine. They held it over him like a roof. Water
dripped on him.
“First we‟ll have to find the leaks,” Kuttappen said. “Then
we‟ll have to plug them.”
“Then sandpaper,” Estha said. “Then polish.”
“Then oars,” Rahel said.
„Then oars,” Estha agreed.
“Then offity off,” Rahel said.
“Where to?” Kuttappen asked.
“Just here and there, „ Estha said airily.
„You must be careful,” Kuttappen said. “This river of