At Swim, Two Boys - Jamie O'Neill [102]
Was any science or branch of science, pertinent to their inquiry, omitted? Yes; axiology. On what account? MacMurrough’s having forgotten for the moment what axiology meant. When reference was made to mechanical religion, did they happen to mention that taboos in the main are topographical, alimentary, bodily? To be sure. What rough-hewn witticism did MacMurrough thereupon interject? He postulated the most unvirtuous man of all, who fetched off in chapel while eating sweets. Did they laugh? They did.
Was MacMurrough satisfied with the course of their inquiry? Immediately, yes; ultimately, no. On what account was he ultimately dissatisfied? On account of his remembering that Scrotes was no longer with him. To what may be attributed Scrotes’s absence? His being dead. Was this a sad fact? Without the least shadow of a doubt. What logical implicative was employed by MacMurrough, the unforeseen consequence of which was his realization of Scrotes’s unbeing? If . . . then. State the protasis. If Scrotes had really been there on the bench. And the apodosis? Then he had reminded MacMurrough the meaning of axiology. All together now in oratio recta. “If you really were Scrotes, you’d bloody well know what axiology meant.”
Was MacMurrough brought up sharp by this iteration? He was, figuratively. How did it affect him? Coldly, literally. Name three emotions of similar character that MacMurrough felt. Grief, loss, regret. Of which the greatest was? Loss. What did MacMurrough say? He said: “You left me the writing, old man, but not the cipher. You left me the words without their meaning. They dance on pins for me now, but with you I had the glimmering of answers. You are gone and I but know enough to mock.” What quality, hitherto unmentioned, did MacMurrough thereupon ascribe to friendship? Kindness. Please to elaborate. His friendship with Scrotes had given him to feel kinder to the world; their parting had left him kindless.
What of the boys swimming? They let go the raft’s ropes and swam their final length to the cove. The walls secreted them as they left the water like the earth would clothe whose nakedness belonged in the sea.
What does axiology mean? MacMurrough no longer cared. What did he do?
He got up and left the bench. At half-past eleven he saw his aunt off on her motoring spree to the mountains. He followed the car up the drive and peered inside the lodge. Derelict, roofless, yet someone made his home there. The kitchen maid found him and asked about his lunch. He told her he would chop at the Pavilion Gardens. Then he told her to take the afternoon off. He told Cook to take the afternoon off. His munificence might have extended to the gardener and the gardener’s lad and to the gardener’s lad’s lad, save he came not across them. To the bootman he gave a three-quarter bottle of dry sherry wine.
But this was not kindness, merely the hunter’s preparations. At half-past one he spied his prey, kicking its heels along the sea-wall. Dawdling thither, he sprang.
“Afternoon off, is it?”
“Could say that. Short time they has us on.”
MacMurrough curtailed a smirk: he was well aware of the boy’s working arrangements. “Anything special in mind?”
“Home.”
The boy kicked stones. MacMurrough clicked the coins in his sovereign-purse. “Wouldn’t fancy a spot of lunch, I suppose?”
“Lunch, would you listen. Where would I get lunch?”
“Anywhere, I should have thought. I was thinking of the Pavilion Gardens, if you wanted to join me.”
“Get in off the grass. Doyler in the Pavvo. That’ll be the day.”
“Serious. Come, my treat.”
“Thanks all the same but.”
“Why ever not? No strings, company only. My word of honor.”
That raised a smile. The face plained immediately after. “Need only look at the state of me.”
It had to be admitted he was in rather a muck. Funny, really. After those months inside, forgotten how my nose would turn up. Perhaps