From: Brooklyn
Category: Amis
Date: 8/20/99
Time: 11:36:17 AM
Remote Name: 207.238.28.10
[Trying (unsuccessfully) to get a handle on what the hell Mark Asprey's deal is I hit this passage from Chapter 19 between Nicola & Sam. It comes right after Nicola reveals her "true" feelings for Mark Asprey's writing (her most difficult deception to date) "It's shit."]
She stood and came toward me. The way her head was inclined made me say at once:
'I can't.'
'You must know that it has to happen.'
'You've come across this. When men can't.'
'Only by design. It's easy: you make yourself leaden. Don't worry. I'll fix it. I'll do it all. Don't even try and think about love. Think about - think about the other thing.'
Later, she said, 'I'm sorry if you're angry with me. Or with yourself.' 'I'm not angry.' 'I suppose you've never done that before.' 'Yes, I did think I might get through life without it.' 'You may surprise yourself further. As Keith says, it's never over until -' 'Until the last dart strikes home.' 'Anyway,' she said, 'this will only happen once.' 'Anyway,' I said, 'I'm mostly grateful. It's made me ready to die.' 'That was my hope.' 'With Mark, what was the -?' 'Hush now...'
[So, Sammy was a virgin in his 40's? (That couldn't have been a strap-... no. The "It's easy: you make yourself leaden." part threw me). Most questions stem from Asprey. His mention almost assures some contradiction or red-herring. BTW, I'd lend money to Samson. I'm not saying he was right to kill Nicola. All I'm saying is I understand why he did it.]