John Banville, "The Lock-Up"

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John Banville, "The Lock-Up: A Novel" (2023)

 

서평 (New York Times)

 

본문에서:

 

The sun through the mist was producing copperry glints from the steely surface of the river. Quirke looked over to the far bank, where the city climbed the side of a steep hill. Cork was more hansome than he remembered. Or was it just the flattering autumn light? (p. 155)

 

Strafford regarded them warily. There were always horses about when he was young, but he had never got used to them. They seemed to him prehistoric creatures, or aliens from another far-off planet, misplaced here. Thoroughbreds, which all of these were, always seemed to him terror-struck, or mad, or both. And they were so tall, standing on all fours. He thought of Swift's equine philosophers -- what did he call them? Houyhnhnma. He still wasn't sure how to pronounce it. (p.129)

 

[책의 한 chapter는, Bishop Tommy E.가 정년 퇴임이 가까운, 고교 시절 친구였던, Chief Inspector Hackett을 만나 한 인물에 대한 조사를 중지하도록 회유, 협박하는 이야기다.]

    But if he thought that would close down the topic, he was wrong.

    "You're a lucky fellow," Tommy [Bishop Tom] said ruefully. "No pensions for us crowd."

    For God's sake, was he going to put on the poor mouth? This was the man who lived in a palace, and would live there for life, with no money worries and servants to tend him hand and foot.... There was no limit to the power of the Church in this country [Ireland]. Of course a pension could be stopped. It would take nothing more than one of the Archbishop's famous late-night phone calls. The Garda Commissioner was an active member of the Knights of Saint Patrick -- the Paddy Mafia, as the pub wits had it. Then Hackett and his wife would need all his skill as fisherman and farmer even to subsist ....

   Tommy might be bluffing, there was that possibility. But if it was a bluff, it would take a braver or more foolhardy man than Chief Inspector Hackett to call him on it.

    The bishop, his work done, his message delivered, was preparing to depart. (p. 232)