The Artist of Disappearance

by Anita Desai

  A line of trucks went rumbling down a newly made track into the gully, and the ghost men below began to load them for the journey down to the plains.

  Acknowledgements

  Grateful thanks to Alison Samuel for her generous giving of time, attention and insight to the book through its several stages.

  To Deborah Rogers for her loyal support through the years and yet another book.

  Also to Jane Robison of Casa Colonial in Oaxaca, Mexico, and to Eve Halpern and Cris Sandoval of Casa Werma of Patzcuaro, Mexico, for so hospitably and protectively providing quiet spaces in which to work. Gracias.

  The English language translation 'Everness', from Selected Poems by Jorge Luis Borges, edited by Alexander Coleman (New York: Viking, 1999), p.227; translated by Alastair Reid. Permission by Alastair Reid, through the Colchie Agency, New York. All rights reserved.