recognizable. You can't escape your own uniqueness, your own original brilliance...'
'I suppose not,' said Piper modestly, 'I suppose that's true.'
'Of course it's true. You're not some hack turning books out to order. You're you, Peter Piper. Frenzy has always said there's only one you.'
'He has?' said Piper.
'He's spent more time on you than any other author we handle. He's had faith in you and this is your big opportunity, the chance to break through into fame...'
'With someone else's awful book,' Piper pointed out.
'So it's someone else's, it might have had to be your own. Like Faulkner with Sanctuary and the rape with the corncob.'
'You mean Faulkner didn't write that?' said Piper aghast.
'I mean he did. He had to so he'd get noticed and have the breakthrough. Nobody'd bought him before Sanctuary and afterwards he was famous. With Pause you don't have to do that. You keep your artistic integrity intact.'
'I hadn't thought of it like that,' said Piper.
'And later when you're known as a great novelist you can write your autobiography and set the world straight about Pause,' said Sonia.
'So I can,' said Piper.
'Then you'll come?'
'Yes. Yes, I will.'
'Oh, darling.'
They kissed on the end of the pier and the tide, rising gently under the moon, lapped below their feet.
Chapter 7
Two days later a triumphant if exhausted Sonia walked into the office to announce that she had persuaded Piper to change his mind.
'Brought him back with you?' said Frensic incredulously. 'After that telegram? Good Lord, you must have positively Circean charms for the poor brute. How on earth did you do it?'
'Made a scene and quoted Faulkner,' said Sonia simply.
Frensic was appalled. 'Not Faulkner again. We had him last summer. Even Mann's easier to move to East Finchley. Every time I see a pylon now I...'
'This was Sanctuary.'
Frensic sighed. 'That's better I suppose. Still the thought of Mrs Piper ending up in some brothel in Memphis-cum-Golders Green...And you mean to say he's prepared to go on with the tour? That's incredible.'
'You forget I'm a salesperson,' said Sonia. 'I could sell sunlamps in the Sahara.'
'I believe you. After that letter he wrote Geoffrey I thought we were done for. And he is quite reconciled to being the author of what he chose to call the most repulsive piece of writing it had ever been his misfortune to have to read?'
'He sees it as a necessary step on the road to recognition,' said Sonia. 'I managed to persuade him it was his duty to suppress his own critical awareness in order to achieve '
'Critical awareness my foot,' said Frensic, 'he hasn't got any. Just so long as I don't have to put him up again.'
'He's staying with me,' said Sonia, 'and don't smirk. I just want him where I can reach him.'
Frensic stopped smirking. 'And what is the next event on the agenda?'
'The 'Books To Be Read' programme. It will help get him ready for the TV appearances in the States.'
'Quite so,' said Frensic. 'Added to which it has the advantage of getting him committed to the
