Summary

Chapter 23 NOTWITHSTANDING THE OCCASIONAL COMMENT

In this chapter X states that Ted Wilson's demise (real or imagined) has faded from the expat radar and, therefore, its gossip circles. Still, X wonders whether Ted is alive or dead. His curiosity shifts to Mrs. Ted number two and he begins to fantasize about her sexually. This is disrupted when he receives a phone call from an acquaintance of his from New York, who is visiting Dubai. They meet in an English pub and X thinks that he sees Mrs. Ted number one singing in the lounge. They go in and listen. X makes a pass at her and the piano player tells him that she is his wife. X backs away and his friend from New York leaves to go back to his own hotel. Later, when X tells Ollie about it, he tells X...