The White Hotel by D. M. Thomas Read Free Book Online

masts as an emblem of Christ’s passion and the white sail as his beloved shroud. It makes me feel less guilty for deserting my flock. Mama, I hope you are keeping fine. The weather is nice. A sweet young Catholic girl drowned in my arms a few days ago. Don’t worry about me. I am reading the little book you sent .
A J APANESE M AID :
Wonder to relate, my lovers ( the moon couple ) up at dawn’s crack and out on a boat. It means I and my friend must make their bed all day, their bed is undescribable. I no time to write even haiku .
A C ORSETIERE :
The water seems fearfully cold, but tomorrow I must take the plunge. I am trailing my hand over the side of our boat. I would not like to say where the young man next to me with his girl has got his hand. Well, life must go on. Of course, it’s not the same when your partner is gone, but I must try to enjoy the rest of the holiday for my dear husband’s sake .
A N A RMY M AJOR :
It’s more like a troop ship than a yacht. It’s changed since before the war. We’re jammed against one another. I’d like a good Gatling to clear a space. The flood didn’t get rid of enough. Bodies! Everywhere! Dick arrives tomorrow by the first train .
A W ATCHMAKER :
It went up like an oily rag. One moment we were enjoying the pleasant boat trip, the next, we could see our hotel burning away like plywood. We lost sight of the sun, it was so bright. Well, there goes all our possessions except the clothes we stand up in.
A B OTANIST :
It’s heartbreaking. Yesterday I found a very rare specimen of edelweiss. I left it back in the hotel, of course, and now it’s gone up in flames.
A B ANKER’S W IFE :
I couldn’t believe my eyes. There was our hotel burning to the ground in front of us across the water, and this young fellow pulled his girl on to his lap and settled her on it! You know what I mean? Like deck quoits! And here were these people screaming all round, some with relations back at the hotel!
A N I NSURANCE B ROKER :
It was just awful to see them jumping out of upstairs windows. They had jets playing on the fire but it didn’t seem to do any good. Elinor, thank God, was with me. I’d tried to get her to rest up in the hotel today. Anyway, we’re safe & sound and hope to see you .
H IS W IFE :
Thank the dear Lord Hubert was with me. He wasn’t so keen on a boat trip since we had the flood, but I made him come along. The weather is lovely, tho’ it gets very cool at nights. I feel a lot better for the break, and we’ve met some lovely people .
A B OY :
They were hanging from the trees like magic lanterns .
A P ASTOR :
But the dead shall be raised, I have no fear of that. And this corrupt flesh shall put on incorruptible. The old lady we took the trip with, into the mountains, died in the fire. Yet my soul shall magnify the Lord .
A H ONEYMOON C OUPLE :
It’s clouded our holiday, but just the same we are very happy. This is the lake and the mountains, it is a beautiful place and the scenery is breathtaking .
A B AKER’S W IFE :
Our hearts are breaking. Dear mother has died in a terrible fire at the hotel. Thank God we were out in a boat, but we saw it all. It went up like paper. And we could see the room where she was. But she was an old lady, so we mustn’t grieve over it too much. We are trying to keep cheerful for the children’s sake, and you must do the same .
A S ALESMAN :
One of the bedrooms had had the curtains drawn for a long time but yesterday they were open, and they think this may have had something to do with it, though I can’t see how .
H IS M ISTRESS :
They think it was probably one of the maids having a quiet smoke when she made the beds. I’ve seen the Japanese maid smoking in the corridor, which looks funny as they’re so lady-like usually. Luckily it was a wing away from where we are, so our things are all right .
A R ETIRED C OUPLE :
They’re saying something about the mountain ( where there’s still lots of snow ) reflecting the sun’s rays. Like the