![]() We were having lunch in London and comparing favourite poems. I wish I could say I made up Benedict’s alternative This Be The Verse by Philip Larkin, but I actually heard it from Robert Bathurst, who voices the audio tapes. “‘They tuck you up, your mum and dad,’ ” said the young man, reeling it off easily. “How do you think it goes?” asked Reine-Marie. ![]() ![]() If not oblivious to sarcasm, at least impervious to it. “And you’re a poetry expert?” “No, not really. “But that’s not the way it goes.” “Oh really?” said Ruth. “I know that poem,” said Benedict, and all eyes swung to him. They may not mean to, but they do,’ ” Ruth quoted. So that even sophisticated people like Myrna fall prey. I certainly had a low point, and people reached down and saved me. What makes this so uncomfortable is knowing that many people do legitimately need help. The use of guilt, of manipulation, of victimhood by some, to get what they want. There’s a saying that I believe Gamache (or was it Myrna) quotes in an earlier book. This quote ends with the words, And almost always regretted it. The ability to look so helpless, so pathetic, that they could not possibly be a threat. Not given armor, or a poison bite, or the ability to fly or even run, what they had was equally powerful. ![]() There were some creatures who naturally evoked that reaction. No longer fearful, she looked at their host with what appeared to be pity. Gamache noticed that Myrna’s attitude had changed slightly. ![]()
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