Ien was impersonating a seminar leader:
"A paper about the Yanomami, Ien?
Nice for high school, on the basis
of popular science books, but how
shall I put it, it's like a freshman
art history 'wants to do something
about Rembrandt' (making annoying
quotes with his fingers). Look I have
here a list with eighteen subjects,
from which you surely can pick an
interesting one." Because of her father's
origin she had chosen: Alleged matriarchy
of the Picts. And André from the same
list: Genetic research and racial theory.
"Real boring stuff, but ..."
Nonetheless, Ien started reading about
the Yanomami. Because she found in the
university library only one book and one
article in a scientific journal about the
Picts. So she had written Tony with a few
references that she had found, whether he
could check libraries in Manchester or
Liverpool. Tony had left the Netherlands
and returned to his hometown Heysham and
worked on the ferry to the isle of Man.
"That's my girl", he wrote back on a
postcard. "P.S. it might take some time."
It was a month ago. She would have to remind
him. Only four weeks before she had to come
up with a substantial paper on the subject.
