They stop for a drink in a roadside bar. Once back in the car, Cooper separates money equally, into four piles, and puts his in an old Northwest Airlines bag. Then they drive again, the last leg, with the windows down, the highway breeze sideswiping him. At one point he slows the car to a halt and she says, 'What is it?' There is an owl on the road, apparently unwilling to leave the heat of the highway, and Coop drives around it and continues. When they reach the bus depot at Tonapah, he sits a moment longer, his hands on the wheel, as if there were still miles to go. They get out and Ruth comes around to the driver's door and they embrace. Coop is going to disappear. He will never these friends again. He pulls out the Northwest Airlines bag and walks away from the car. Ruth starts it and a moment later drives past him -- a tap on the horn, her hand out the window -- but he doesn't acknowledge the second farewell. He has already become a stranger.
(It's better to create than destroy what's unnecessary)
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Divisadero - pg. 60
Labels: Michael Ondaatje
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