The second face of Rango, after awakening, following the bewildered and innocent one, contained this expression of total, of absolute, distress common to children and adolescents betraying an exaggeration in the vision of reality, a sense of the menacing, disproportionate stature of this reality. Only children and adolescents know this total despair, as if every wound were fatal and irremediable, every moment the last, death and dangers looming immense as they had loomed in Djuna's mind during the night...

Rango repaired the leak vigorously, and they walked out on the quay. It was a moment before dawn, and some fishermen were already installed because the river was smooth for fishing. One of them had caught something unusual and was holding it out for Djuna to see, and laughing.

It was a doll.

It was a doll who had committed suicide during the night.

The water had washed off its features. Her hair aureoled her face with crystalline glow.

Noah's Ark had survived the flood.

A Spy in the House of Love

A SPY IN THE HOUSE OF LOVE

MAIN CHARACTERS

Sabina: Fragmented, chaotic, guilt-ridden Hungarian wife of Alan; has affairs with Philip, John, and Mambo; despite the men in her life, including Jay, she has never truly loved. Composite character based on June Miller and the aspect of Anaïs Nin that sought to emulate her (see Henry & June).

Alan: Calm, detached, understanding, and paternal husband of Sabina; unable to accept the fact that his wife has changed during their marriage. Based on Nin’s husband, Hugh Guiler (see Mirages).

The lie detector: The man upon whom Sabina heaps her guilt. Inspired by the description of a detective by Nin’s friend Lila Rosenblum (see Diary 5).

Philip: Opera singer who has an affair with Sabina. Based on Edward Graeffe, a Viennese opera singer with whom Nin had an affair during the 1940s (see Mirages).

Mambo: African drummer, singer, mathematician, composer, writer, and proprietor of a nightclub; lover of Sabina. Based on Albert Mangones, a Haitian sculptor with whom Nin had an affair in the 1940s (see Mirages).

John: Young, guilt-ridden English aviator who has an affair with Sabina. Based on John Paanacker, a young man with whom Nin had a brief affair in 1946 (see Mirages).

Donald: Young man who perceives of Sabina as a mother, who helps her regain innocence, and who reminds her of John. Based at least partly on Bill Howell, Nin’s lover in the 1940s (see Mirages).

Djuna: Woman whose houseboat in France was used to transport coal during the war; compassionate, perceptive dancer who visits Mambo’s club. Based on what Nin called “the mystic Anaïs (see Mirages).

Jay: Artist whose painting reflects Sabina’s fragmented inner reality; reunited with Sabina in New York City after a seven-year separation following their affair in Paris. Based on Henry Miller (see Henry & June).