Scene 4

In order to continue his research into the subject of cabbage, Maille soon made his way into a restaurant behind the «Square of 18 May». The eatery was named «Hangari», and it wooed the public's palate with multi-coloured banners listing various beef preparations. Maille ordered a soup with mussels and tender tofu and then proceeded to attack the butter-soft cubed beef that, in typical Korean style, was served with small side portions (so-called Banchan): marinated beans, pungent sardines, gherkins with sesame, burdock, lotus, chopped garlic, and naturally, kimchi.

As his palate tingled increasingly with every bite he took of the spicy, salty food, Maille pondered over the strange «Seal of Solomon» that Tatjana had allowed her father to send her. The sign must look like a Star of David – but of what material was it fashioned? And what did Tatjana wish to convey through it to her father? Marie had summed up over the telephone what the «Encyclopédie Universelle Maisonneuve & Duprat» had to say on the subject. The seal of Solomon involved a magic ring that had once belonged to King Solomon and bestowed him with the power to vanquish demons and ghosts – as well as to communicate with animals. This Dr Do Little-ring had always played an important role in medieval legends – whether they were Jewish, Christian or Islamic. But interesting as all this was, it shed no light on why Tatjana had sent her father such an icon, such a sign. Was she in danger? Was Dr Hing hiding behind it? Did wicked spirits need to be brought under control? If so, which? Did Koslow's research and analysis bring up something diabolical? Or was everything just a joke? Did she want her father to be able to speak to the rats in his laboratory? Were there actually any rats in his lab?

The myths about Solomon's seal recalled Maille the stories of his father. As a child he had never known exactly how literally they had to be taken - such as his assertion that at the trip around Cape Horn one would meet himself.

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