Gwangju, Daein, Jungangno-Street
Scene 9
On the following morning, Maille continued his kimchi research in a tiny market quarter. He found a shop that sold fresh cabbage and allowed the saleswoman to explain to him how the Korean national dish had come into being.
When his profession and social background could not be kept under wraps, Maille posed in a foreign land as a food inspector who was divorced and childless – unfortunately. The second part held the truth that, with regard to the vexed issue of progeny, Maille – unfortunately – harboured no desire to have children. And the first part of his portrayal of himself had at least a bit to do with his longstanding dream of travelling through the world as a culinary spy – if not less dangerous, it was definitely more exciting.
As a secret agent, one was continually motivated to do things that one could barely explain – even in the event that one could understand them oneself, which was not always the case. It was sometimes like just throwing leaves in the air. Furthermore, one needed to constantly hang around and wait – for information or for middlemen, who were almost always in a lousy mood and, in the worst-case scenario, smelled of cheap, inadequately rinsed bath-soap.