ENTRY SEVEN — February 5th 1987 The Undercroft At first both Miranda and I found the heat of the Punjab unbearable. Whenever possible, we took refuge under the ceiling fans. The coolest hours for work were between four and ten a.m. This necessitated that Miranda and I retire at about eight in the evening. Our sleeping arrangement was a little unorthodox: we slept under open umbrellas. This, our handyman Yusef warned, would bring ghosts, evil spirits and bad luck. I explained to the superstitious Punjabi that I was a priest and God would protect me from any ill effects. But why on earth are a clergyman and his bride slumbering under an umbrella, one may ask? This unusual arrangement was dictated by the fact that the Vicarage ceiling was crumbling down around us bit by
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