A Last Meal

"Besides, what good would it do him to know? He is happy, he is serving an enormous meal to two pleasant people on the eve of war. Let him be happy."

"Happy?" I am dumbfounded. "He could be at home - he could be with his family."

"We are indulging ourselves, and so indulging him," the deathless man says. "This fellow takes great pride in what he does - and he is serving a glorious and wonderful meal, a memorable one. Tonight, he will go home to his family and talk about serving the last meal of the Hotel Amovarka, and tomorrow when he is gone, those still alive will have this to talk about. They will be talking about it after the war has ended. Do you see?"

the Tiger's Wife

Tea Obreht