Bodies and Sole by Hilary MacLeod Page B

sample. “This you seen. In demand this one. Dries faster than the tuna. And more elegant. That’s why it’s in demand.”
    Hy caught Marlene mouthing the word “elegant?” in disbelief. Cat skipped by the next, with a brief comment.
    â€œPike, now there’s a lovely fish. Skin so soft.” Hy wondered if it repelled mosquitoes.
    â€œAnd here’s the charmer.” He stroked a delicate thin skin.
    â€œSole. It’s the silk of the fish skin line. Not easy to do. Lose as much as you produce. Very, very fragile. Nobody does the sole but me. That’s my specialty. There are others, but them’s my top ones.
    â€œGot a lovely outfit right here. Salmon skirt. Sole blouse. Both wraparound.”
    The skirt shimmered, iridescent shades of grey and pink and green, and fell in a fetching shape to the floor. The blouse was soft and flowing. They were beautifully crafted. Hy fell in love with them.
    â€œWho made these?”
    â€œMy wife, when she was alive. Skilled seamstress.”
    â€œI’ll take them.” Hy grabbed the two pieces of clothing as Marlene looked on in horror.
    â€œWon’t you try them?”
    Hy grinned. Shrugged. “Not here. Not now. Pretty sure they’ll fit – wraparound. If not, I assume you’ll take them back.”
    â€œHow’d you get the idea?” Hy asked as she paid and he wrapped the items.
    â€œIt’s been around a long time. That’s why I thought it’d fit your bicentennial.”
    Marlene gave a “not if I can help it” face.
    â€œIt’s heritage.” Cat lifted the tray and took it back to the counter. He gestured to the first of a series of wall mountings, each illuminated by a pool of light.
    â€œThe native people of North America…probably the world, them that lived by the ocean, they made all kinds of things from fish.”
    The wall mounting had graphics of parkas, mittens, boots, headgear – all made of fish skin.
    â€œWaterproof, that’s the thing. Waterproof and flexible.”
    Cat moved to the next mounting.
    â€œThey’d smoke the fish, see…”
    That was it. The other smell.
    â€œâ€¦I do that right here…in back. You smoke ’em so’s they dry nice and slow and stay flexible. Keeps the oils in and bacteria out.”
    Marlene let out a heavy sigh. She was imagining bugs crawling all over the clothes. She kept her distance from the bag in Hy’s hand.
    â€œI don’t see what that has to do…”
    â€œLike I said. Heritage.”
    Marlene’s lip curled.
    â€œNative heritage. Not European.”
    Cat’s eyes popped open in wide disbelief as he darted a look at Hy.
    â€œI expect if you checked out your genes, you’d find a Mi’kmaw in your closet.”
    Marlene took a sharp breath.
    It was perhaps because of that, that Cat brought up the next item with more than usual pleasure.
    â€œPiss, they used.”
    â€œWhat?” Marlene looked even more disgusted. Hy had to stifle a laugh.
    â€œPiss. Men’s piss. The good stuff. Strong as detergent. Used it as a cleanser before they smoked ’em.”
    Marlene turned her back on him. That just got him going. He pointed to a pair of moccasin-style boots.
    â€œDon’t want to step in any kind of poo in them boots. They’ll just disintegrate. Fast. Sum’pn to do with proteins and enzymes and collagen.”
    Hy continued to look at the wall mountings – photographs of artifacts of clothing made from fish skin and bird skin.
    â€œBirds?”
    â€œOh, yes. Me, I wouldn’t use birds. Gulls mebbe. Nasty dirty scat-throwing scum. But I do have some other species here.”
    He led her to a display case.
    Belts and trinkets of various kinds made with snakeskin.
    â€œYou have to have the small items some folks will buy as a thank you for the entertainment. More snakes than I expected around here.”
    â€œOnly two species,