title: Decompression: A Novel
author:  Juli Zeh 
description: Sven Feidler has abandoned the petty competitiveness of German society to establish a diving business in the Canary Islands. There, he and his girlfriend, Antje, have achieved happiness and a stellar reputation. Then, German soap-opera star Jola and her writer boyfriend, Theo, hire Sven to teach Jola advanced diving skills certain to win her the coveted role in a diving-centered blockbuster. But Sven soon realizes that there is something off-kilter about the couple. He catches them pushing each other into deadly situations, and Jola drops hints that abusive Theo is attempting to murder her. By then, Sven is obsessively attracted to Jola, even fancying himself in love, which ignites a dangerous, simmering jealousy in both Antje and Theo. Svens detached, self-absorbed version of the novels violent climax is mysteriously contrasted with Jolas desperate journal entries that tell an altogether different story. Despite the temperate island setting, this crime novel is Scandinavian-style, couching incisive social commentary in a dark exploration of tainted love, obsession, and self-delusion. --Christine Tran
zlib_text: ![](images/00001.jpg)
  
  * * *
  
  
    
    
  The Chaperon
  
  
    
    
  CHAPTER I.  
    
  CHAPTER II.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  This page copyright © 2001 Blackmask Online.
  
  
  
  
  
  http://www.blackmask.com
  
  
  * * *
  
  # The Chaperon
  
  
  ### Henry James
  
  
  
  
  
  This page copyright © 2001 Blackmask Online.
  
  
  
  
  
  http://www.blackmask.com  
    
  
  * CHAPTER I.
  
  
  * CHAPTER II.
  
  
  
  
  
  * * *
  
      
  
  This etext was scanned by David Price, email ccx074@coventry.ac.uk,
  
  
  from the 1893 Macmillan and Co. edition. Proofing was by Nina
  
  
  Hall, Mohua Sen, Bridie, Francine Smith and David.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ### CHAPTER I.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  An old lady, in a high drawing-room, had had her chair moved close
  
  
  to the fire, where she sat knitting and warming her knees. She was
  
  
  dressed in deep mourning; her face had a faded nobleness, tempered,
  
  
  however, by the somewhat illiberal compression assumed by her lips in
  
  
  obedience to something that was passing in her mind. She was far
  
  
  from the lamp, but though her eyes were fixed upon her active needles
  
  
  she was not lookin