Robert Stevens

This story made little or no sense to me. I’m not even sure if I’m interpreting it correctly. It seemed to revolve around a man who was telling several stories about himself and others at the same time, but they all seemed to revolve around this mysterious coin, the “Zahir.” The Zahir he speaks of is nothing more than a 20-centavo (Argentinian?) coin with the letters N T, and the number 2 scratched in it. He then goes on to say that the “Zahir” has taken many forms throughout history.
After “losing” the Zahir, he proceeds to become obsessed with the coin, and the fact that he had held it. He also starts to contemplate and research the other Zahirs that have tormented other men. Eventually he comes to believe that the Zahir is God, or at least a manifestation of Him. Thoughts about the Zahir were joined by others such as his love for Teodelina Villar, an aspiring fashion mogul who has died on “June 6” at some point after WWII. At some point I started to believe that he had become so obsessed that he had stolen her body and made it up so she would appear as she had when she was younger. He also made reference that it was Borges himself in the story (as the main character).
Who is Wally Zenner? Is the dedication for this story from Borges or the translator?