章节目录 9

(88106 www.88106.info)    VERONICAisbouncingonhertrampoline.DoreisreadingFlowersforAlgernon.SimonisinbedwithAnne.

    "Youreaboutastenderasasealion,"shesays."Haveyoueverdhisbefore?"

    "Irememberhavingdoneitbefore."

    "Howdoesitmakeyoufeelwithusinhereandthemoutthere?"

    "Nervous."

    "Wereverytolerant."

    "Iseethat.Whatsthatwham-wham-whamnoise?"

    "Veronica."

    "Isshemakingobscenecomment?"

    "Shesjustmindlesswhenshegetsonthattrampoline.Shecangoforhours.Shethinksshesgotaprob?lemwithherrear.Idontthinktheresaproblembutshethinkstheresaproblem."

    "Makesmenervous."

    "Everythingmakesyounervous."

    "True."

    "Isthisamalefantasyforyou?Thissituation?"

    "Itsnotafantasy,isit."

    "Ithasthestructureofamalefantasy."

    "Thedumbestpossiblewaytolookatit."

    "Wellscrewyou."

    "Ourpurposehere,Ithought."

    Sheturnshimaroundandrubshisasswithhercuntinlongswoopingmotions.

    "Wheredidyougotoschool?"

    "Hereandthere."

    "Whatdidyoulearn?"

    "Lotsofimportantstuff.AlmosteverybodyIvemetsincewaspresentinmyfirst-gradeclass.Maybethirty-twokidsinthatclass.Everytyperepresented.WhenIrunintosomebodywhowasnotpresentinmyfirst-gradeclassIthinkIvesightedararebird."

    "Wheredidyougotocollege?WasitHarvard?"

    "NoitwasntHarvard."

    "LotsofpeopledidntgotoHarvard."

    "TheresjustnotenoughHarvard."

    "Maybetheycouldstartabranch.InFloridaorsomewhere."

    "Theyprobablydontfeeltheurgency."

    "Whatsredeyegravy?"

    "Hamdrippingswithasplashofcoffee."

    "Canwemakesome?"

    "Goahead."

    "Blackeyedpeas?"

    "Iloveblackeyedpeas."

    "Collardgreens."

    "Fine."

    "Wellneedsomecornlikker."

    "Trythelikkerstore."

    "Begoodifwehadsomehoundslazingabout."

    "Idrawthelineathounds."

    "Simon,Imtryingtodothisthingright."

    "Iknowyouare."

    Shelooksbeautiful,herlongdarkhairdoneupinaponytail.HerARMTHEUNEMPLOYEDt-shirt.

    "Whatareyougoingtodoafterweleave?"sheasks.

    "Gobacktowork,Iguess."

    "Thatwhatyouwanttodo?"

    "WorkisGodsbestinvention.Keepsyouallseizedupandinterested."

    "IwishIcoulddosomething."

    "Youcouldalwaysgotoschool."

    "Idontlikestandinginlines."

    "Iknowwhatyoumean.TheArmyusedupmostofmystanding-in-linecapacity."

    "ButsupposeyoureatareceptionandyouregoingtomeetthePresidentandtheresalonglineofverywell-dressedpeople——"

    "ImnotinahurrytomeetthePresident.Ifhewantstocomeoverandhaveadrinkandalittleguacamoledip,thatsfine.Mydoorisalwaysopen."

    "Youdontcareaboutanything."

    "Listeningtotheradio."

    "Youdoloveyourradios."

    "Imthinkingofgettinganotherone.Theyhavethesewaterproofjobsforthebath——"

    "Ilikeaquietreflectivebath."

    "Illcomeinandputtoadsinthewater."

    "WherewouldyougettoadsinNewYorkCity?"

    "Toadstore.Theygotbigtoads,littletoads,hornedtoads,no-horntoads——"

    "Itsagreatcity."

    "Itsagreatargumentforcities."

    Simonwantedverymuchtobeahearty,optimisticAmerican,likethePresident,butontheotherhanddidnottrusthearty,optimisticAmericans,likethePresident.HehadconsideredthepossibilitythatthePresident,whennotinpublic,wasnotreallyheartyandoptimisticbutratheragloomy,obsessedmanwithaprofoundfearofthepotentiallydisastrousprocessesinwhichhewasenmeshed,nomoresanguhantheFisherKing.Hedidnotreallybelievethistobethecase.Hehimselfhadsettledforbeingacompe?tent,sometimesinventivearchitectwithatragicsenseofbrick.Brickwashisfavoritematerialasthefortresswasthearchitecturalmetaphorthathehad,moreandmore,toresist.Toforcehimselfintofreshness,hethoughtaboutbamboo.

    Gettingold,Simon.Notsolimber,dearfriend,timeforthebonefactory?Thelittlebluevan.Yourhandsarecoveredwithtinypepperoni.Yourkneespredictyourface.Yourbackstabsyou,ontheleftside,twiceaday.Thebellysbeendiscussed.Thesoulsshrinkingtoamicrodot.Wereorderingyourrockingchair,size42.WouldyoulikesomethinginSouthernpine?Loblolly?Sendthewomenaway.Theyretoogoodforyou.Also,notgoodforyou.AreyouKingSolomon?Yourking?domascanttwohundredfifty-nhousand,twohundredsquareinches.Annualtearfall,threeandone-quarterinches.Youfeedethamongthelilies,Simon.Therearegartersnakesamongthelilies,Simon,garterbeltstoo.Yourgardenisover-cultivated,itneedsweeds.Howsyourskiwear,Simon?Doneanydemoli?tionderbieslately?Yourunthemilein,what,ayearandahalf?Weresendingyouanelectrictreadmill,asolidsteelbarbellcurlbar,adigitalpedometer.Usethem.Andsendthewomenaway.

    Whenheaskedhimselfwhathewasdoing,livinginabareelegantalmostunfurnishedNewYorkapartmentwiththreeyoungandbeautifulwomen,Simonhadtoadmitthathedidnotknowwhathewasdoing.Hewas,hesupposed,listening.Thesewomenweretaciturnascowboys,spokeonlytotheimmediatequestion,proba?blydidnotknowinwhichcenturytheSecondWorldWarhadtakenplace.No,toohard;itwas,rather,thatwhattheyknewwassowildlyvarious,ragoutofSpi?nozaandCyndiLauperwithaWilliamBuckleysher?betfloatinginthemiddleofit.Hedcomeinoneeve?ningtofindallthreeofthemkneelingonthediningroomtablewiththeirrumpspointingathim.Ob?viouslyhewassupposedtostripoffhisgentlemanlykhakisandattendtoallthreeatonce,justasobviouslyanimpossibility.Hehadplacedafriendlyhandoneachculinturnandsaid,"Okay,guys,youvehadyourfun,nowgetbacktothebarracksandpolishtheRenoirs."Thatboyhasnotalent,mutteredMtoMoneafternooninthegarden,aboutRenoir."Out,out,out,"hedshouted,andtheydscattered,giggling.Onenightonhisbackinbedhedhadsixbreaststosuck,swayingabovehim,hewaspoortatteredRomulus.Whentheycouldntgetapartofhimtheydplaywitheachother.

    SIMONandDoresittinginthekitchen.Theradiomakingmusic.

    "Theyplaythebestmusiclateatnight,"Doresaid."Whentheythinknobodysawake."

    "ThatsKeithJarrett."

    "Whoshe?"

    "Pianoplayer.Veryfamous."

    "Whatsthatfunnynoise?"

    "Hekindsofsingswhenheplays."

    "Oh.Iguessyouoldguysknowalotofdifferentstuff,dontyou.Howoldareyou?"

    "Fifty-three."

    "Youdontlookit.Youlookmaybefifty,fifty-one.Thatwasgoodchickenwehad."

    "Thankyou."

    "Iwrunganeckonce.InFortLupton.Itwasamess."

    "Byhand?"

    "Allthewayoff.Itwasamess."

    "Nowtheyuseelectrocution."

    "Ireadaboutit."

    "Allthechickenshookedintothismovingcontrivance——"

    "Theirheadsdanglinginwater——"

    "Thenwhfft!whfft!whfft!"

    "Itshorrible."

    "Thefatherchickensaystothesonchicken,Son,Ivegotbadnewsforyou."

    "Then,whfft!"

    "Thiscountryrunsonchicken."

    "Justthinkofit.Alittlebirdlikethat.Fuelingthenation."

    "Atnight,inthegreatchickenfactories,whfft!whfft!whfft!whfft!Allthroughthenight."

    "Theydontdoitinthedaytime?"

    "Undercoverofnight.Sopeopledontrealizetheextent."

    "IfIwasachickenIdflyaway.Beforetheygotme."

    "Theyrebumfliers.Ahamcanflybetter."

    "Howdotheykillthehams?"

    "Youdontwanttoknow."

    "Simon.Yourenotaseriousman."

    "YesIam."

    Dorelikestoscoldpeople.Whenanyoneinthehousedoesanythingthatdoesnotmeetherspecifica?tionsforappropriatebehavior,Dorescolds.

    "SimonyourenotsupposedtotalktoAnnelikethat."

    "Likewhat?"

    "Youwerecondescending."

    "Inwhatway?"

    "Okay,sheneverheardoftheMarshallPlan.Youdonthavetoexplainittoher.Inthatway."

    "WasIpompous?"

    "Notmorethanusual.Itwasthatincredulouslook.LikeyoucouldntbelievethatsomebodydneverheardoftheMarshallPlan."

    "Itwasabigdeal,historically."

    "Simonyouaretwiceasoldasweare."

    "Thatdoesnotabsolveyouofthenecessityofknow?ingyourownhistory."

    "Thatspompous.Thatstrulypompous.ThatsjustwhatImtalkingabout.Andanotherthing."

    "OhLord,what?"

    "WhenyoumadethatjokeaboutGeorgeGershwinandhislovelywife,Ira."

    "Well?"

    "Annedidntknowitwasajoke.Youcantmakejokesthatarebasedonpeoplenotknowingthings.Itsnotfair.Itsdemeaningtowomen."

    "Whytowomen?"

    "Womendontpaythatmuchattentiontosillythingslikethat.Allthatdetail.Andtheresonemorething."

    "Whichis?"

    "Youshouldtakethelaundrysometimes.Justbe?causewerewomendoesntmeanthatwehavetotakethelaundryallthetime."

    "Okay.Goodpoint."

    "Wedontlikesittinginthattackylaundromatanybetterthanyoudo."

    "Itoldyoutoleaveitandletthemdoit."

    "Yousaveforfourpeoplesclotheseighttotendol?lars.Ithinkthatssignificant."

    "Butyoudonthavetodoitthatway."

    "AlsoImetthisinterestingguytherelasttime.Hesaprofessionalwhistler."

    HESlisteningtooneofhisthreeradios,thisoneabrutishblackProtonwithanoutboardsec?ondspeaker.Theannounceristalkingaboutdrum?mers."CozyColecomesstraightoutofChickWebb,"hesays.Simonnodsinagreement."BigSidCatlett.ZuttySingleton,DaveTough.Togoevenfurtherback,BabyDodds.AllthisbeforewegettoKrupaandBuddyRich."Simontaxeshismemoryinanattempttoextractfromitthenamesoftenadditionaldrummers.LouisBellson.ShellyManne.PanamaFrancis.JoJones,ofcourse.KennyClarke.ElvinJones.BarrettDeems.MelLewis.CharliePersip.JoeMorello.Next,twentybassplayers.Ournationisrichintalent,hethinks.

    HecallshismotherinCalifornia.

    "Whatdowedowithbrisket?"heasks.

    "Whatfoolboughtbrisket?"

    "Afriend."

    Hismotherunderstandswhatthismeans."Youvegottoboilthehelloutofit,"shesays."Howmanypounds?"

    "Four."

    "Idgiveitthreeandahalftofourhoursinstockwithcarrots.Neverdidseethepointofcarrotsbuttheymustbegoodforsomething.Sliceanonionandputinsomeredwine.Whatsyourfriendsname?"

    "Theyrejustsomepeoplewhorestayingheretem?porarily."

    "HowsSarah?"

    "Doingwell.ShegotaGeneralElectricfellowship.Fourthousandbucks."

    "Everylittlebithelps,"hismothersays."YouandCarolspeakingtoeachother?"

    "Atintervals.Shesverybusy."

    "Doesshehaveafriend?"

    "Probably.Idontknow."

    "Makeasauceforitwithcapers,horseradish,mayonnaiseandsomeofthecookingstock.Chillthesauce,itsbestcold.ThatsallIknowaboutbrisket.Youcouldsticksomeredcabbageintothepotforthelastthirtyminutesofcooking.Also,ifIwereyouIdbuysomeUnionCarbide."

    "Why?"

    "Dowhatyourmothertellsyou,"shesays,andhangsup.

    Hismotherlikestopresentherselfasatougholdbird,andinfact,thatsthewayhethinksofher.Butthereisalustrousphotographofhismothersittingbythesideofapoolinthe30s,radiatingaformidablesex?uality.Thennotougholdbirdbutratherabad,badar?ticle,readyforClarkGableandLordMountbatten,too.

    NEWarchitectureis"soulless,"Simonreads,againandagainandagain.Hehastroubledis?agreeingwhenwhatisbeingtalkedaboutisaseventy-storycurtain-wallbuildingonSixthAvenue.Peopledontliketoliveorworkabovethesecondfloorinanybuilding,thethirdattheouterextreme.Nobuildingshouldbetallerthanaship.Peoplelikelight;ontheotherhand,theyalsolikecaves.Anausterefa?adepleasesarchitects;peoplelikedecoration,amodicumofdrama.Embassiesarenowbeingdesignedlikebanks,withmoreandmoresecurityasonemovesdeeperanddeeperintothebuilding,themostsecurespace,deepinside,mightylikeavault.Reconcilethatwiththeideaofanembassyasapleasing,friendlypresence.Metaldetectorssetupattheentrancesofschools.Gun-totingWackenhutsinsupermarkets(partofthedesign).Enterajewelrystoreandabovethesellingfloortheresaboothwithbulletproofglasswithgunportsandaguywithashotgun.GiantconcreteflowerpotsallaroundtheCapitolwhichhavenothingtodowithloveofflow?ers.Themessianic-maniacalideathatarchitecturewillmakepeoplebetter,civilizethem,centraltomuch1920s-1930sarchitecturalthought,Corbusier,Gropius,evenWright,abandoned.Althoughmodestyisnotwhatarchitectsdobest,thereismorerestraintnow,Simonthinks.Illdomypieceoftheproblemandyoudoyours.Notatallsoulless,rathermorecottageindus?try,S.O.M.notwithstanding.Theimagethatseemstohimreallyonthemarkisthecircus.

    "ManschiefendistoglorifyGodandtoenjoyHimforever,"sayshisradio.HesbeenlisteningtoalotofChristianrocklately,findsitsurprisinglyrobust.Jesusisrockinawearyland.Hewondershow,say,DodoMarmarosawouldsoundplayingChristianrock.Dorecomesinandshovesabreastinhisear.Hemakesasoundlikeasmokealarm.

    Hehassomethingcutoffhisforehead,askincancerthatsbeenthereforyears,adarkspotthediameterofapencileraser.ThedoctorisatallgloomymanwithaSouthernaccent.Hedoesntwastetime,hasSimononthetableandisscrapingawaywithacurettewithintwominutes.First,foursharpstingsasheplacesthelidocaine;afterward,thesmellofburningbrainashecau?terizesthebloodvessels.

    Simonwritesacheckforeighty-fivedollars.Hewalksbacktotheapartmentfromthedoctorsoffice,some?thinglikesixty-fiveblocks.Itscoolandcloudyout.Bumptiousloudmouthedswaggeringteenagerscomingdownthestreet,jostlingpeople.Simonsidestepsthem.Cantshootemall.Anabsolutelybeautifulwomaninbluewalkingtowardhim.Heturnsandlooksafterher.Shewalksonwithoutturning.Well,whyshouldshe?Hesfifty-three.

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