章节目录 10

(88106 www.88106.info)    WhenSimonwonderswhatkindofani?malheis,heidentifieswiththegiraffe.Animprobabledesign,aweirdensembleoverall,nospecialreputationforwisdom,anuncle-figureatbest.Neglectedbytheautoindustry:noFordGiraffesonthehighways.Simontoohasalongneck,oftencommentedupon,andape?culiargait,sortofashamble.

    Hegetsacallfromhiswife,Carol,inPhiladelphia.

    "Youhaventpaidthecarinsurance,"shesays."Oneithercar.Igotstoppedbyacopyesterdayandhejackedmeupabouttheinsurance."

    "Whatdyougetstoppedfor?"

    "Taillight."

    "CallBudattheofficeandtellhimtotakecareofit,"Simonsays."Hesgotallthepaperworkonthein?surance.Howareyou?"

    "Consideringwhatourmayorisupto,Imrea?sonablysane.ThisthingisreallyworkingoutmuchbetterthanIthoughtitwould.Yourbeinggone,Imean."

    "Theabsenceofaplanisitselfaplan,"Simonsays."HeardfromSarah?"

    "Shecalledadayorsoago.ShesdroppedGermanandhistory."

    "OhLord.Whyhistory?"

    "Theyhadtowritepapers."

    "Shecanhardlyavoidwritingpapers."

    "Sheneedsatypewriter."

    "Buyheratypewriter."

    "Simon,Ivegototherthingstodo.IllgiveheracheckbutIcantfutzaroundshoppingfortype?writers."

    "Okay,fine.Isshehappy?"

    "ShesbeengoingoutwithsomekindofFinn.IthinkhesaFinn.Verygoodlooking.Hesinthebusi?nessschool."

    "HowshisEnglish?"

    "VeryBrit.Whatareyoudoing?"

    "Reading.Walkingaround."

    "Chasingtail."

    "NoImnotchasinganything."

    "Itwasjustasociologicalobservation.Idontcare."

    "Iknowthat."

    "Keepintouch."

    "Iwill."

    "Yourbadbrother,"SimonsaystoDore."WhyisheinNewYork?"

    "NothingforhiminDenver,hethinks.Hesthirty-three.Twoyearsinjailforautotheft.Hesonproba?tionnow.Hedealswhenhecangetenoughmoneytobuysomethingtodeal.Hesgoodatcalculatinghowoftenhecanhitpeopleup.Hehasmedownforacou?pleofhundredeverythreemonthsorso.HisnameisBurt."

    Sheholdsoutanemptywineglass.Simonpouring.

    "Hesanengineer,actually.Hedesignedthiselectriccar,whereyoudidnthaveanarrayofbatteriesthathadtobechargedeverytwoorthreedays.Ithadacircuitthatallowedthebatteriestorechargethemselvesjustlikegasenginesrechargetheirbatteries.Therewasatinycomputerintheresomewhere.Thatwasthecarhestole.Hewasinpartnershipwiththeseguyswhodputupthedevelopmentmoneyandwhentheprototypeworked,theycuthimoutofthecompany.Soherepos?sessedthecaronenightbuttheyhadthecopswaitingforhim."

    "Couldnthehavestartedupagainafterhegotout?"

    "Heforgothowhedidit.Hedhurthisbrain,drink?ingbustheadinjail.Hetried,drovehimselfcrazytry?ing.Hesstilltrying."

    "Badluck."

    "Yeah.Itcoulddonyonthehighway,too.Myfamilyisnotexactlyablue-chipoutfit."

    Shetakeshisglassoutofhishand."Youdrinktoomuch."

    "Goddamnitwoman,leavemyglassalone."

    "Idhatetoseeyourliver."

    "Mostunlikelythatyoueverwill."

    "AndIdontlikeitthatwhenwehaveroastlambyoutakeallthecracklingforyourself."

    "Anythingelse?"

    "Yes.Thisplaceisntclean."

    "Socleanit."

    "Itsamatterofsettinganexample.Yourethejefegrandearoundhere."

    "Whatsthatmean?"

    "Bigchief."

    "NotwhatIfeellike."

    "Imtalkingbasicreality."

    A:Isometimesthinkofmyselfasapersonwho,youknowwhatImean,couldhavedonesome?thingelse,itdoesntmatterwhatparticularly.Justsomethingelse.IsawanadintheSundaypaperfortheCIA,arecruitingad,maybeaquarterofapage,andIsuddenlythought,itmightbeinterestingtodothat.EventhoughIvealwaysbeenopposedtotheCIA,whentheyweretryingtobringCubadown,thestuffwithLumumbainAfrica,thestuffinCentralAmericaThenhereisthisad,perfectlystraightforward,"whereyourcareerisAmericasstrength"orsomethinglikethat,"aptitudeforlearningaforeignlanguageisaplus"orsomethinglikethat,Ivealwaysbeengoodatlanguages,andImsittingtherethinkingabouthowmyresumemightlooktothem,startingcompletelyoverinsomethingcompletelynew,changingtheverysortofpersonIam,andtherewasanattraction,adefiniteat?traction.Ofcoursethemaximumagewasthirty-five.Iguesstheywantthemmoremalleable.

    Q:So,intheeveningsoronweekends——

    A:Noteverynightoreveryweekend.Imeanthisde?pendedonthecircumstances.SometimesmywifeandIwenttodinnerwithpeople,orwatchedtelevision——

    Q:Butinthemain——

    A:Itwasntthatoften.Itwasonceinawhile.

    Q:Adulteryisasin.

    A:Itisclassifiedasasin,yes.Absolutely.

    Q:TheSixthCommandmentsays——

    A:Iknowwhatitsays.IwasraisedontheSixthCommandment.But.

    Q:Butwhat?

    A:TheSixthCommandmentiswrong.

    Q:Itswrong?

    A:Itswrong.

    Q:ThewholeCommandment?

    A:Idontknowhowithappened,whetheritsamis?translationfromtheAramaicorwhatever,itmaynotevenhavebeenAramaicIdontknow,IcertainlydonotpretendtoscholarshipinthisareabutmysenseofthematteristhattheSixthCommandmentisanerror.

    Q:Wellifthatweretrueitwouldchangequitealotofthings,wouldntit?

    A:Takethepressureoff,abit.

    Q:Haveyoutoldyourwife?

    A:Yes,Carolknows.

    Q:Howdshetakeit?

    A:Well,shelikedtheSixthCommandment.YoucouldreasonthatitwasinherinteresttosupporttheSixthCommandmentforthepreservationofthefamilyunitandthissortofthingbuttoreasonthatwayis,Iwouldsay,totakeanextremelynarrowviewofCarol,ofwhatshethinks.Shesnotpredictable.Sheoncetoldmethatshedidntwantme,shewantedasuiteofhus?bands,tenortwenty——

    Q:Whatdidyousay?

    A:Isaid,Gotoit.

    Q:Myself,Ithinkaboutbeingjustsortofaregularperson,onewhoworriesaboutcanceralot,everylittlethingapredictionofcancer,noIdontwanttogoformyevery-two-years-checkupbecausewhatiftheyfindsomething?Iwonderwhatwillkillmeandwhenitwillhappenandhowitwillhappen,andIwonderaboutmyparents,whoarestillalive,andwhatwillhappentothem.Thisseemstometobeapropersetofthingstoworryabout.Lastthings.

    A:IdontthinkGodgivesasnapaboutadultery.Thisisjustanopinion,ofcourse.

    Q:Sohowdoyou,howshallIputit,pursue——

    A:Youthinkaboutthisstaggeringconcept,themindofGod,andthenyouthinkHessittingaroundworryingaboutthisguyandthiswomanattheBeech?nutTravelodge?Ithinknot.

    Q:WellHedoesnthavetothinkabouteveryparticularinstance,Hejustsortoflaidoutthegeneralprin?ciples——

    A:Healsocreatedcreatureswho,withasinglepow?erfulglance——

    Q:Theeyesburn.

    A:Theydo.

    Q:Theheartleaps.

    A:Likeaterrapin.

    Q:Stupidyouthreturns.

    A:Likehockeysticksfallingoutofalong-shutcloset.

    Q:Doyouplay?

    A:Idid.Manyyearsago.

    Q:Youfindtheminparks.Youblunderupontheminparks.

    A:Ivenoticedthat.

    Q:Theysitinparksalot.Especiallywhentheyreangry.Thesolitarybench.Shouldersraised,legskick?ing——

    WhenhewasinschoolatPenn,theresi?dentmasterwasLouisKahn.Kahnwasgiventomut?tering.OncehestoodbehindSimonsdraughtingtableandmutteredforalmostfiveminutes.Theyoungar?chitectwastoointimidatedtoaskhimwhathewassaying.ThestorywastoldofKahnthatwhenhewasayoungarchitecthehadworkedforPaulCret,theFrenchmaestrowhopresidedatPenninthe20s.Whentheotherdraughtsmen,thirtyofthem,quitforthedayKahnwouldtakearolloftracingpaperandgofromboardtoboard,leavingcritiquesofeacharchi?tectsworkasanoverlay.Hedidnotneglecttheboardsofthefirmsthreeprincipals.

    Ilovetheexcessesofmyprofession,Simonthought,heroicsandmock-heroics.MichaelGravesandRobertVenturi,ComplexityandContradictionasatext.Allthoseform-giversenjoyingthemselvesasMichelangelo,Wrightandhiscape,Miesandhispinstripes.Michel?angelomostofall:"WhereIstealIleaveaknife."AnappropriateHighRenaissancesentiment.ThewallsofthearchitecturelabsatPennhadbeencoveredwithgraffiti."Thisishell,norareweoutofit.""Hellisotherarchitects.""Theroadtohellispavedwithnaugahyde."

    Whiteunderwearwithgoldenskin.Acresandacresofit.Wasitgolden?Conventionallydescribedasgolden.Thecolorofwhitebirchstainedwithpolyurethane.Whatdowethinkofthiscolorcombina?tion?Somepeoplevoteforblackunderwearwithsuchskinbutthesepeoplearethesamepeoplewhopainttheirbathroomsblack.Walkinginthegarden,ModiglianisaidtoSaint-Gaudens,aboutRenoir,"Thisroughneckwillneverbeapainter."Dressedwomen,half-dressedwomen,quarter-dressedwomen.Simonwas,asthewomenrepeatedlytoldhim,existinginamalefantasy,inhogheaven.Hesawnothingwrongwithmalefantasies(theTajMahal,theChryslerBuilding)butdeniedthathewasinhogheaven.Wheredidtheygetsuchexpressions?ASouthernismthathednotheardinthirtyyears.

    INthemornings,largefiguresshroudedinterryclothlurchbackandforthbetweentheseveralbedroomsandthesinglebathroom.Doreruns,inthemornings,picksupbreakfastatthemarketonthewayback,freshItalianrolls,greengarlickedKrauterbutter,aquarter-poundofbreastofveal.Shehasbecomethemanagerofbreakfast,takesprideinvaryingthefare,finecheesesoneday,adecadentkidneystewthenext,blueberrycrepesandthenchicken-friedsteakwithbeatenbiscuits."Thisbreadedburlap,"Veronicasays,"nicelydone,butwhatareyou,tryingtokillus,orwhat?"

    "Trymorepepper."

    Stillinhersweats,shewashesthedishesandstowsthemaway,thensettlesdownwiththeBusinessDaysectionoftheTimes,RevcoGets$1.16BillionBuyoutBid,TroubledFarmBankstoGetRegulatoryAid,Jap?aneseSetbackonChipPrices.Scratchingabarefootwithonehand,flippingpageswiththeother.Thensheshowers,dipsintoMTV(shouldertoshoulderwithAnneforfifteenminutes).ThenssheofftotheNewSchoolforherTuesdayclass,InvestmentStrategiesfortheEighties.

    "Howdyougetin?"Simonasks.

    "Imauditing,"shesays."Igoearlyandgetaseat.Theclassissobigtheynevertaketheroll."

    "Yougettinganythingoutofit?"

    "Youcantplayunlessyouhavesomethingtoplaywith.Still,itseducational."

    Afterclass,hernap.Shethrowsherselfonherbedandisdeadtotheworldforanhourandahalf,wearingonlyspun-sugarV-shapedbriefsbyOlga.Simonstares,onoccasion,atthebeautifulbodyatrest,facedownonthebed.Whatmiraclesofbawdinessitcanperformwithoutthinking,theoperatorquiteunaware.Insleep,shescratchesherbelly.Hefeelstheurgetositontheedgeofthebed(hurlhimselfintothebed),butdoesnot.Atnight,sheeitherputsherselftogetherforFizzorreadsDickens.ShesboughtfourDickensnovelsinwornEverymaneditionsattheStrandandismovingthroughthemmethodically."ThethingaboutDickensis,"shetellshim,"heknewthevalueofapound,whenyoudidnthaveone.Allhispeoplearescramblingformoney."

    "So?"Simonsays.

    "Iidentifywiththat."

    LateatnightshesitswithSimondrinkingaDosEquisandlisteningtoHoraceSilver.

    "Yourethemotheroftheseguys,"hesays.

    "Imnot.Lastamongequals."

    "Veronicasahandful."

    "Shesherownperson.Iadmireher.Shesthesmartest."

    "Howlonghaveyouthreeknowneachother?"

    Doregiggles."WeallworkedforaretailoutletinDenver.ItwascalledFredericksofHollywoodofDen?ver.IthadnothingtodowiththerealFredericksofHollywood."

    "Isthatclothes?"

    "Yes.Clothes."

    Doreknowsrickwhichmayonedayplaceheramongtheworldsmanagers,howtowalk.Dorealwayswalksbriskly,headup,armsswingingingoodmilitarystyle,movingfromoneveryimportantassignmenttothenext,abitrushed,look-what-those-apes-in-Purchasing-have-done-to-us-now.Simon,havingspentsometimeinlargeorganizations,understandswhatDoreswalkmeans,canappreciateitsbrittlebouncyR.A.F.au?thority.VeronicadawdlesandAnnelurches,althoughatmomentsofconfusionalllurch,bangingintoeachotherasifblindfolded.Simonshambles.

    Veronicaisoftenoutonmysteriouserrandswhichtheothersdonotcommentupon.Whatisshedoing?Simontriesnottothinkaboutthis——itsnoneofhisbusiness——buthecanthelpspeculating.IsshetakingashiftasablackjackdealerinAtlanticCity?LoadingcontainershipsinHoboken?Re-fletchingarrowsattheMuseumoftheAmericanIndian?Pushingcommodi?tiesinabucketshoponVarickStreet?Thedarkerpos?sibilitiesherefusestocontemplate.Sheentersinaflurry,havingmisseddinner,anddeclaresshesstarv?ing.Simonplopsastuffedporkchoponherplate,wildrice,whiteasparagus.DoreandAnnescarcelynoticeher,theyretalkingaboutlifeafterdeath.

    "Noway,"Annesays,"doIwanttoliveafterdeath.Itshardenoughasitis."

    "Butyourenotclosetotheendyet,"saysDore."Theendisnotnear.Whentheendisnear,youmayfeeldifferently."

    "Idoubtit.ernityofkeepingthearmpitstidy?Nothankyou."

    "Thegravesafineandquietplace.Thatsnotit.Thegravesafineandpleasantplace.Thatsnotit.Whatisit,Simon?"

    "Dontknow."

    "Private,"saysVeronica."Thegravesafineandprivateplace.Irememberthatone.Hegoesontosaythattheresnosexinthegrave."

    "Butwhatifyouleapoverthegraveandintosome?thingnew?Somethingthathasbeenimaginedonlybysaintsandmendicantfriarsintheirrobesofgrassandrope?"

    "Likewhat?"Annesays."Somekindofchurchthing?Ineverdidlikechurch."

    "Churchispunishmentforoursins,"Doresays,"everybodyknowsthat.Theonlyquestioniswhetherbythetimeyoudieyouvedoneenoughchurchtobepunishedenough."

    "Ihavent,"Veronicasays."IdroppedoutwhenIwasten.Actuallytheyaskedmymothertoleavebe?causeshewaslivinginsinwithmyfatherandhadbeenfortenyearsandtheydecideditwastooflagrant."

    "Whatdenominationwasthat?"Anneasks.

    "AssemblyofGod.TheirmottowasTheFellow?shipofExcitement.Itwasveryexcitingwhentheythrewmymotherout.Acommitteecalledonherandtoldher.Therewerethreemenandtwowomen.Sheservedapplejuiceandchocolate-chipcookies.Allshesaidafterwardwasthatitwasawasteofapplejuice."

    "Ikindoflikedit,"Doresaid."Iguessitwasmyauthoritarianpersonality.WewereLutheran.Ararebunch,theLutherans,theytakeeverythingveryseriously.Whatwereyou,Simon?"

    "AsimplePresbyterian."

    Veronicaplacesfivehundred-dollarbillsonthetable."Alittlecontributiontothehouseholdecon?omy."

    "Whereintheworlddidyougetthat?"

    "Itwasnthooking."

    "So,where?"

    "O.T.B."

    "Youbastard!Whatwasthehorse?"

    "CrushedRose."

    SIMONbuysanartwork.TheartworkisaprintbytheartistJohnChamberlainanddepictsalotofautomobilebumperssmashedtogetherintoasculp?turalblock.Itsverysmall,teninchessquare,modestlyframed.Hehastroubleplacingitonthebigemptywallsoftheapartment;whereverheputsit,itlooksri?diculous.Finallyhehangsitbythefrontdoor.

    Annelooksatit."Whatsthat?"

    "Aprint."

    "Whoby?"

    "GuynamedChamberlain."

    "Notverybig."

    "Noitsnot."

    Shemovescloserforagoodlook."Carbumpers."

    "Yes."

    "Ilikeit."

    "SodoI."

    "Terriblysmall.Forthisbigwall."

    "ThisisnottheFrick."

    "Looksfunnyallalonelikethat."

    "Abravelittlepicture.Holdsthewall."

    "IguessifyoulikeitandIlikeit,thatsallthatcounts."

    Sheturnsandholdsoutherhand.

    "Sweetofyoutotry."

    "Wecangetmore.Oneofthesedays."

    "Maybejusthavethisone.Symbolizingthesitua?tion."

    "Whatdoyoumeanbythesituation?"

    "Wehavehotdogsfordinner."

    "HowdidyouknowIwantedhotdogs?"

    "Ijustintuitedit."

    "Gettingprettydomesticaroundhere."

    Shesflippingakitchenknifearoundandcatchingitbythebladeinadangerousmanner.

    "Iguess.Still,weknowthetruth."

    Sarahcalls.

    "Whowasthatwhoansweredthephone?"sheasks.

    "ThatwasAnne."

    "Whosshe?"

    "Aguest.Iwasinthekitchen."

    "Bluebeard."

    "Howareyou?"

    "Igotanewtypewriter."

    "Whatkind?"

    "Smith-Corona.Itcanspellfiftythousandwordsright."

    "MorethanIcanspellright."

    "Metoo.Igotpregnant.Momtellyou?"

    "No.Shedidnt."

    "ThenIspontaneouslyaborted.Lastmonth."

    "Sheshouldhavetoldme.Oryoushouldhavetoldme."

    "Nobigdeal."

    "ThistheguyfromFinland?"

    "Yeah.Hewentback."

    "Hisreindeerwereonfire."

    "Hewasgoingbackanyhow.Itoldhimtogo."

    "Howdoyoufeel?"

    "Imnothavingworld-classluck."

    "Probablytheressomethingwrongwithyou,"Simonsays."Somekindofcharacterflaw,finalandineradicable."

    "Thatsit,"shesays."Youcominghomeanytimesoon?"

    "Itllbeawhileyet,"hesays."Sweetie,youcancomeoverhere.Wheneveryouwant."

    "ScaredofwhatImightsee,"shesays."Solong."

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