章节目录 12

(88106 www.88106.info)    Simonwasdelightedtobefifty-three,leanandaggressiveexceptforhisbellywhichwasnotleanandaggressive.HewasyoungerthanI.M.Pei,youngerthanDizzyGillespie,youngerthanthePope.HehadmorewisdompackedinhislittlefingerthanwastobefoundintheentireSweetscatalog,withitspagesofalluringmetalmoldingsandfire-ratedexpansionjoints.Hehadkeptasbestosandasbestos-containingproductsoutofeveryjobhehadeverworkedon,sometimesatconsiderablecost.Hehadadaughterwhowouldcomeintothekitchenatbreakfastandsay,"WhosgotthegoddamnNewYorkTimes?"Sarahdidnotwakewell.Hecouldspell49,999wordscorrectlyandmakeaprettygoodstabatmanyoftherest.HehadaBronzeStar,courtesyofaclerk-typistinhisunitwhosegiftforwritingcitationsforroutinelyrotatingpersonnelhadbeenenviedevenatCorpslevel.TheIRSregardedhimasacashcow,onasmallscale,andregularlysenthimlovingsalutations,including,oneyear,aboxofGodivachocolates.Hecouldspeakpersuasivelyinmeetings,maintainingagraveandthoughtfulcountenanceandlettingallthedumbguysspeakfirst.Hehadabouttwicetheélanofyouth,normalélanplusextraélanderivedfromrawneedandgrainspirits.Severalofthemalemembersofhisfamilyhadlivedtobefifty-nineorsixty."Growordie"wasthemaximthatmostaccordedwithhisexperienceandwhenhedidnotthinkofhimselfasagiraffehethoughtofhimselfasatree,apalm,schematicallyaskinnycurvingverticalwithalotoffuroratthetop.Withcoloredfeltpensandapadoftracingpaperhecouldproduceimpressivesketchesintwentyminutes,whichhethenhadtorec?oncilewithrealityandsweatoverforfortydays,cursinghimselfforhisfacility."Whataboutthecornstalk?"Adesignprofhadtoldthestudentsthattherewerenorightanglesinnature,andSimonhadraisedtheques?tionofthecornstalk.Hadhetodoitagain,thirtyyearslater,hewouldhaveraisedthequestionofthetele?phonepole,adeteriorationofsensibility,perhaps.Herushedtowardthings,normally,hispresentquietudeaparenthesisinalifenotunmarkedbystrifeandcontes?tation.Pipebombsdidnotbotherhimsolongastheydidnotblowhisfaceoff.TheassassinationoftheSwedishPrimeMinister,ontheotherhand,scarredhisbrain.HehadmetPalmeonce,ataconferenceontheworkoftheGreekplannerConstantinDoxiodesinStockholmin1972,atwhichDoxiodeshaddeclaredhimselfacriminalbecausehehadputhumanbeingsintohigh-risebuildings.Palmehadbeenabeneficentpresence,ashortmanwhowantedeverythingtogowell,wantedtheworldtosucceedingoodsocialistfash?ion,gayandoptimistic."Thedeedo**atic,"theSwedishpolicesaid,Simonfeelingdespairforhuman?kind.Afriend,aPolisharchitectwhohadbeenatPennwithhim,visitedhiminPhiladelphiain1984onagrantfromtheFordFoundation.Carolhadmadeossobucoandtheyhadtalkedforhours."Socialism,finally,doesntwork,"Ryszardhadsaid."Youget,youknow,toomanybadguysatthetop."RyszardsfatherhadbeenadeputyinthePolishparliament,aCommunistwhosatforsomeyearsandhadthenbeenjailedfollow?ingachangeintheleadership.ItwasthefirsttimethatanyonehadsaidtoSimon,withtheauthorityofthreedecadesofinvolvement,thatsocialismdidntwork."Youget,atthesummit,nottheworstbutthenext-worst."SimontookRyszardtotheairport,gavehimasagoing-awaypresentaTiziolamp,regrettedthathesawhimsoseldom,wishedthathelivednextdoor,onPineStreet.Carol,whentheyweretwenty-fiveandtwenty-six,hadbeenasmart-ass,anadmirablesmart-ass."Iloveyoubutitsonlytemporary,"shehadsaid.Shewasfondofsayingtopeople,"Hereswishingyouahappyandsuccessfulfirstmarriage."Simoncouldliftrefrigeratorsotherpeoplecouldntlift.Hehadalmostcrushedhislefthandgettingarefrigeratordownasetofright-angledstairsforaneighbor.Hismusclesrespondedbrightlytochallenge.Fifty-three,hethought,wasnotsomuchworsethantwenty-three.Allgiraffesthinkthis.

    "HEusedarolled-upnewspaper,"Veron?icasays,"whatyouduseonadog.Onlyheputhisbackintoit,whenIwastwelveandthirteenandfour?teen.WhatcanIsay?Sadisticson-of-a-bitch.IfhedbeenadrunkIcouldmaybehaveforgivenhimbuthedidntdrink.Hewasapianosalesman,workedforthispianostoredowntown.Heplayedprettywellhimself.Hedwantedtobeadoctor.Mymothergotridofhim,eventually.Notsoonenough."

    Simonthinksofhisownlarge,calmfather,stillac?tiveatseventy-five,playingthemarketandraisinghellonbehalfoftheADA.Sheswearingpatchedjeans(patchesatthebackoftheknee,justunderabuttock,ontherightthigh)andadead-blacksweater.Blondhairdoneincornrowsthismorning,acopyofInterviewinherlap,somebodynamedKimBasingeronthecover.Hewantstoholdhertight,rockher,even——anon-rationalimpulse,shesalmostastallasheis.

    "Well,itsabitch,"hesays.Thissoundsfeebleeventohim.

    "Helookedniceinasuit.Hehadtheseprettyex?pensivesuits,maybeadozensuits.Hehadalotofshoes,Iremembertheshoeswithshoetreesinthem.HegavemeaverygoodcamerawhenIwasfifteen,aMamiyaflex,atwin-lensreflex.Iusedtotakepicturesoflizards,lizard-on-branch,lizard-on-brick-wall,lizardlookingatcamera——"

    "Andyourmother?"

    "Shewaskindofadishrag,totellthetruth.Then.Shepulledhersocksupaftershegotridofhim.Shesstillbackthere,inDenver.Shesaschoolprincipal,elementaryschool.Gotaboyfriend,theshopteacher.ShethinksshesdoingLadyChatterleysLover."

    Shepauses.

    "Guesswhat,"shesays.

    "What?"

    "Yourenotafather-figure.Thatsurpriseyou?"

    "No."

    "Youremorelikeaguywhosstayedoutintheraintoolong."

    Doesthistranslateintoexperienced,tried-and-true,well-tempered?Orpulpy,hanging-in-thin-strips?Hepullsatanear.

    "Imeanworn,butwithacertaincharacter."

    Rustneversleeps,hethinks.

    "Well,"hesays,"shallwetakethechildrentoschool?"

    "Whatchildren?"

    "Right."

    "Areyougoingtohaveanymorechildren?"

    "Probablynot."

    TIM,theprofessionalwhistler,isasadSaabofamanaboutthirty.Hehasappearedonanumberoflocaltvshowsandplaysclubdatesoccasionally.Hewhistles"TwilightTime,""TumblingTumbleweeds,"and"MyBlueHeaven,"thelattertakennote-for-notefromthefamousrecordbyGeneAustin.Hiswhistlingistough,verytough,withmanycomplicatedflourishes.TimsaysthatthemostfamouswhistlerofalltimewasFredLowry,whowhistledforbothVincentLopezandHoraceHeidtandHisMusicalKnights.Theversionofthe"WilliamTellOverture"LowrydidwithHeidthasneverbeensurpassed,Timsays.

    Afterdinner(roastedsquabwithchicken-friedpo?tatoskins)Timtalksadditionallyaboutwhistling.Doreismovingnervouslybetweenthekitchenandthesittingroom.FredLowrysversionof"IndianLoveCall"soldmorethantwomillioncopies,Timtellsthem.Hehim?selfhashadseveralcareersotherthanwhistling,nota?blyhigh-techelectronicsinCalifornia.

    "IhadthisplaceinMountainView.Ihadevery?thing,projectiontelevision,walk-aroundno-handstele?phones,stereo,aNautilusmachine,whirlpoolbath,twoBMWs,twodogs,PCwithprinter,shotguns,lotsofshotguns,handguns,AlvarAaltochairsandtablesandchaises,art,someveryfineart,threeDiebenkorns,twoClementes,thehousewasbyFrankGehry,greattrees,winecellar,greatCaliforniawines,Iusedtogoaroundtothevineyardsforthetastings,gottoknowalotofthegrowers,thirtysuits,thisoneisbyIsseyMiyake,hediditespeciallyforme——"

    "Anyofthistrue?"Veronicawhispers.

    "HowwouldIknow?"Simonwhispers.

    TimisdrinkingBlackRussians.SimonhasgoneouttoobtainKahluaandbrandy.

    "Whatwewerebasicallydoing,"Timsays,"wasvoicesynthesis.Thefirstapplicationisclearlyforpeo?plewhovelosttheirvoicesbecauseofoperationsorhingandanother.Thentoys,vendingmachines,voiceprintapplicationsforbankingandofcoursethewholetelecommunicationsthing.BellLabsisheavily,heavilyintothisbutweweredoingsomethingsthatwouldhavescaredthemiftheydknown."

    DorelooksatSimon.Simoninclineshisheadtotheleft,meaningCouldbe.

    "Digitalisunbelievable,"Timsays."Icantakeanordinaryutteranceandgiveitanastysneeringtone,justbybendingsomenumbers.Ican——"

    Veronicasays,"Sowhatareyoudoingnow?"

    "Carwash,"Timsays,"overonTenthAvenue.Washingcars.Whatmostpeopledontknowisthatthefinishontodayscars,especiallytheJapanesecars,actuallyembracesthedirt.ImeanifyouwantedthedirttoadheretothefinishyoucouldntcomeupwithabetterTherearethesetinypitsuniformlydistrib?utedoverthesurfaceofthecarthatactliketrapsforthegrime,reachoutandsuckitup.Itbecomeslikeplaqueonteeth.Now,youwonderwhytheycantde?viseasolventthatwoulddissolvetheplaqueandnotharmtheenamel.Imtellingyou,theformulaexists.Itisinbeing.Butbecausethebigdentifriceoutfitsdontwanttoloseavery,verylucrativemarket,youandIgetzip.Havetogointwiceayearandhavesomedentalassistantscrapeawaywiththeoldhandtoolforanhour.AreyoufamiliarwiththeworkofBuckminsterFuller?HaveyoureadwhatFullerhastosayaboutcopperwire?Theearthssupplyofcopperisfinite.Ourpercapitainvestmentincopper,foreveryman,womanandchildonearth——"

    Simonsgettingtired."Butofcourseyoucanlookatitinanotherway,"hesays.

    "Lookatwhat?"

    "Thewholething.Thedeficit.Thegovernmentisthebiggestconsumerinthecountry,right?Andthatsgoingtobetruebyandlargeofallgovernmentseverywhere.Soifeverygovernmentcontractweretiedtoaproportionateamountwhichwouldgotoreductionofthedeficit,ifyoucouldntgetgovernmentworkwithout——"

    "Theydjustcost-plusyou,"saysTim.

    "Nomorecost-plus,"Simonsays."Wevedoneawaywithit."

    "Theydjustburyitsomewhereelse."

    "Moreauditors."

    "Bankswouldntgiveyouyourcapitalization."

    "Nationalizeem."

    "Youwantanacross-the-boardstandardizationofprofit?Wheredoyougetyourincentive?"

    "Saythreetiersofincentivetiedtoproductivity.Sotheredbeameaningfulvariationbutnotflat-outrape,ifyouknowwhatImean."

    Timsighsandstripsoffhisjacket."IonceheardFullerspeakforsevenstraighthours.Ionlyunderstoodatenthofwhathewassaying.Bytheendoftheeve?ningtherewereonlyfivepeopleleftintheaudience.Hedstartedwiththreehundred.IwenthomeandbegantomaketetrahedronswithPlay-Dohandtooth?picksattwooclockinthemorning.Whatwouldthethreetiersbe?"

    "Saytheprimerateissix,one,twoandthreetimestheprimerate.Togeteighteenyoudhavetodoaw?fullygoodwork."

    "Whodecides?"

    "Bethereverseofcost-plus.Themultiplierwouldbehowmuchaheadoftimeandhowmuchunderbud?get."

    "Underneaththepaint,Godknowswhat."

    "Ourinspectorswouldtakesections."

    Timsays,"Thatsterriblyrational,Simon.Theideaofprogressisphilosophicallydubious,youknowthat."

    "Nottalkingaboutprogress.Talkingaboutmove?ment.Werenotnecessarilymarriedtothepresentsitu?ation."

    Timlooksatthethreewomen.

    "Toobad.Engineeringiskey.Wehaventevenfloatedthesubjectofsmoking.Everyday,fifteentotwentyAmericansareinjuredbytheirashtrays."

    SIMONenjoyedlifeasaghost,oneofthere?wardsoflivinginthegreatcity.Somanyunitsrushingtoandfrothatnobodynoticedanythingmuchorhadtimetoremarkonstrangersinthehouse,intheneigh?borhood.Subletswereeverywhere,twomenandagrandpianomightpopupinyourbuildinganyWednesday.Maybeoldblockwatchersofthirtyyearsstandingwerekeepingrunningcensusesofthepopula?tion,butSimondidnotknowtheoldblockwatchersandsofeltcomfortablyanonymous.Foramusement,hecooked,orwenttoaneighborhoodmovie.HesawTheBennyGoodmanStoryandSilverado,thefirstwithAnneandthesecondwithDoreandVeronica.DoreandVeronicahadnotheardofBennyGoodmanandthuswerentinterested;AnnedidntlikeWesterns."HowcanyounotlikeWesterns?"Simonaskedher,trulyamazed,andshehadsaidthatwhenshewasachildshehadseenoneinwhichIndianshadtiedamantotwobent-downsaplingsandthencutaropeandthesaplingshadrentthemanintotwodistinctpiecesandthatshehadneverseenaWesternsince.SimontoldherthatnotallWesternshadthatkindofthinginthembutsheremainedunpersuaded.Simonread,muchofthetime,andconsultedwiththemontheirplans.

    ThefirstplanwastoreturntoDenver,andnobodylikedit."BedamnedifIwill,"Veronicahadsaid,andAnnehadsaidthesamething.ThesecondplanwastogotoParisandaffiliatethemselveswithoneofthecou?turehousesthere,Saint-LaurentorKarlLagerfeld.Al?thoughthebeststuffwascomingfromMilan,theysaid.TheytalkedknowledgeablyaboutMemphis,atleastthefabrics.ThethirdplanwastojointheArmyandacquiretraininginanumberofsophisticatedelec?tronicandcomputerskills.ThefourthplanwasBurgerKing.

    "AlotofAmericansworkatBurgerKing.Onacon?tingencybasis."

    "Americansofeverycreedandstripe."

    "IdrathergotoHarvard?"

    "Transferringone-and-a-halfraggedyearsatFortLuptonCommunity?"

    "Yeah,yeah,Iknow."

    "Iwanttowritemusic."

    "Whatkindofmusic?"

    "Seriousmusic.Bigmusic.Entirestringsectionsbendingtothework."

    "Youcouldstudythat."

    "Icould.WhereisthisJuilliardplace?"

    "Ithinkyouhavetoplaysomethingbeforeyoucangetin."

    "Tambourine?NawthatsajokeIknowtambourineisnogood."

    "Doyouthinkwestartedtoolate?"

    "Itsnevertoolate.Inprinciple."

    "Chasehasaplanforbanktellers."

    "Idontwanttobeabankteller."

    "Wellitsastart."

    "Towardwhat?"

    "Idontwanttothinkwere**ed.Ireallydontwanttothinkthat."

    "Wecouldgooutandmarrysomemorepeople."

    "ThelastthingIhaveinmind."

    "Yeahitdoessoundalittleretrograde."

    Anneisinaretrospectivemood.

    "IwontheColoradoMissBreck,"shesays."IdidntwintheNational,though."

    "Cantwinemall,"Simonsays.

    "Itwasveryexciting.Thisstuffisveryexcitingwhenyoureakid,peoplemakingafussoveryou.Itbecomeslessexciting.Iwantedtobeadoctor."

    "Everybodywantstobeadoctor.Veronicasoldmanthechild-beaterwantedtobeadoctor."

    "Iknow,"shesays."Helpingpeople.Yourexistenceisjustified."

    Simonlooksathiskhakis;theyreabitonthefilthyside.Buyanotherpair."Youcouldstilldothat,"hesays."Medicalschool."

    "Doyouwanttogetmarriedagain?"

    "Hadntthoughtaboutit."

    "Probablysomebodydmarryyou."

    "Likewho?"

    "Somedumbwoman.Acommoditywithwhichtheworldisamplysupplied.Me,forexample."

    "Thatwouldbeprettydumb.Youneedayoungsol?dier."

    "YoutellingmewhatIneed?"

    "Tryingto."

    "Ifeelaffectionatetowardyou,Simon."

    "Ifeelthesamething.Notagoodidea."

    "Whosays?"

    "AetnaLifeandCasualty."

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