He laughed at her audacity.
"My husband won't let me have any money."
"Your husband?"
"Yeah, the old man, I work for him, it's his act, you know, the magic man?"
Grimaldi hitched up the small towel around his waist. "Like I said, part of the act — the part with the colored silk squares — you should work it up. I mean I don't know what the signals are, but it's good."
"Signals? What do you mean?"
"Well, how you do it, how you get the colors in the right order, and so fast."
"Oh... that's no trick, that's just something I can do. I can do that easy, ever since I was a kid." She was looking around, peering into his bedroom.
"Well, it's good. The old guy's not so good, though. You should get a new partner."
Suddenly she was in his arms, coiled around him. She pinched his cheek with her finger and thumb. "You lied, there's no bloody woman here."
He didn't want to kiss her, or even touch her, but he stood there and let her go down on him. He let her take him in the middle of his trailer.
When it was over, she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.
"That was for free! I'm going now."
He had felt guilty, and had thrust some money into her pocket.
She took out the bills and counted them, and then she had looked up and smiled. He had never seen her smile before.
"Next time I come, I'll have a visa, you can take me with you then. My name is Ruda... R U D A, you won't forget, will you? Thanks for the money."
He left the next day, but he didn't forget her — five years later when she turned up again, he recognized her immediately. It was in Florida; she was accompanied by her husband, Tommy Kellerman.
Grimaldi woke up, he had no idea where he was. His head throbbed so hard he couldn't lift it. He felt something warm and hairy curled by his side, and as he lifted the stinking blanket he saw Boris's face.
"Whoop... Whoop."
Grimaldi let the blanket fall back over the chimp. Loud snoring was coming from across the room. In the darkness he could just make out the sleeping Lazars, his legs propped up on the table, his head on his chest, still sitting in his chair.
Grimaldi cursed. How in God's name had he got here? He couldn't remember. He sighed, and the strong hairy arm patted his chest gently. He inched up the blanket again, and the round bright button eyes blinked.
"What time is it, eh?"
Grimaldi tried to sit up — but slumped back again. Better to sleep it off, he doubted if he could stand up anyway.
Ruda was wakened by a bang at the trailer door. She lifted the blinds, and saw a bedraggled Tina waiting outside.
"What do you want?"
Tina peered through the window. "Is he here? I can't pay the taxi... he took my handbag. Let me in!"
Ruda put on an old wrap, stuffed her feet into worn slippers. She got her wallet and opened the trailer door.
"You know what time it is? How much do you need?"
Tina was red-eyed from crying. "He just left me, he took my bag."
Ruda laughed. 'That's my husband! Here, take this."
"Is he back? Did he come back?"
Ruda shook her head, about to close the door, her hand on her hip.
"I can't get into my trailer, the girls lock the door."
"What do you expect me to do?"
"Can I come back, after I've paid him?"
Ruda shrugged and left the door ajar, then returned to the bedroom and closed the door. She heard Tina enter, followed by the clink of cutlery. She stormed out. "Eh! What do you think you're doing?"
"I was making a cup of tea."
"Oh were you? Don't you think it would have been polite to ask? You wake me up, get money out of me, and now start banging around in my kitchen. You've got nerve, a lot of nerve."
"I'm sorry, do you want one?"
Ruda hesitated. "Yeah, white, one sugar."
Ruda got back into her bed, turned on the bedside light. It was after four; she leaned back, listening to the girl banging around searching for the tea, then she heard the rattle of teacups and her door inched open. Tina had a tray with two cups and a pot of tea, she'd got sugar and biscuits. She poured Ruda's cup, spooned in the sugar, then stirred it carefully.
Ruda took the cup, watching Tina pour her own, then she laughed softly. "Well isn't this cozy? You fancy keeping the baby in my room, do you? Little pink elephants on the curtains, frilly crib, white baby wardrobes?"
Tina edged to sit on a small stool in front of Ruda's dressing table. "I got really frightened, he was with me one minute and the next he just disappeared. He's got my handbag, my money, my cards, checkbook — everything. I'm worried about him, do you think he'll be all right?"
Ruda opened her bedside drawer, took out a bar of chocolate, breaking it into pieces. She sucked on a large piece, not offering Tina any. Tina took a biscuit and nibbled it. "I mean, he had been drinking."
Ruda said nothing, kept on staring at Tina.
"Actually, I wanted to talk to you, Ruda. Is it all right if I call you Ruda?"
Ruda took another bite of chocolate, and sipped her tea. She found it amusing to watch the stupid little bitch squirming.
"I know he's talked to you about the baby, and we've never really spoken, he said you'd agreed to a divorce."
Ruda licked her mouth, leaving a dark brown chocolate stain.
"I know how much the act means to you. I was watching you in rehearsal, I mean I was really impressed. I don't know all that much about training, but..."
"Impressed! Well, I am flattered." Ruda held out her cup for more tea, and Tina scuttled to the tray and poured, spooned in more sugar, and then started for the door.
"I don't want any milk, never have milk in the second cup, thank you."
Ruda smiled, and Tina sat down on the edge of the bed.
"I love him."
"You love him. How old are you?"
"Age doesn't matter."
"Doesn't it?"
"No, and I think I can make him happy. He's really excited about the baby."
"Is it his?"
Tina flushed. "That's a terrible thing to say. Of course it's his."
Ruda slowly put her cup down and leaned forward. Tina backed slightly, and then allowed Ruda to take her hand.
"What tiny little hands you've got, let me see your palm. Oh yes, really interesting, my my! What a lifeline."
Tina moved closer, allowing Ruda to press and feel her open palm. "Do you believe in that stuff? I think it's all mumbo-jumbo."
Suddenly Ruda gripped Tina's hand so hard it hurt, but she continued smiling, as if she were joking. "And I think everything you say is a load of crap — you little prick teaser. You don't love Luis. You don't love that big bloated old man, that drunken has-been, you want..."
Tina tried to draw her hand away, but Ruda held her in a viselike grip, pulling her closer and closer... and then, there was no smile. Ruda's face twisted with anger, and with her free hand she punched Tina's belly, pummeled it as if it were a lump of dough. Tina twisted and tried to break herself free. She started screaming — terrified, trying to protect her womb.
Ruda hauled Tina almost on top of herself. Tina kicked out with her legs, but Ruda dragged her closer, and covered her mouth. Tina could feel Ruda's body beneath her, and she twisted again, tried to turn.
"Don't struggle or I'll break your neck."
Tina began to cry, her body went limp. She knew she couldn't fight, Ruda was too strong.
"Promise not to cry out? Promise me?... Promise!"
Ruda jerked Tina so hard she gasped. "I promise! I promise! Just don't hurt me, don't hurt my baby, please..."
"If you scream or cry out, then I will hurt you, maybe even kill you." Slowly Ruda released her grip, easing Tina from her, and then rolled off, and leaned up on one elbow. She smiled down into the frightened girl's face. Tina was like a rabbit caught in a poacher's beam of light. Her eyes were wide, startled, and terrified. She was transfixed, unable to move, too scared to cry out. Now Ruda's strong hands stroked and caressed, with knowing assurance, gently easing down Tina's skirt to feel between her legs, her voice soft and persuasive, a half-whispered monotone, hardly audible.