"By now the U.S. is experimenting with Yage, unless they are dumber even than I think. Yage may be a means to usable knowledge of telepathy. Anything that can be accomplished chemically can be accomplished in other ways." Lee saw that Allerton was not especially interested, and dropped the subject.
"Did you read about the old Jew who tried to smuggle out ten pounds of gold sewed in his overcoat?"
"No. What about it?"
"Well, this old Jew was nailed at the airport on his way to Cuba. I hear they got like a mine finder out at the airport rings a bell if anybody passes the gate with an outlandish quantity of metal on his person. So it says in the papers, after they give this Jew a shake and find the gold, a large number of Jewish-looking foreigners were seen looking into the airport window in a state of excitement. 'Oy, gefilte fish! They are putting the snatch on Abe!' Back in Roman times the Jews rose up—in Jerusalem I think it was—and killed fifty thousand Romans. The she-Jews—that is, the young Jewish ladies, I must be careful not to lay myself open to a charge of anti-Semitism—
done strip teases with Roman intestines.
"Speaking of intestines, did I ever tell you about my friend Reggie? One of the unsung heroes of British Intelligence. Lost his ass and ten feet of lower intestine in the service. Lived for years disguised as an Arab boy known only as 'Number 69' at headquarters. That was wishful thinking, though, because the Arabs are strictly one way. Well, a rare Oriental disease set in, and poor Reggie lost the bulk of his tripes. For God and country, what? He didn't want any speeches, any medals, just to know that he had served, that was enough. Think of those patient years, waiting for another piece of the jigsaw puzzle to fall into place.
"You never hear of operators like Reggie, but it is their information, gathered in pain and danger, that gives some front-line general the plan for a brilliant counter-offensive and covers his chest with medals. For example, Reggie was the first to guess the enemy was running short of petrol when the K. Y. jelly gave out, and that was only one of his brilliant coups. How about the T-bone steak for two?"
"That's fine."
"Rare?"
"Medium rare."
Lee was looking at the menu. "They list baked Alaska," he said. "Ever eat it?"
"No."
"Real good. Hot on the outside and cold inside."
"That's why they call it baked Alaska I imagine."
"Got an idea for a new dish. Take a live pig and throw it into a very hot oven so the pig is roasted outside and when you cut into it, it's still alive and twitching inside. Or, if we run a dramatic joint, a screaming pig covered with burning brandy rushes out of the kitchen and dies right by your chair.
You can reach down and pull off the crispy, crackly ears and eat them with your cocktails."
Outside, the City lay under a violet haze. A warm spring wind blew through the trees in the park.
They walked through the park back to Lee's place, occasionally stopping to lean against each other, weak from laughing. A Mexican said, "Cabrones," as he walked by. Lee called after him,
"Chinga tu madre," then added in English, "Here I come to your little jerkwater country and spend my good American dollars and what happens? Insulted inna public street." The Mexican turned, hesitating, Lee unbuttoned his coat and hooked his thumb under the pistol at his waistband. The Mexican walked on.
"Someday they won't walk away," said Lee.
At Lee's apartment they had some brandy. Lee put his arm around Allerton's shoulder.
"Well, if you insist," said Allerton.
Sunday night Allerton had dinner at Lee's apartment. Lee cooked chicken livers, because Allerton always wanted to order chicken liver in restaurants, and usually restaurant chicken liver isn't fresh. After dinner Lee began making love to Allerton, but he rejected Lee's advances and said he wanted to go to the Ship Ahoy and drink a rum Coke. Lee turned out the light and embraced Allerton before they started out the door. Allerton's body was rigid with annoyance.
When they arrived at the Ship Ahoy, Lee went to the bar and ordered two rum Cokes. "Make those extra strong," he said to the bartender.
Allerton was sitting at a table with Mary. Lee brought the rum Coke over and set it down by Allerton. Then he sat down at a table with Joe Guidry. Joe Guidry had a young man with him. The young man was telling how he was treated by an Army psychiatrist. "So what did you find out from your psychiatrist?" said Guidry. His voice had a nagging, derogatory edge.
"I found out I was an Oedipus, I found out I love my mother."
"Why, everybody loves their mother, son," said Guidry.
"I mean I love my mother physically."
"I don't believe that, son," said Guidry. This struck Lee as funny, and he began to laugh.
"I hear Jim Cochan has gone back to the States," said Guidry. "He plans to work in Alaska."
"Thank God I am a gentleman of independent means, and don't have to expose myself to the inclemencies of near-Arctic conditions," said Lee. "By the way, did you ever meet Jim's wife, Alice? My god, she is an American bitch that won't quit. I never yet see her equal. Jim does not have one friend he can take to the house. She has forbidden him to eat out, as she does not want he should take in any nourishment unless she is there to watch him eat it. Did you ever hear the likes of that? Needless to say, my place is out of bounds to Jim, and he always has that hunted look when he comes to see me. I don't know why American men put up with such shit from a woman.
Of course I am no expert judge of female flesh, but Alice has 'lousy lay' writ all over her scrawny, unappetizing person."
"You're coming on mighty bitchy tonight, Lee," said Guidry.
"And not without reason. Did I tell you about this Wigg person? He is an American hipster around town, a junky who is said to play a cool bass fiddle. Strictly on the chisel, even though he has gold, and he's always mooching junk, saying 'No, I don't want to buy any. I'm kicking. I just want half a fix.' I have had all I can stand still for from this character. Driving around in a new three-thousand-dollar Chrysler, and too cheap to buy his own junk. What am I, the Junky's Benevolent Society for christ sake? This Wigg is as ugly as people get."
"You making it with him?" asked Guidry, which seemed to shock his young friend.
"Not even. I got bigger fish to fry," said Lee. He glanced over at Allerton, who was laughing at something Mary had said.
"Fish is right," quipped Guidry. "Cold, slippery, and hard to catch."
Chapter 5
Lee had an appointment with Allerton for eleven o'clock Monday morning to go to the National Pawn Shop and get his camera out of hock. Lee came to Allerton's room and woke him up exactly at eleven. Allerton was sullen. He seemed on the point of going back to sleep. Finally Lee said, "Well, are you going to get up now, or . . ."
Allerton opened his eyes and blinked like a turtle. "I'm getting up," he said.
Lee sat down and read a newspaper, careful to avoid watching Allerton dress. He was trying to control his hurt and anger, and the effort exhausted him. A heavy drag slowed movement and thought. Lee's face was rigid, his voice toneless. The strain continued through breakfast. Alierton sipped tomato juice in silence.