Then I took the relaxing routine of my afternoon swim. Undressing in a mahogany booth. My little paper parcel stapled across the top and handed to a man in the steel cage. Who looked surprised at Smith turned mushroom picker, sad eyed, staring ahead at what was left of the future. Then wrapped up in towels, I gazed at the big pointer on the weighing machine. Registering a reading so sad, to make me wonder how much it weighed alone. Send the news to Miss Tomson. And I arched over the green rippling water of the swimming pool. On the tiles I thought of all cold things, and dived. Breathed with a nose like a periscope. Used a lazy flap of overhead arm to propel myself back and forth down the pool in a blaze of foam. A few nonchalant laps of backstroke to get an even distribution of exercise. For a finale, I bulleted two lengths like a seal. To break up again through the watery surface to hear George Smith paged to the telephone. For an earful of news fearful and fantastic. Club members looking up from their poolside papers. As I hurriedly wrapped up in towels, one draped over the fact Flapping and dripping, crossed the tiles to the white talking machine under a palm. tiles to the white talking machine "George Smith here."
"George Smith here."
"I have a call for you sir. Go ahead please."
"I have a call for you sir.
"George. O my G.o.d."
"George. O my "Bonniface."
"Yes. I am in woeful trouble. I must escape this town before it"s too late."
"What"s the matter."
"I can"t tell you everything on the phone but I"ll tell you this much. After you left I bought a paper and read of your tragic misfortune. I should have been warned. Then I thought I would see if you were back at Dynamo House and I foolishly availed myself of the rapid transit for this ill fated journey. One would think it could not happen twice."
"What."
"In all true madness I asked another member of the population for directions as to whether we were going uptown or downtown. So help me G.o.d he snarled in my face, asking if I could read. I requested the information once again, whereupon he replied the train didn"t go anywhere. Upon the third reasonable request as to the direction of the train he asked me if I was a millionaire and wanted to fight. My dear George, I hit him. He toppled into the tracks."
"Where are you."
"I don"t know. But one thing is for certain. I am about to decamp."
"Is he dead."
"Don"t say that word. The terrible thing is, some innocent bystander was apprehended for the a.s.sault. The crowd closed in on him. Alas it was the presence of Mr. Mystery. With the commotion I put my hands out in front of me, stared fixedly at the distant exit and repeated quietly, help me, I may yet see with the help of a secondhand eye. I had a handful of change by the time I got back on the street. My dear George, your good Miss Martin told me how to locate you. May I come there for :e."
"Yes."
"This is truly too good of you George. I know how much misfortune you yourself have to contend with. But I shall be glad to commiserate with you. Give advice, counsel, in short, steer you right. As well as take you to Her Majesty. By the way, one last request. May I, for the purpose of further respite avail myself of your cabin in the woods."
"If you do not grope behind my books."
"George I"m sorry you said that. Be there before this hour is dead. I spoke to Her Majesty only a moment ago and she begged me say where she could find you."
I hung up the phone. Pulled the towels closely over my fact and barefoot made way along the red rubber carpet and through a gla.s.s door to the steam room. Tasting the salty trickles of sweat on the lips in this steamy limbo. Blotting out the eyes as a voice talked about the recent death of his mother which made him worry and become thirty pounds overweight.
Bonniface, your company is cheap as well as fearful. No more days of taking chances with pedestrians. And you"re two hours late. Look out here across the park. For G.o.d"s sake Miss Tomson. See you running there through the trees. If you were a fluttering virgin. And I broke your wings, you couldn"t fly away. Summer all over. Winter ready to come knocking. On my hideaways. Find Her Majesty. Her flowered dress she used to wear and a black gleaming leather belt. Search every hotel. Her legs were of lean muscle and small ankle bones, precious gems under her skin. My first year at the university. She put her hands to her eyes and the tears welled up and stole down her cheeks. All the women I know are constantly crying. She said I loathe and fear people. All except you, George Smith. I caught an elevator to rise up through the peerage between us. As we knelt before her icon. I lit the sandalwood. More than the peerage between us. Great gulf of innocence. Until she peeled off her winter woollies.
Smith raising a hand. White coated waiter with his metal alloy tray. Staring down. Belligerence everywhere.
"Large beer. Please."
"Yeah."
"Pretzels. Cheese crackers and cheese."
Watch the people go by. No fun to be neglected. Or wait for Bonniface to come. Last week saw Mr. Browning. Who rubs his hands as he sees the car approaching. But this time I walked cross country, between the mausoleums, and evergreens. He was holding a big plan up against a tree and was distinctly startled. Some find nervousness instead of deep peace in the graveyard. He smiled all over his face with relief. To find I wasn"t some apparition. We had a jolly talk on the portico. Won"t be long now, Mr. Smith, till the cantilever is complete. News gave me an exciting shiver. Walked by the cemetery lake, threw a few little stones at the ducks. And chirped to a squirrel. One day little animals, we all will be neighbors.
Smith quaffing another beer. Followed by a whiskey. When the sneaky and treacherous have been sent scurrying. Just as Her Majesty said, you"ll be rich one day, George, while I owe grocery bills everywhere. The muscles in her arms wearing a wan old fashioned tan. Satin wrists the ends of her limbs. Breast brushed the side of my face. George, the pain I give you offer it up to G.o.d. Did any little girl ever love you. As an ugly little boy. Yes. She hid a note in her desk in the cla.s.sroom. I love George Smith. And the other kids found it and twisted her wrist till it fell out of her hands. They showed it to me while she was crying.
Another beer and whiskey from the waiter. Smiling and familiar now. Smith requesting a phone from a green uniformed page. Like Her Majesty"s page of the presence. Only three hotels where she could be. Find her without Bonniface. With her race horse body. Smith you"re a prude, look at me, hair flowing across my shoulder blades, I smile at you George because you"re so hurt, so sweet, so sad and in the eyes of your prep school cla.s.s they"ll think you"ve come to no good end. Up someone.
"Here you are sir, your telephone."
Smith busy over these little numbers. Twisting a finger round the dial. To find another voice somewhere and erase this sound of heavy breathing. This table, the last outpost of civilization. Just as Her Majesty said, it"s cold come into my arms, I owe my coal merchant and all my children"s school fees. Pull the covers up on our faces. Let me teach you how to shut out the world. Tell me what you did at summer time when you were little. Why wouldn"t you play with the other boys at the local monument with the fireflies blinking green in the o.r.g.a.s.m races shooting sperm over the fence. You tell such tales, so funny, military cadets hanging from the doorjambs letting fly with their lotion shouting no hands. If you entered those contests George you"d be better prepared for this later life. And the profane farts. Albeit carried away by the same provincial wind.
Down the long list. Smith went, telephoning. Hotel after hotel. The residential, the luxury, the least likely and the most. Her majesty, Queen Evangiline. What is this, mister, a joke, never heard of her. Oaf. The royal nipple. Majestic mounds. Took the pole of this present peasant. Another beer and I"ll be a yeoman. No longer nervous looking at you, even with haggard eyes, grey temples, stooped walk. Call you Evangiline the favorite of all your names. I want to escape. Get out. Go back. Into the late summer of the year. When you said, don"t m.u.f.f the first moment of manhood. George, the clean minded community from which you sprang. Elastic and high. And back those years. When a fresh wet breeze swept across the hills outside the city. Milkman clip clopping by to a ballad down below in the streets, all morning and grey. A tram tinkling in the distance.
Smith putting back the telephone on its little cradle. Never trust wires. Get crossed and confused. My heart on one end can never get its warmth to the other. Then all scared I hang up. Must find her. By legs. Ungladly stepping one foot in s.h.i.t, the other in sublime. Could even pose as the most dangerous human being alive today. After Bonniface. And I"ll be afraid to look at her. To see instead the Sally Tomson, that Dizzy Darling, cruising from one pent house to another, with her ruler looking for bigger ones. To measure. And you, Evangiline, undressed so slowly and folded all your clothes. Said no two poles the same, George, yours is a gift of nature. On safari I had four black ones one after another. Anything can be black in the dark. Love your tombstone teeth. I cry because I"m getting old. Nice of you to tell me I"m so terribly beautiful. White in all the corners of your eyes. Taste of honey in the mouth. And George present your pole to posterity. Be remembered long. Rearing up from these sweet short hairs. I hate the priests in this town and all the gossip that goes on about me. Their pulpit stunted organs. She talked her eyes like a frightened horse. Her denture slipped. Whole world moved over a little to the left. I haven"t told you all the things how they tried to murder me, cut out my stomach. Jealous green eyed woman because I was so beautiful and a queen. You with such a whopper. Dutch cap now instead of a crown. My eyes go wild, for all that marvelous mouthful. Before I"m bleak dead and buried, part of a field. You plow. Come under my shattered wing, head in my hands, body in a land I cannot love. Have me as I am if have me you must. With the pip in the core.
The strange Sour In the Seed.
Smith with paper parcel stepped out of The Game Club and walked east. Past the glittering entrances. Hotels and nightclubs. Doormen saluting to arriving and departing cars. So easy to go in one of these doors. Become a maniac. Buy the whole building out of my little bag of bank notes. Dismiss the doorman, bellboys, tell the customers to go. Clear out. Turn off the lights. Let me be in here. A secluded place to entertain Her Majesty. Supper by candle light. Spinach, egg plant and sour cream. Miss Martin with her gun could stand guard at the door. Shoot intruders. Bonniface as butler. And phantom figures chewing gum seen across in the park under the trees doing strange things with the procreative gifts of G.o.d.
Crossing the street to the plaza and the fountain. Smith sat down on the cool stone shelf around the water with his paper parcel between his feet. Figure which way to go. Put hands up to the cheeks of the face, rest elbows on the knees. A row of jaunting cars and sad horses. On this square foot make another small world. These last few days Miss Martin has been sour and tense. In the recent misery I have not dared to put my hands on her. Could be a restorative for us both. Frisking in the afternoon loneliness of Dynamo House. With the little letters that still arrive.
Wing Of Life Building Dear Sir, At the latest meeting we laughed at your request for mercy. What are your remaining a.s.sets. Learning of these we will talk further turkey.
Yours, Jaws Inc.
P.S. We will squeeze out what is left of your toothpaste.
And for all my worries, I can still broadcast an answer on the ether.
a.r.s.e Square Foot Of Plaza Dear Jaws Inc.
As George Smith sitting near this fountain utterly alone, please do not view me as the giblets. For G.o.d"s sake, would that you behave honourably and vouchsafe the human dignity.
Yours, Good old George P.S. There are impurities in the toothpaste.
Two brown shoes stopping in front of Smith. As he looks up in the semi darkness into a stranger"s face with rimless gla.s.ses. Thigh muscles tightening, ready to run from this possible visitation of more discourtesy. Thank G.o.d no transit tracks are near.
"Buddy things could not be that bad. But I know how it feels. Here"s a couple of coins. Go have a piece of pie and cup of coffee. Do you good. So long."
Figure floating away in the crowd. Smith taking the two coins, staring at them in the palm of the hand and slipping them in his waistcoat pocket. A little drop of water landing on the back of his neck and running down inside the collar. Sign of good luck. A pity to meet kindness. Lower one"s guard. And wham.
That girl going by looks just like Shirl. I took her along here one summer evening just like this. White coated waiters brought us Scotch and sodas, olives and cheese tidbits. She sat white gloved, an attack of warts on her hands. She always felt she ought to try other men. Because of all she had to give. Months since I"ve been called Daddy. Thought it was unique to be a father. Get asked for an autograph. And when arrested for momentary unseemliness somewhere, you plead a married man with children. But the world stares back at you, ignoring your troubles, blindly terrified by its own. Shirl has her problems. The starlight shining dimmer and dimmer on her hair. Deep line under her cheek when she smiles. Lying under the coats on the hair sofa of Dynamo House, I counted up all the women I"ve had. Shirl fifth. I added Miss Tomson, counting in two figures. As Dizzy Darling she"s one more. Matilda, that staggering bit of tan. Entwined she was three at once. Said I couldn"t lift her. I said you just wait. Tried and dropped her. It was a good game we used to play on all fours.
Smith feeling the chill of stone strike up the bottom. Stood raising parcel to his arm, waving to taxies. Then stopping, turning, to climb into a jaunting car.
Promoting a brief friendly altercation with the driver, who gesticulated with his whip. A brand new bank note sparkling in the air. And they were jaunting up the avenue. Coachman telling Smith what happened to the horses.h.i.t. A little old lady comes late each evening and collects it for her sky garden.
At each hotel, stopping. Smith dismounting, pulling up a few corners of linen hanky in his dark suiting, another tucked up his sleeve. Foolishly in each lobby. Her Majesty the Queen, please. Eyebrows raised. Twice Smith slipping between the evening c.o.c.ktail faces. Eyes staring after him as he lowered a brandy for the road. And once next to a dowager encrusted in gems, for one second through the dark light it could have been Her Majesty. Madam, may I trespa.s.s upon your buoyant property, G.o.d just told me it was mine.
"Why don"t you give up mister. We"ve been to ten hotels. My horse is tired. Street"s tough on his hoofs. I"m going to have a lame horse."
A note flashed crisply. Once more silence. Except for the clip clop. Odd waves from pedestrians. So many-fellow men about with vibrant lightheartedness. In the next hotel and bar, I vouch the clientele will merge into one big sigh of happiness.
"Mister this is positively the last. Look where I am. This is a berg."
"Are you unhappy."
"Yeah. My horse"s feet hurt. I could be held up and robbed in this part of town."
In front of a grey stone building. A faded canopy out to the curb. A bronze plaque. Dim dark interior. Smith slipping across one more note to the horseman. And another asking him to wait. George reeling quietly through the heavy revolving doors into this elderly place. Little parcel held on his arm. To tip toe across the fat carpet and whisper boo at the reception desk. A balcony round the lobby with little tables, chairs and lamps. Doorman pa.s.sing by with a miniature dog. Take it out to pee. That tiny canine would have been one mouthful for Goliath.
"Can I help you sir."
Smith looking out at the eyes. Holding the counter with uncertain hands. Mouth opening and closing. Eyes fixed on all the hanging keys. To open doors. Shirl seems to stand somewhere behind this desk. With her unlit heart. However cold you get, remember me. Gripped in solitude. There can"t be a jamboree all the time.
"Excuse me sir, can I help you."
Smith swaying backwards. Surveying a potted palm. A forecourt, a little fountain. Drapes drawn on windows. Tall grey woman pa.s.sing, silver sandals poking out under her gown. Marble cornices on the balcony. Across the soft distance of this lobby a green carpet disappearing under closed mirrored doors. Smith delicately separating the strings of his paper bag across his forearm. Focusing eyes once more. To the pigeon holes, bra.s.s numbers and red white and blue edges of foreign mail.
"Are you all right, sir."
Smith a feeble smile and wave of his hand. Life is made up of a lot of immediate events. Must not sidle across and pee upon that potted palm. Or with the handy screwdriver I happen to have in my pocket go over and unfasten the doork.n.o.bs to the ball room. How dare you keep such things there. To think it was only yesterday I distinctly heard a man walking by say he had the whole world under contract. Naturally I stopped him and asked if I could buy a piece. Regrettably to find he had only a three month option.
"Look mister, I don"t know who you are."
"I"m drunk."
"At least you"re honest."
Smith turning to a rustle of dresses for evening. Four pastel colored girls and three dark suited men. Clean and scented. All so elegant. Please let me come with you. Just to sit quietly by. To watch, listen, laugh. Lift me out of the dark abyss. Take me back into my own foolish life of youth before I wisely made money. A little of it in this parcel. To scatter around this lobby. Can"t you see I"m Smith. The big maple, once an acorn. Desperate to be the oak Miss Tomson whispered.
"Perhaps sir, you"ve got a reservation."
"Perhaps sir, you"ve got "Perhaps I haven"t."
"What have you got."
"I beg your pardon. Are you being forward."
"Sir, I"m trying to be of a.s.sistance."
"Her Royal Huzzy the Queen."
"I beg your pardon, sir."
"I wish to be connected."
"Have you a prior connection."
"I beg your pardon."
"Sir, I mean are you expected."
"You"re joking, she"s not here, bell boy."
"I"m not joking. I"m not a bell boy. And are you expected sir."
"I am unexpected."
"Now please."
"I am a lamb"s kidney. Several people have been now clouted into the tracks. If we keep hitting them there, there will finally be respect, courtesy and kindness for millionaires. Now get me a bottle of brandy and two gla.s.ses and we"ll have a drink."
"I can"t do that sir. This is not the bar."
"Do you want me to buy this hotel and reshuffle the staff. Now get that brandy. I"m going to take the heights tonight. Huge deployment of armour on both my flanks. Commandeer this reception desk. Gee, I feel champion."
"Now sir."
"Then take the balcony. Let the howitzers howl. Adjutant."
"Look mister, I don"t know who you are."
"I know who you are. Adjutant. At nine you check the mail waiting feverishly for the first coffee break. Then rustle through the few blank papers and sneak away to the washroom for a cigarette."
"I certainly do not."
"Adjutant. Silence. Then you make a few personal phone calls before lunch. Get back in time for the afternoon coffee break. Make two erasures before five. Time for pot roast at the automat just round the corner. Then read a questionable book on the night shift which was found left in a room by the chambermaid."
"I never have."
"Attention. How dare you back chat a commanding officer."
"I"m not. I"m trying to be of a.s.sistance. Is it you want to be accommodated."
"I want the moral fibre of staffs everywhere to hold up under the strain of trying to seize opportunities for advancement."
"Sir, you mustn"t shout."
"I want to reverse the decline. Rebound to boom. Land in a field of golden sneezeweed."
"Sir I don"t have the faintest idea what you"re talking about. I must hand over now to the manager."
"I asked for her royal high jinks. This dreadful up-creep of unhappiness. In the bag here I have enough toadstools of the green yellow and red variety with the purple dots to poison this evening"s menu."
"Sir maybe you want an invalid requisite or something. Our manager is coming."
Smith rearing to attention. Appearance of a dark portly person. Hair sharply parted near the middle. Flat fat fingers, bubbling at the ends, drowning tiny fingernails. Both these hands spread before George Smith on the counter. And a little bow. Smith"s visage chill and remote.
"Good eveningsir. Good to see you."