Visitors
Visitors (第2/3页)
dntwork."Hisex-wifehadoncetoldKatiethisasanexplanationforthedivorce,andhellrepeatituntilitsuntruthismarble,amonument.
Hisex-wifeisotherwiseverysensible,andthrifty,too.
WhydoIlivethisway?BestIcando.
WalkingdownWestBroadwayonaSaturdayafternoon.Barkingartcagedinthehighwhitegalleries,dontgoinsideoritllgetyou,leapintoyourlapandcoveryourfacewithkisses.Somegoestotheotherextreme,snarlsandshowsitsbrilliantteeth.OartIwonthurtyouifyoudonthurtme.Citizensparading,plump-facedandbone-faced,lightlyclad.AyoungblackboytotingaBoardofEducationtrombonecase.Afellowwithoddly-cuthairthecolorofmarigoldsandarollofroofingfeltoverhisshoulder.
Bishopinthecrowd,thirtydollarsinhispocketincasehehastobuyapaladrink.
Intoagallerybecauseitmustbedone.TheartistshungtwentyEVERLASTheavybagsinrowsoffour,youreinvitedtohaveabash.Peoplearegivingthebagseverykindoftrouble.Bishop,unabletoresist,bangsonewithhisfabledleft,andhurtshishand.
Bloodyartists.
Outonthestreetagain,heisbumpedintobyaman,thenanotherman,thenawoman.AndheresHarryinlemonpantswithhisBritisherfriend,Malcolm.
"Harry,Malcolm."
"Professor,"Harrysaysironically(heisaprofessor,Bishopisnot).
HarrysgotnotmuchhairandhaslostweightsincehesplitwithTom.MalcolmisthesinglemostcheerfulindividualBishophasevermet.
Harrysuniversityhasjusthiredanewpresidentwhosthirty-two.Harrycantgetoverit.
"Thirty-two!ImeanIdontthinktheboardsgotbothoarsinthewater."
StandingbehindMalcolmisabeautifulyoungwoman.
"ThisisChristie,"Malcolmsays."Wevejustgivenherlunch.Wevejusteatenallthedimsumintheworld."
BishopisimmediatelyseizedbyadesiretocookforChristie——eitherhisEight-BeanSouporhisCrashCassoulet.
Shestellinghimsomethingaboutherwindows.
"Idontcarebutwhyundermywindows?"
Sheswearingapurpleshirtandisdeeplytannedwithblackhair——lookslikeanIndian,infact,theonewhosellsMazolaonTV.
Harryisstilltalkingaboutthenewpresident."Imeanhedidhisdissertationonbathingtrends."
"Wellmaybeheknowswherethebigbucksare."
Theressomeleftoverduckintherefrigeratorhecanuseforthecassoulet.
"Well,"hesaystoChristie,"areyouhungry?"
"Yes,"shesays,"Iam."
"Wejustate,"Harrysays."Youcantbehungry.Youcantpossiblybehungry."
"Hungry,hungry,hungry,"shesays,takingBishopsarm,whichis,canyoubelieveit,stickingout.
PuttingslicesofduckinbeanwaterwhileChristiewatches"TheAdventuresofRobinHood,"withErrolFlynnandBasilRathbone,onthekitchenTV.AtthesametimeHankWilliamsJr.issingingontheFM.
"IlikeaplacewhereIcantakemyshoesoff,"shesays,asErrolFlynnthrowsawholedeaddeeronthebanquettable.
Bishop,choppingparsley,istakingquickglancesathertoseewhatshelookslikewithaglassofwineinherhand.Somepeoplelookgoodwithwhitewine,somedont.
HemakesamentalnotetobuysomeMazola——acase,maybe.
"Heressixtysecondsonfenders,"saystheradio.
"Doyoulivewithanybody?"Christieasks.
"Mydaughterisheresometimes.SummersandChristmas."Alittletarragonintothebeanwater."Howaboutyou?"
"Theresthisguy."
Buttherehadtobe.BishopchopssteadfastlywithhisThreeSheepbrandChinesechopper,madeingrayFusan.
"Hesanartist."
Aswhoisnot?"Whatkindofanartist?"
"Apainter.HesinSeattle.Heneedsrain."
Hethrowshandfulsofslicedonionsintothewater,thenacanoftomatopaste.
"Howlongdoesthistake?"Christieasks."Imnotrushingyou,Imjustcurious."
"Anotherhour."
"ThenIllhavealittlevodka.Straight.Ice.Ifyoudontmind."
Bishoploveswomenwhodrink.
Maybeshesmokes!
"ActuallyIcantstandartists,"shesays.
"Likewhoinparticular?"
"Likethatwomanwhoputschewinggumonherstomach——"
"Shedoesntdothatanymore.Andthechewinggumwasnotpoorlyplaced."
"Andthatotheronewhocutsoffpartsofhimself,whittlesonhimself,thatfriesmyass."
"Itssupposedto."
"Yeah,"shesays,shakingtheiceinherglass."Imreactinglikeabozo."
ShegetsupandwalksovertothecounterandtakesaLarkfromhispack.
Veryhappily,Bishopbeginstotalk.Hetellsherthatthenightbeforehehadsmelledsmoke,hadgottenupandcheckedtheapartment,k
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