JR (95 page)

—Just sounds like a man who likes to win…

—Yes dimes to win dimes do you know why? Because all these years he's hated Franklin Roosevelt he still does, he thinks he ruined the country and when that dime came out with Roosevelt's face on it he started to collect them to get them out of circulation honestly he did, he had a pocket in his suits a special one to put them in and the end of the day any he'd got in change or won at cards he'd empty out this pocket into boxes, he still does…

—Good God he sounds like he, get the March of Dimes up there march right through his house and…

—I haven't been there since after Mama died it was, I was still in school and someone came to dinner he was a man who made fine china and, Mama'd been cremated and he said if, he said right at the

dinner table he told Daddy if they'd give him her ashes he'd, he'd make a fine chop plate human ashes make the finest china he said but, but why a chop plate why he said a chop plate…

—Amy…

—Why a chop plate why he, he'd never met her but why he couldn't think of, couldn't even think of her as something less… her hand rose over his closed from one still breast to the other where there seemed neither rise nor fall. —Jack where did you go to school? to boarding school?

—A place up, small school nobody's ever heard of in Connecticut up near Hartford, probably not even there any…

—Jack? she was up beside him, brushed the fall of her hair from his face —it's not so late the banks are closed yet is it?

—Banks? I …

—Because if I have to, Jack I have to go away for a little to get these things settled and if I need the fare can you lend it to me?

—Why, lend it give it yes what … his hand came up as though uncertain whether to steady or to stay the leg gone over him, maw drawn wide in mere promise of the leg to follow, recover the mere function of getting from one place to another, —but to where…

—No just to lend it, to Geneva…

—To, Geneva? he got his feet to the carpet —you mean now?

—Yes you might phone an airline, she called back to him, —I'm just going to bathe and Jack ask them what time it is … ?

—What day it is, he muttered, getting the telephone, scratching as though seeking a place to scratch, dialing, buttoning buttons, getting through in baffled tones and up —forgot to ask what God damned day it is …

—Did you find something? she asked to her own image in the glass, bent close lining an eye, —And the fare?

—Got three hours, he said brushed close behind where water beaded white missed by the fallen towel, —four hundred sixty-five one way first class but Amy what…

—It's rather more than I thought, she said as the line went on under her eye without a waver, —Jack please… eyeliner paused under the other eye for both to rise to meet his in the glass, —it's simply something I must do if I don't go now I'm afraid I, I might never… and his eyes fell away, as his hand did, but the eyeliner still paused as though aware his eyes, gone from the glass where he hunched at the bed's edge, had merely dropped to where his hand had been, —there's a shopping bag in the kitchen I think, could you get it? please… ?

Back with it, he sat fastening up that waist half following contours now no more than that gone in a half slip, the full fall of her breasts as she bent dropping a skirt rolled into the shopping bag, one shoe and then another in after it and then and with the same dispatch one breast and then the other into the scant suspense of a brassiere. —Amy listen what, how long are you going to be gone this whole thing is …

—A few days I don't know really, maybe weeks Jack where will I find you when I'm back?

—Just, I don't know I, getting kind of used to this place feel like I was born here, what's going to happen to it?

—Don't be silly it's, I suppose it will simply stand empty it was leased on some sort of corporate tax arrangement I think … she got a shoe on, —some number where I can call you though? Can you just write it down and put it in my bag? There's a pen in it …

—Only thing I can, give you Eigen's number only one I can think of … he got a shoe on, getting to her bag.

—And your penicillin it's right in the drawer there…

—It's gone I took it all, still feel like death warmed over.

—Jack will you see a doctor? if you keep not feeling well will you promise? She turned fastening a last button, —Jack you're not taking that!

—Might rain, I just thought I …

—Honestly put it back in the closet! You should have got one at Tripler's you can get one now, I can drop you…

—Amy listen Amy…

—No Jack please! I, I've told you I'm not brave Jack if I stop now I, it's simply something I must do can you get that shopping bag? I think my

mascara's run…

—But, God damn it it's not you I don't trust Amy it's life, it's the whole God damned…

—Jack please please just, just tell me you'll work on your book while I'm gone that you'll really start today on it that you won't have any more of these silly ideas about, about what's not worth doing and all of your…

—But Amy with you gone the whole God damned thing will, get out and see myself in the daylight wonder what in hell you ever saw in me that…

—Jack don't talk that way! She leaned close to the glass again, touching at a line under one eye, and then the other. —I love you for reasons you'll never know anything about, she said paused there a moment longer, looking, before she turned away to leave the mirror free to lamp and heads of beds empty across the gap, reached his arm through the door. —What else is this you've got?

—Scotch, hardly drank any of it …

—And Jack you won't drink a lot?

—No I, no … he cleared his throat, stopped behind her at that expanse of white sofa to sweep up the yellow robe half from the floor there, hold it up with the tear in it —not taking this?

—What? she turned where she had the door opened off the foyer looking up as though he'd interrupted her looking for reason not to go further, and she pulled it closed sharply, —oh that? No … She pulled open the front door, —you thought it was mine… ? and it snapped closed behind them, a half step before her into the elevator and out of it a half, one behind, sealed by a gaping liveried doorman into a cab

off with a jolt that left him heaped in the corner staring along the line of her cheekbone, the clarity of her skin and long fingers putting on dark glasses, down the line of her throat. —The bank shouldn't take a minute, Jack you're sure it's all right?

—Yes look why don't I come with you, got enough for two round trips and…

—Don't be silly, driver can you wait… ?

And out of the bank behind her, —wish at least you'd taken enough for the round trip Amy God damn it suppose you…

—Jack don't be silly, driver will you stop at Tripler's please?

—No but, Amy!

—No Jack please… she caught his hand and held it there against the seat, turned to the window from him gazing with such concentration he might have been trying to commit to memory each delicate convolution of her ear. —To leave you on a day like this in that poor poplin suit I do hope your new one's ready today, they said it should be

… they slowed in toward the curb. —Amy listen…

—And it's begun to rain Jack please, please take care of yourself and, not so, Jack please I can't breathe…

—When you're back Amy listen instant you're back…

—And Jack do get yourself a raincoat too oh I hope your suit's ready… her hand gone white holding his —I, I'd so wanted to see you in it …

—Amy …! he came a step after the slam of the door, the bottle in the paper bag under his arm threatened by elbows as the light changed, stung there by a horn, abruptly nuzzled by a yellow fender to recover the curb and mount the sheer affront of his reflection against crisp shirtings displayed with discreet worsteds and unworn shoes beyond the glass.

—Mister Gibbs? that's not you is it?

—Me?

—May not remember me my name's Beamish? on the Schramm estate? I, trust I haven't made a mistake… ?

—Ay Beamis sí! No es mí no pero que importa, verdad? Porque me acuerdo de ti sí Señor, y la rubia? es tu Señora? Coño…

—Good heavens I, excuse me sir we…

—Que culo muy rico, mira como tiene el culo en los bolsillos… !

—No no please good heavens, Mrs Schramm quickly I think we'd better…

—Y el pecho tan bueno también pero falta simpatía, me permites tocar adentro Señora?

—No no good heavens! Excuse us sir yes let's cross right here Mrs Schramm, quickly while we have the light, Mister Duncan you're with us?

—Espérame! espérame… !

—He's not coming after us? I can't imagine what, you're still with us Mister Duncan? Mrs Schramm please let me apologize yes let's turn up this way, is he gone? I'm afraid I put you in danger Madame but he did look exactly like Mister Gibbs one of the executors but good heavens! There's a cab Mister Duncan could you hail it, I know Mrs Schramm wants to get home, Madame again please accept my apologies. Since the other executor Mister Eigen failed to drop off those papers, I was a bit hasty when I thought that was Mister Gibbs and hoped he might speed things along but the resemblance was remarkable, and right in front of Tripler's! Goodbye and I'll get another set of those papers right up to you no no Mister Duncan wait, where are you going…

—See the lady home…

—No I think she'll be quite safe now Mister Duncan let's walk this way, the Waldorf s just a block or so …

—I thought you were fixing me up with Mrs Schramm.

—In a manner of speaking Mister Duncan yes but since her position is merely that of a legatee, let's cross here while we have the light, I think your interests will be best served by talking with someone directly concerned with the corporate…

—I just want to get fixed up and get back to Zanesville.

—I quite understand yes, there's the Waldorf up ahead, I was going to say in case none of the principals from the parent company is here

I'm sure Mister Davidoff will be able to fix you up as you say, but I should prepare you for him, let's go right in this entrance. He's merely their public relations account executive but he seems to have taken a good many prerogatives in the operations area upon himself and if you find him a bit high-handed I would simply counsel patience, the elevators are right over here yes I've the suite number written down somewhere. Apparently they've scheduled some sort of meeting of division heads and even though I've been retained as counsel by the parent company in the course of this Triangle acquisition, I must be frank to say I'm as yet unfamiliar with the entire extent of their holdings which appear quite diverse, this is our floor yes, down this way. In fact the entire situation is moving with a rapidity to which I'm quite unaccustomed but then times change don't they Mister Duncan, that door next after the armed guard I believe. I'm a bit old-fashioned but I put it all down to the decline from status to contract, oh is it locked? Just knock yes, the key to the whole thing I believe, the decline from status to contract…

—Come in, is that room service Virginia?

—No sir it's just, oh it's you Mister Beamish did Mister Davidoff expect you?

—I believe I gave you a message for him to that effect when I called yes, we …

—That you're bringing up Mister Brisboy that's right I forgot I told him, anyway he's over there on the telephone and the other gentlemen are having something, would you gentlemen like a sandwich or a shot or anything while you wait?

—No I think not Virginia thank you, this is Mister Duncan and I believe he's in rather a hurry let's just wait right over here Mister Duncan…

—Maybe you could just fix me up with her.

—Pardon? Virginia? I hardly think so Mister Duncan, I understand she's been with the parent company for some time but she's hardly in a position to resolve your problem, she's only a sort of secretary receptionist after all and hardly the most brilliant one at that, this is Mister David-off here and I'm sure he'll be off the phone in a moment or two…

—Sir … ? Correct General affirmative yes sir an honorary doctor of laws sir they… of what sir? of humane letters? I'll ask them immediately sir I'm sure they… that they may not have been aware that you painted yes sir they… in Life Magazine yes sir but of course that was some years… Yes sir the university is fully aware of your help in placing these government research contracts there sir but our new head of R and D at Ray-X is still working out Virginia take Mister Brisboy's coat there excuse me sir, sir … ? Yes sir the government contracts with Ray-X are all bought in sir they just have to come up with some products to … one called Frigicom yes sir a new method of

… Cost overruns of course sir Virginia get me that backgrounder on

Frigicom to read to the General over the… Oh to send your aide for it yes sir we… subject to a onceover by our legal eagle here yes sir you know what a stickler the Boss is for… When he called this morning yes sir he … yes I have trouble understanding him on the phone sometimes too sir but this was in a written memo he … his handwriting yes I do too sir but… Can do yes sir, Virginia run this last memo from the Boss through the typewriter for General Haight better make eight copies Beamish here will want one too and … sir? Yes sir you bet your … I said affirmative yes sir goodbye sir, oh and Virginia show me that before you send it out the last time I gave you dictation and you typed dental for oriental where did these scrambled eggs come from, see what it's like trying to run the store camped out in a hotel suite with no exec on board Brisboy oh and Virginia, that black sitting over in the corner if he's here to put in this other phone line tell him to get to it, he's not being paid to sit there looking at what's he looking at, an old Ray-X toy catalog?

—I just gave him it to look at Mister Davidoff, it's got all these pictures and he don't read any English he …

—Well who is he what's he doing here and while you're over there Virginia look in the box under that blue chaise longue, the file marked Health Package Mister Brisboy here will want a look at it for the cemetery tie-in that reminds me Brisboy you've got an apology coming, when the press boys called about your Wagner Funeral Homes chain joining up with the J R Corp Family of Companies here I was busy on these Indians and put Virginia there on the phone with some notes of mine where I'd abbreviated funeral fun, gave them the idea we'd picked up a string of massage parlors to work into this whole nursing home to cemetery package, really hit the fan if we don't clear it up I thought we could put you onto them later for a statement got somebody working on it now Beamish I know she's been with the Boss since he got started, the only reason I kept her on when he closed down the midtown office and sent her along I thought she had an inside look at operations maybe you can talk Mister Bast into using her at uptown headquarters I couldn't, look at that beam she fills half the room when she stoops over in that print dress takes off her earring every time she answers the phone and then stops to put it back on see what I mean Beamish, I've got to get a gal in here who can see what