World of Suzie Wong : A Novel (9781101572399) (41 page)

“Among her other qualities,” I said.

The lift stopped at the third floor. The sailor watched Suzie as she went out. “Yes, that bottom really says something to me. It is a bottom for a connoisseur. You will exchange girls?”

“Nothing doing.”

“Never mind, I will take your girl tomorrow night. You can let me know your opinion of her.”

“It's very high,” I said. “She's my wife.”

“You can stuff that remark up the appropriate aperture,” he said.

I joined Suzie in the corridor. We walked along toward my old room. “What was that man saying?” she said.

“He wouldn't believe you were my wife.”

“He looked cruel,” she said. “He had a cruel mouth.”

“He was very taken by you. He's booked you for tomorrow night.” She gave me a quick half-frightened look, and I laughed and said, “Don't worry, we'll be safely in Japan by then.”

She was worn out after the long day and was asleep before I was in bed. I also fell off quickly, but later woke to hear her sobbing and uttering broken incoherent cries. I touched her gently to wake her. She thrust me violently away. “Who's that?” she cried. “Who's that?”

“Robert.”

She sobbed with relief and rolled against me. She buried her face in my neck. “I thought you'd left me. I thought you'd gone.”

“It's all right, I'm still here.”

“My husband,” she said. “You've got the tickets?”

“Yes, they're quite safe.”

“You're sure? You haven't lost them?”

I laughed and turned on the light. I reached for my wallet and gave her the tickets. She examined each ticket carefully, turning the pages, though she could not read anything except our names. She handed them back to me, but I told her she had better look after them herself, and she smiled and put them under the pillow. She lay hugging the pillow, her face peaceful again, and I kissed her and turned off the light.