第45部分（第1页）

flipped　them　into　his　mouth。　The　familiar　acid…pelling　taste　flooded　in。

He　had　a　sudden　sensation　that　people　were　watching　him；　curiously　and　with

some　contempt。　The　booths　behind　him　were　full　　there　were　graying；　distinguished

men　and　beautiful　young　girls；　all　of　them　in　costume；　watching　this　sad

exercise　in　the　dramatic　arts　with　cold　amusement。

Jack　whirled　on　his　stool。

The　booths　were　all　empty；　stretching　away　from　the　lounge　door　to　the　left

and　right；　the　line　on　his　left　cornering　to　flank　the　bars　horseshoe　curve

down　the　short　length　of　the　room。　Padded　leather　seats　and　backs。　Gleaming　dark

Formica　tables；　an　ashtray　on　each　one；　a　book　of　matches　in　each　ashtray；　the

words　Colorado　Lounge　stamped　on　each　in　gold　leaf　above　the　batwing…door　logo。

He　turned　back；　swallowing　the　rest　of　the　dissolving　Excedrin　with　a　grimace。

〃Lloyd；　youre　a　wonder；〃　he　said。　〃Set　up　already。　Your　speed　is　only

exceeded　by　the　soulful　beauty　of　your　Neapolitan　eyes。　Salud。〃

Jack　contemplated　the　twenty　imaginary　drinks；　the　martini　glasses　blushing

droplets　of　condensation；　each　with　a　swizzle　poked　through　a　plump　green　olive。

He　could　almost　smell　gin　on　the　air。

〃The　wagon；〃　he　said。　〃Have　you　ever　been　acquainted　with　a　gentleman　who　has

hopped　up　on　the　wagon？〃

Lloyd　allowed　as　how　he　had　met　such　men　from　time　to　time。

〃Have　you　ever　renewed　acquaintances　with　such　a　man　after　he　hopped　back　off？〃

Lloyd　could　not；　in　all　honesty；　recall。

〃You　never　did；　then；〃　Jack　said。　He　curled　his　hand　around　the　first　drink；

carried　his　fist　to　his　mouth；　which　was　open；　and　turned　his　fist　up。　He

swallowed　and　then　tossed　the　imaginary　glass　over　his　shoulder。　The　people　were

back　again；　fresh　from　their　costume　ball；　studying　him；　laughing　behind　their

hands。　He　could　feel　them。　If　the　backbar　had　featured　a　mirror　instead　of　those

damn　stupid　empty　shelves；　he　could　have　seen　them。　Let　them　stare。　Fuck　them。

Let　anybody　stare　who　wanted　to　stare。

〃No；　you　never　did；〃　he　told　Lloyd。　〃Few　men　ever　return　from　the　fabled

Wagon；　but　those　who　do　e　with　a　fearful　tale　to　tell。　When　you　jump　on；　it

seems　like　the　brightest；　cleanest　Wagon　you　ever　saw；　with　ten…foot　wheels　to

keep　the　bed　of　it　high　out　of　the　gutter　where　all　the　drunks　are　laying　around