第65部分（第1页）

Jack　brought　the　drink　to　his　mouth　and　downed　it　in　three　long　gulps；　the　gin

highballing　down　his　throat　like　a　moving　van　in　a　tunnel；　exploding　in　his

stomach；　rebounding　up　to　his　brain　in　one　leap　where　it　seized　hold　of　him　with

a　final　convulsing　fit　of　the　shakes。

When　that　passed　off；　he　felt　fine。

〃Do　it　again；　please；〃　he　said；　and　pushed　the　empty　glass　toward　Lloyd。

〃Yes；　sir；〃　Lloyd　said；　taking　the　glass。　Lloyd　looked　perfectly　normal　again。

The　olive…skinned　man　had　put　his　。32　away。　The　woman　on　his　right　was　staring

into　her　singapore　sling　again。　One　breast　was　wholly　exposed　now；　leaning　on

the　bars　leather　buffer。　A　vacuous　crooning　noise　came　from　her　slack　mouth。

The　loom　of　conversation　had　begun　again；　weaving　and　weaving。

His　new　drink　appeared　in　front　of　him。

〃　Muchas　gracias；　Lloyd；〃　he　said；　picking　it　up。

〃Always　a　pleasure　to　serve　you；　Mr。　Torrance。〃　Lloyd　smiled。

〃You　were　always　the　best　of　them；　Lloyd。〃

〃Why；　thank　you；　sir。〃

He　drank　slowly　this　time；　letting　it　trickle　down　his　throat；　tossing　a　few

peanuts　down　the　chute　for　good　luck。

The　drink　was　gone　in　no　time；　and　he　ordered　another。　Mr。　President；　I　have

met　the　martians　and　am　pleased　to　report　they　are　friendly。　While　Lloyd　fixed

another；　he　began　searching　his　pockets　for　a　quarter　to　put　in　the　jukebox。　He

thought　of　Danny　again；　but　Dannys　face　was　pleasantly　fuzzed　and　nondescript

now。　He　had　hurt　Danny　once；　but　that　had　been　before　he　had　learned　how　to

handle　his　liquor。　Those　days　were　behind　him　now。　He　would　never　hurt　Danny

again。

Not　for　the　world。

》

CONVERSATIONS　AT　　THE　PARTY

He　was　dancing　with　a　beautiful　woman。

He　had　no　idea　what　time　it　was；　how　long　he　had　spent　in　the　Colorado　Lounge

or　how　long　he　had　been　here　in　the　ballroom。　Time　had　ceased　to　matter。

He　had　vague　memories：　listening　to　a　man　who　had　once　been　a　successful　radio

ic　and　then　a　variety　star　in　TV；　infant　days　telling　a　very　long　and　very

hilarious　joke　about　incest　between　Siamese　twins；　seeing　the　woman　in　the　harem

pants　and　the　sequined　bra　do　a　slow　and　sinuous　striptease　to　some　bumping…and…

grinding　music　from　the　jukebox　（it　seemed　it　had　been　David　Roses　theme　music