Sunday, July 24, 2005

Just Starting to Make It My Obssession

I have finished "A Dead Man in Deptford." I don't know what to read next. I have about two more books from Burgess that I could read, but I think I need to read someone other than Burgess before I start on those--I think that would balance things out. I could read the new Harry Potter... Any suggestions?

This is page three.

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"Take you for instance," again pausing, this time for dramatic effect, "What do you do for a living? You’re a gambler!" He spoke too loud. Far too loud. Damien looked to see if any one was looking. Darius edged close to him from across the table, nearly upsetting an empty wine glass.
"You, sir, take advantage of both aspects of life, merely by your existence. You accept the gamble of life, as it were, by gambling. And in gambling, you are making a gambol of life. Do you understand?" Darius’s near whisper somehow did not comfort him.
"Yes." He whispered, feeling sheepish and somewhat troubled by this conversation.
"So, why don’t you ask what’s-her-name for her number?"
"I don’t know." Weren’t they supposed to order now?
"If you ask her for her number, I’ll pay for lunch."
"Okay, I’ll ask her."

Damien figured that would end this awkward debacle of a conversation, and he would get rejected and prove to Darius, once and for all, that this matter should never be spoke of again. He also figured that they would not see the maitre d’ until the end of the meal, on their way out possibly, though he held a suspicion that this would be something more than a meal; that this was no ordinary lunch where he and his bookie would go about their lives afterward. He did not understand the whole "day pass" situation, and the thought of not knowing a key detail, and not having a good idea about the outcome left him uncomfortable. Why the Club Persai?

Lost in thought, he wondered why they still had not ordered yet. Darius was blabbing on, something about philosophical puzzles and Wittgenstein–Darius began to scoff, and Damien began to sweat. What was taking so long? The obligation of asking the maitre d’ was bearing down on him, and he could not bear it. He could only play with menu for so long, the linen tablecloth having lost his attention. He thought about his dream, his nightmare. Darius looked like one of the devils glad in his despair. He felt like he was falling again. The sweat was poring in copious amounts now; he wondered if anyone noticed. Darius did not. Darius never noticed anything. He was trying not to retch, despite how wretched he felt. The queen, the near omnipresent queen, forever pervading his thoughts, flashed behind shut eyelids, and when he opened them...

"I’m sorry for the wait, gentlemen." There was ice in her voice. She was not sorry at all.
"We are a little short-handed today, and we just noticed that your section of the restaurant has not been served yet. I will be your waitress this afternoon. My name is Mary."
Pretty Mary K. She seemed older, and it seemed like ages when he first saw her. He felt he already knew her, and that she already knew him, and they already hated each other from previous experience. He couldn’t ask. But Darius would not let it go. He knew that Darius would not let it go. They ordered wine first: a Bordeaux for Darius, and Pinot Grigio for Damien. Damien would need a lot of wine. When Mary K. left, Darius said, "You didn’t ask for her number."
"I was taken off guard."
"I won’t pay for the meal if you don’t ask her number."
"By when?"
"The next time we see her." Darius was intent. It may have been the first time Damien had not seen Darius smile. Hesitantly, he responded.
"Okay. Okay."
She came presently with the wine, and he asked. It was a fumbling, stumbling, mumbling request, followed by much wine. A half glass in a gulp. She responded by walking away. Darius was smiling villainously.