"Danger, Listen to me. I want you to know your friends will stand by you during delivery of egg. Never let it be said I deserted in an hour of wealth."
"Mac, I think a bit of the Algeria for a breather. We destroyed the city of London in one mighty blow."
"I'd say however, there was a bit of the counter attack somewhere."
"There was that. Mac, one of these days I'm going to tell you the story of how I joined the Legion of Mary. The things of the inner struggle. Intestinal and other things. But got to spruce up. First little bit of the Parnell's peanut butter. Nothing like the nut butter. O I've had the speedy trip to the broker with the ungreased pram. I've had the pride. You wouldn't believe it Mac but at one time I wouldn't stoop to the pram greased or ungreased. Or live on woman's earnings. But through all this, the battering, shell shock, detours and even falling into the minor traps of Egbert Skully, I've come through with part of the inner man still there. Onward you crazy Christian soldiers. Just call me Major Dangerfield"
"Major bring me the bottle"
"And Mac only once. Once, mind you, have I ever had the ignominy. I'll take all the rest but not the igno."
"Danger, let nothing more be said to spoil or foul the beauty you have released into this room. Give us the bottle"
"Parnell. Up out of the covers. I've a request to make. Would you ever now have a clean shirt for my urgent appointment at five which demands I present myself without stains of blood or battle."
"A shirt in my closet there I wore in the nick"
"The very thing."
"Behind the door. The only dignified thing I possess these days."
"O handsome shirt. The cut is everything. Some day, Parnell, we must hear more of this nick. B. Berry maintains three years in the Borstal good as four at Harrow. What have these British prisons?"
"Ten years lose some of the advantages."
"Inclined to believe that a bit long even for the Ph. D. O I say, rather fine shirt this. How do I look? I think it suits me. Now a little something for under the pits. Must have something for the pits. Must be no odor of body."
"Danger go out in the hall and slip in the second door on the left. Landlady's bedroom. Might be a little something for the pits."
Dangerfield returns.
"Very nice. I've always been partial to the fragrance as opposed to the unfragrant."
MacDoon propped and prostrate on the bed.
"Danger do I see a woman of blackberry stained lips, raven hair and haughty teeth? Do I?"
"Gentlemen, in due time. In due time there will be an announcement"
He stepped out in the cold twilight along this road with the triangular park. Nice room Parnell has in this pleasant street Now any one of these houses would do for me. Mary wash the windows and sweep out the path and make me ould porridge of a morning. Import sausages from the Pembroke Road in the Dub. She's stuck by me. Trusted me. And if there's one thing it's faith. I'd even suffer the igno for faith. And whatever else, I've got to see her right. I know they think me hard because I've not shed the tears over the death. But I'm not There's just nothing I can do. Well Marion. Now you know but you were too fast. That's the trouble with people, too fast. Don't wait, see you down and think you're going to stay there, might even use the heel on you. But what ho, as I've said, no bitterness in me. Nothing like that in my heart any more. Marion will find out soon enough. Little note to the solicitor and perhaps we will see a little investment here and there. Small and conservative at first
Down into the Underground. Standing on the platform with a few afternoon people going somewhere. The glassy, smooth train parks neatly. Stepping in and gliding away. I am told whatever else I do in this fantastic Underground, to stay off the Circle Line.
He walked along the windy tunnels. Up and out into this vast station. Throngs. Where is she? I'm late. Track seven. Watch for an Irish face. I couldn't have forgotten what she looks like. Spot me anywhere because I look Victorian from behind. Must greet her with gladness.
In a black coat she came shyly down the platform bent with a large leather bag, biting her lips.
"Hello, Mary."
"Hello, I thought you might not come."
"Not a bit By God you've lost weight Have you been ill?"
"I'm all right I wasn't well for a while."
"Give me the bag. Good Christ what have you got in it? Rocks ?"
"I brought some things to cook with and some plates. And part of a sewing machine. I hope you don't mind?"
"Excellent. Not a bit. We'll check it. I think those are the things we want these days. Now we go over here and take care of this."
Dangerfield led her out of the station. And turned her around to see the building. Take a tour by Danger. See up there and the big pillars. That's architecture.
"Now what do you think of that Mary? What about that?"
"I don't know what to say. I suppose it's nice."
"It's the size Mary, the size. And who paid for it. But we'll go along here now and find a nice restaurant"
"I brought twenty pounds."
"Wow."
Into the warm room with tables along the wall. Danger-field told the boy to bring a little something from the château and a chicken and cheroot too.
"Isn't this expensive, Sebastian?"
"He, eeeeee."
"Why do you laugh?"
"Because the word expensive is no longer in my vocabulary. No longer in use. I think I can safely say that"
"Why?"
"Later on, Mary. Later on for that"
"Well tell me what you've been doing. You look thin. And nothing of mine fits me and I've had to alter this old black dress. I got so worried when I was ill because you didn't write."
"Give me your hand, Mary."
"This is a nice place. I'm glad to be shut of Dublin."
"Lot say that."
"When I got ill and told him I wasn't going to jump for him anymore he was soon up out of his bed."
"What did he say about London?"
"Said he'd have the Guarda. But I told him to go to the devil and if he put another finger to me that I'd have the Guarda."
"What did he say?"
"He'd get the priest to me. I was fed up. I told him his own soul was covered with lies. And that the boys were well away not to have to listen to him again. He's had his own way for long enough. Told me he was an old man and didn't have long to go and that I shouldn't leave him alone. And I said you want me to stay now. Me who has been out with men. Then he said his heart was ticking its last and to call the priest for him before I left the house."
"O I wouldn't be too hard now. Poor man. Perhaps the only little comfort he's after is to poison the Pope.'"
"I'm glad he's had to suffer. And to be shut of it all. The Tolka was the only thing I enjoyed anymore. To walk across Phoenix Park to Chapleizod and Lucan Road. And go into Sarsfield. It's so lovely along there by the river in the trees. I used to think of you there. Don't laugh, I really did."
The smell of wine and sweet chicken meat. The waiter bringing sprouts and baked potatoes. Whee. Were it not for my tram rides through sleep when I got off at the stops called despair and had to get up out of the cozy bed to make myself a cup of milk and honey and sat on the wobbly kitchen chair. O that thing called food. Or as Malarkey used to say, Jesus, Sebastian if I ever had money I'd have all my friends to a place of mine in the country where we would sit to a table an Irish mile long with our fists greasy with the lashings of beef and turkey and our women coming from the fire groaning under the weight of the wild berries and plover plucked from the sky, and beat bulls' heads for sport and pick up a whole field and flip it over on its back for planting and Jesus, cover it with a foot thick of chicken shit and rotting kelp and then lash it with ten tons of peaches black decay. O have you ever heard of oats. Or spuds fit to put heathen desires in ye for the rest of your life. Mary leave some chicken for me.
Over there sit three secretaries. And two bald men. I think I like this. Healthier t
han the pub. OI may give up the pub. And just keep the cheroot, slippers and sewing machine.
"Mary, will you excuse me while I make a phone call?"
"Yes."
Now Landlady, me dear Mrs. Ritzincheck, be big hearted. Put down foul caution and reserve that these limes tell you is playing a sunny wicket
"Hello, Mrs. Ritzincheck?"
"Yes."
"Mrs. Ritzincheck this is Mr. Dangerfield. I'm in a rather difficult position. My fiancee has just arrived in London. Of course I know this is rather an abrupt and perhaps unusual request but I know you will understand and I wonder would you mind awfully if I were to share my room with her. She's a very fine girl."
"Well, Mr. Dangerfield, it's against the rules of the house. I'll have every gentleman requesting to have a lady in his room overnight. I'm sorry."
"Now, now. I know it's asking a bit much but I thought I'd be honest with you since you've been so straightforward with me. But I assure you everything will be conducted with the utmost decorum and perhaps you could explain. My wife, you know. Well, it's only a few weeks till the day. We do so want to be together. And we've been so cut off and she's come all the way from Ireland. And Mrs. Ritzincheck I'd never dare make such a request if I didn't feel you were a woman of sensibility and experience."
"Well, Mr. Dangerfield you certainly have a way of putting it and if there's no disturbance and mind you, if it's a different woman every night there will be no more of it."
"You don't know how grateful I am to you Mrs. Ritzin-check. You have no idea."
"I have an idea all right."
"That's excellent. Thanks again. We'll be arriving in a short while."
Dangerfield austerely at the pay booth saying indeed I will when they said I hope you will come again sir. And he 3o8 pivoted exquisitely to usher Mary out before him. Taxi sweeping up. Mary holding his hand as they went for the bag, looking out the window in the crowded streets. Bury me on neutral soil. Perhaps in Austria with simplicity and subdued colors and faces. With my children around me. I want my last moments to have some dignity. Mary sit right up close. Don't be scared of me because I'm all right.
Mrs. Ritzincheck smiled at the door and wiped her hands in her apron. I always say be straightforward when you can.
Up the stairs and finally in this little room. Mary sat down on the bed. Sebastian laid the bag on the floor.
"Well Mary here we are."
"I like it. It's nice to see from such a height. I like London, everything is so exciting. So many interesting looking people."
"There's that"
"And so many strange ones you would never see in Dublin. All the blacks and those Egyptian fellows. Some of them are terrible good looking and they've got such white teeth."
"Mary show me this sewing machine"
"Kiss me."
"The machine, Mary. The machine."
"Kiss me."
Mary upon him with arms and legs. Back to the bed. Down. Please. You know how I feel about direct assault What a tongue. All I wanted to do was take a look at the machine.
Outside it's night And they're all pulling the curtains across. And going to sit in their chairs. Mary at least let me up to take a quick plunge in the bath.
"I want to have it together, Sebastian."
"But we mustn't set a carnal example for the other guests."
In the tub she said the water was terrible and no lather and it looked all gray and dirty and you'd think she didn't have a wash in a tinker's age. She smiled up out of the tub. Pulling him down for another kiss. Dangerfield's feet slipping on the soapy floor. Watch it for Christ's sake, I'm falling. A roar of water over the side. Mrs. Ritzincheck will think we're up here at it hammer and tongs, hanging from the chandeliers and divers bathroom fittings. And that causes jealousy. Everybody will be wanting it.
"You look a sight, Sebastian"
"We've got to go easy, Mary.0
"Take off your clothes, I want to see what you look like"
"Mary, please."
"You've got no chest."
"Wait a minute. Just look at this. There. See?"
"It's so funny."
"I beg your pardon."
"But you're thin."
"Now Mary look from behind. Give you some idea of the breadth of me shoulders. I'm deceptive."
"I'll admit you're broad."
"But you've got a chest there, Mary."
"But you mustn't look, I know they're too big."
"Not a bit."
"But they're smaller than they were."
Dangerfield stepping into the tub. Must control myself. Keep it down. Mary will stop at nothing. Somebody come break down the door and catch us at it in the tub.
"Sebastian, you're queer looking when I see you like this in the light."
"Don't grab, I'U get drowned."
"Isn't it an awful death?"
"O I don't know, Mary. Out there on the waves with the ships at sea."
"Rub me with the soap."
"Melons, Mary."
"Don't say that. Take me to the sea."
"We'll go and live by the sea."
"And I'll go naked on the beach."
"What ho, Mary. We'll see that"
"I read about these French painters. Awful men, they were drawing without clothes and it must be nice to be able to pose for them"
"Mary there's a change come over you"
"I know"
"I like you, Mary"
"Do you mean it?"
"Yes. Bit of a rub here, Mary"
"Your back is a sight"
"A scrubbing with your fair hand it needs. Haven't known such peace for years."
"I'm glad, and glad to kiss your back and pull your hair. I used to pull my little brothers' hair in the tub when they were carrying on. You have nice soft hair. Sort of silky almost. It's more beautiful to be a man isn't it ?"
"I'm sure I don't know the answer to that, Mary"
"I've got some lace and frills to wear for you"
Standing on the linoleum in water slop. Little dark haired Mary pinning up behind her head a swath of wide black curls and rolling a towel around her. And face in full blush. She stopped and wiped up the puddles. Out that window and down on the tracks, the Underground trains sliding in and out. Long gray platforms. And skipping across the gloomy hall and get a little of the electric fire. Mary's dancing feet
"It's cold. Does anyone ever be in the hall?"
"London, Mary. Never worry about that. See everything here."
"I guess they do."
Sebastian stretched out on the green ticking watching naked Mary brushing her long hair.
"A nice body, Mary."
"Do you like me?"
"Massed army of all the saints couldn't keep me away."
"You're awful. I'll tell you something if you promise not to laugh. Do you promise?"
"For God's sake, Mary, out with it. Out. Don't keep it from me whatever it is. I've got to know."
"You might think I was queer."
"Out Not a bit"
"I used to practise being naked in my room in front of the mirror so I wouldn't mind when I was with you in London. And I'd make believe you were watching me and I'd stand around like this. You don't think I'm crazy?"
"No."
"Have you seen a lot of women?"
"Wouldn't say a lot."
"And what were they like?"
"Naked."
"No. Tell me. How do I compare with them?"
"A fine figure."
"And would they stand up in front of you?"
"Sometimes."
"How did they stand in front of you?"
"I can't remember."
"Would they go around like models showing off their best points or anything?"
"Jesus, Mary."
"Would they?"
"In a way."
"You don't think I'm too forward. I thought you were queer when you said all those funny things to me at the party but when I thought them over on my wal
ks and got used to them I didn't think they were queer anymore. I used to think of you in the Botanical Gardens. In that big house with all those trees and vines and it was just like a jungle. And where they have the lilies floating in the big tank. They're so strange. I felt I just wanted to jump in. But I get the feeling there would be things on the bottom to bite my feet I'd just do it for a lark if the man wasn't watching."
Mary sits on the edge of the bed. I lean back here watching. You've got big ones. Use them as a pillow. I am the hot ticket to eternity riding the melted rails in all directions. To Kerry and Caherciveen. For a dollar I'll do the bull dance and you know how I am when I do that O.K. you ones with the dollar, line up there and watch this, those from Cincinatti, Ohio can come up to the front
"Sebastian, it's so nice and warm and cozy to feel your body and I thought you'd never be at the station. I thought I was just dreaming that I had ever met you. All the days 1 had to waste in that damn house and we could have been like this. Do you think I'm curvy?"
"You're my little circle."
"Squeeze me harden"
"Call me gorilla."
"Gorilla."
"Give my chest a few good beats now. Whoops. Not in such good shape as I thought."
"Just love me. And I want children because you'll love them. And I could get a job. I won a prize for acting once. I want to rub them all over your chest Isn't that what men like?"
"Love it"
"And I used to think I could feed you with them. Would you feed off me?"
"Good God, Mary."
"O I can't tell you."
"Tell me. I'm only joking. I'll feed off you."
"I guess it's because you're thin. I want it something awful. Is that awful? And that night I wanted it so much."
"It can be hard to get at times."
"But you'll give me as much as I want"
"Do the very best I can, Mary."
"I read you can sit up on it"
"There's that all right"
"And get it from the back."
"And that too."
"I'm so excited."
Perhaps there is even someone somewhere getting it from all sides. Round Mary. I may be just a bit younger than Christ when they tacked him up but they've had me outstretched a few times already. And Mary you've got me pinned right here on the bed. With your lust Stuck on it And twisting with your eyes full of black fire. MacDoon forging relics for the Holy Church of Rome. And others dressed as priests in the North of Dublin, patting cherub faces and blessing these children coming out of the school gates and then whispering an indecent proposal to the escorting nun. What is it that makes my heart die? Is it all my little Dangerfields popping out of wombs all over the globe? I'll go back to Ireland with my pockets filled with gold. Break in Skully's windows with lumps of it And Malarkey can put a train in his tunnel down to the pub. Mary how is it? It's grand and feels so good and will we always stay together? Please. And you'll never go out with others or do it to them and I'd keep house and cook for you and make shirts and darn socks and make you happy. And Mary, what of other men? There are no other men because my heart has gone out to you. And if you don't laugh I'll tell you what I think. I won't laugh. I think it's a fine instrument that God made for the poor likes of us to enjoy.
The Ginger Man Page 28