by V.
Groaning, Danny rolled over and glared at Robert. “Don’t be stupid, that has nothing to do with it.”
“How would you know? Virgin.”
“Oh, grow up for God’s sake.”
“Speaking of virgins, where does virgin wool come from?”
“Go away.”
“From the sheep the shepherds couldn’t catch.” Robert exploded with laughter.
Danny groaned.
“Hey, could it be true what they say about going blind and stuff if you do it to yourself? Some guy said it uses up all your sperm and then you can’t do it at all.”
“Go away.”
Robert scooted closer to Danny causing the bed to bounce again. “Boy, Sue Ellen sure kisses good. You should’ve been there, man. I spent four weeks allowance on her at that kissing booth. Sure would like to let her have a little of my—” he proudly clutched his groin.
Danny squinted at him through bloodshot eyes. “You’re sick.”
“Why, ’cause I’m into chicks and doing it with them? You should’ve caught my dance with her. I rubbed against her a little bit and she let me. How about you and Ellie?”
“She’s different. I respect her.”
“Hell, I respect Sue Ellen. Otherwise why talk to her? You can’t just screw girls, Danny—you’ve got to talk to them. Tell them you respect them and that they’re the one. That’s how you score. It’s simple, man. You should try it with Ellie. Bet you it’ll work.”
“What will?”
“Tell her you love her and she’s the one. Girls only want you to respect them if you’re going to try to screw them. That’s how they know they’re hot.” Danny crawled out of the bed and glared down at Robert. “You are so full of crap. Maybe all that jerking-off is melting your brain. I bet you’ll go blind in about two weeks. Now go away. I got to shower.”
“I’ll wait. How about we go down to the lake? All the chicks will be there and—”
“I can’t. I’ve got stuff to do for my dad. Go.”
Robert leaped to his feet and headed for the door. “Candy ass.”
The image faded out as a new one faded in.
Danny marched up the steps to Alexander’s cabin and knocked on the door.
“Alexander.”
He knocked again.
“Alexander?”
Slowly, Danny opened the door and peeked in. The lights were on, but the cabin appeared deserted. A blank canvas rested on the easel. He stepped cautiously into the cabin.
“Hello?” Danny called out as footsteps approached behind him. He turned to find Alexander coming in.
“I’ve missed you,” Alexander strolled past, patting him on the back. “You need to come more often.”
“But I was here last night.”
In one blur of continuous motion, Alexander tramped across the room, poured a couple of drinks, handed one to Danny, and put on a jazz record.
“I can’t drink this stuff. It took me all day to recover,” Danny protested with disgust.
“Suit yourself, but it’ll be easier if you drink. It’s always easier if you drink.” He strolled over to the easel. “I’m going to paint you. I’m all set. Sit on that stool, sip your drink, and let the jazz entertain you. How about some weed?”
“You’re going to paint me?
“Is anyone else here?”
Alexander laughed as he guided Danny to the stool and sat him on it. He gave him a cigarette, took one for himself, lit them both, and ambled over to the easel.
“I don’t smoke. How should I sit?”
“Doesn’t matter. You can move. Relax and look in my general direction. I’m not going to copy you. This is about getting your essence.”
Danny walked over to the table, put out the cigarette in the ashtray, and returned to the stool leaving the drink behind. “How’s your book coming along?”
“What book?”
“You said—”
“There you go again, ‘you said, you said!’ Don’t believe what—”
“Okay, okay. I’m not supposed to believe what you say, only what you do. Okay then, I feel”—Danny emphasized the word feel enough to make sure Alexander caught his drift—“like reading your book, the new one you’re writing.” “Touche,” Alexander laughed with abandon without missing a single brushstroke. “There’s hope for you my friend.. .there’s hope.”
“Well? Can I read it?”
“No.”
Danny studied Alexander, who concentrated on the canvas.
“Shit!” Alexander threw the paintbrush across the room. “Books don’t mix with painting. I’ve lost it.” He glared at Danny. “You talk too much.” The long silence was cut short by Alexander’s forced laugh. “Don’t worry. It comes and goes. It’ll come back. If not we’ll go hunt for it. C’mon, let’s go for a swim.” In long strides he rushed from the cabin and dashed off toward the lake.
Danny chased him through the woods and caught up as he finished undressing and dove into the lake. The boy quickly shed his own clothes and followed suit.
Alexander howled like a wolf the moment his head broke through the surface of the lake. “Owoo.Owoo.I’d give anything to experience what animals feel, wouldn’t you? They’re genuine. No corruption with animals. Pure, unadulterated instinct.”
Undulating his body, Alexander dove in and out in rapid succession. “Did I look like a giant dragon?”
Danny laughed. “No. You looked like a hairy snake. A giant hairy snake.” “Same thing.”
“Not even close.”
Alexander raced toward Danny, came to a halt right in front of him, and thrust his face menacingly forward staring into his eyes.
“Don’t ever contradict me or hold me back,” he said. “Promise.”
“But—”
“Good. Fight for your beliefs. Even when you’re scared shitless.” Alexander slithered beneath the water. A second later, he pulled Danny under. With that, the game was on. Laughing, they struggled back and forth,
each trying to pull the other down. Younger, stronger, and by far the better swimmer, Danny resisted pressing his clear advantage. Before long, gasping for air and struggling to stay afloat, the older man signaled to stop. They shook hands, and floated belly up, catching their breath.
“Promise,” Alexander insisted.
I promise.
“What did you do today?”
“Recovered from last night and got rid of Robert.”
“Robert?”
“He’s my best friend.. .well, he was. You get me and he doesn’t. You’re my best friend now.”
“And you’re mine.”
“Honest?”
“Honest.”
Danny grinned and shook his fist in victory. “No one would ever believe that we’re friends.”
“You can’t tell anyone about me.”
“Okay, but why not?”
“I’m incognito. Tell me, how goes it in the love department?”
“Nowhere. I’ve been too sick with all that drinking we did last night. Anyway, Ellie would only turn me down again. I’m tired of it.”
“Don’t despair. Nothing worth having comes easily.”
Danny glided toward Alexander who remained floating belly up. “Did you have as much trouble with women as I do?”
Alexander turned to Danny, a tender smile in his eyes. Floating belly up, he mussed the boy’s hair.
“You and I are unusual—unique, one of a kind. We feel too much. We give ourselves completely to sensations and emotions. That means we have to work at life harder and longer.”
As the words sank in, Danny beamed with pride and understanding. “Keep that in mind, and force yourself to be brave with young Ellie. Don’t let her intimidate you. Be her Prince Valiant.”
“Wow.. .Prince Valiant.. .1 like it.”
“Any time Miss Ellie throws you a curve, picture yourself as Prince Valiant readying himself for battle and unwilling to step back. Forward, always forward. Simply dodge the sarcasm, the evasion, and
all the uppity stuff. You’re in control.”
“Yeah, I can do that. It’ll be easier to pretend to be a character instead of me.”
“No, Danny boy, you are Prince Valiant.”
“Yeah, but—”
“Sh. No buts. Never. Buts change direction and confuse the self. No buts.”
Danny nodded. “No buts.”
“Your Mrs. Foster on the other hand, she’d like to be your Prince Valiant.”
They laughed.
“Tomorrow, my boy, you’ll conquer your girl.”
“I will.”
Satisfied, they swam to shore.
The following morning Danny paced nervously up and down the street outside Ellie’s home and mumbled to himself, “Prince Valiant. Always forward. Prince Valiant.”
He took a deep breath, opened the gate, marched up the steps, and rang the bell. His heart pounded as he dried his sweaty palms on his pants and tried to calm himself.
Moments later Ellie opened the door, looking more beautiful than ever. “Hi, Danny. I saw you pacing up and down the street. Did you lose something?”
“Huh?” Taken aback, he quickly recovered. “No. Got lots on my mind, that’s all. Came by to ask if you’d like to go to the fair they’ve set up by the pier. They have a Ferris wheel.”
“Well, I—”
“Go check with your mom, I’ll wait here.”
Ellie smiled and nodded. “Okay, I’ll be right back.” She disappeared into the house.
Danny smiled with self-satisfaction and mumbled, “Prince Valiant... Prince Valiant.”
Moments later Ellie returned. “She said it’s okay. Let’s go.”
Stunned, Danny could only manage a weak, “That’s great.”
They strolled down the street in silence.
“Tell me about you,” Danny finally said with aplomb.
“About me? Like what?”
“Stuff, I mean things about you. Where you were born, why you’re here, what you like or don’t like. Stuff like that, I guess.”
“Why would you want to know that?”
Danny hesitated for a moment muttered, “Prince Valiant...”
“What? Did you say Prince Valiant?”
“Uh, yeah, I did.. .because I like reading about Prince Valiant. Do you?” “Yeah, I guess.”
“Well, there you go, that’s something about me. I enjoy reading. I’d like to get to know you better. That’s why I asked about you.”
“Oh, I get it. That’s nice.”
Her smile melted Danny’s heart, but he managed to keep his external demeanor in character—Prince Valiant was definitely in control. “Well?” he prompted after a long pause.
“Oh...uh, let’s see, I was born in Chicago, then my folks inherited the Amaray house from an old aunt, and—”
“The lady that lived in your house was your aunt? How come I never saw you before?”
“We didn’t visit her and she didn’t visit us very often.”
“Why move here then? You could’ve stayed in Chicago.”
“My parents decided this was a better place for me to grow up.”
“Tell me more.”
“Not much more to tell, really. We moved here, and then my dad got a real good job at Whirlpool, quit his old job in Chicago, and here we are.” “You miss Chicago?”
“No. I like it here. I love the lake and the beach. It’s easy to walk everywhere.” “There’s the fair,” Danny announced, pointing to a field outside town populated with tents, rides, and glittering signs. The breeze carried the din of music, laughter, and screams.
“Can we go on the Ferris wheel? Imagine how beautiful the view is up there.”
“Let’s do it then.” Without hesitation, he took her hand and off they ran toward the fair and its tantalizing Ferris wheel.
Prince Valiant had won the day.
“Nothing. Not one single clue.” Sarah protested. “Why spoon-feed me the information? Who is the puppeteer in this charade?”
“Hey, calm down. Seems to me the movie’s picking up pace.” Conrad’s demeanor appeared relaxed, but Sarah could sense his apprehension.
They strolled hand in hand near their home, enjoying the early signs of spring. Their house sat at the end of a valley that may have been used for pasture or cropland at one time. It now offered a flowering meadow encircled by lush woodlands with panoramic views of the towering Cascades.
“Maybe the attic did answer your plea.”
“Not likely. I haven’t learned anything so far that would help me solve Daniel’s mystery. And what about that glimpse through the scope of the hunting rifle? What’s that all about? That entire episode wasn’t part of the movie at all.”
“Could it be that you’re worried about Williams?”
“It’s possible.. .my subconscious playing with my mind.. .a metaphor?”
“Metaphor.. .interesting. Okay, let’s have it.”
“Well, perhaps I’m the deer and you’re the man who steps into view when Williams shoots us. I’m attracting his wrath toward our family and you end up injured.”
“Did the man who comes into view behind the deer look anything like
me?”
“No, not at all. He was burly and on the heavy side. Even though he wore a cap, it looked like he was balding. Completely different from you.”
Conrad smiled. “Well, Madame Freud, then it’s not a metaphor.”
“How come?”
“It’s a psychic vision, not a projection of your subconscious. You’re quite clear about the looks of the injured man.”
“But—”
“Listen to me. Stop thinking about Williams shooting us. First of all, it’s not feasible, and furthermore it’s not healthy. It’ll drive you crazy. And that’s not helpful,” he said emphatically.
“Then what does it mean?”
“I have no idea and neither do you. Maybe it’s a clue about Williams, or maybe it has nothing to do with him. Perhaps it’ll become clear in the movie later on. The scenes are gaining momentum and you’re learning more and more.”
“But nothing helpful yet. Daniel—our Daniel, is in the dark as to who he is, and I can’t do a thing to help him out.”
Conrad put his arm around his wife. “We’ve made great progress. We’ve learned that Daniel can find his way around a kitchen, he speaks pretty good French, he’s well read, and from the words he uses to express himself, I’d say he’s well educated.”
“Hmm...”
“Admit it, Sarah; that’s significant.”
“Maybe, but it’s not enough.”
“Stop being so hard on yourself. What’s the rush, anyway? For crying out loud, the man’s injuries have barely healed.”
Sarah stopped walking and smiled at him. “Okay, no rush. You’re right.” She pulled him to her and kissed him.
He responded immediately, and as he kissed her, he opened her coat and slid his hands inside, encircling her waist, bringing her body closer to his. His hands slid up and caressed her breasts. “Let’s go home,” he said softly. “I need for us to be with one another, to enjoy ourselves, and forget everything else. Let’s make love all day long and set this mystery aside for a while.”
CHAPTER 9
The marquee of the Amaray Theater proclaimed the title A RETROSPECTIVE - JAMES STEWART in ANA TOMY OF A MURDER.
Doing their best to be inconspicuous, Danny and Ellie emerged from the theater and glanced around before rushing down the street. A block later, breathless and excited, they crossed the street and slowed to a walk. After turning the corner, they stopped and glanced back toward the theater. Satisfied that no one had spotted them, they held hands and strolled cheerfully down the street.
“Now I get why my mom wouldn’t let me watch it,” Ellie said. “She’d be horrified if she knew.”
“My dad would sit me down and give me an endless sermon on the evils of loose women and their lack of morals. Then he’d instruct me on how weak I am for coming to a movie like that, and
probably close with a speech about how the gates of hell await me because I am responsible for corrupting your innocent mind.”
“That’s not fair, I’m the one that talked you into coming.”
“You didn’t need to do much. I wanted to see it too.”
“The husband should’ve been convicted.”
“What’s interesting about it is that you really don’t find out if he actually went crazy or if he knew exactly what he was doing when he killed the guy.”
“I can’t blame him for going nuts. She was awful, taunting her husband like that and flirting with all the other men.”
“You can’t be serious. I mean, she was bad, but he didn’t have to go and kill the guy.”
“I’m very serious. The whole thing was her fault. No matter how you look at it. She’s a tart.”
Attempting his best southern accent, Danny pretended to be shocked. “Miss Ellie, I do declare—what kind of language is that for a lady?”
“Well, sir...” she retorted in her own version of a southern accent, “it’s nothing but the truth, sir.”
Danny pulled her to him and kissed her, his arms locked around her waist. She closed her eyes, wrapped her arms around his neck, and surrendered to the kiss and the embrace.
“Your kisses are like honey,” he whispered into her lips.
“Mm.. .yours are like chocolate ice cream.”
He took her face in his hands and peered into her eyes. “I get how her husband could go crazy with jealousy. I couldn’t bear it if you kissed another guy.” “No danger of that, is there?”
“I love you.”
“And I love you,” she answered softly.
They kissed again, then, hand in hand, resumed their way down the street. “What a fool I was to be so afraid to talk to you.”
“How could you be afraid of me?”
“It’s that you’re so perfect, and popular, and a year older, and you like books about girls in love with older men, and—”
“Stop, you’re making my head spin. All that matters is that you got up the courage to ask me to the fair and then to kiss me.it was magical.” She leaned her head against his shoulder.
He chuckled at the memory of the moment. “I can’t believe I had the nerve.” “Luck helped. Being stuck at the top when the Ferris wheel broke down didn’t hurt.”