by John Masters
Phyllis Kauffmann gave me a big hug — 'Oh God, I'm so happy for you,' she said. Davy Itkin grabbed my arm and pumped it -'Four straight, you bastard! How do you do it?' Phyllis gradually transferred her hug from me to Davy.
Ralph Barker said to Don Ettlinger, 'Prime time rates per unit delivered have got to go up, because...' Don looked interested.
Old Mellors said, 'Looks like you might have to put some new lath on the east side of the house, where the wisteria was.' His eyes followed a shapely female behind across the grass, but whether in memory or anticipation he was too experienced to show.
Young Mellors sat on the brickwork staring at the woman seated beside him, but we all knew what that gaze meant: yesterday, today, tomorrow. Their mating had been amazingly public and the marvel was only that her husband and his wife had not come across them, locked like dogs, at various spots along South Mountain Road. Barbara announced, 'I am five ft. five in., and weigh 130, but my reach is one inch longer than Rocky Marciano's, and I can carry any man here around that tree.' She picked up Harold Guinzburg, and carried him round the lawn, under one arm. I have never seen a more amazed publisher. The party continued.
We walked late in the silent orchard, Barbara and I, and saw that the fires were out. The moon rode among a fleet of clouds, casting intermittent shadows of the maple boughs on the grass. We went into the house and closed the door, but did not lock it. Barbara cleaned the sink and I weighted the papers on my desk, that the breeze through the open window might not blow them away. We turned out the lights. My father and mother were long in bed and asleep. Our children slept, though Martin had kicked off his blanket. We went to our own bed, content, but aware of a distant thunder, so far that it could barely be heard, so deep that it shook our bodies, and the house, and the earth.
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Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen