Appointment in Samarra - John O'Hara [50]
The hell with him. I just did that to get rid of him, said Julian. But you lose five bucks, said Helene. Yeah, you lose five bucks, said Al. It s worth it, said Julian. I got rid of him, didn’t I? Come on, let s dance.
Check and double check, said Helene. They ignored Al completely and went to the dance floor. Is that your wife? said Helene. Which one do you mean? said Julian. Oh, I know Kitty Hofman, said Helene. Well, my wife is the other girl, yes, said Julian. You’re a swell dancer, or have I said that before?
No, you didn’t say it before. You’re not so bad yourself, Mr. English.
Oh, call me Malcolm.
Is that your name? Malcolm? I thought he oh, you’re giving me the razz. Okay.
No, I m sorry. My name is Julian. Call me Julian.
They said no more until the music stopped, and as they stood there, Julian applauding and Helene standing with her hands folded in front of her, he suddenly said: Are you in love with any person?
Isn’t that a personal question? she said. Of course it is. Are you?
What makes you ask that all of a sudden? she said. I wanted to know. I the music continued. I wanted to ask you to go out with me. Will you?
When do you mean? Now?
Yes.
It s awful cold out, she said. But you will? he said. I don t know, she said. I have a room here.
No, I want to go outside. Out in the car.
Well, maybe that d be better. We can t stay long. I have to sing again in about a half an hour. Oh, I better not go. Your wife will see us, and so will Al.
Will you go? he said. Yes, she said. They glided to the edge of the floor and broke into a walk and disappeared. Three persons, over and above all the others in the big room, saw them go. Three persons: Caroline, Al Grecco, Foxie Lebrix. In a little while Julian fell asleep in the car, and Helene went back to the house by herself. It was long after three when Julian felt himself being shaken and came slowly half awake. Wha ? he said. Don t wake him up, someone said. We have to wake him up to put his coat on. Come on, Ju. Snap to. It was Whit Hofman. Come on.
Here, let me, said Kitty Hofman. She started to get in the car. Get away, said her husband. Come on, Ju. Carter, get in the other side. Here, take his coat. I ll hold him up and you put his coat around him and the two of us can put his arms in the sleeves.
I know, said Kitty. Let s put snow on his face.
Oh, drop dead, said Whit. The snow might be a good idea, said Caroline. Who sai pu snow my face? said Julian. Are you awake, Ju? said Whit. Sure I m wake, said Julian. Well, then, put your coat on, said Whit. Here. Hold the other arm, Carter.
I dowanna put my coat on. Why do I have pu my coa on? Hu? Who do I?
Because we re going home, said Whit. Go on, darling, put your coat on, said Kitty. Oh, hello, Kitty, said Julian. How about a dance, Kitty?
No, we re leaving, said Kitty. Oh, get out of the way, Kitty, for Christ sake, said Whit. I think I ll go to sleep, said Julian. Come on, Julian. Snap out of it, said Caroline. Everybody wants to go home and it s freezing out here. Put your coat on.
Without another word Julian put his coat on, scorning all assistance. Where s my hat? he said. We can t find it, said Whit. The hat check girl said she must have given it to someone else by mistake. Lebrix said he d buy you a new one.
Turn your collar up, said Caroline. Julian turned up the deep collar of the coat, which was a husky garment of raccoon skins. He slumped back in a comer of the car and pretended to go to sleep. Carter sat in the other corner and Kitty Hofman sat in the middle of the back seat. Caroline sat up front with Whit, who was driving Julian s car. The whooping of the wind and the biting crunch of the tire chains in the snow and the music of the motor were the only sounds that reached the five persons in the car. The married four understood that; that there was nothing to be said now. Julian, lost in the coonskins, felt the tremendous excitement, the great thrilling lump in the chest and abdomen that comes before the administering of an unknown, well-deserved punishment. He knew he was in for it.