Fire Down Below Page #3

- What about you?

- I sowed my wild oats a long time ago.

Been living off the crop ever since,

not very nourishing.

And if youve got any ideas about me,

forget them.

You stick to the kind of men

women like you were made for.

That nervous fella from Detroit

back there in San Juan.

The Russian colonels in Berlin,

the black-market sergeants.

No, I do you an injustice.

Youre a field-grade operator,

black-market generals.

Theres plenty of the usual game

for you around here.

Lots of sugar planters with fat bellies,

rum factories...

...wives with mustaches...

...bank accounts in Havana,

New York, Zurich.

Stick to them.

Leave Tony alone.

I beg your pardon,

would the lady like to dance?

No, the lady would not like to dance.

On the contrary, the lady

would like very much to dance.

That was wonderful.

Was it?

I beg your pardon,

would you like a dance?

- Get out of here.

- I was talking to the lady.

I was asking her to dance.

Its a very simple dance.

I'lll show you.

You want to dance, huh?

Come on, I'll dance you.

Whos there?

Its me, Felix. That's Latin for "'hhappy. "'

You should have danced with that

fella. He was a real good dancer.

What is it? What are you waiting for?

Im waiting for someone

to touch me with kindness.

Im proud.

I don't make love to the dead.

Oh, youre beautiful.

Marry me,

and well sail the seven seas.

And well see the tombs

of the Pharaohs.

And well pull in at Hong Kong

and Bangkok...

...and Indianapolis, Indiana.

And I'll be faithful to you

from here to the last distI'llery.

And I'll cover you with jewels,

and I'lll drown you in champagne.

Our song. Shall we dance?

Do you mind if I have a drink?

You have to go now

because your family is calling you...

...but I'll be waiting.

All right. Here we are

in the Rose Bowl, folks!

And hes fading back.

He's looking for his receiver!

Hes gonna pass. 100,000 people

are going wild out there.

Last two minutes of the game.

Hes gonna pass!

Hes getting ready. He's set.

He's found his receiver. He'lll pass!

And there he goes down the field,

and hes getting ready to catch it!

There it goes, 10 yards, 20 yards,

30 yards!

He caught it! Oh, great show.

Irena?

Irena?

Yes?

Everything okay?

Yes.

Well, can I get you anything?

No, thank you.

Good night.

Good night.

Well, this is far as we take you.

At the end of the jetty,

youll see some stairs.

At the very top by a church,

youll see a taxi.

You go to the American bar

on the Rue Joliette.

The barman wI'll tell you

where to find the hotel.

If you happen to see any of us

around...

...it might be advisable for you

to pretend you dont know us.

We cant just drop her like this

in the middle of this forsaken hole.

Why not? That was the bargain,

wasnt it?

We were to take her to Santa Nada,

responsibility ended.

You do have a mean streak,

dont you?

I said Id bring her here and I did.

What's so mean?

Somebody has to see the girl

into the town.

You defeat me.

I dont know what you'rre aiming at!

You trying to get chosen for the Brute

of the Month Club or something?

- Joke. Push off, Jimmy Jean.

- No, hold it.

Youre on your own from now on.

I'll leave my stuff on the boat.

I'lll pick it up later.

Push off.

Its not what you might call

a happy voyage.

No, sir, Ive had happier trips.

- Youre not satisfied?

- When I'mm paid off, I'lll be satisfied.

Any other complaints?

- I might strike some.

- You want to quit?

I do believe I do.

Okay, thats fine with me.

We could stand some fresh faces

around here.

- You didnt have to come with me.

- Forget it.

I apologize for Felix.

Nobody has to apologize to me

for anything.

I apologize for the whole human race.

- Good evening, madam.

- Good evening.

- Are there any messages?

- The young man called.

The young American.

Hell be here at 7, he says.

Thank you. My key, please.

I would not be a friend

if I didnt tell you your presence...

...for the last few days has not gone

completely unremarked.

- What do you mean?

- Its, of course, not surprising.

A woman who looks like you

even in a great city...

...Paris even,

all eyes would be attracted.

Omit the flowers,

who was talking about me?

In a place like this, there are certain

people who owe things to the police.

Who must present the authorities

with information...

...of an interesting character.

Now, they see a lady like you arrive,

they make a few inquiries.

They find that your arrival did not

coincide with the landing of a plane...

...the docking of a steamer.

They discovered that you seem to be

settling down for a long stay.

That you have no visible means

of support.

That you are friendly with

a young American...

...of a rather brash

and reckless character.

They begin to see some making of

profit in this situation for themselves.

Why are you telling me all this?

None of this, of course, is crucial.

The right words spoken

at a certain place.

A delicate hint that too much curiosity

is a bit improper in this case.

A genial reminder that the lady

in question is regarded benevolently...

- ... by a good friend of the authority.

- Yes?

I dont like to sound immodest...

...but I, myself, might answer

to such a description.

If it were to my interest,

perhaps I could be prevailed upon...

...to drop a word in a proper quarter.

If it were to your interest?

If it were to my interest.

Your key, madam.

Yes?

Hi.

- Hello, Tony.

- Got something for you.

Thank you.

- Tony...

- Well, open it up, open it.

Native blouse, see.

I just thought with your color hair

that it might...

- Its very gay, isn't it?

- Very gay.

Go ahead, try it on.

I wasnt too sure

about the measurements.

But go ahead, try it on.

The lady in the shop says its bound

to have a stifling effect on a redhead.

Tony?

- Have you seen Felix?

- Only once, in the bar for a minute.

All we said was hello.

Hes conducting

a personal experiment.

Hes trying to drink the entire output

of rum on this island in a week.

Did he say anything about me?

He was in no condition

to say anything about anybody.

Startling.

- Thank you.

- You like it?

I like it very much.

StI'll it would have been more useful

if youd found something else.

A different kind of cloth.

Do they have anything

in the shops...

...thats guaranteed to make a woman

invisible?

What a waste that would be.

Come on, lets go out. We'lll have

a great dinner and dance, celebrate.

Celebrate what?

Celebrate the fact

that youre not invisible.

- Not tonight, Tony.

- Whats the matter?

- Ive got to get out of here.

- What are you talking about?

The owner.

Its the same old thing.

Sometimes it takes only a day.

Sometimes, like now,

it takes more than a week.

- But it always happens.

- What always happens?

They close in.

'Keep moving. "'

Did that slob tell you

you had to get out of here?

No, they dont quite say that either.

They always make it clear

I could make arrangements...

...and be permitted to stay.

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