and now that I
really considered the matter, I... and now that I
really considered the matter, I guessed it would
be impossible for him to sit down in one of those
paltry airplane bathrooms at allTo stand up and
take a leak? MaybeHe
simply wouldn't fit
"Anyway, Wireman thought Mr
Said you'd understand
"I do," I said, and beckoned Juanita overShe
looked too lonely standing there by herself in
what was probably her best outfit while the
culture vultures ebbed and flowed around herI
gave her a hug and she smiled up at meAnd just
as I was finally persuading her to take one of the
glasses of champagne (my use of the word pequeno
for small made her giggle, so I assumed it wasn't
quite right), Wireman and Kamen - the latter still
holding the gift-box - came inKamen lit up
gucci wallet at
the sight of me, and that did me more good than
597
several rounds of applause, even with a standing O
thrown in
I took a champagne flute from a passing tray, cut
through the crowd, and handed it to himThen I
slipped my arm around as much of his bulk as I
could and gave him a hugHe hugged back hard
enough to make my still tender ribs squall
"Edgar, you look terrificGod is
good, my friend
"So are you," I said"How'd you happen to turn up
in Sarasota? Was it Wireman?" I turned to my
compadre of the striped umbrella"It was, wasn't
it? You called and asked Kamen if he'd be the
Mystery Guest at my lecture
Wireman shook his headI was in a
panic, muchacho, because I could see you were
freaking out about the gigShe said that
cartier replica watch ladies santos 100 steel after
your accident you listened to DrKamen when you
wouldn't listen to anyone elseI
never thought he'd come on such short notice,
but
"Not only am I here, I brought you a gift from
your daughters," he said, and handed me the box
"Although you'll have to make do with what I had
598
in stock, because I didn't have time to shopI
fear you may be disappointed
I suddenly knew what the present was, and my mouth
went dryNevertheless I lodged the box under my
stump, pulled away the ribbon, and tore off the
paperI was barely aware of Juanita taking it
Inside was a narrow cardboard box that looked to
me like a child's coffinWhat else
would it look like? Stamped on the lid was MADE IN
THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
"Classy, Doc," Wireman said
"I
cartier ballon bleu price didn't have time to do something nicer, I'm
afraid," Kamen replied
Their voices seemed to come from far awayJuanita
removed the box-topI think Jack took thatAnd
then Reba was looking up at me, this time in a red
dress instead of a blue one, but the polka-dots
were the same; so were the shiny black Mary Janes,
the lifeless red hair and the blue eyes that said
Oouuuu, you nasty man! I been in here all this
time!
Still from a great distance, Kamen was saying:
"Ilse was the one who called and suggested a doll
599
as a presentThis was after she and her sister
talked on the phone
Of course it was Ilse, I thoughtI was aware of
the steady murmur of conversation in the gallery,
like the sound of the shells under Big PinkMy Oh
gosh,
cartier love how nice smile was still nailed to my face,
but if someone had poked me in the back just then,
I might have screamedIlse is the one who's been
on Duma KeyWho's been down the road that leads
past El Palacio
As shrewd as he was, I don't think Kamen had any
idea that anything was wrong - but of course he'd
been traveling all day and was far from his best
Wireman, however, was looking at me with his head
cocked slightly to one side and his brow furrowed
And by then, I think Wireman knew me better than
Dr
"She knew you already had one," Kamen was saying
"She thought a pair would remind you of both
daughters, and Melinda agreedBut of course,
Lucys are all I have-"
"Lucys?" Wireman asked, taking the dollHer pink
rag-stuffed legs
d&g knockoffs dangle