Boys & Girls Together (46 page)

“So?”

“We could spend the night in one of those suites. And then Sunday we could drive back. Or we could look around Capital City and then drive back, whichever you wanted.”

“They’re probably all booked up by this time, Scudder.”

Branch shook his head.

“How do you know?”

Branch laughed. “Because I just made a reservation. Not two minutes ago. That’s how.”

Whenever Aaron turned the next day, Scudder was there. He popped in while Aaron was shaving. “Don’t forget about tomorrow, Aaron. Remember now.” And again at breakfast. “We’re going to have fun, Aaron. You’ll see.” And he was there at lunch and at supper.” I can hardly wait for that movie to start. Can you?” And when Aaron came back late at night after having been with Terry, Scudder was sitting on his bunk, waiting. “Saturday can’t come soon enough for me. Twelve o’clock tomorrow we take off. That’s just—” and he consulted his watch—“just thirteen hours from now.”

And then Saturday came.

Aaron worked in the morning, typing. At noon he left the orderly room and walked slowly through the heat to his barracks. Going inside, he sat down on his bunk, unbuttoning his shirt, slowly starting to make the change into civilian clothes. He was almost finished when Scudder came in. Scudder was wearing dark pants, a blue seersucker jacket; he seemed less flabby than usual. Aaron nodded to him.

“Let’s go, let’s go,” Branch said. “God, you’re a slowpoke. I’ve got my pass already. Sergeant Terry just gave it to me. Have you got yours yet?”

“No. Not yet.”

“Shall I go get it for you? It’ll save us some time.”

“I’ll get it myself.”

“O.K. But hurry up.”

“I’m ready.”

“Well, let’s go to the orderly room for your pass.”

“Where’s your car?”

“In the parking lot.”

“Go there. Take this.” Aaron handed him his overnight bag. “I’ll meet you.”

They left the barracks, stopping for a moment in the heat.

“I can go to the orderly room with you. It’s no trouble.”

“No,” Aaron said. “I’ll meet you at the car.”

“Well ...”

“Go on!”

Aaron watched as Scudder moved away. He took a deep breath. Then he started slowly toward the orderly room, aware of the pounding of his heart. As he drew near he saw two trainees standing inside, so he stopped. He lit a cigarette. The trainees were talking to Terry. Aaron waited. The sun was very warm and he was perspiring heavily. He wiped his forehead. Finally the other trainees left the orderly room. Aaron flicked his cigarette away. Taking a deep breath, he walked inside.

“Well, well, well,” Sergeant Terry said. “All dressed up.” He was seated at his desk, the box of passes in front of him.

“I’d like my pass, please, Sergeant Terry.”

“Going someplace, Firestone?”

“That’s right.” It was hot in the room. Aaron dried the palms of his hands on his trouser legs.

“Where, may I ask? It’s my business to know. After all, I’m first sergeant.”

“Capital City.”

“That sounds like fun.”

Aaron nodded.

“A little rest and relaxation, Firestone? That what you’re after?”

“I’d like my pass, please.”

“Certainly,” Terry said. “Right away.” He rummaged through the box for a while. Then he looked up, shaking his head. “I’m sorry, Firestone. I can’t seem to find your pass here.”

“Give it to me.”

Terry smiled. “I just told you. You haven’t got one. I’m afraid you’re not going anyplace just now.”

“I’m waiting.”

“Glad to have the company.”

“Game’s over,” Aaron said. “Let’s have it.”

Terry stood. “Aaron,” he began.

“You’d better give me my pass, Sergeant Terry.”

“Aaron, listen—”

“I mean that.”

Terry walked over close to him, his rough voice low. “I had plans for tonight.”

“Change them.”

“We’ve been together every evening.”

“Not anymore.”

“Why not?”

“Because I said so.”

The ape face began clouding. “Who is it?”

“Who is what?”

“You’re going to Capital City with somebody. Who?”

“Scudder.”

“Scudder?” Terry forced a laugh. “That fat-ass?”

“Correct.”

“Why? Why Scudder? What’s Scudder’s attraction?”

“Money,” Aaron answered. “As simple as that.”

Terry’s voice was loud again. “You a prostitute all of a sudden?”

“That’s the word.”

Terry was about to speak when suddenly he smiled, turning back toward his desk. Three recruits walked into the orderly room. “Gentlemen,” Terry said.

“We’d like our passes,” one of them said.

“Of course you would.” Aaron moved to a corner of the room, waiting. “Now you’ll have to sign out,” Terry went on. “First and last names both. You all know your first and last names?” One of the three laughed. Terry gave them their passes, watching as they signed their names in the register. The three recruits left the orderly room. Terry stared after them until they were gone. Then he turned, walking up to Aaron. “We were speaking of prostitutes,” Sergeant Terry said.

“I’m sick of cockroaches. You may love them but I don’t. I’m sick of cheap motels. I’m sick of sneaking around at night like a freak fresh from a sideshow. And, if you want to know the truth, most of all, I’m sick of you.”

Terry hit him.

It was not a hard blow. Aaron managed to turn his head in time so that the thick fist only brushed his face. But it was enough to split the skin. Aaron’s lip began bleeding. He jammed his tongue into the cut, tasting blood. “That was a mistake, Sergeant Terry. You just miscalculated.”

“Aaron ...”

The heat in the room was oppressive. Sweat streamed down Aaron’s face as he fought to keep his voice under control. “If you ever so much as come near me again—ever!—you’re through. I mean it, Ape. I swear to God I’ll report you. I’ll go running up to the doctors and I’ll cry like a baby and I’ll tell them what you are. I’ll tell them everything and you know what that means? They don’t like faggots in the Army, Ape. They’ll discharge us both dishonorably. Well, I don’t give a shit. But you do. You’d be lost without the Army to mother you. We both know that. Right, Sergeant Terry? Right, Phil?”

Terry said nothing.

Aaron’s voice was rising, out of control. “I’m going to hit you back, Phil. Now. And you’re going to let me. You’ve got no choice. Apes have no choice in this world. None. And you’re an ape.” Aaron swung his open hand at Terry’s face, slapping his mouth. “Ape,” and he swung again, backhanded, catching the mouth a second time. “Ape, ape,” Aaron cried, whipping his hand back and forth, lashing the other man’s mouth.

Terry stood still.

“Now we can both taste blood,” Aaron said. “Like it?” He swung again, then dropped his arm. “Now give me my pass.”

Terry did not move.

Aaron crossed to the box, grabbed his pass and signed the register. He moved to the doorway. “Thanks for the pass, Sergeant Terry. Have a good weekend yourself, now.” Terry stared at him, frozen. Aaron opened the door, smiling. “I have an overdeveloped sense of vengeance. I should have told you that.”

Aaron slammed the door.

He took a few steps in the sunshine before he realized he was on the verge of fainting. He tried closing his eyes, but that was worse. Cursing aloud, he forced his body forward through the heat toward the parking lot.

Branch was waiting in the convertible.

Aaron opened the door and sat down heavily, leaning back, staring at the sky.

Branch looked at him. “Your lip is bleeding.”

“Family trait.”

“What?”

“Some people get bloody noses. We Firestones get bloody lips.” Branch was about to speak again when Aaron cut him off. “Drive!”

Branch drove.

The suite was lovely. As Aaron followed the bellboy into the enormous front room, he smiled. The bellboy put their overnight bags down and nodded. Branch tipped him. The bellboy muttered thanks and closed the door. Aaron moved to the large picture windows and looked out at the river beyond. Turning, he walked through the bath to the adjoining bedroom. It, too, had a view of the river.

“Very fine,” Aaron said, coming back into the front room. “Very fine.”

“I told you, didn’t I?”

“Yes, Scudder. You told me. Which room do you want?”

“Well ... uh ...”

“Take this room. It’s bigger.”

“No. You take it.”

“You’re paying, Scudder. Get a little value for your money.”

“Would ... uh ... you like a drink? I’ve got some Scotch in my overnight bag.”

“Isn’t it a little early?”

“Not for Scotch. Never for Scotch.”

“I’m going to shower first,” Aaron said. “Maybe later.” He picked up his bag and walked into the bathroom. Undressing, he turned on the shower and quietly locked the door. The water beat against the tiles.

Aaron waited. Finally the doorknob began to turn slowly. Aaron watched. The door was being pushed now. The lock held. Quietly the doorknob slid back to its original position.

Laughing out loud, Aaron let the water cleanse him.

When he was done, he dried himself off and went to his bedroom. Pulling a sheet from the cool bed, he wrapped it around himself carefully. Then he examined himself in the mirror. Chin high, body straight, he looked, he thought, very much the Roman emperor. Unlocking the bathroom door, he entered the front room.

“Hey,” Branch said. “What are you doing?”

Aaron modeled the sheet. “The very latest thing.”

Branch laughed. “How about a drink now?”

“You going to have one?”

“Yes. Of course.”

“All right, then.”

Branch got two glasses and filled them with Scotch. He handed one to Aaron. “Here’s to lots of fun in Capital City.”

Aaron sat in a chair by the window. Branch lay half sprawled on the bed across the room, his head propped on an elbow. Aaron took a mouthful of Scotch, running it over his tongue. It stung sharply at his cut lip, so he swallowed it quickly.

“Like it?” Branch asked. “It’s Old Smuggler. That’s my favorite kind.”

“Mellow,” Aaron answered. “Nice and mellow.”

“Does your lip hurt?”

Aaron shrugged.

“How did you cut it? Really?”

“Sergeant Terry hit me in the face.”

Branch laughed for a while, his body quivering. “All right,” he said finally. “If you don’t want to tell me, don’t tell me. Come on. Drink up. Let’s toast something.”

“Let’s not.” Aaron took another long swallow of Scotch.

“This sure beats X Company all hollow,” Branch said, gesturing around the room.

“All hollow,” Aaron agreed.

“You’ve got something wrong with your legs, don’t you?”

“That’s right. Something wrong with my legs. What’s your problem?”

“Will you promise not to tell?”

“No.”

“I won’t tell you unless you promise.”

Aaron sighed. “You have my word, Scudder.”

“Nothing,” Branch whispered. “Nothing’s wrong with me. I got in by pull.”

“Rosie arrange it for you?”

“How’d you know?”

“Two and two, Scudder.”

“Anyway, you won’t tell. You promised.”

Aaron drank his Scotch.

“This sure is a big room. I almost feel like I have to shout so you’ll hear me.”

“Well, restrain yourself.”

“You’re funny.”

“Hilarious,” Aaron agreed.

“You are.”

Aaron glanced out the window.

“That Scotch getting to you?”

“I feel a distant buzz.”

“Excuse me,” Branch said, and he got off the bed, moving to the bathroom. From his position in the chair Aaron could see him. Branch half closed the bathroom door but Aaron could see him as he poured his drink down the toilet. Aaron returned his gaze to the window. A moment later the toilet flushed and Branch was back. Lying on the bed, he brought the empty glass to his lips, licking the edge with his tongue.

“What river is that out there?” Aaron asked.

“I don’t know. Some river.”

“It’s picturesque as hell.”

Branch got off the bed and came close to Aaron’s chair, staring out at the water. “It is at that,” he said. “Yes, indeed.” Again he licked at the edge of his glass. “I’m ready for a little refill, Aaron. How about you?”

Aaron finished his drink. “Love it.”

Branch filled the glasses with more Scotch. Then he handed one to Aaron and sprawled down on the bed again, his head propped on an elbow.

Aaron looked at him.

Branch began to fidget. “It’s sure nice this suite is air-conditioned. Imagine how hot it would be otherwise.”

Aaron said nothing.

“What are you looking at me like that for?”

Aaron did not reply.

Branch was fidgeting badly now, his fingers fluttering on the bedspread. “What is it, Aaron? What’s the matter?”

“Lecher,” Aaron said.

“Huh?”

Aaron laughed out loud.

“What’s so funny?”

“You filthy lecher. Trying to get me drunk. You ought to be ashamed.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I saw!”

“Saw what?”

“Will you quit with the innocent act? I saw you. Through the bathroom door, Scudder. You should have closed the door all the way. Fool. Didn’t you think I could see? Why didn’t you close the door? Why didn’t—”

The answer made him shudder.

“Jesus,” Aaron whispered.

“Don’t say any more, Aaron. Be careful now.”

“You wanted me to see,” Aaron whispered. “You wanted it.”

“No.”

“Yes! You wanted me to catch you.”

“I didn’t. I didn’t.”

“So I’d punish you for being such a bad boy.”

“That isn’t true.”

“You love punishment, don’t you, Scudder?”

Branch sat up on the bed. “No.”

“Oh, it’s so obvious, Scudder. It’s written all over you. Admit it. You love being punished.”

Branch stood.

“Sit back down!”

Branch sat back down.

Aaron smiled. Slowly he drew the white sheet tightly around him. “Do you know the poem, Scudder, about the sadistic man? ‘A sadistic man had a masochistic wife and he beat her every day and they led a happy life.’ Do you think we could have a happy life, Scudder?”

Branch took a long drink of Scotch. Then another.