cwilleford.theburntorangeheresy-第17章

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n　the　darkening　twilight　as　we　sat　at　the　candlelit　card　table　to　eat　the　miserable　off…brand　TV　dinners。
　　The　dinners　had　been　purchased　by　the　Negro　maid　who　came　every　Wednesday　to　take　care　of　the　old　man's　laundry　and　to　do　his　difficult　cleaning。　She　also　brought　his　other　weekly　food　supplies。　By　buying　these　cheap　TV　dinners；　she　was　probably　knocking　down　on　the　food　money。　I　didn't　suggest　this　to　him；　but　I　discussed　brand　names；　the　brand…name　fallacy；　and　wrote　out　a　short　list　of　worthwhile　frozen　food　buys　he　could　depend　upon。　He　had　a　delusion　that　frozen　foods　were　better；　somehow；　than　fresh。　Berenice　started　halfheartedly　to　tell　him　otherwise；　but　when　she　saw　me　shake　my　head　she　changed　the　subject　to　domestic　wines。　Debierue　distrusted　California　wines；　but　I　added　the　brands　of　some　Napa　Valley　wines　to　the　frozen　food　list；　and　he　said　he　would　try　them。　Other　than　tap　water；　all　he　drank；　because　French　wines　were　too　dear；　was　frozen　orange　juice。
　　The　Gold　Coast　for　some　twenty　miles　inland；　from　Jupiter　downstate　to　Key　Largo；　is　tropical…not　subtropical；　as　so　many　people　erroneously　believe。　The　tropical　weather　is　caused　by　the　warmth　of　the　Gulf　Stream；　less　than　six　miles　off　the　coast。　There　is　little　difference　between　the　weather　in　Miami　and　that　of　Saigon。　Debierue's　house；　on　a　hammock；　with　a　black　swamp　and　the　Everglades　for　a　backyard；　was　depressingly　humid。　After　eating　the　dry　turkey　dinner；　my　mouth　felt　as　if　it　were　dehydrated；　and　I　couldn't　drink　enough　fluid　to　unparch　my　throat。　I　poured　another　glass　of　orange　juice　（my　fourth）　and　sensed；　as　I　did　so；　a　certain　anxiety　or　impatience　developing　in　the　old　man。　As　an　experienced　dinner　guest；　I　have　picked　up　an　instinct　about　wearing　out　weles。
　　The　sky　had　darkened　from　bruise　blue　to　gentian　violet；　and　it　was　only　a　few　minutes　after　six　thirty。　It　was　much　too　early　for　him　to　go　to　bed；　but　even　Berenice；　who　was　not　particularly　observant；　became　aware　of　the　old　painter's　restlessness。　She　winked　across　the　table；　tapped　her　wrist　significantly；　and　gave　me　a　brief；　ical　shrug。　I　nodded；　and　slid　my　chair　back　from　the　table。
　　〃It's　been　delightful；　M。　Debierue；　the　dinner　by　candlelight；〃　I　lied　socially；　〃but　I　have　another　appointment　in　Palm　Beach　tonight；　and　we　have　to　drive　back。〃
　　〃Of　course；〃　he　replied；　standing；　〃but　please　keep　your　seat　a　few　moments　more。　Already；　you　see；　it　is　past　the　time　for　me　to　get　ready。　I　must　go　to　the　movies　tonight。　I　must　go　to　the　movies　every　night；〃　he　added；　by　way　of　fuller　explanation；　〃and　I　must　now　change　my　clothes。〃
　　〃The　movies？〃　I　asked　stupidly。
　　His　face　brightened　and　he　rubbed　his　hands　together　briskly。　〃Oh；　yes；　perhaps　you　did　not　see　it…the　Dixie　Drive…in　Movie　Theater　。。'　He　pointed　in　the　general　direction　of　the　drive…in。　〃Tonight　there　are　three　long　features；　two　films　with　the　Bowery　Boys　and　the　film　about　a　werewolf。　And　before　these；　the　regular　films；　there　are　always　two　and　sometimes　three　cartoons。　The　first　long　film　tonight　is　The　Bowery　Boys　Meet　Frankenstein；　a　very　special　treat；　no？　And　if　you　will　kindly　drive　me…〃
　　〃Certainly；〃　I　said　eagerly；　〃I'll　be　happy　to　take　you　in　the　car。〃
　　〃My　ignorance；〃　Debierue　chuckled　reminiscently；　〃it　was　the　amusing　thing。　When　I　was　first　here　and　taking　a　walk　one　evening；　I　saw　the　automobiles　driving　inside　the　Dixie　Drive…in　Theater。　I　did　not　then　know　the　American　custom；　and　I　thought　that　one　must　have　the　automobile　to　enter　the　movie。　Never　before　had　I　seen　the　drive…in　movies；　and　I　said　to　myself；　Why　not　see　if　the　permission　to　go　from　the　manager　can　be　arranged？〃　So　I　talked　then　to　the　manager；　M。　Albert　Price。　He　arranged　for　me　to　go；　and　gave　me　the　Senior　Citizen　Golden　Years'　membership　card。〃　Debierue　fumbled　his　wallet　out　of　his　hip　pocket；　extracted　the　card；　which　entitled　him　to　a　15　percent　discount　on　movie　tickets；　and　proudly　showed　it　to　us。　It　was　made　out　to　Eugene　V。　Debs。
　　〃That's　very　nice；〃　Berenice　said；　smiling。
　　〃M。　Price　is　a　very　nice　man；〃　Debierue　said；　carefully　replacing　the　card　in　his　thin；　calfskin　wallet。　〃There　are　very　good　seats　in　front　of　the　snack　bar。　The　parents　with　the　automobiles　sometimes　send　their　children　to　sit　in　these　seats；　and　they　are　also　for　those　patrons　who　do　not　have　the　automobile；　as　M。　Price　explained　to　me。　Over　to　the　right　of　these　seats　is　the　zinc　slide　and　little　swings；　the　Kiddyland　for　these；　the　children；　who　bee　tired　of　watching　the　movie　screen。　I　like　the　children…I　am　a　Frenchman…but　the　little　children　begin　to　make　too　much　noise　playing　in　the　Kiddyland　after　the　cartoons　are　finished。　This　arrangement　is　good　for　the　parents　inside　the　cars　with　speakers；　but　not　for　me。　The　noise　bees　too　loud　for　me。　M。　Price　and　I　are　now　good　friends；　and　he　reserves　for　me　each　night　a　seat　and　special　earphones。　I　hear　only　the　movie　with　the　earphones　and　no　more　the　children。〃
　　I　smiled。　〃Can　you　understand　American　English；　the　way　the　Bowery　Boys　speak　it？〃
　　〃No；　not　always；〃　he　replied　seriously。　〃But　it　is　no　matter。　These　Bowery　Boys　are　too　wonderful　edians…the　Surrealist　actors；　no？　I　like　M。　Huntz　Hall。　He　is　very　droll。　Last　week　there　were　the　three　pictures　one　night　with　the　bourgeois　couple　and　their　new　house；　Papa　and　Mama　Kettle。　I　like　them　very　much；　and　also　John　Wayne。〃　He　shook　his　fingers　as　if　he　had　burned　them　badly　on　a　hot　stove。　〃Oh　ho！　He　is　the　tough　guy；　no？〃
　　〃Yes；　sir；　he　certainly　is。　But　you've　surprised　me　again；　M。　Debierue。　I　had　no　idea　you　were　a　movie　fan。〃
　　〃It　is　pleasant　to　see　the　cinema　in　the　evenings。〃　He　shrugged。　〃And　I　like　also　the　grape　snow　cone。　Do　you　like　these；　the　grape　snow　cones；　M。　Figueras？〃
　　〃I　haven't　had　one　in　a　long　time。〃
　　〃Very　good。　Fifteen　cents　at　the　snack　bar'
　　〃That's　quite　a　long　walk　down　there　and　back　every　night；　M。　Debierue。　And　as　long　as　you　haven't　seen　these　old　movies　anyway；　why　don't　you　buy　a　television？　There　are　at　least　a　half…dozen　films　on　TV　every　night；　and…〃
　　〃No；〃　he　said　loyally；　〃this　is　not　good　advice。　M。　Price　has　already　explained　to　me　that　the　TV　was　harmful　to　the　eyes。　The　little　screen；　he　said；　will　give　one　bad　headaches　after　one　or　two　hours　of　watching。〃
　　I　was　going　to　refute　this；　but　changed　my　mind　and　lit　a　cigarette　instead。　Debierue　excused　himself　and　left　for　his　bedroom。　I　stubbed　out　the　cigarette　in　the　sticky　remains　of　the　imitation　cranberry　sauce　well　in　the　TV　dinner　plate。　My　mouth　was　too　dry　to　smoke。
　　〃Have　you　got　any　tranquilizers　in　your　purse？〃
　　〃No；　but　I've　got　a　Ritalin；　I　think。〃　Berenice　untied　the　drawstring　and　searched　for　her　pillbox。
　　〃O。K。；　and　give　me　two　Excedrins　while　you're　at　it。〃
　　〃I've　only　got　Bufferin…〃
　　I　took　two　Bufferin　and　the　tiny　Ritalin　pill　and　chased　them　with　the　remainder　of　my　orange　juice。
　　〃It　looks　as　though　things　are　going　to　break　for　us　after　all；〃　I　said　softly。
　　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
　　〃What　do　you　think　I　mean？〃
　　She　looked　at　me　with　the　blank　vacant　stare　that　always　infuriated　me。　〃I　don't　know。〃
　　〃Never　mind。　We'll　talk　about　it　later。〃
　　Within　a　few　minutes　Debierue　returned；　wearing　his　moviegoer's　〃costume。〃　He　had　exchanged　the　shortsleeved　poio　shirt　for　a　long…sleeved　dress　shirt；　and　it　was　buttoned　at　the　neck　and　cuffs。　He　wore　long　white　duck　trousers　instead　of　shorts；　and　had　pulled　his　white　socks　up　over　the　cuffs　and　secured　them　with　bicycle　clips。　With　his　tennis　shoes　and　Navy　blue　beret　he　resembled　some　exclusive　tennis　club's　oldest　living　member。　In　his　left　hand　he　carried　a　pair　of　cotton　Iron　Boy　work　gloves。　It　was　a　peculiar　getup；　but　it　was　a　practical　uniform　for　a　man　who　was　determined　to　sit　for　six　hours　in　a　mosquitoinfested　drive…in　movie。
　　Debierue　locked　the　front　door　and　dropped　the　key　into　a　red　pottery　pot　containing　a　thirsty　azalea；　and　trailed　us　to　the　car。　Berenice　sat　in　the　middle；　and　as　I　drove　cautiously　down　the　grassy　road　toward　the　highway　she　and　the　old　man　discussed　mosquitoes　and　mosquito　control。　His　beloved　M。　Price　had　a　huge　smoke…spraying　machine　on　a　truck　that　made　the　circuit　of　the　theater　before　the　films　began　and　again　at　intermission；　but　Debierue　had　to　take　the　gloves　along　because　the　mosquitoes　were　so　fierce　on　his　walk　home。　She　told　him　about；　and　remended；　a　spray　repellent　called　Festrol；　and　I　was　repelled　by　the　banality　of　their　conversation。　But　with　his　mind　on　the　movies；　it　was　too　late　for　me　to　ask　him　any　final　questions　about　his　art。
　　I　pulled　over　in　the　driveway　short　of　the　ticket　window　and　waved　a　car　by。　I　gave　the　old　man　one　of　my　business　cards　with　the　magazine's　New　York　address　and　telephone　number；　and　wedged　in　a　parting　ment　that　if　he　changed　his　mind　about　letting　me　see　his　pictures　he　could　call　me　collect　at　any　time。　He　nodded　impatiently　and；　without　looking　at　the　card；　dropped　it　into　his　shirt　pocket。　We　shook　hands；　the　quick　one…up…and…one…down　handshake；　Berenice　gave　him　a　peck　on　his　beard；　and　he　got　out　of　the　car。　By　the　time　I　got　the　car　turned　around；　he　had　disappeared　into　the　darkness　of　the　theater。　Music　and　insane　woodpecker　laughter　filled　the　night　suddenly　as　I　turned　onto　the　highway。　Berenice　sighed。
　　〃What's　the　matter？〃
　　〃Oh；　I　was　just　thinking；〃　she　said。　〃We　held　him　up　too　long　and　now　he'll　have　to　wait　until　intermission　to　get　his　grape　snow　cone。〃
　　〃Yeah。　That's　tough。〃
　　
　　
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　　I　drove　into　Debierue's　private　road；　stopped；　and　switched　off　the　headlights。　Before　she　could　say　anything　I　turned　to　Berenice　and　said；　〃Before　you　say　anything　I'm　going　to　tell　you。　Then；　if　you　have　questions；　ask　them。　I'm　going　down　now　to　take　a　look　at　Debierue's　pictures。　He　said　he　had　painted　a　few；　and　now　that　I　know　there　are　pictures　in　his　studio　I　can't　go　back　without　one　for　Mr。　Cassidy'
　　〃Why　not？　He　doesn't　know　that　there　are　any。〃
　　〃I　made　a　deal。　And　even　if　I　decide　not　to　take　one　back；　which　I　doubt；　I　still　have　to　see　them　myself。　If　you　don't　understand　that；　you　don't　understand　me　very　well。〃
　　〃I　understand；　but　it's　dangerous…〃
　　〃With　Debierue　in　the　movies；　it's　safer　than　houses。　He　dropped　the　door　key　into　a　potted　plant　on　the　porch。　You　saw　him；　too；　didn't　you？〃
　　〃But　the　studio　is　stifi　locked；　and…〃
　　〃I　don't　want　to　get　you　involved　any　more　than　you　are　already。　But　I　want　you　to　stay　here　by　the　highway；　just　in　case。　Debierue　might　think　about　the　key　himself　and　e　back　for　it。　I　don't　believe　he　will；　but　if　he　does　you　can　run　down　the　road　and　warn　me　and　we'll　get　the　hell　out。　Okay？〃
　　〃I　can't　stand　out　here　in　the　dark　all　by　myself！　I'm　scared　and　there　are　all　these　mosquitoes　and　I　want　to　go　with　you！〃
　　〃We're　wasting　time。　It's　one　thing　for　me　to　be　a　housebreaker；　but　it's　something　else　for　you…as　a　schoolteacher。　There's　nothing　to　be　frightened　about…I'm　sorry　about　the　mosquitoes…but　if　you're　really　afraid　I'll　take　you　down　the　highway　to　a　gas　station。　You　can　lock　yourself　in　the　women's　room　till　I　e　back　for　you。〃
　　〃I　don't　want　to　lock　myself　up　i