Sirens, page 33
I thought you were San Diego.' He regarded her curiously, only his large
odd eyes moving. e air conditioning hissed inconspicuously.
The mirrored dows echoed the scene. The outside world did not exist.
"You are frightened of me.' He nodded his enormous head. at is good. It
shows you have good judgment.' He smil ' dcn1y and she saw the welter of
gold. It seemed to flash the rising sun off the surface of the sea,
spangling him. ' this is Daina Whitney.' It was such an unexpected
statement that she laughed. ' me,' he said. ' I said something amusing?'
', yes,' Daina said. ' knows my face.' ','Meyer said as if incomplete
understanding. ' course." leaned forward and one of his gnarled hands
reached out. t how many have touched you?' The point of his finger 289
came down, tapping her on the back of the hand. ' are an icon now. '..
or soon will be. Tell me, how does it feel?' Daina said nothing. Her
eyes had been drawn, as he had moved towards her, to the inside of his
forearm. The blue numbers were thick with age but unmistakable. Meyer,
noticing where she was looking, said, ' felt we should not have names.
Names were for human beings. All they gave us were numbers.' ''m sorry,'
she whispered.
"Don't be.' He kept his hands where they were, clasped. ' wasn't your
world. Your world has other horrors to contend with.' His eyes opened
wide and she thought she could see another world there. He held up his
hands. ' I was young, I used to paint. I dreamt of being another Uzanne
or Matisse. I was very good,' he whispered. ' skilled. I had the fire.'
His eyes burned. ' I stayed too long in Europe. Too long.
I could not believe what was happening there. When the Nazis took me and
found out what I did, they did this' - he lifted those hands spreading
the crooked fingers to their limits like trees upon a moor - ' me. For
fun. Broke my fingers, one at a time.' He stared at her hard for a long
minute. Then he shrugged. '. At least I am alive, yes?' He patted her
knee in a kindly fashion. ' never answered my question.' Daina fought to
remember. ' love what you're doing; to create and to be recognized for
it. What more could I want?' He nodded sagely. ' more indeed?' He
smiled. ' is sweet for you, Daina, is it not?' ' not without dangers! '
no PHe laughed, slapping his knee. ' would life be like without danger.
My God, what a colossal bore that'd be! I'd sooner slit my wrists.' He
grimaced and, reaching down, began to fumble with the leather straps of
his huaraches. ', let me.' Daina bent forward and, carefully displacitig
his thick fingers with her own, undid the straps. Meyer put his bare
feet into the bath, pressed a chrome stud. The water began to vibrate
and a small smile escaped his lips.
"Ah, that's better.' He leaned over, opened the bar. '?' ' Tom Collins.'
290 ' up.' His hands were very deft with the glasses, ice, and liquor
and she began to wonder about the story he told her or, more
specifically, just how impaired those ingly ruined hands were. She was
also certain he would :-,.0-t have allowed her to see this chink in his
defences had he k - @@`jjot decided he could trust her implicitly.
When he had made the drinks for them both and they had iompled the
results, he said, ', my dear Daina, is a very us matter. Of course, in a
world of optimums, one ought to take any notice of it. But this is a far
from optimum d, I'm sure you will agree. When I was young, I was a
patient man. Painting in oils taught me that. Masteres cannot be
rushed.' He sighed, put down his drink. ' age dissolves all ence, I'm
afraid. One son lost in Korea, a second in tnam.' His eyes turned away
from her, inward. ' are %Masterpieces any more. There cannot be.
Time is running His eyes returned to her. ' one is old, one turns e and
more to fantasy.' That sly, gold-tipped smile was again. ow I only wish
to create my own world - you've met rgo; there are many others. Yet only
she travels with me. understands the road, this car, me. We're all one.
I w my mind is free to conjure up daydreams from which shion my own
reality. I imagine it is something akin to t God must feel. If there
ever was a God, which I most usly doubt.' He blinked like an owl. '
would never taken both sons away from me. There's no pattern in that the
inexplicable, about which theologians are known to le, is nonsense. No.
The world is a vile place and when es to those one loves, there must be
safeguards ... don't hink?' 11c might have said it as an afterthought
but now emed genuinely interested in what she might say. ' don't know
what safeguards there might be,' she said, ing of Baba and of Maggie.
cyer lif Eed a finger. ', but there are. There are.' He ed at his Tom
Collins meditatively. ' me,' he said at ' Rubens. I want to know what
you feel for him.' I love him,' she said. I wonder,' he mused, 'whether
that's enough these days. It 291 never has been. I loved my two sons
but my love did not save them.' ' don't understand! Meyer peered at her.
' must save Rubens.' She was alarmed. ' whom?" "From himself.' He patted
her knee. ' me explain. After my youngest son was shipped home with the
medal he had earned posthumously pinned to the casket, I lost all
feeling. I imagine it was finally too much for me to bear. My circuits
had burned out. ' I threw myself into business.
Money seemed a poor second to my sons but that was all I was capable of.
Meeting Rubens, getting to know him, teaching him, made those old
circuits bum with life once more. But only for a time. Still, that is
something one never forgets. ', it is becoming increasingly clear to me
that he has learned too well, becoming perhaps too much like me. I don't
want that. No one should have to live his life as I do.' ' you so
unhappy, then?' He sat back, sighed, taking his feet out of the bath and
drying them on a towel. ''m not unhappy at all. That is the point.
I'm incapable of that now.' ' don't believe you,' she said. ' if I did,
wouldn't that be a blessing?' ' he cried. ' all the other emotions that
are no longer mine.' His eyes searched hers. ' you want him this way?
Would you still love him?' ''d love him no matter what." "I hope,' Meyer
said carefully, ' have the strength to stand by that always.' ''ll make
you a deal,' Meyer said, just before the limo let her off back at the
hotel. ' care of Rubens and I'll help you find out who killed your
friend! Daina took a deep breath, exhaled. ''s no need to make a deal.'
' want him'safe, Daina,' Meyer said seriously.
"I don't think there's anyone else he trusts enough or who's got enough
guts! ' don't make deals, Meyer.' ''d be a fool not to make this one.'
",-burst out laughing but when she had sobered he was ing her with the
sam coot look. ''re serious.' 4id not have to answer and, she reaaed
with some she had not expected him to. She put her hand on the handle. '
will happen to him, Meyer.' Then, . ly, she leaned over, kissed the old
man on his leathery His skin was warm and dry. He smelled faintly from a
masculine scent. She looked at him one last time.
"I'll tell to come back here and buckle your huaraches.' laughter
remained with her long after his leviathan Lincoln had disappeared into
the traffic on California she returned to the suite, the Stone people
were stiff Chris saw her, waved. ', Daina, you're just in time. in a
coupla these shots, huh?' He put his arm her as she came into the circle
of people. The Stone le fell all over themselves to talk to her, find
out what -1-was doing here, how the film was going. That was the word
and she talked on while, out of the comer of her she saw Chris climb
over Rollie's outstretched legs to get tall black man who sat slouched
in a chair in one comer, g a silent TV screen. had a wide, glistening
Afro, a long face dominated by cheekbones and rather almond-shaped eyes.
His mouth an artist's slash in the chocolate putty of his face. He dark
green leather trousers that tied up the crotch and a -coloured
Regency-style silk shirt with wide sleeves. of beaded jade hung in
concentric circles around his and close up to his throat hung a carved
stone Buddha a thin platinum choker. He wore a line of three diamond in
the lobe of his right ear. C ey, Nile, hey,' Chris said, slapping him on
the knee. ' we need you for some shots.' ma needed no introduction to
know that this was Nile ."tine. He was an American-bom guitarist who had
Jgrated to England in the mid-sixties. His first single, e Sun', had
become virtually an overnight hit and with ile had become somewhat of a
sensation. His flamboyant style - a unique fusion of blues and
psychedelia - had 292 293 revolutionized rock. When his second single,
' Beneath the Earth', was released eight months later, it streaked to
the number one position worldwide and Nile's reputation was secured.
While Chris guided Nile across the room, the Stone photographer began to
group the band members. Of course Tie was next to Nigel. She wore a
fawn-coloured suede skirt that buttoned up the front. Most of those
buttons were open so that as she sat down, Daina could see all the way
up her legs. On the inside of her right thigh Daina saw what could only
be a tattoo. It appeared to be a double cross but she shifted so
suddenly that Daina could not be certain. Chris finally got Nile on to
the sofa with the attendant splash of a great animal and he squeezed in
between the guitarist and Daina, put his arms around them both. On the
other side Rollie was, as usual, clowning and for perhaps the next ten
minutes the photographer's motor-driven camera ran off a continuous
series of shots. At one point, Tie leaned over Nile towards Daina,
whispered, ' me, Daina, what's he like in bed?' Daina glanced at Chris
who seemed oblivious to anything but the eye of the lens. Now she had no
thought about telling the truth. What good would it do her in any case?
Tie was determined to believe what she wanted to believe. It amused
Daina to give it to her now. ''ve had better.' Daina laughed. ' he
certainly is kinky.' ' he ever brought one of his young girls in with
you?' Tie's ebony eyes seemed as lidless as a reptile's. For a moment
Daina was caught off balance and she could almost hear the other woman's
silent laughter ringing in her mind. What young girls? she thought. Is
Tie telling the truth and, if so, what else don't I know about Chris? '
asked me once if it would be all right," she said, her voice betraying
none of her unsureness - it was only another role after all, ' I said
no. "I mean what if we're caught?" I told him.' Now they both laughed. '
ought to see him sometimes when he goes on one of his binges,' Tie said
softly. ' has to go after him ' he's the only one Chris'll trust to drag
him out.' 294 . B t.
What's she talking about? becn ar, ounds? Daina though Maggie -' a
couple of times when he's just come back "..,Ioh, Maggie knew nothing
about them,' Tie said. ' dn't possibly have and stayed with him so long,
Not knowher right,' the photographer said, ' just a bit of a if you
don't mind ...' @.Paina came and sat next to Tie. This was too good to
let away- 4But you never know,' Daina said, ' people. I mean I Maggie's
best friend but I'm not sure now whether I really her.' ' d'you mean?'
Well there was a lot going on that I didn't know about," improvised. h,
yeah, yeah.' Tie nodded. ' it was Chris of course got her started on the
junk ... but then everyone's into it er or later so I mean if it hadn't
been him, it'd been conc else.' aina felt abruptly dizzy, as if the
world had canted off to side, leaving her gasping for breath. She fought
to regain equilibrium, knowing she was good enough not to allow a chip
of what she was feeling to be exposed. Junk. The had only one meaning on
the streets and in the slang of world. Christ, she thought. Could Tie be
telling the truth? turned away from the thought.
What would that make S? bruptly she thought of Bonesteel and the world
began to t itself. At least she had a way to check the veracity of what
was telling her. Bobby had the results of Maggie's autopsy. ly that
would show any - ' of course you knew that,' Tie went on, her eyes
rching Daina's. ' knew what she chose to tell me,' Daina said
enigmatically. her chew that one over"shethought. Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!
And the string was pulled, the session over. The group began break tip.
Tie smiled down at Daina as she stood up. She othed down her suede skirt
until only one thigh was visible. 295 'You mean you never did any ...
investigating on your own? You were so incurious -' Daina, was on her
feet, shoulder to shoulder with Tie. ' I did do any,' she said softly,
'that would've been between me and Maggie.' ' you must hate him for what
he did to your friend.' Daina saw how she had been delicately led to
this place: not softly but with tangential sledgehammers. She was
furious with Tie, but she was determined that the other woman should not
see this. Force of will was a habit with her now and she summoned this
formidable talent as she said, ' love Chris. He's like family. And
nothing you can say to me will ever change our relationship.' A hard
edge had crept into her voice, unbidden. It was the tone she used when
in character in Heather Duell. She heard it only after the fact, as she
observed the effect her words had on Tie, as if someone previously
unseen had come up and grasped her by the shirt-front. And for once she
seemed unsure about what to do next. Daina smiled slowly, patted Tie on
the arm. ''s all right,' she said. ''s all over with and forgotten." She
turned away. Nile had drifted back to his half-reclining position in
front of the flickering TV. Slouched there with heavy eyelids and his
thick, hungry lips, he gave a gaunt, unsettling impression as if he were
filled with some kind of otherworldliness, haunted by an alien
apparition, and from him came a phantasmic heat as if he were running an
enormous fever that could not be controlled. He was still now, save for
his long sinewy fingers that twitched and moved as if over an invisible
fretboard. ',' Chris said, as the room began to empty out. ' gets like
that sometimes. Like a meditation.' Daina snorted.
"Meditation?. He's as high as the Mad Hatter.' ', yah, but so what?"
Chris grinned. ' all are, so who gives a damn, huh?' ', Chris," Nigel
said from the doorway, ''s pickin' us up in fifteen minutes." "Sound
check,' Chris said to her. ' split. But wait dinner for me." He paused
and a curious, little-boy look came into his eyes. "Less you've got
other plans ...' Daina laughed. ' on,' she said. ' came here to be with
296 ,..Which was not at all true, at least at the start.
She had ay from LA into this freneticism hoping that it would Now she
felt that decision to be wholly fortuitous but entirely different
reason. She had, she was coming to breached a hidden doorway, finding
inside a circuitous puzzle stretching away from her like ripples in a 6
From just one point, shock waves had begun to radiate , revealing real
worlds and false, hitherto unknown. went up the spiral staircase,
leaving Nile to his autistic ting. An idea was beginning to evolve in
her mind. had said he thought Nigel might be pathological but of '?
Was there any other explanation for her r? How she had hated Maggie. And
now me. looked at her watch. It was still early enough to get teel at
the precinct. he wasn't Lhere. ' a moment, Miss. Whitney,' an sive
female voice said in her car, ''ll try him in the It took a while but
she got through. I,' Bobby said, ' didn't expect to hear from you so
Anything wrong?' . I just ... Bobby, I'd like some information.' I can,
I'll give it to you. Shoot.' at did Maggie's autopsy reveal about her?'
d you -' ething you didn't tell me.' hat's happened?' The quick change
in his tone of voice her. bby ...' The words were squeezed gut of her as
if of own volition. '... I've got to know. About Maggie.' t about her?'
had had enough of that, exploded. ' Bobby, the bull! You know what I'm
talking about don't you?' ' be] ieve you didn't know.' true then. She
had a habit.' it's any consolation, the ME tells me it hadn't been on
for long.' I it's no goddamned consolation V ina, be reasonable. Look
