Sirens, page 13
said. ' know ' then it must be Bill. Well hell, Schuyler, Daina doesn't
know Bill.' He looked at her for a moment, ' know Bill Denckley, the
dermatologist? Bill of Beverly Hills? Schuyler here lives with him.
Bill's sitting out there in the car waiting for him.' He smiled again,
showing his teeth. ', I've got an idea - why don't you strip for us?
Show Daina the blackand-blue marks that Bill -2 ', please dont.'
Schuyler shifted his attach6 case from one hand to the other, wiped his
free palm down his trousers. ', now, there's no 'reason to be shy,
Schuyler, old boy. Just think of Daina as one of the guys, eh? That
ought to put some spark in you -' ', that's enoughp Daina said sharply.
' it.' He was about to say something more but what he saw in her face
perhaps dissuaded him and he shook himself, as if to rid himself of the
excess verbiage he had been about to spit out.
Instead he said in another tone of voice, ''s Over the Rainbow coming?'
Schuyler cleared his throat, darting a thankful glance towards Daina
before he answered. ' just completed the third month accounting, and I
think we are going to have to monitor the spending a bit more closely.'
114 far over budget are those bastards?' e million ... so far.' far are
we in?' ix million, roughly.' hey're also behind schedule.' es that
crazy set designer, Roland Hill. He just keeps g them bigger and
brighter. They're waiting for a neon e of New York that's costing us a
quarter of a million se Hil I refuses to do miniatures." hens turned to
Daina. ' bastardsiget one hit under belts and right away they're running
away with things.' put his glass down. ' up a meeting, Schuyler. For
ime, oh, next week.' t the office?' 4 ,.No, here.
I want those egomaniacs relaxed when they walk -here. Thev sure as hell
ain't gonna be when they walk out. about & Colombine ---' ou'll have the
contracts by ten,' Schuyler said softly. ''ll them over by messenger."
on't bother,' Rubens said. ''ll come by the office first ulton nodded.
"Nice meeting you, Miss. Whitney.' He her hand in a cool embrace. ''ve
enjoyed your films.' hank you,' she said pointedly. ' again soon." hey
heard his heels on the hall tiles. The door closed tly after him. A
car's engine coughed to life, its sound diminishing into the high palms.
bens was staring at her. He turned and went across the to the bar. For a
time, the space between them was filled y with the tiny sounds of ice
cubes against glass. hy did you treat him that way?' she said at last. I
don't want to talk about it,' he said angrily. ' right. Fine.' She went
to the hall closet. ' are you going?' "To see Maggie. She's "Don't do
that.' She turned around to face him fully. ''s my friend, bens.' He
took a step towards her. ''m more than your friend.' 115 'I'm not going
to stay with you tonight ... not after the way @J you terrorized
Schuyler! ''s he to you?' ''s what he's to you, Rubens. My God, he's
your friend! ' do it because he enjoys it.' She shook her head. ' was
watching his face. You hurt him. Badly. And you did it because you
enjoyed it.' He gave her a peculiar look. ' can see I've underestimated
you again.' '. And that bothers you.' ''m not certain that it does.' He
took his drink, came around from behind the bar. He nodded. ' right.
I'll tell you, Schuyler and I went to school together. I worked my way
into that place - his father put him there! He waved a hand in the air
as if to erase his words. ' that didn't mean a thing. We were
room-mates, became good friends ... did all the things friends do
together: went to football games, helped each other cram for exams,
doubledated cah! '. It wasn't until much later that he told me he had
come out.' He gulped at his drink with enough appetite that she could
see his agitation. ' didn't take it well then and I still don't now. I
mean, I know what was going on with him and broads years back. We used
to stay up all night talking about Kim Novak and Rita Hayworth,
comparing them to our own girls. So I keep thinking it's just a
temporary aberration! He turned away. ' fianc6e still calls me from time
to time, asks me if there's any hope. She still loves him." "Rubens,'
she said softly, ' can't make him be what he's not.' ' know what it is,'
he said. ' don't think he knows himself what he is. I get so angry at
him sometimes I could throttle him. I don't want to abuse him, not
really. But every time Regine calls, crying' - his hand balled into a
fist - ' think, why does it have to be like that? How can he choose that
fag dermatologist over her?' ' act as if it's your decision. It's not.'
She put her fingers along his arm, squeezed. ' then I don't love him
like you do.' ' don't love Schuyler.' But there was no in his voice and
he did not break away from her think it's unmanly to love him?' It was a
question to did not really expect an answer; she merely wanted the
question he should be asking himself.
"What's ortant than friendship? , to relax a bit. ' really do owe the
bastard an Sometimes I treat him as I imagine Bill does.' they do what
you said they did.' smiled. '. Of course not. It just drives Schuyler
nuts. Bill really loves him.' He twined his fingers in hers.
not a bad sort, really, for a dermatologist.' He laughed, to her. '
know, you've got a very disquieting ability.' t's that? I're able to
make me see things about myself.' She aware of the intensity with which
he was staring into . Her knees grew weak from what she saw there. He cd
transfixed, mesmerized, as if by some mysterious ss she had been
transformed into a fabulous magical ture. He was breathing through his
half-open mouth and he reached his free hand upward to touch her cheek,
skin felt hot. on't go, Daina.' His voice was thick. ' now. Not tot."
His touch was electric. A tingling began behind her eyes, ting all the
memories inside her so that for that moment came to him purified of the
fire and ice of her past. '.' t she could not keep that unspoken promise
to him, however ch part of her wished selfishly to stay with him all
night. in out of the darkness she heard, above the ticking of the dde
clock and Rubens' own regular breathing, Maggie's nized voice. She
thought of all the grey days they had spent together aring meals at Taco
Belle or Hamburger Hamlet; how many ghts they had cried in each other's,
arms out of frustration anger at getting nowhere. No parts, no films, no
life. ow many invitations to bed, how many producers they had ed down,
she could no longer remember. They had only 116 117 each other in those
bleak days. Her heart broke at the thought of what Maggie must be
suffering now: to see her best friend so successful; to be so mired
herself. Daina sat up and, with a violent shake of her head, got out of
bed. The parting of her warm flesh with Rubens' was a shock and she
turned her mind away. Silently, without waking him, she dressed in jeans
and cowlneck sweater. She found her car keys and was halfway across the
threshold to the hallway when she heard him stir and say: ' are you
going?' His voice was furry with sleep. ''ve got to see Maggie.' ' the
hell for? She hates your guts right now.' She turned around, saw his
face almost all in shadow. Just a tiny crescent of light lay along one
cheek like a scar. ' stopped me once from going. Don't do it again.
Please.' ''m only pointing out something to you that should be
self-evident,' he said, getting up on one elbow. ' you want to waste
your time, that's up to you. ''s my friend, Rubens.' She took a step
towards him. ' should understand that. Friends are important where you
come from.' She paused. ''t that right?' He was silent for a moment.
"She's only waiting for a chance to stab you in the back.' She leaned
forward. ' is only a game to you, isn't it? You don't care one way or
the other about Maggie. You just don't want me to leave you." "No,' he
said bluntly, ' don't.' He sat all the way up; she felt him staring at
her. ' we're both angry,' he said, ' nothing.' Daina came over to the
bed, bent over him, kissed his lips. She put her fingertips up until
they touched the line of his jaw, removing for a moment the scar of
light. ''m not leaving you; I'm going to see Maggie.
There's a difference. You're wrong about her. Whatever she and I fight
about will be nothing a day from now ... but only if one of us makes the
first move to heal the wound. She won't - not this time. She's too
filled with frustration and despair.' She took her face away from his
but squeezed his hand with her "on't be angry with me. My friends are
important And she needs me.' d you, too.' smiled at him. ''re stronger
than she is right now. make it into a contest.) contest,' he said from
out of the darkness. ' what you do.) ts were blazing as Daina turned the
silver Merc in at of Chris and Maggie's beach house.
The hiss of the was swept away by the chunky pulse of the Heartbeats' c
emanating from the interior. ounting the sandy stairs, Daina knocked on
the door. music was loud enough so that there was no immediate nse, and
she was forced to wait for the lull between Then she hit the door hard
with her balled fist. me in, it's open ... Oh, it's you,' Maggie said as
she saw a. ' was expecting you?' fwhy'd you hang up on me?' Daina said,
walking over to re Ma gic sat curled into a comer of the sofa.
There was 91 .-empty bottle of German white wine on the coffee e; the
ashtray bristled with ground-out cigarette butts. half-smoked roach lay
in a wire holder. Where's Chris?' Maggie said sullenly. ' too chicken
bring him home yourself?' ', I don't know where you got the idea .'I
want to know!' She shouted down the music, no mean t.
"What've you two been doing behind my back?' -Daina crossed the room,
stabbed a button on the stereo plifier. Silence decended and, in its
aftermath, the dull sh of the soft surf outside. She went and sat on the
couch t to Maggie. ''m sorry I didn't get a chance before to tell you
Chris and ad talked.' ' could've come to me for advice.' Her eyes filled
with rs. ''d he go to you?' Daina reached out a hand and, as if the
contact caused her speak, Maggie said convulsively, ', God, Daina, I
can't nd it! You've got everything and I've got nothing ... ing. Now
you've taken Chris, too.' 118 119 'Chris loves only you, Maggie. We're
just friends and sometimes friends can talk about things they can't talk
to lovers about.' She enfolded Maggie in her arms feeling the bitter
tears running hotly down her neck, the succession of sobs like miniature
quakes. ',' she whispered. ',' as she would to a hurt child, as she
wished her mother had done to her just once. She stroked Maggie's hair.
' still have each other; we'll always have each other.' ' you're going
away.' Maggie's voice had turned small and sad, all the hard-edged anger
leached away by her tears. ''re going and I'll be left.' ' am I going?'
Diana said softly. ''m still here.' She was crying herself now because
at last she saw what was happening to them and knew she had to stop it
before their friendship was destroyed. She took Maggie's head in her
hands so that they could look at each other. ' matter what happens,
we'll always be friends. It will always be the same between us. I
promise, Maggie.' Maggie looked into Daina's eyes and a forefinger came
UP, took one sliding tear off Daina's cheek. Then, sighing deeply, she
put her head against Daina's breast and closed her eyes. Together, they
rocked each other to gleep.
"Rita,'El-Kalaam said, ' the women.' Heather and Susan stood in front of
the sofa as Rita, slinging her MP40 back over her shoulder, withdrew a
serrated knife from her hip scabbard. She slit their bonds, stepped away
from them. El-Kalaarn stood before them. ' will unshackle your feet when
I am finished speaking. Is that understood?" Heather stared at him,
unblinking; Susan had her face partially averted.
She wiped tears away from her eyes with the edge of one hand. ''s the
matter, Lady?' He took one quick step forward so that he was very close
to Susan. ' I smell bad?' She would not turn her face back.
"Perhaps I do not have enough money for you to look into my eyes, uh?"
He took one of her hands, glanced at the diamond rings there. ' are the
120 , man, Lady. A dedicated man. A professional.' hand.
"That's something you would not underbecause dedicated men, we all smell
bad.' He himself up. His face suffused with blood. Heather, him, made a
move towards Susan but it was too will answer me when I speak to you!"
El-Kalaarn and struck Susan across the face. She reeled and, hobbled,
toppled to the floor. UP!'El-Kalaam said. her alonev Freddie Bock
yelled. ''t you strike in! had been staring at the two women, licking
his lips eyes roved up and down the contours of their bodies. scowled
and, his movement a blur, smashed the heel into the side of Bock's thick
neck. The industrialist Ystaggered back. 1' Fessi hissed and spat on to
Bock's shirtfront. But from Bock back to Susan and a small smile played
'his lips. up!' El-Kalaarn said more harshly. He had paid no ion to
this, by-play. ' up, get upv He bent down, the petite brunette up by her
hair. She was sobbing. women are all so useless. All you know how to do
is cry. You cannot do anything else satisfactorily.' at about this woman
here?' Heather said, indicating ' just killed -' gave you permission to
speak?' El-Kalaam's eyes his head thrust out on its muscled neck. just
thought I'd - aghhhh!' s huge hand gripped the sides of her jaw. He
trembled the pressure he was exerting on her. ',' he said. ' t think.
Remember that.' He was trembling more now. damn you!' ut Heather
continued to stare into his eyes, unblinking. took his hand away,
leaving marks, white turning red. slapped her hard: once, twice, three
times in rapid ession. Tears started at the comers of her eyes as her
head 121 'You see?' His voice turned soft. ''re like all the rest Don't
forget that, either.' He regarded them both. ' servants are gone.' His
tone had turned ironical. ''ve served their purpose. They lost their
lives so that you could be warned; so that you could all gain some small
amount of wisdom.' His head swivelled to take them all in. ' that do' -
he shrugged - Cmay survive.' His voice grew loud and harsh. ' who do not
heed our warning will follow these two' - he kicked out, made contact
with the butler's thigh - ' the lime pit out back.' He smiled and his
entire countenance changed.
His mouth was filled with gold caps. ' enough of such gloomy talk.
Time is passing and there is a rumbling in my stomach. You two' - he
pointed to Susan and Heather - ' do the cooking and the washing up for
all of us.' He grunted. ' least you can handle that. '' - his hand
whipped out and he grasped Susan's ringed hand around the wrist - 'we
can't have this, can we?' He took off her gold bracelets. ' can't do
common housework with this much money on you.' He twisted off her rings.
Susan gave a little gasp as each item was removed from her.
El-Kalaam turned her hand palm up, gave her a broad smile. ' used to
being so naked, uh? Well, you'll have plenty of practice now.' ' what
will you do with all that jewellery?' Ken Rudd said. ' it among your
cadre?' ' Christ's sake,' Thomas said, red-faced ''t you learned your
lesson yet? Keep your big mouth shut and nothing will -' Rudd clenched
his jaw, turned on his boss. ' you don't stop that snivelling, I swear
to God I'll fracture your jaw.' Thomas went pale, then flushed red. He
looked around the room. All the hostages were staring at him. He squared
his shoulders. ''t you dare talk to me that way, Rudd. I was the one who
took you in. Don't you feel any gratitude? I'll see you drummed out of
the diplomatic service for such insubordination.' ''ll see who does what
to whom,' Rudd said calmly.
"If , of here. You're a goddamned coward, Thomas. tnethmig the
president's got to know.' g, El-Kalaam approached them. ' the mighty
eagle's been laid low!' He laughed. ' the young an answer.' He hefted
the bounty he had pulled an. ' is not for any., one individual. It will
go to Palestinian people in their struggle against the Zionist yes,'
Michel Emouleur said. ' talk of a true revol- Kalaam turned.
"And that is what I am.' He reached t his hand on the young attach6's
