The fellow whose ass I’d damaged got to his feet and limped away, one hand reflexively covering his damaged ass.
Have a great night, I said.
Madame,the Frenchman said urgently. I feel I must return at once, to that place to which those of our ilk must retreat when in need of—
Sure, sure, no problem, I said, and scooped him up.
Merci,he said.
Then kissed me.
Impulsively.
On the cheek.
But still.
Given the unusual state of his body, it was like being kissed by a lipless, eager ball. But it was pleasant enough. To be kissed again. After all this time. Or, I should say, pleasant enough to have someone arrange his luminous head-blop in such a way that, had we been mortal, he would have been kissing me.
I find you attractive, he said. Suddenly.
Not surprising, I said.
What’s happening? he said. I hope you’re not getting yourself into trouble.
Don’t sweat it, I said.
Into the driveway pulled “taxicab.”
“Taxi.”
Taxi, yes.
Centralizing my considerable strength, holding in my heart the intention of sending the Frenchman back to that place to which those of our ilk must retreat when in need of a fresh beginning, I exploded him upward.
Off he went: smaller, smaller, gone.
—
A middle-aged woman got out of the taxi, paid the driver, crossed to the statue of the golden dog, uttered a few words to it, trying, it seemed, to delay her entry until she might compose herself.
I leapt up, passed through the wall of the bedroom, crouched quietly beside my charge’s bed, waited there.
Julia’s here, his wife called from the landing.
I heard the front door open, then a hushed greeting, the wife’s crisp summary of the situation, the sound of the new arrival advancing up the stairs.
Then: a flash of blond hair, plain features elaborately made up; dazzling green eyes, solid build, a golden cross around her neck.
She rushed across the room, dropped to her knees, kissed my charge on the cheek.
Oh, gosh, Daddy, she whispered. You don’t look so hot, pard. How are you? How’s everything going? My flight was good. Pretty good. We had some turbulence, which, honestly, about scared the dang pants—
Leaning in closer, taking in his stillness, his pallor, his shallow, rapid breathing, she began thinking in a hushed, urgent, prayerlike whisper, feeling that, in his diminished state (more spirit than flesh, so close to the end) he might be able to receiveit.
And he was. He was able to receive it.
As (edging into the conjoined orb of their thoughts) was I.
