themexhadablackandwhitecheckedsportshirt,heavilypleatedblackslackswithoutabelt,two-toneblackandwhitebuckskinshoes,spotlesslyclean.histhickblackhairwasbrushedstraightbackandshiningwithsomekindofhairoilorcream.

「señor,」hesaid,andsketchedabriefsarcasticbow.

「helpmr.marlowecarrymyhusbandupstairs,candy.hefellandhurthimselfalittle.i’msorrytotroubleyou.」

「denada,señora,」candysaidsmiling.

「ithinki’llsaygoodnight,」shesaidtome.「i’mtiredout.candywillgetyouanythingyouwant.」

shewentslowlyupthestairs.candyandiwatchedher.

「somedoll,」hesaidconfidentially.「youstaythenight?」

「hardly.」

「eslástima.sheisverylonely,thatone.」

「getthatgleamoutofyoureyes,kid.let’sputthistobed.」

helookedsadlyatwadesnoringonthecouch.「pobrecito,」hemurmuredasifhemeantit.「borrachocomounacuba.」

「hemaybedrunkasasowbuthesureain’tlittle,」isaid.「youtakethefeet.」

wecarriedhimandevenfortwohewasasheavyasaleadcoffin.atthetopofthestairswewentalonganopenbalconypastacloseddoor.candypointedtoitwithhischin.

「laseñora,」hewhispered.「youknockverylightmaybesheletyouin.」

ididn’tsayanythingbecauseineededhim.wewentonwiththecarcassandturnedinatanotherdooranddumpedhimonthebed.thenitookholdofcandy’sarmhighupneartheshoulderwheredug-infingerscanhurt.imademinehurthim.hewincedalittleandthenhisfacesethard.

「what’syourname,cholo?」

「takeyourhandoffme,」hesnapped.「anddon’tcallmeacholo.i’mnowetback.mynameisjuangarcíadesotoyosoto-mayor.iamchileno.」

「okay,donjuan.justdon’tgetoutoflinearoundhere.keepyournoseandmouthcleanwhenyoutalkaboutthepeopleyouworkfor.」

hejerkedlooseandsteppedback,hisblackeyeshotwithanger.hishandslippedinsidehisshirtandcameoutwithalongthinknife.hebalanceditbythepointontheheelofhishand,hardlyevenglancingatit.thenhedroppedthehandandcaughtthehandleoftheknifewhileithungintheair.itwasdoneveryfastandwithoutanyapparenteffort.hishandwentuptoshoulderheight,thensnappedforwardandtheknifesailedthroughtheairandhungquiveringinthewoodofthewindowframe.

「cuidado,señor!」hesaidwithasharpsneer.「andkeepyourpawstoyourself.nobodyfoolswithme.」

hewalkedlithelyacrosstheroomandpluckedtheknifeoutofthewood,tosseditintheair,spunonhistoesandcaughtitbehindhim.withasnapitdisappearedunderhisshirt.

「neat,」isaid,「butjustalittleonthegaudyside.」

hestrolleduptomesmilingderisively.

「anditmightgetyouabrokenelbow,」isaid.「likethis.」

itookholdofhisrightwrist,jerkedhimoffbalance,swungtoonesideandalittlebehindhim,andbroughtmybentforearmupunderthebackofhiselbowjoint.iboredownonit,usingmyforearmasafulcrum.

「onehardjerk,」isaid,「andyourelbowjointcracks.acrackisenough.you’dbeoutofcommissionasaknifethrowerforseveralmonths.makethejerkalittleharderandyou’dbethroughpermanently.takemr.wade’sshoesoff.」

iletgoofhimandhegrinnedatme.「goodtrick,」hesaid.「iwillremember.」

heturnedtowadeandreachedforoneofhisshoes,thenstopped.therewasasmearofbloodonthepillow.

「whocuttheboss?」

「notme,chum.hefellandcuthisheadonsomething.it’sonlyashallowcut.thedoctorhasbeenhere.」

candylethisbreathoutslowly.「youseehimfall?」

「beforeigothere.youlikethisguy,don’tyou?」

hedidn’tanswerme.hetooktheshoesoff.wegotwadeundressedlittlebylittleandcandydugoutapairofgreenandsilverpajamas.wegotwadeintothoseandgothiminsidethebedandwellcoveredup.hewasstillsweatyandstillsnoring.candylookeddownathimsadly,shakinghissleekheadfromsidetoside,slowly.

「somebody’sgottotakecareofhim,」hesaid.「igochangemyclothes.」