Code 61 - Donald Harstad [136]
“Business, I'm afraid,” I said. In the background, Tatiana closed the boom box, and started walking over toward us.
“Oh, I'm sorry to hear that,” said Jessica. “Should we hold up our hands?”
“Only if you do it to the music,” I said.
“Actually,” said Hester, “we need to talk to both of you for a short while.”
Tatiana had joined us by then, and I stuck out my hand. “Hello, again.”
We shook hands, and she said, “Taking a break?”
“Working,” said Hester.
Jessica looked at her watch. “Unfortunately, we are, too. We have a lot to do today,” she said. “But we'll be taking a break to eat in about half an hour.”
“Fine,” said Hester. “We'll wait.”
With that, both Jessica and Tatiana turned, and walked all the way to the end of the floor, and turned on the boom box. I recognized “Body Language” by Queen.
“Great music,” I said to Hester.
“They've got a half hour to think,” she said. “Get ready to work.”
I watched the two dancers as they faced in opposite directions, and did precisely the same moves as they maneuvered apart. Hands and feet in slightly different positions, due mainly to the difference in their heights, they clapped in perfect unison, as they moved to the music.
“I could watch this for hours,” I said.
“Me, too,” said Harry. “Hours and hours.”
“That's good,” said Hester. “You'll probably have to.”
“Hey,” I said. “My pleasure.”
“You know, Houseman,” she said, deadpan, “it's probably a good thing you're over the hill. Otherwise, you could be influenced by this.”
“My age is my consolation.” I leaned up against the wall, rapt.
“Again,” said Jessica. Tatiana walked quickly over to the boom box, and started the music again.
Exactly the same moves, repeated flawlessly. Well, that's the way it looked to me, anyway. Jessica had Tatiana stop the music.
“How about like this, starting with the first 'sexy body,' and then two, three … ” intoned Jessica, and shifted from side to side, with her hands on her hips.
They did that four or five times, with Jessica counting it. Satisfied, they started the music up again.
My favorite part was where they were back to back, then moved about thirty feet apart, but in the same plane. They moved sideways across the floor, coming together again, and snapping their fingers to the music. When they were directly opposite each other, they each put their arms at shoulder height, and clapped each other's hands while they were back to back. Precisely in time to the music, and at the precise instant when the musicians clapped. I was astonished. I couldn't do that even if I were facing my partner, and never if it involved moving my feet at the same time.
Hester apparently noticed my fascination. “It's in the counting, Houseman.”
“Bullshit,” I whispered. “It's supernatural.”
“I can't help thinking,” said Harry, “that they … Oh, never mind.”
“You two aren't thinking about the case,” said Hester.
They went through “Body Language” five times. Then Jessica got out a mat, and signaled to us. “We just have to rehearse this one bit, then we'll eat.” “Fine, go ahead,” said Hester. With the music off, Jessica clapped her hands in time, and Tatiana spun, and went over onto the mat, slapping her cheek into the plastic surface, with her weight on her raised right arm and her left wrist, which was under her hip. At the same time, her left leg went straight up, foot pointed directly at the ceiling, and her right leg came up with her right foot on her left knee, forming a tripod. Damndest thing. She froze in that position for a full five seconds, then collapsed with a heartfelt complaint.
“Oh, man!”
“Again,” said Jessica.
Tatiana stood, and as Jessica clapped time, spun into the floor, assuming the same position and holding it for five seconds.
Relaxing again, she said, “Aw, boy, that hurts.”
“Now the other side,” said Jessica.
“Aw, geeze,” said Tatiana, but with complete good nature. You could tell she would do almost anything to excel, and to please Jessica. “You know that isn't my