Distraction - Bruce Sterling [207]
“Clare, why would I be judgmental about that? These things happen. It’s reality.”
“You know, we don’t understand that here in America. We don’t get it that we’re the eight-hundred-pound gorilla of climate politics. We’re so out of sync that we still measure in pounds and inches. We think it’s funny that we’re having a War with a bunch of little people with tulips and wooden shoes. We’re like spoiled children. We’re like big fat teenage pop stars cruising around in our two-ton pink Cadillac blasting our stereo and throwing our beer empties everywhere. We don’t get it that there are serious, civilized people who spend their time in downtown Amsterdam watching hookers in public sex cages in a city saturated with dope, and the sex doesn’t touch them, and the dope doesn’t touch them, because they are very determined, and they are very cold.”
“Are they cold people, the Dutch?”
“Cold and wet. And getting wetter. All the time.”
“They tell me the Navy is considering knocking some holes in their dikes with artillery blasts.”
“You’d know that, being NSC, wouldn’t you?” A chill like dry ice wafted between them. Oscar almost sensed a swirl of congealing fog.
Clare leaned back in her chair. “It smells funny in Buna. Doesn’t it? All these tents and gas shelters. That big dome smells weird. It’s like they never change their underwear.”
“This isn’t Boston, it’s the Gulf Coast. You think it smells funny inside here, you should walk around outside for a while.”
“Too many mosquitoes.”
Oscar laughed.
Clare frowned. “You don’t have to know what happened to me in Holland. I just got in too deep, that’s all. I got away from there, and I was lucky to get away, that’s my big story. I’m lucky Lorena has such a big heart.”
“Clare … it’s just a shame. War is a hard game and even a toy war has casualties. I wouldn’t have wished that on you for anything.”
“You told me that. You warned me about it. Remember? And I told you that I was a grown-up. We were working in this dinky little Boston election where the guy had seven-percent approvals. We were like kids in a sandbox. I thought it was so upscale and important, and it all seems so innocent now. And here you’ve done this incredible thing and I … well, I work for the Senator now. So I guess that’s all right.”
“It’s the breaks.”
“Oscar, why aren’t you more of a scoundrel? I’m all burned out on men. And you’re like this slimy pol who always gets his way, and I thought I’d be all burned out on you, but when I saw you tonight … well, it all came back to me.”
“What came back?”
“You and me. That you’re this cute guy who was always sweet and polite to me, and gave me his house pass and taught me about funny old modern art. My old flame. The dream boyfriend. I really miss you. I even miss the satin sheets and your skin temperature.”
“Clare, why are you telling me this? You know I’m involved with another woman now. For heaven’s sake, everyone in the world knows I’m involved with Greta Penninger.”
“Oscar, you can’t be serious about that. Her? She’s a rebound type. No, she’s not even that. Oscar—don’t you get it? People make jokes about you and her. She’s funny-looking. She’s old. She has a big nose and no ass. She can’t be any fun. I mean, not like the kind of fun we used to have.”
He conjured up a smile. “You’re really jealous! Shame on you.”
“Why would you go for her? She just had something that you wanted.”
“Clare, even though you’re a journalist, I really don’t think that’s any of your business.”
“I’m saying wicked things because I’m sad, and I’m jealous, and I’m lonely, and I’m sorry. And I’m getting really drunk. And you dumped me. For her.”
“I didn’t dump you. You dumped me, because I was out of town, and you wouldn’t fly down and join me, and you decided that it was a better career move to go live with our country’s worst enemies.”
“Oh, well, that’s better,” Clare said, and wrinkled her nose at him, and grinned a little. “I guess I’m getting