Mao II - Don Delillo [74]
She said, “Let me into vibration” or “Get me annihilation,” and when Karen brought her hot food on a pie plate she took it into her bag and disappeared.
Brita came home and they sat eating a meal that Karen carefully prepared. She had cleaned the place and packed her own small belongings in a tote bag she set by the door, to show she was ready to leave anytime the word was given.
Brita was impressive, she was frantically lagged and talkative, charged with a stark energy that had the center drained out and was all restless edges. She looked hollow-boned and beautiful like someone back from glaring tropic solitude.
“Do you like baths or showers?” Karen said.
“I take baths when there’s time. I give myself up to my bath. It’s the only place where I’m happy in the present moment.”
“I’ll run you a bath.”
“Usually I’m happy only thinking about it later. About five years later. Except for my bath and except for my writers. I’m happy doing writers.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever said that before. ‘I’ll run a bath for you.’ It sounds strange coming out.”
“And what about Bill, so where is he, does anyone know, that foolish man?”
“There’s no news or Scott would have called me.”
“There is a tendency of men to disappear. What do you think? Although I guess you’ve done some disappearing yourself. I could never just disappear into the blue. I would have to make certain announcements. Let the bastards know why I’m leaving and let them know where to find me so they can tell me how sorry they are that I’m gone.”
“Did your husband disappear?”
“He went on a business trip.”
“When was this?”
“Eighteen years ago.”
“It’s like what’s the name of that myth?”
“Exactly. And he has a series of adventures and performs legendary feats and comes back with a contract for a million spare parts. ”
“Tell me when you want me to run a bath.”
“Did your husband disappear?” Brita said.
“They sent him to England to be a missionary. I don’t know where he is now.”
“And you were married in this church.”
“There is a thing called a matching ceremony. This is before the wedding. They have mate selection.”
“Do I really want to hear this?”
“Some members wear actual labels saying Infertile, like, or May Be Gay. Just so the surprises are kept in check.”
“Listen, there are going to be surprises. I would be the tattooed lady if I had to list the full particulars.”
“Taking Powerful Tranquilizers.”
“And who selected your mate?”
“Reverend Moon.”
“And how did you feel about this?”
“I thought it was perfectly lovely. I stood up when my name was called. I went to the front of this ballroom-type place. Master was way over at the other end of the stage with many people standing between us, officials and members of the blessing committee and so forth. So then he just pointed to a man in the audience.”
“And you looked at him and knew he was the right one.”
“I thought I honestly loved him even before he finished rising to his full height. I thought how great he’s Korean because many Koreans have been church members for a long time and this would give us a deeper foundation to build on. And I liked the darkness and sleekness of his hair.”
“My husband was largely bald.”
“But guess what I found out later. The day before the ceremony Master had looked at photographs of members and he actually matched us by photograph. So I thought how great, I have an Instamatic husband.”
“Do you know how lucky you are to be out of there?”
“I don’t like hearing that expressed, necessarily.”
“You are extremely lucky.”
“There are more potatoes,” Karen said.
“There are always more potatoes. I’m talky by nature. Okay? I make a lot of noise, I see people, I see men, I like to talk to men, I have affairs but I never know I’m happy for five years minimum. Think about Scott.”
“I think about him. But I think about Kim too. He was husband-for-eternity. He wore a dark blue suit and maroon tie. They all did. And all the brides wore Simplicity Pattern number eight three nine two with the neckline two inches higher.”
“Go back to Scott