The Ginger Man - J. P. Donleavy [123]
"How do you like it, Mary ? "
"It's wonderful. All the music. Makes me feel all strange inside. It makes me feel I want to go back to the room. Will we?"
"Jesus, have you no reverence in you at all."
"I know it's awful. I can't help it. But how long does it go on, when does it end?"
"Goes on all morning. See they come and go."
"It's strange. What are they?"
"Russians."
"I wish I were a Russian. It's so exciting."
"It's that"
"And the men with beards. Would you grow a beard Sebastian?"
"I'm a little conservative"
"I always wanted to marry a man with a beard"
"Come up now and we'll get a bit of this frankincense"
And they went up to the little group for blessing. Danger-field put a fistful of change as offering. The motor birds are coming with lots more from across the seas. And I want to be loved for my money.
With church bells ringing, they came out and went into a white-walled cafeteria for tea.
"You know, Sebastian, how they have all these things here. Churches of all kinds and the trains running all over under the city and you'd think that the way they were doing with us in Ireland that they wouldn't have time to build all this."
"British find time to do a lot of things, Mary"
"Will we go right back to the room after this tea?"
"Mary, really. Just a little walk in the park first. Breather"
"I want to try those other ways you said there were."
Sitting facing one another. Hunched Mary gleaming at him over the cakes. Mary you're the very devil for it. But I must have a stroll in the park. Catch my breath. O I know you think I'm able for it night and day with lights off and on but it can wear out like everything else. Just let's take this quiet walk, go up Bond Street so's I can get an idea of the things I'll be needing from now on. And may even have to see the odd disguise because some friends get very close when there is largess.
They got on the bus to the park. Those enormous gates with cars streaming through. And there's Rotten Row between the trees. Horses galloping by. Must give them awful big arses, pounding and prancing up and down. I feel all sin starts in the park. Like marriage begins in the dark. And ends with the lights on.
"Mary, we'll walk to the round pond."
"What's that?"
"Where they sail boats"
"And then will we go back?
"Why do you want it so much, Mary?"
"I don't know why. I just feel like it I even felt like it before I ever had it Sometimes even when I was kneeling praying at a Legion of Mary meeting"
"A fine organization"
"Don't be such a liar. You don't think it's a fine organization. Isn't that a short way out of the park?"
"We're both Legion members, Mary. I'll have you know I'm in good standing as well. Young girls like you just after cock with not a trace of religion left"
"The Legion can go to the devil."
"All right, Mary, if you want to be like that, but let me say this much. If it weren't for the Legion in Ireland, everybody would be fucked to death. Archbishops as well. And every nun pregnant"
"You don't want to take me back to the room."
"Not a bit I'm just a little sensitive about the Legion, that's all. There's a bit of good in everything. Everything's good. Everything. I can see by your eyes you don't believe me. All right Taxi. Straight back to the room. Straight back"
Mary pulled across the curtains. I can see them outlined. Says she likes to wear tight things. Every time I take off my trousers you give a gasp.
And they stayed in the room till Monday. Passionate Mary. And there on Tuesday. Mary relentless, regardless. But on Wednesday with a gray dreariness general over the city and sprinkle of cold rain, he was called to the telephone to hear MacDoon say there was mail of an official-looking kind. And kissing Mary between the open door and Mary I think you're as