The Ginger Man - J. P. Donleavy [6]
"You're upset."
"I'm not upset, I'm prudent. I want to eat tomorrow. Do you honestly think these checks are going to be there?"
"Quite."
"When you're sitting on your arse in the poor house screaming for drink I don't want to be next to you. Let one of us go down, that's enough. Not both. I want to eat tonight"
"I want some cigarettes"
"Look, here's my bus, I'll give you three pence and have it for me tomorrow"
"Kenneth, I want to tell you one thing before you go. You're a jewel among men"
"Look, don't bother me, if you don't want the three pence, I'll take it back. It'll pay half my fare"
"Kenneth, you lack love"
"Ass and money."
Bus pulling away. O'Keefe's head vanishing on the top deck and over a green sign, Guinness is good for you. How true.
Turning up the hill. Sunday on the desert of Edar. Great to know the old names. Do a bit of deep breathing. Lately been having the dreams of arrest. Come up from behind and grab me for committing a public nuisance. So long as it isn't indecency. Go over to this shop and have this good man fetch me up some cigarettes.
"A fine day, sir."
"Aye."
"Forgive the impertinence, sir, but are you the new gentleman living up on the rock?"
"O aye."
"I thought so, sir. And is it to your liking?"
"Splendid."
"That's fine, sir."
"Bye, bye now."
OI tell you. I tell you, names and numbers. Want to wear a sack over the face. Why don't you come up and watch me eat? Steam open my letters and see if I wear a truss. And I like to have my wife in bare feet. Good for a woman. They say it's great for the frigidity. I'm all for wiping that out Come watch me through any window.
Walking up to the Summit and down there is Gaskin's Leap, Fox Hole and Piper's Gut And the Casana Rock which is great for the sea birds. Bit of warmth in the air. How I like it. Lonely and Sunday. Faced with the cat. Should have locked O'Keefe up there with it. Take the ladder away. Give him a lesson in courage.
A girl approached.
"Mister, could I have a light 1"
"Certainly."
Dangerfield striking a match, holding it to her cigarette.
"Thank you very much."
"You're welcome on a lovely evening like this"
"Yes, it is lovely."
"Quite breathtaking."
"Yes, it is breathtaking."
"Are you out for a walk?"
"Yes, my girl friend and I are walking."
"Around the head?"
"Yes, we like it. We've come out from Dublin."
"What do you do for a living?"
"Well, I guess I work."
"At what?"
"My girl friend and I work in Jacob's."
"Biscuit factory?"
"We label tins."
"You like it?"
"It's all right. Gets boring."
"Walk along with me."
"All right. I'll get my girl friend."
Three of them walking along. Some trivia. Names, Alma and Thelma. And telling of the steamship Queen Victoria, wrecked off here at 3 o'clock on the morning of February 15th, 1853. Tragic disaster. And there is the quarry. See the stones. Built the harbor with this rock. Oh I tell you Alma and Thelma, Howth's the great place for the history. And I might say I'm adding to it meself. In my own little way. And they thought he was having them on and they were Catholics and giggled at this Protestant face.
Little dark now. Just let me take your hands now. O a dangerous place, this Howth at night. Young women want protection. And I'll hold your hand Alma and it's a nice hand in spite of the work. Thelma walking ahead. Mind Alma? Thelma away in the dark. Stop here now, like this. If s better, a little arm around you. Keep you. You like that? Well, you're a fast worker, and kissing a stranger, what will my girl friend think? Tell her I'm such a lonely gent and you couldn't resist a little innocent embrace. My house is here, come in? O no. A drink? I'm a member of the Pioneers. Have a glass of water then. I could come next Sunday. I'll be in Africa in the middle of the Congo. You have a nice bosom, Alma. You shouldn't make me do those things. Now Alma, come in for a little while and I'll show you my telescope. Don't be rude, besides I can't leave my friend. Honesty never gets me