The Ginger Man - J. P. Donleavy [83]
Out into the street Alone. Did I say that this faith was rampant? Or did I say it was just like hot tamale. Check me please. O yes, put this brown stuff in my pocket If I can get up the street away. O'Keefe gone.
Sebastian went hurriedly to a building with an eagle over the door in which they were serving liquor.
"Good day, sir"
"Good day. Put a bottle of brandy on the bar"
"All of it, sir?"
"All."
A figure appeared. Beside Dangerfield. And an outstretched hand. Hungry palm.
"O.K."
"Kenneth, won't you join me?"
"Just give me my money. You would have left me without a cent."
"Had to get change."
"You're a no good bastard and where's that money coming from?"
"Ye of little faith. This is going to be a great night Have you got your coffee grinder ? "
"Give me the money."
"All right, Kenneth, if you prefer. But I can only spare four"
"God damn it Give me the four then"
"Be my guest. We'll have dinner with Miss Frost Be nice. I think she gives, Kenneth, Might be worthwhile looking into it Wouldn't you like a bit of that thing they do in the dark?"
"You're just a son of a bitch. You'd leave me to return to Dublin without a penny. Tomorrow I see Lady Eclair and 1 want nothing to screw this deal. I have to get the eleven-thirty bus to Roundwood. I'm going."
"Don't leave, for the love of God, Kenneth."
"I know you. I don't want to see life through a haze. You'll be talking with some bogman all night"
"Now, Kenneth, you're a man who speaks fluent Greek and Latin, a man of much useless knowledge, schooled in culture, who knows what Plato said to his boys, buggering them in the bushes. Where do you think this harshness is going to get you? I'm going to report you to the Legion of Mary."
"I'm going."
"Jesus, stay. I beg of you, Kenneth. Don't leave me in this time of want Or wampum. Drink up. Motto. Drink up. Come on, Kenneth. Snap out of it. A great world this."
"Where did you get the money?"
"From across the seas."
"Yeah?"
"Absolutely."
"Sounds fishy to me."
"The name of Dangerfield has never and will never be touched with such."
"You're up to monkey business."
"These are strange times, Kenneth. Very strange. There's a world out there with people with eyes and mouths. The eyes see these things and the mouths want the things the eyes see. O but they can't have them. That's the way things are arranged. Got to have things unequal or nothing would happen. Men like yourself who want to have carnal knowledge of the female nates and boob-si-boobs and the other thing they have up there between the legs that we can't get at so easily without first twisting off the garters and whalebone. It's there, but you can't have that"
I'll get it"
"And I hope you do. But if you get put down without it, don't be bitter, Kenneth. Those things are for a reason. Saints and things. You're a man equipped for old age. Don't waste your time on this sexual appetite. I think we are natural aristocrats of the race. Come before our time. Born to be abused by them out there with the eyes and the mouths. But the likes of me, Kenneth, get it rectally from all manner of men. The professional classes take exception and it is among this class that I would take up my place but they want to make mock of me and drive me out, rip my privates away and put them on a public pole with a sign, Dangerfield is dead. That's what they want to hear. But there's no bitterness in me. Only love. I want to show them the way and I expect only taunts and jeers. But there are the few who listen. Worth it all. I put this to you, Kenneth. Go back. Go back to this church of yours. Put down these things of making money and living in a fine big house with nice comfortable chairs and an Irish maid putting logs on the fire and bringing in the tea. Get these tweed suitings out of your mind and trousers lined with satin and put down the desires of the flesh, nipple nuttiness, nate needy, boob bothered. You don't want an M.G. and a manservant, shallowness and deceit, or lawns to the lake and garden sets where one sits thinking of more money.