Forth into Light (The Peter & Charlie Trilogy) (31 page)

She brushed his hand away and spoke. “It’s really quite simple. The whole point of being married is that——”

He flopped over onto his back and howled. “Oh, no! Oh, no, darling. Now just listen. Oh, Christ! Jesus, look what you’ve done to me. You’ve ruined me. Do you want Coleman, Homo Erectus, or do you want Coleman, a little shriveled-up husband? Do you think that bump on your head has affected your brain?”

“You don’t even know what I’m going to say. Marriage is just——”

“Stop saying it! A lobotomy. Maybe that’s what you’ll have to have. Look at Henry Varnum. Look at George
Leighton.
I like them. They’re fine. But they’re
married.
That means they want to break out. It’s human nature. Think what repression does to people. I
want
to be afraid you’ll run off with some other guy. If you do then I’ll wish I married you. That’s human nature. Hey, look! Look at me, darling. I’m in love with my own voice.” He rocked with laughter and stubbed out the cigarette. “Come on, darling. What’re we waiting for? It’s your turn to make the first move.”

She sighed and lifted herself and presented her face to him. She gave a tug to her hair and it fell over his head like a golden curtain. There was a knock on the door. Sid’s hands tightened on her arms. “Don’t go. There’s not a soul in the world I want to see. Isn’t that great? If I’m not careful, I
might
ask you to marry me.”

“If you did, I’d refuse you. That’s what you’re too stupid to understand.” She rolled away from him and gathered up her hair and rose. The room was long, with many windows and little furniture. She went to the end window and dropped to the floor so that only her head and shoulders were visible and looked out. “It’s Jeff. Good morning,” she called down. “Come in. I’ll be right down.”

She picked up a man’s shirt that covered her to the knees and crossed the room and disappeared down a stairway. In a few moments, Jeff mounted it.

“She said I could come up,” he said, pausing at the fop.

Sid had pulled a sheet over himself at the sound of Jeff’s footsteps. He sat up. “Sure. Hi. Come in. What’s doing?”

“Dimitri’s been arrested.”

“Hey. Wow. You’re joking. Jesus. That’s not good. When did you hear?”

“It happened last night. I was with him. We were just talking about how he’d have to be careful and about arranging things with you when the police walked in. He told me to come see you this morning.”

“In front of the
police
?”

“Not so they’d understand. I knew who he meant because we’d been talking about you. Did he give you the last delivery?”

“Yeah. Yesterday evening. It’s hidden downstairs. Holy moly. I wonder if it’s safe. Sit down.” Sid arranged himself in a Buddha pose in the middle of the bed.

Jeff sat at the end of it. “He seems to think you know how to dispose of it,” he said urgently. “He needs the money. He’s got to pay it back.”

“Money should be the least of his worries. Even if they can’t pin anything on him, they’ll be watching him now. All of us, for God’s sakes. This must be Costa’s doing. I don’t blame him for trying to protect himself but informing on us, that’s shitty. What’s money got to do with it? Hey! Are you by any chance trying to tell me that Dimitri stole your dad’s money?”

“No.” Jeff crossed his legs and hugged one knee to his chest and leaned his cheek against it. “It’s all so complicated. He was short of cash and he had a chance to pick up that stuff cheap so I let him have it. Just for a day. He was supposed to give it back this morning.”

“For God’s sake! Why don’t you tell your father that? Why don’t we go to the police and get Costa out?”

“And accuse Dimitri of stealing or say what he wanted it for? He’s not afraid of trouble—they can’t hold him once they’ve searched his place—you’ve got to make him understand that it’s important for his sake for Dad to get his money back. Once Costa is cleared, the whole thing will be finished with. I’ve tried to explain it to him but I’m not sure I convinced him. I probably won’t see him again before I go. I don’t have much time. I’m about to leave with Mike Cochran.”

“Leave? Hey, wait a minute. What’s going on? What’re you talking about?”

Jeff uncrossed his legs and stood up and ran his fingers through his hair and sat down again. “Mike’s taking me to the States. I was going in six weeks, anyway. What’s so peculiar about that?”

“Nothing. An old pal of your father. I just had the impression that things weren’t going very smoothly between them last night.”

“What difference does that make to me?”

“None. Hey, now listen. What’re you going to do when you get there? Are you going to stay with Mike?”

“Of course,” Jeff announced defiantly. “At least until I go to Harvard. I don’t care what people think.”

“Why should you? I don’t have anything against homos, comrade. A man has the right to do what he wants with his own body. I mean, it’s basic. It could even happen to me. But Mike Cochran. He’s a very ornate character. I thought he might like boys, but he isn’t going to take any risks for one. You’re too—I know this is a terrible thing to say to a guy but it’s true—you’re too young and inexperienced for him. Have you talked to Peter or Charlie about this?”

“No.” He was grateful to Sid for taking his liaison for granted. He wondered what it would do to him to be in a community where he couldn’t count on such easy acceptance. Was that what was the matter with Mike?

“Well, don’t you think you ought to? I mean, they’d really know what they’re talking about.”

“If they told me not to go, I’d probably think I shouldn’t and I’ve got to.” He sprang up and flung his arms out and his face twisted into a tormented grimace. “I can’t stand it with my parents any more. I’m in love. I know I’m too young and inexperienced, but I’m going to get some experience now. Just tell Dimitri to do what I say. If you can help raise money on that stuff, everything should be all right. You can handle it with Dad any way you want. Tell him I took it. Tell him it was a mad schoolboy prank. I know what I’m doing. Mum and Dad needn’t worry, if they notice I’m not here. I’ll go to school when I’m supposed to. Will you tell them that? You don’t have to tell them about the sex part unless they bring it up. I think Dad has a pretty good idea about me. I’ve got to go.”

“Go in peace, comrade.” Sid lifted his hand in benediction.

“You’re a good guy, Sid.” Jeff turned and flung himself down the stairs.

Peter awoke with Judy’s head on his shoulder. When he stirred, she stirred with him and their bodies automatically moved into position for making love. With morning, they had become practiced lovers, delighting each other with known pleasures, so that they were quickly locked in the throes of a shared climax.

Only after passion had receded did Peter wonder about the time. He sat up in the enormous bed, trying to remember where he had seen the clock. He spotted it behind him, built into the paneling of the bulkhead. It was almost eleven-thirty. “My God,” he exclaimed. “Sweetheart. I never want to see you in clothes again, but shouldn’t we meet Mike Cochran?” By the time he had completed the question he was lying out in the bed again with his mouth on her breast.

She ran her fingers through his tousled hair and held his head for a moment and then pushed it firmly aside and sat up in her turn. “You sleep so beautifully. You make love so beautifully. I want to see if you’re beautiful when you’re being a serious art expert.”

She left him and was quickly, efficiently, bathed and dressed and looking beautiful, despite their active night, when he joined her on the covered deck. They had a cup of coffee together with only a few minutes to spare before their noon date.

He was glad they were going to be occupied for the next hour or two. He needed a little time to adjust to what had taken place, was still taking place between them. Except during business trips, he had never before spent a whole night away from home. He was feeling more unfaithful than he liked, even though he knew Charlie wouldn’t mind, might not even know it if he had got up early enough. He kept his back turned to the eastern arm of the port, and the house. He had had one of the most sexually satisfying nights of his life—with a girl!—and his body was restless for more. Fortunately, they hadn’t time; getting out among people would break the absorbing physical connection he felt with her.

He glanced at the chronometer and finished off his coffee. “Nobody ever does anything here when they’re supposed to,” he said, “but Cochran’s from another world. We’d better run.”

She didn’t indulge in any maddening little feminine delaying tactics but was immediately on her feet ready to go. He didn’t allow himself to touch her until they were on the gangplank. When he put his hand on her arm, he immediately wanted to turn her around and rush her back to the enormous bed. They went dutifully ashore. Passing the
Meltemi
, Peter noticed that it was closed, which was odd at that hour. The port looked unusually still, with few people about.

Sid Coleman and Dorothy were conspicuously alone at Lambraiki’s. Sid gestured frantically as Peter and Judy approached and hardly waited for introductions to be performed before telling about Dimitri’s arrest and Jeff’s morning visit.

“He’s left with Mike,” Sid concluded. “How does that figure to you?”

“Left? How could he? You mean already—on the morning boat?”

“Michael Cochran? On the regular boat? No, a special caique. Laid on by the police. They’re taking him to the mainland and
driving
him to Athens. Don’t you wish you wrote movies?”

“How peculiar. We had a date with him.” Peter and Judy exchanged a glance. “Did Jeff say anything to explain the big rush?”

“I gathered they were eloping, friend. Maybe they didn’t want to explain to George and Sarah.”

Peter frowned. “Jeff’s a fast worker. I wonder how he and Mike got together. Did he tell you what they’re planning to do?”

“Just that Mike’s taking him to the States. I advised against it, but who listens to my advice? But wait. Now listen. There’s more. They’ve taken Costa to Piraeus.
He
went on the morning boat. Manacled. Stavro told me.”

“Oh, damn.” Peter’s frown deepened.

“And you know what? He didn’t take the money. Jeff did, to lend to Dimitri.”

“You’re kidding! You mean it? The silly little bugger. Why didn’t he tell me? I came pretty close to guessing. We’ve got to make your pal Dimitri give it back.”

“Don’t worry. He will. I’ve got him by his busy little balls.”

“What an idiotic mess. The only person who gets hurt is Costa. Dammit, I don’t like that.” He stared thoughtfully at the table for a moment and turned to Judy. “Do you know when Mike’s planning to leave Athens?”

“Not a definite date. As I understood it, he was coming out here just before he went home.”

Their eyes held for a moment and Peter gave her a little nod before turning back to Sid. “Are you going to stick around down here for a while?”

“I don’t know. Where
is
everybody? Until you came along, I was beginning to think we were the sole survivors.”

“They’re all probably sleeping it off. Look. Stay here and wait for George. He’ll be along any minute. Tell him whatever you think you ought to tell him, but get him to go to the police and throw his weight around to get Costa back here. They may not believe he’s got his money back unless they see it. I wish I had the cash to leave for him. I’m going to make Jeff come clean. We’ll have Costa out by tomorrow morning at the latest.” He looked at Judy and found her radiant eyes on him, her expression alert with eager anticipation. “Tim wasn’t so dumb to give you a yacht. We can get there about the same time they do.”

“We’re going up on the yacht together?”

“It seems to make sense.” His voice added a private message to the simple words while he looked into her eyes. He took a deep breath and burst out laughing. “We’re not safe in public. You better go back to the boat and tell your crew to get ready to shove off. I’ll run up to the house and get a few odds and ends. I’ll be with you in no time.”

They both stood. Sid looked up at them. “This is great. You’re beautiful people. Is there anything else you want me to do? I mean, you’re really getting some action going.”

“Get word to Dimitri that you want to see him as soon as he’s let out. You’re sure you’ll get the money from him? Then get it to George as soon as possible.”

“No sweat, comrade. Maybe not today, but tomorrow sure.”

“Good. I suppose it all has something to do with your precious dope, but I don’t have time to hear about it. Jeff will tell me.” He held Judy’s hand and exerted a slight pressure and they exchanged another look. He turned from her hastily and was off.

By the time he had reached the house, he had decided he wouldn’t interrupt Charlie’s work. There wasn’t time to talk about Judy. Charlie would question him in his approving loving way; he wasn’t sure he was ready yet with quick answers.

The house was quiet. The children would be down swimming. He had his story ready for Martha, but after he had tossed some toilet articles and a change of clothing into an overnight bag he decided there was no need to go look for her. She was probably swimming too. He wrote a quick note for Charlie and left it on their bed:

Love—Rushing. Taking advantage of Judy’s yacht to try to spring Costa. They’ve taken him to Piraeus. Sid knows the whole story. Also helping Judy with Raoul’s business heavily mixed with pleasure. Back tomorrow or next day. I love you.

Circling the port once more he saw that Sid’s table was filling out with familiar faces, but George and Sarah were not among them so he didn’t stop. At the boat, he found the motors running, a sailor performing nautical chores forward, and the captain at the wheel. A steward in a white jacket asked if he wanted a drink. He inquired for Judy and was told she was below.

He turned away absent-mindedly without ordering anything and restlessly paced the deck. The throb of the motors, under his feet, the sense of being catapulted into adventure that leaving port on a small boat always gave him, contributed to his awareness that he was committing himself more positively to the unknown. He had told himself that he had to hurry in order not to give himself time to think; he knew that he hadn’t wanted to see Charlie at the house, that he wanted to keep his feelings for Judy intact, undissipated by sharing. For the first time in years he was allowing another person to divert the inner flow of his attention from Charlie. He didn’t like it, even if Charlie didn’t care. He wished impatiently for Judy to come and make him feel that he really wanted to do what he was doing.