and¡¡purpose¡£¡¡Everyone¡¡avoided¡¡it¡some¡¡with¡¡amusement£»¡¡some¡¡with¡¡disgust¡¡or¡¡indifference¡£
¡¡¡¡After¡¡he¡¡had¡¡used¡¡a¡¡urinal£»¡¡as¡¡he¡¡washed¡¡his¡¡hands£»¡¡Joe¡¡studied¡¡the¡¡other¡¡men¡¡in¡¡the¡¡mirror£»¡¡seeking¡¡a¡¡conspirator¡£¡¡He¡¡settled¡¡on¡¡a¡¡long¡haired¡¡fourteen¡year¡old¡¡in¡¡swim¡¡trunks¡¡and¡¡sandals¡£
¡¡¡¡When¡¡the¡¡boy¡¡went¡¡to¡¡the¡¡paper¡towel¡¡dispenser£»¡¡Joe¡¡followed£»¡¡took¡¡a¡¡few¡¡towels¡¡immediately¡¡after¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡said£»¡¡'Outside£»¡¡there¡¡might¡¡be¡¡a¡¡couple¡¡of¡¡cop¡¡types¡¡hanging¡¡out£»¡¡waiting¡¡for¡¡me¡£'
¡¡¡¡The¡¡boy¡¡met¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡but¡¡didn't¡¡say¡¡anything£»¡¡just¡¡kept¡¡drying¡¡his¡¡hands¡¡on¡¡the¡¡paper¡¡towels¡£
¡¡¡¡Joe¡¡said£»¡¡'I'll¡¡give¡¡you¡¡twenty¡¡Blicks¡¡to¡¡reconnoitre¡¡for¡¡me£»¡¡then¡¡e¡¡back¡¡and¡¡tell¡¡me¡¡where¡¡they¡¡are¡£'
¡¡¡¡The¡¡kid's¡¡eyes¡¡were¡¡the¡¡purple¡blue¡¡shade¡¡of¡¡a¡¡fresh¡¡bruise£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡stare¡¡was¡¡as¡¡direct¡¡as¡¡a¡¡punch¡£¡¡'Thirty¡¡Blicks¡£'
¡¡¡¡Joe¡¡could¡¡not¡¡remember¡¡having¡¡been¡¡able¡¡to¡¡look¡¡so¡¡boldly¡¡and¡¡challengingly¡¡into¡¡an¡¡adult's¡¡eyes¡¡when¡¡he¡¡himself¡¡had¡¡been¡¡fourteen¡£¡¡Approached¡¡by¡¡a¡¡stranger¡¡with¡¡an¡¡offer¡¡like¡¡this£»¡¡he¡¡would¡¡have¡¡shaken¡¡his¡¡head¡¡and¡¡left¡¡quickly¡£
¡¡¡¡'Fifteen¡¡now¡¡and¡¡fifteen¡¡when¡¡I¡¡e¡¡back£»'¡¡said¡¡the¡¡kid¡£
¡¡¡¡Wadding¡¡his¡¡paper¡¡towels¡¡and¡¡tossing¡¡them¡¡in¡¡the¡¡trash¡¡can£»¡¡Joe¡¡said£»¡¡'Ten¡¡now£»¡¡twenty¡¡when¡¡you¡¡e¡¡back¡£'
¡¡¡¡'Deal¡£'
¡¡¡¡As¡¡he¡¡took¡¡his¡¡wallet¡¡from¡¡his¡¡pocket£»¡¡Joe¡¡said£»¡¡'One¡¡is¡¡about¡¡six¡¡two£»¡¡tan£»¡¡blond£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡green¡¡Hawaiian¡¡shirt¡£¡¡The¡¡other¡¡is¡¡maybe¡¡five¡¡ten£»¡¡brown¡¡hair£»¡¡balding£»¡¡pale£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡red¡¡and¡¡orange¡¡Hawaiian¡£'
¡¡¡¡The¡¡kid¡¡took¡¡the¡¡ten¡dollar¡¡bill¡¡without¡¡breaking¡¡eye¡¡contact¡£¡¡'Maybe¡¡this¡¡is¡¡jive£»¡¡there's¡¡nobody¡¡like¡¡that¡¡outside£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡I¡¡e¡¡back£»¡¡you¡¡want¡¡me¡¡to¡¡go¡¡into¡¡one¡¡of¡¡those¡¡stalls¡¡with¡¡you¡¡to¡¡get¡¡the¡¡other¡¡twenty¡£'
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡Joe¡¡was¡¡embarrassed£»¡¡not¡¡for¡¡being¡¡suspected¡¡of¡¡paedophilia¡¡but¡¡for¡¡the¡¡kid£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡grown¡¡up¡¡in¡¡a¡¡time¡¡and¡¡a¡¡place¡¡that¡¡required¡¡him¡¡to¡¡be¡¡so¡¡knowledgeable¡¡and¡¡street¡¡smart¡¡at¡¡such¡¡a¡¡young¡¡age¡£¡¡'No¡¡jive¡£'
¡¡¡¡¡¨Cause¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡jump¡¡that¡¡way¡£'
¡¡¡¡'Understood¡£'
¡¡¡¡At¡¡least¡¡a¡¡few¡¡of¡¡the¡¡men¡¡present¡¡must¡¡have¡¡heard¡¡the¡¡exchange£»¡¡but¡¡none¡¡appeared¡¡to¡¡be¡¡interested¡£¡¡This¡¡was¡¡a¡¡live¡¡and¡¡let¡¡live¡¡age¡£
¡¡¡¡As¡¡the¡¡kid¡¡turned¡¡to¡¡leave£»¡¡Joe¡¡said£»¡¡'They¡¡won't¡¡be¡¡waiting¡¡right¡¡outside£»¡¡easy¡¡to¡¡spot¡£¡¡They'll¡¡be¡¡at¡¡a¡¡distance£»¡¡where¡¡they¡¡can¡¡see¡¡the¡¡place¡¡but¡¡aren't¡¡easily¡¡seen¡¡themselves¡£'
¡¡¡¡Without¡¡responding£»¡¡the¡¡boy¡¡went¡¡to¡¡the¡¡door£»¡¡sandals¡¡clacking¡¡against¡¡the¡¡floor¡¡tiles¡£
¡¡¡¡'You¡¡take¡¡my¡¡ten¡¡Blicks¡¡and¡¡don't¡¡e¡¡back£»'¡¡Joe¡¡warned£»¡¡'I'll¡¡find¡¡you¡¡and¡¡kick¡¡your¡¡ass¡£'
¡¡¡¡'Yeah£»¡¡right£»'¡¡the¡¡kid¡¡said¡¡scornfully£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡he¡¡was¡¡gone¡£
¡¡¡¡Returning¡¡to¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡rust¡stained¡¡sinks£»¡¡Joe¡¡washed¡¡his¡¡hands¡¡again¡¡so¡¡he¡¡wouldn't¡¡appear¡¡to¡¡be¡¡loitering¡£
¡¡¡¡Three¡¡men¡¡in¡¡their¡¡twenties¡¡had¡¡gathered¡¡to¡¡watch¡¡the¡¡crippled¡¡cockroach£»¡¡which¡¡was¡¡still¡¡chasing¡¡itself¡¡around¡¡one¡¡small¡¡portion¡¡of¡¡the¡¡lavatory¡¡floor¡£¡¡The¡¡beetle's¡¡track¡¡was¡¡a¡¡circle¡¡twelve¡¡inches¡¡in¡¡diameter¡£¡¡It¡¡twitched¡¡brokenly¡¡along¡¡that¡¡circumference¡¡with¡¡such¡¡insectile¡¡single¡mindedness¡¡that¡¡the¡¡men£»¡¡hands¡¡full¡¡of¡¡dollar¡¡bills£»¡¡were¡¡placing¡¡bets¡¡on¡¡how¡¡fast¡¡it¡¡would¡¡plete¡¡each¡¡lap¡£
¡¡¡¡Bending¡¡over¡¡the¡¡sink£»¡¡Joe¡¡splashed¡¡handfuls¡¡of¡¡cold¡¡water¡¡in¡¡his¡¡face¡£¡¡The¡¡astringent¡¡taste¡¡and¡¡smell¡¡of¡¡chlorine¡¡was¡¡in¡¡the¡¡water£»¡¡but¡¡any¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡cleanliness¡¡that¡¡it¡¡provided¡¡was¡¡more¡¡than¡¡countered¡¡by¡¡a¡¡stale£»¡¡briny¡¡stink¡¡wafting¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡open¡¡drain¡£
¡¡¡¡The¡¡building¡¡wasn't¡¡well¡¡ventilated¡£¡¡The¡¡still¡¡air¡¡was¡¡hotter¡¡than¡¡the¡¡day¡¡outside£»¡¡reeking¡¡of¡¡urine¡¡and¡¡sweat¡¡and¡¡disinfectant£»¡¡so¡¡noxiously¡¡thick¡¡that¡¡breathing¡¡it¡¡was¡¡beginning¡¡to¡¡sicken¡¡him¡£
¡¡¡¡The¡¡kid¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡taking¡¡a¡¡long¡¡time¡£
¡¡¡¡Joe¡¡splashed¡¡more¡¡water¡¡in¡¡his¡¡face¡¡and¡¡then¡¡studied¡¡his¡¡beaded£»¡¡dripping¡¡reflection¡¡in¡¡the¡¡streaked¡¡mirror¡£¡¡In¡¡spite¡¡of¡¡his¡¡tan¡¡and¡¡the¡¡new¡¡pinkness¡¡from¡¡the¡¡sun¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡absorbed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡past¡¡hour£»¡¡he¡¡didn't¡¡look¡¡healthy¡£¡¡His¡¡eyes¡¡were¡¡grey£»¡¡as¡¡they¡¡had¡¡been¡¡all¡¡his¡¡life¡£¡¡Once£»¡¡however£»¡¡it¡¡had¡¡been¡¡the¡¡bright¡¡grey¡¡of¡¡polished¡¡iron¡¡or¡¡wet¡¡indulines£»¡¡now¡¡it¡¡was¡¡the¡¡soft¡¡dead¡¡grey¡¡of¡¡ashes£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡whites¡¡were¡¡bloodshot¡£
¡¡¡¡A¡¡fourth¡¡man¡¡had¡¡joined¡¡the¡¡cockroach¡¡handicappers¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡in¡¡his¡¡mid¡fifties£»¡¡thirty¡¡years¡¡older¡¡than¡¡the¡¡other¡¡three¡¡but¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡be¡¡one¡¡of¡¡them¡¡by¡¡matching¡¡their¡¡enthusiasm¡¡for¡¡pointless¡¡cruelty¡¡and¡¡sophomoric¡¡humour¡£¡¡The¡¡gamblers¡¡had¡¡bee¡¡an¡¡obstruction¡¡to¡¡the¡¡restroom¡¡traffic¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡getting¡¡rowdy£»¡¡laughing¡¡at¡¡the¡¡spasmodic¡¡progress¡¡of¡¡the¡¡insect£»¡¡urging¡¡it¡¡on¡¡as¡¡though¡¡it¡¡were¡¡a¡¡thoroughbred¡¡pounding¡¡across¡¡turf¡¡toward¡¡a¡¡finish¡¡line¡£¡¡'Go£»¡¡go£»¡¡go£»¡¡go£»¡¡go£¡'¡¡They¡¡noisily¡¡debated¡¡whether¡¡its¡¡pair¡¡of¡¡quivering¡¡antenna¡¡were¡¡part¡¡of¡¡its¡¡guidance¡¡system¡¡or¡¡the¡¡instruments¡¡with¡¡which¡¡it¡¡detected¡¡the¡¡scents¡¡of¡¡food¡¡and¡¡other¡¡roaches¡¡eager¡¡to¡¡copulate¡£
¡¡¡¡Striving¡¡to¡¡block¡¡out¡¡the¡¡voices¡¡of¡¡the¡¡raucous¡¡group£»¡¡Joe¡¡searched¡¡his¡¡ashen¡¡eyes¡¡in¡¡the¡¡mirror£»¡¡wondering¡¡what¡¡his¡¡motives¡¡had¡¡been¡¡when¡¡he¡¡sent¡¡the¡¡boy¡¡to¡¡scope¡¡out¡¡the¡¡men¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Hawaiian¡¡shirts¡£¡¡If¡¡they¡¡were¡¡conducting¡¡a¡¡surveillance£»¡¡they¡¡must¡¡have¡¡mistaken¡¡him¡¡for¡¡someone¡¡else¡£¡¡They¡¡would¡¡realize¡¡their¡¡error¡¡soon£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡would¡¡never¡¡see¡¡them¡¡again¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡good¡¡reason¡¡to¡¡confront¡¡them¡¡or¡¡to¡¡gather¡¡intelligence¡¡about¡¡them¡£
¡¡¡¡He¡¡had¡¡e¡¡to¡¡the¡¡beach¡¡to¡¡prepare¡¡himself¡¡for¡¡the¡¡visit¡¡to¡¡the¡¡graveyard¡£¡¡He¡¡needed¡¡to¡¡submit¡¡himself¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ancient¡¡rhythms¡¡of¡¡the¡¡eternal¡¡sea£»¡¡which¡¡wore¡¡at¡¡him¡¡as¡¡waves¡¡wore¡¡at¡¡rock£»¡¡smoothing¡¡the¡¡sharp¡¡edges¡¡of¡¡anxiety¡¡in¡¡his¡¡mind£»¡¡polishing¡¡away¡¡the¡¡splinters¡¡in¡¡his¡¡heart¡£¡¡The¡¡sea¡¡delivered¡¡the¡¡message¡¡that¡¡life¡¡was¡¡nothing¡¡more¡¡than¡¡meaningless¡¡mechanics¡¡and¡¡cold¡¡tidal¡¡forces£»¡¡a¡¡bleak¡¡message¡¡of¡¡hopelessness¡¡that¡¡was¡¡tranquillising¡¡precisely¡¡because¡¡it¡¡was¡¡brutally¡¡humbling¡£¡¡He¡¡also¡¡needed¡¡another¡¡beer¡¡or¡¡even¡¡two¡¡to¡¡further¡¡numb¡¡his¡¡senses£»¡¡so¡¡the¡¡lesson¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sea¡¡would¡¡remain¡¡with¡¡him¡¡as¡¡he¡¡crossed¡¡the¡¡city¡¡to¡¡the¡¡cemetery¡£
¡¡¡¡He¡¡didn't¡¡need¡¡distractions¡£¡¡He¡¡didn't¡¡need¡¡action¡£¡¡He¡¡didn't¡¡need¡¡mystery¡£¡¡For¡¡him£»¡¡life¡¡had¡¡lost¡¡all¡¡mystery¡¡the¡¡same¡¡night¡¡that¡¡it¡¡had¡¡lost¡¡all¡¡meaning£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡silent¡¡Colorado¡¡meadow¡¡blasted¡¡with¡¡sudden¡¡thunder¡¡and¡¡fire¡£
¡¡¡¡Sandals¡¡slapping¡¡on¡¡the¡¡tiles£»¡¡the¡¡boy¡¡returned¡¡to¡¡collect¡¡the¡¡remaining¡¡twenty¡¡of¡¡his¡¡thirty¡¡dollars¡£¡¡'Didn't¡¡see¡¡any¡¡big¡¡guy¡¡in¡¡a¡¡green¡¡shirt£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡other¡¡one's¡¡out¡¡there£»¡¡sure¡¡enough£»¡¡getting¡¡a¡¡sunburn¡¡on¡¡his¡¡bald¡¡spot¡£'
¡¡¡¡Behind¡¡Joe£»¡¡some¡¡of¡¡the¡¡gamblers¡¡whooped¡¡in¡¡triumph¡£¡¡Others¡¡groaned¡¡as¡¡the¡¡dying¡¡cockroach¡¡pleted¡¡another¡¡circuit¡¡either¡¡a¡¡few¡¡seconds¡¡quicker¡¡or¡¡slower¡¡than¡¡its¡¡time¡¡for¡¡the¡¡previous¡¡lap¡£
¡¡¡¡Curious£»¡¡the¡¡boy¡¡craned¡¡his¡¡neck¡¡to¡¡see¡¡what¡¡was¡¡happening¡£
¡¡¡¡'Where£¿'¡¡Joe¡¡asked£»¡¡withdrawing¡¡a¡¡twenty¡¡from¡¡his¡¡wallet¡£
¡¡¡¡Still¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡see¡¡between¡¡the¡¡bodies¡¡of¡¡the¡¡circled¡¡gamblers£»¡¡the¡¡boy¡¡said£»¡¡'There's¡¡a¡¡palm¡¡tree£»¡¡a¡¡couple¡¡of¡¡folding¡¡tables¡¡in¡¡the¡¡sand¡¡where¡¡this¡¡geeky¡¡bunch¡¡of¡¡Korean¡¡guys¡¡are¡¡playing¡¡chess£»¡¡maybe¡¡sixty¡eighty¡¡feet¡¡down¡¡the¡¡beach¡¡from¡¡here¡£'
¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡Although¡¡high¡¡frosted¡¡windows¡¡let¡¡in¡¡hard¡¡white¡¡sunshine¡¡and¡¡grimy¡¡fluorescent¡¡tubes¡¡shed¡¡bluish¡¡light¡¡overhead£»¡¡the¡¡air¡¡seemed¡¡yellow£»¡¡like¡¡an¡¡acidic¡¡mist¡£
¡¡¡¡'Look¡¡at¡¡me£»'¡¡Joe¡¡said¡£
¡¡¡¡Distracted¡¡by¡¡the¡¡cockroach¡¡races£»¡¡the¡¡boy¡¡said£»¡¡'Huh£¿'
¡¡¡¡'Look¡¡at¡¡me¡£'
¡¡¡¡Surprised¡¡by¡¡the¡¡quiet¡¡fury¡¡in¡¡Joe's¡¡voice£»¡¡the¡¡kid¡¡briefly¡¡met¡¡his¡¡gaze¡£¡¡Then¡¡those¡¡troubling¡¡eyes£»¡¡the¡¡colour¡¡of¡¡contusions£»¡¡refocused¡¡on¡¡the¡¡twenty¡dollar¡¡bill¡£
¡¡¡¡'The¡¡guy¡¡you¡¡saw¡¡was¡¡wearing¡¡a¡¡red¡¡Hawaiian¡¡shirt£¿'¡¡Joe¡¡asked¡£
¡¡¡¡'Other¡¡colours¡¡in¡¡it£»¡¡but¡¡mostly¡¡red¡¡and¡¡orange£»¡¡yeah¡£'
¡¡¡¡'What¡¡pants¡¡was¡¡he¡¡wearing£¿'
¡¡¡¡'Pants£¿'
¡¡¡¡'To¡¡keep¡¡you¡¡honest£»¡¡I¡¡didn't¡¡tell¡¡you¡¡what¡¡else¡¡he¡¡was¡¡wearing¡£¡¡So¡¡if¡¡you¡¡saw¡¡him£»¡¡now¡¡you¡¡tell¡¡me¡£'
¡¡¡¡'Hey£»¡¡man£»¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡know¡£¡¡Was¡¡he¡¡wearing¡¡shorts¡¡or¡¡trunks¡¡or¡¡pants¡how¡¡am¡¡I¡¡supposed¡¡to¡¡know£¿'
¡¡¡¡'You¡¡tell¡¡me¡£'
¡¡¡¡'White£¿¡¡Tan£¿¡¡I'm¡¡not¡¡sure¡£¡¡Didn't¡¡know¡¡I¡¡was¡¡supposed¡¡to¡¡do¡¡a¡¡damn¡¡fashion¡¡report¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡just¡¡standing¡¡there£»¡¡you¡¡know£»¡¡looking¡¡out¡¡of¡¡place£»¡¡holding¡¡his¡¡shoes¡¡in¡¡one¡¡hand£»¡¡socks¡¡rolled¡¡up¡¡in¡¡them¡£'
¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡the¡¡same¡¡man¡¡whom¡¡Joe¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡with¡¡the¡¡walkie¡talkie¡¡near¡¡the¡¡lifeguard¡¡station¡£
¡¡¡¡From¡¡the¡¡gamblers¡¡came¡¡noisy¡¡encouragements¡¡to¡¡the¡¡cockroach£»¡¡laughter£»¡¡curses£»¡¡shouted¡¡offers¡¡of¡¡odds£»¡¡the¡¡making¡¡of¡¡bets¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡so¡¡loud¡¡now¡¡that¡¡their¡¡voices¡¡echoed¡¡harshly¡¡off¡¡the¡¡concrete¡block¡¡walls¡¡and¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡reverberate¡¡in¡¡the¡¡mirrors¡¡with¡¡such¡¡force¡¡that¡¡Joe¡¡half¡¡expected¡¡those¡¡silvery¡¡surfaces¡¡to¡¡disintegrate¡£
¡¡¡¡'Was¡¡he¡¡actually¡¡watching¡¡the¡¡Koreans¡¡play¡¡chess¡¡or¡¡pretending£¿'¡¡Jo