cwilleford.theburntorangeheresy-第18部分

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　　〃Oh；　absolutely；〃　Berenice　said　cheerfully。
　　〃Look；　M。　Debierue；〃　I　said；　taking　my　Polaroid　from　the　bar；　〃I　know　it's　a　lot　to　ask；　at　least　from　your　viewpoint；　but　I've　got　this　Polaroid　here；　and　you　can　see　the　results　for　yourself　in　about　ten　seconds。　While　we　wait　for　dinner；　let　me　take　a　few　shots　of　you；　and　until　we　get　one　that　you　think　is　all　right；　you　can　just　tear　them　up。　Fair　enough？〃
　　〃In　only　ten　seconds？　A　picture？〃
　　〃That's　all。　Maybe　fifteen　seconds　inside　the　house　here；　for　a　little　extra　snap　and　contrast。〃
　　He　frowned　slightly；　and　fingered　his　white　whiskers。　〃My　beard　isn't　trimmed。　。　。〃
　　〃In　a　photo；　it　doesn't　matter。　No　one　can　tell　from　a　black…and…white　picture；〃　I　promised　recklessly。
　　He　hesitated。　His　eyes　were　wary；　but　he　was　wavering。　〃Should　I　put　on　a　necktie？〃
　　〃No；　not　for　an　informal　picture；〃　I　said；　before　he　could　change　his　mind。　Taking　him　by　the　arm；　I　guided　him　to　a　point　in　front　of　the　coffee　table。　I　picked　up　the　Miami　Herald；　flipped　through　it　to　find　the　classified　ad　section；　opened　it　and　thrust　the　paper　into　his　hands。
　　〃There。　Just　spread　the　paper；　and　pretend　to　read　it。　You　can　smile　if　you　feel　like　it；　but　you　don't　have　to。〃
　　A　trifle　self…consciously；　he　followed　my　simple　directions。　After　focusing　the　camera　on　him；　and　setting　it　for　〃dark；〃　I　asked　him　to　lower　his　arms　slightly　to　make　certain　his　face　and　beard　would　be　in　the　picture。　The　flag　of　the　Miami　Herald　and　Classified　could　both　be　read　through　the　viewfinder。　I　moved　forward　and　touched　his　hand。
　　〃Now；〃　I　admonished；　〃please　don't　move　or　look　up　at　me。　I'll　take　the　photo　from　back　there。〃
　　This　was　the　last　moment　to　take　my　premeditated　chance；　and　one　chance　was　all　I　could　expect　to　get。　I　forced　a　loud　cough　to　cover　the　slight　click　of　my　Dunhill；　and　ignited　the　paper　at　the　bottom。　A　moment　later；　six　feet　back；　I　was　squinting　through　the　viewfinder。　The　timing　was　perfect。　The　bounce　flash　bulb　worked；　and　it　was　only　a　split　second　after　I　snapped　the　shutter　when　the　flames　burst　through　the　paper　on　his　side　and　he　dropped　it　with　an　astonished　yelp。　Berenice；　who　had　been　watching　with　bulging　eyes　and　with　her　right　hand　clamped　over　her　mouth；　moved　forward　squealing；　and　began　to　stamp　on　the　burning　paper。　I　helped　her；　and　it　only　took　us　moments　to　crush　out　the　flames　on　the　terrazzo　floor。
　　I　had　expected　an　angry　reaction　from　Debierue；　but　he　was　merely　puzzled。　〃Why；〃　he　asked　mildly；　〃did　you　light　the　paper？　I　don't　understand。〃　He　looked　about　bewilderedly　as　the　charred　bits　of　newsprint；　caught　by　the　slight　breeze　ing　through　the　jalousied　door；　fluttered　over　his　clean　floor。
　　I　grinned　and　held　up　a　forefinger。　〃Wait。　Give　me　ten　seconds；　and　then　you'll　see　the　picture。〃
　　I　was　all　thumbs　with　excitement；　but　I　took　my　time；　being　careful　as　I　jerked　out　the　strip　of　prepared　paper　that　started　the　developing　process　and；　instead　of　guessing；　I　watched　the　sweep…second　hand　on　my　watch；　allowing　exactly　twelve　seconds　for　the　developer　to　work。
　　As　curious　as　a　child；　the　old　artist　was　brushing　my　shoulder　with　his　as　I　opened　the　back　of　the　camera　to　remove　the　print。　When　I　turned　the　photo　face　up　on　the　bar；　his　jarring　burst　of　jubilant　laughter　startled　me。
　　〃Don't　touch　it！〃　I　said　sharply；　sliding　the　print　out　of　the　reach　of　his　clutching　fingers。　〃I've　got　to　coat　it　first。〃　I　straightened　the　print　on　the　edge　of　the　counter　and　then　gave　it　eight　precise　sweeps　with　the　gooey　print　coater。　It　was　the　best　photo；　absolutely　the　finest；　that　I　had　ever　taken。
　　Perfectly　centered；　the　old　man　wore　his　wise；　beautiful；　infectious　smile。　He　appeared　to　be　reading　the　want　ads　in　the　Herald　as　if　he　didn't　have　a　care　in　the　world。　His　face　was　purely　serene；　and　the　deeply　etched　lines　in　his　face　were　sharp；　clear…cut；　and　as　black　as　India　ink。　He　had　been　pletely　unaware　of　the　blazing　newspaper　when　I　snapped　the　picture；　but　no　one　who　saw　the　photo　would　ever　guess　that。　The　entire　lower　half　of　the　paper　blazed　furiously　away。　No　professional　model　could　have　posed　knowingly　with　a　flaming　newspaper　without　a　slight　twinge　of　anxiety　showing　in　his　face。　But　the　old　man；　with　his　skinny　legs　exposed　beneath　the　flames；　with　his　bland　innocent　face　and　the　wonderful　smile　glowing　through　his　downy　white　beard；　appeared　as　relaxed　as　a　man　who　had　spent　a　restful　night　in　a　Turkish　bath。
　　Debierue　watched　me　coat　the　print；　but　he　kept　reaching　for　it　impatiently。　I　guarded　it　with　my　arm　so　it　could　dry。
　　〃Let　me　see；〃　he　said　childishly。
　　〃If　you　touch　it　now；〃　I　explained　patiently；　〃it'll　pick　up　your　fingerprints　and　be　ruined。〃
　　〃Very　well；　M。　Figueras；〃　he　said　good…naturedly。　〃I　want　this　photo。　It's　the　most　formidable　surrèalitê　I've　ever　seen！〃
　　His　exuberance　was　as　great　as　my　own。　〃You'll　have　it；　all　right。〃　I　said　happily。　〃In　fact；　when　I　get　back　to　New　York；　I'll　send　you　fifty　copies　of　the　picture　if　you　want　them；　and　a　copy　to　every　friend　on　your　mailing　list。〃
　　
　　
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　　When　Debierue　granted　his　permission　for　me　to　keep　and　publish　the　photograph；　I　hurried　out　to　the　car　and　got　one　of　our　magazine's　standard　release　forms　out　of　the　glove　partment。　The　mimeographed　form　（large　circulation　magazines　have　them　printed）　is　a　simple　agreement　between　subject　and　magazine　to　make　publication　legal；　to　protect　one　party　from　the　other。　There　is　nothing　underhanded　about　a　signed　photo　release。　Debierue　could　read　English；　of　course；　but　the　involved　legalese　the　form　was　couched　in　forced　me　to　explain　the　damned　thing　at　some　length　before　he　would　sign　it。　Debierue　wasn't　stupid　or　willful。　He　believed　naively　that　his　oral　okay　was　enough。
　　Because　of　this　discussion；　the　dinners　were　ready　before　we　knew　it。　I　forgot　to　look　at　my　watch；　and　it　was　Berenice　who　heard　and　recognized　the　faint　buzzing　in　the　kitchen　as　the　oven　timer；
　　It　was　almost　pleasant　on　the　screened　porch。　A　light　breeze　came　up；　and　although　the　wind　was　hot；　it　was　relatively　fortable　in　the　darkening　twilight　as　we　sat　at　the　candlelit　card　table　to　eat　the　miserable　off…brand　TV　dinners。
　　The　dinners　had　been　purchased　by　the　Negro　maid　who　came　every　Wednesday　to　take　care　of　the　old　man's　laundry　and　to　do　his　difficult　cleaning。　She　also　brought　his　other　weekly　food　supplies。　By　buying　these　cheap　TV　dinners；　she　was　probably　knocking　down　on　the　food　money。　I　didn't　suggest　this　to　him；　but　I　discussed　brand　names；　the　brand…name　fallacy；　and　wrote　out　a　short　list　of　worthwhile　frozen　food　buys　he　could　depend　upon。　He　had　a　delusion　that　frozen　foods　were　better；　somehow；　than　fresh。　Berenice　started　halfheartedly　to　tell　him　otherwise；　but　when　she　saw　me　shake　my　head　she　changed　the　subject　to　domestic　wines。　Debierue　distrusted　California　wines；　but　I　added　the　brands　of　some　Napa　Valley　wines　to　the　frozen　food　list；　and　he　said　he　would　try　them。　Other　than　tap　water；　all　he　drank；　because　French　wines　were　too　dear；　was　frozen　orange　juice。
　　The　Gold　Coast　for　some　twenty　miles　inland；　from　Jupiter　downstate　to　Key　Largo；　is　tropical…not　subtropical；　as　so　many　people　erroneously　believe。　The　tropical　weather　is　caused　by　the　warmth　of　the　Gulf　Stream；　less　than　six　miles　off　the　coast。　There　is　little　difference　between　the　weather　in　Miami　and　that　of　Saigon。　Debierue's　house；　on　a　hammock；　with　a　black　swamp　and　the　Everglades　for　a　backyard；　was　depressingly　humid。　After　eating　the　dry　turkey　dinner；　my　mouth　felt　as　if　it　were　dehydrated；　and　I　couldn't　drink　enough　fluid　to　unparch　my　throat。　I　poured　another　glass　of　orange　juice　（my　fourth）　and　sensed；　as　I　did　so；　a　certain　anxiety　or　impatience　developing　in　the　old　man。　As　an　experienced　dinner　guest；　I　have　picked　up　an　instinct　about　wearing　out　weles。
　　The　sky　had　darkened　from　bruise　blue　to　gentian　violet；　and　it　was　only　a　few　minutes　after　six　thirty。　It　was　much　too　early　for　him　to　go　to　bed；　but　even　Berenice；　who　was　not　particularly　observant；　became　aware　of　the　old　painter's　restlessness。　She　winked　across　the　table；　tapped　her　wrist　significantly；　and　gave　me　a　brief；　ical　shrug。　I　nodded；　and　slid　my　chair　back　from　the　table。
　　〃It's　been　delightful；　M。　Debierue；　the　dinner　by　candlelight；〃　I　lied　socially；　〃but　I　have　another　appointment　in　Palm　Beach　tonight；　and　we　have　to　drive　back。〃
　　〃Of　course；〃　he　replied；　standing；　〃but　please　keep　your　seat　a　few　moments　more。　Already；　you　see；　it　is　past　the　time　for　me　to　get　ready。　I　must　go　to　the　movies　tonight。　I　must　go　to　the　movies　every　night；〃　he　added；　by　way　of　fuller　explanation；　〃and　I　must　now　change　my　clothes。〃
　　〃The　movies？〃　I　asked　stupidly。
　　His　face　brightened　and　he　rubbed　his　hands　together　briskly。　〃Oh；　yes；　perhaps　you　did　not　see　it…the　Dixie　Drive…in　Movie　Theater　。。'　He　pointed　in　the　general　direction　of　the　drive…in。　〃Tonight　there　are　three　long　features；　two　films　with　the　Bowery　Boys　and　the　film　about　a　werewolf。　And　before　these；　the　regular　films；　there　are　always　two　and　sometimes　three　cartoons。　The　first　long　film　tonight　is　The　Bowery　Boys　Meet　Frankenstein；　a　very　special　treat；　no？　And　if　you　will　kindly　drive　me…〃
　　〃Certainly；〃　I　said　eagerly；　〃I'll　be　happy　to　take　you　in　the　car。〃
　　〃My　ignorance；〃　Debierue　chuckled　reminiscently；　〃it　was　the　amusing　thing。　When　I　was　first　here　and　taking　a　walk　one　evening；　I　saw　the　automobiles　driving　inside　the　Dixie　Drive…in　Theater。　I　did　not　then　know　the　American　custom；　and　I　thought　that　one　must　have　the　automobile　to　enter　the　movie。　Never　before　had　I　seen　the　drive…in　movies；　and　I　said　to　myself；　Why　not　see　if　the　permission　to　go　from　the　manager　can　be　arranged？〃　So　I　talked　then　to　the　manager；　M。　Albert　Price。　He　arranged　for　me　to　go；　and　gave　me　the　Senior　Citizen　Golden　Years'　membership　card。〃　Debierue　fumbled　his　wallet　out　of　his　hip　pocket；　extracted　the　card；　which　entitled　him　to　a　15　percent　discount　on　movie　tickets；　and　proudly　showed　it　to　us。　It　was　made　out　to　Eugene　V。　Debs。
　　〃That's　very　nice；〃　Berenice　said；　smiling。
　　〃M。　Price　is　a　very