The pink of you against the green of the fields, said Thomas. Several of my favorite colors.

Ill decide when Ive had enough, Julie said. I want another.

Thomas began to write something with lipstick on the stomach. The white, interestingly folded, stomach.

The line of march. Line of the cable. Viewed from above, this picture:

On the rocks and could I have three olives?

I dont suggest I understand it now. I do understand the frame. The limits.

I think hes following us, said Alexander.

Ah! said Thomas.

Never thought you were color-blind or dim either, said the Dead Father, despite what I was told by the specialists.

Julie rotated the stomach at the crowd. Sunlight bouncing off the tips of her breasts (purple).

Hands were stretched out toward the stomach.

Mostly we dont get this kind of group, the bartender said.

Thats true, said the bartender, I could lose my license.

I九九藏书 thought I was color-blind, Thomas said, because they told me I was color-blind. To green, they said.

One never knows, said the Dead Father. Thirsty pilgrims, natives of the district, commercial travelers.

Julie knocked back the Scotch. Then she removed her shirt. There was nothing under the shirt.

I am accompanied am I not?

Your stomach? Thomas asked pointedly.

Youre a family man, now, the bartender said to the Dead Father. Thats perfectly plain.

Leave our stomach alone! the man shouted.

My criticism was that you never understood the larger picture, said the Dead Father. Young men never understand the larger picture.

Thats not what I meant, said the bartender, but God Almighty.

That was vodka, right? the bartender asked.

I saw him with his thumb under there, said the bartender, had his thumb on it Ill bet. Shocking rude Id call it, in a public place.

Th九*九*藏*书*网ey were real, said Thomas.

The stomach heaved like a trampoline in the direction of its admirers.

Have I lost my beauty altogether?

Thomas was looking at the yellow sky.

Do you mean the one in the orange tights or the one in the golden robes?

Of course the frame is easier to understand.

Thomas held out the shirt to Julie.

Youve seen him before?

Black plumes, Thomas said. Black bridles, black trappings.

Both.

Okay, he said, lets make tracks.

Very much so.

A crowd had gathered, both men and women. They were laughing.

Julie ordered another drink.

Three olives, said the bartender.

Youve had enough, said the bartender, no more.

Quite wonderful, said the Dead Father. I was offended, of course.

They crowded closer.

Dont touch! she said, youll make the others angry.

Make it a double, said Julie.

Suffer, Julie said.

Not yet, he said.

Yes, Thomas said.

Relaxation of the九-九-藏-书-网 cable.

Button button whos got the button? chanted Julie. Ive got the button.

She looked at Thomas.

No. Those were black, this is a bay.

He could lose his license if you fell down or committed an outrage, Thomas said.

Who do you think you are? a man shouted angrily.

Look there, he said. He pointed.

Did you see the horses? asked the Dead Father.

You had hope, Thomas said. Grateful for that.

Yesterday. Always keeps the same distance.

Here? asked Julie, indicating the emptiness. Who is to be outraged?

When hes got his thumb in there, asked the bartender, what do you feel?

They came then to a man tending bar in an open field.

We do not serve unaccompanied women, said the bartender.

Can I see it? asked the bartender.

Yes, fire away.

I saw what I thought and still think was green.

They told me you were color-blind, when you were a boy, said the Dead Father. I never believed

九九藏书网

you were color-blind. A son of mine.

Clump of eight, Julie said. I counted.

The crowd stopped laughing, both men and women, moved nearer, was looking at Thomas with angry looks.

Not one of those we passed back up the road?

Till the cows come home, said the Dead Father, so much are we on each others wavelengths.

We can parley, said the bartender, make powwow.

Black horses, said the Dead Father.

Perhaps they werent real? asked the Dead Father.

I never thought you were color-blind. You saw what we had agreed to call green.

Youve children, said the bartender, responsibilities.

Left out, said the Dead Father.

Yum, said Emma.

Emma sulking at the bar. Drinking a Campari-and-soda.

Thomas smoothed Julies stomach with his hand.

Another, Thomas said.

Beyond counting.

I wonder who he is, Thomas said. He looked at the Dead Fathers watch, which he was wearing on his wrist.

Not too bad, s九*九*藏*书*网aid the Dead Father.

Standing in a rank, very well trained, not a whicker.

Oh, you rascal! cried the crowd. Oh, you rogue!

Julie put on the shirt tucking the loose ends of it into her long dark-green skirt to the ground.

Our stomach! they said. Hes taking it away!

Can I have another drink?

Drinks for everyone.

Older people tend to overlook the frame, even when they are looking right at it, said Thomas. They dont like to think about it.

A horseman on the hill.

Shocking, said the Dead Father happily. Never in all my years --

Having made the drinks he folded his arms and leaned against a tree.

Alexander approached Thomas.

Thought so, said the bartender, I can talk to you. We understand each other.

A double Scotch appeared on the bar.

The cable taut. The straggle along the road. The horseman following.

I am this ladys lover, Thomas shouted back.

Hes right, said Thomas, youve had enough.