AZOTUSLAND chapter Fifty-Eight

In the other Batcave Matisse was finishing her artwork and she sat down in a chair in the corner and looked off.

Jeremy came over and said "Matty, what's up sweetheart?"

"My Papi is sad," she said. "I'm not sure how to help him," she said. "I give him hugs and make him laugh, but he is different lately."

Jeremy made a mental note to talk with Jim.

Just then Sex came in and Jeremy gave her his full attention.

"Lucille did great work today," he said, giving her the once over as she looked for her kids.

She turned to him and quietly said, "You are hot Jeremy." He smiled. Then she said "But this ain't for you. Look, but don't touch."

He blushed and looked at his shoes. He was a sweet kid.

*******

Simon had decided to pitch in and help Maurice with funeral arrangemnts fro Rev. Tanka. There was really not much to do, but he felt Maurice needed someone to share the burden with and he had the time and inclination.

Upstairs Renata suddenly got sick and had to go in the back. She puked. Hans walked in and said "Dis is vat sex does darling. You fuck, you puke, zen za baby comes." Then he got her some cold water and took up her station so she could be alone.

Ted showed up at 7 p.m. to sit and think through what a dinner with Jim might look like. He felt a bit shaken by recent events. It had not changed his mind, but he was less sure. He and Tanka had spent some interesting time before he had died and he wasn't sure what to do with any of it.

Jim came in at 6:45 and nodded at Ted and checked with the staff to make sure all was covered. It was. In fifteen minutes a local novelist named Mitchell Loyd was doing a lecture and Jim wished he could be two places at once. But he couldn't si he went and fetched Ted.

"Manfred?" he called out.

"Yes Sahib?"

"Can you please bring the car around...er...the Jeep?"

"Oh yes Sahib!! Joy of joys and a wonderfulness!" then he scampered off.

Ten minutes later Jim and Ted were headed down the road to Max's.

Jim finally spoke. "I really appreciate all you did with the good reverend Ted."

Ted looked apprehensive and straight ahead.

"Was he what you expected?" Jim finally asked as they pulled into the parking lot.

"I knew you would ask that," Ted said defensively.

"Just a question, bro," he said with a hint of srcasm. Ted lightened.

They went inside and Jim order a nice bottle of wine before Ted could protest.

"It'll hurt but it won;t kill," he said to Ted. Then he followed with "Name that author."

"How would I know?" ted asked.

"Oh you know this author quite well, in fact you have read this book."

Ted racked his brain. Nothing.

The waitress came with their wine and Jim tasted it and said "yes, please do pour." and can we get some potato skins and two shrimp cocktails?"

"Yes, of course," she smiled.

"How did you know I like shrimp?" Ted asked.

"Just a guess. Now think ted...piece of fiction and he has a lizard on his shoulder," Jim said.

Ted laughed, "okay, okay..it;s Lewis." he said.

"Yes, Jim smiled. Book?"

"The Great Divorce," Jim said. "One of my favorites.

"Mine too," Jim said taking a drink.

*******

Maugham was still down in Silo 3 reviewing the considerable paperwork, schematics and detailed instructions. "Where does the man get the time?" he wondered. He finally walked over to the edge of the long trench and looked at the koi in the long pool. They were beautiful. The room was expansive. He suddenly remembered his dream from weeks ago. He went over to a small side room that was obviously for supplies and found a box of tea candles and he lighted about 30 of them around the room and turned the lights down and laid back on the virgin bed and took it all in.

He thought about martine, and then about Candice and how different a species they were.

He would find a way to defeat Candice. This was Jim's room, and his life. He did love Jim. He loved him as much as his own life. He was not sure how that had happened, but somehow Jim had gotten under his skin and then wrapped himself around his pirate's heart.

He would take a bullet for Jim but he's rather deliver it to his enemies instead.