AZOTUSLAND chapter seven

As Jim's head hit the pillow Maugham was exiting the building, or trying to. Martine was over at the counter in the Big Room, which served as an unofficial bar in the closing hours. Usually she would be going over figures or making sure the sometime night crew was prepared to handle close up after a band or act was done.

No act tonight. Just quiet. She nursed an Anchor Steam and Maugham walked past her and out onto the deck.

Jacob came up behind him a few minutes later as he looked out on the lights over the valley.

"Er, uh...Maug?"

"Hi Jacob," he said flatly. "Whose the dame?"

"Dame?"

"Kidding."

"Can I have the theater tonight?"

"Sheesh" Maugham hissed. Then he thought introspective. "yeah, okay. The code today is 714. Don't get caught."

"Thanks Maug. Owe you one."

"Last count that makes three."

Jacob left and Maugham felt stupid.

"I sound like a goddamn bad movie."

He walked inside and grabbed a beer and brushed by Martine as he did so. Then he went and perched, as he so often did, back on the wide deck.

He thought about what Jim and Dan had said. It scared him a little. Martine came outside and sat next to him.

"Hey cowboy, how come so down."

"I dunno. Jim gets under my skin."

"Well he sure likes you," she said laughing.

"Yeah, that unnerves me too. Always has. " he said then tried to defl;ect. "How's the kid doing?"

"He's great," she said. "Just like his old man except without the pall."

"He's pall-less?" Maugham asked.

"Yes Maug. He has no palls."

He laughed.

"Wanna go for a walk Marty?"

"Sure Maug. Lead on."

They dropped their beers at the unofficial bar and walk out the big doors and down the stairs to the lower landing. As they walked by the IC Maug noted that the Troll had lit his usual 50 candles. It was a fire hazard, but he had given up making the point.

"Let's take the back path" he said and he put his arm around her. "I'm sure you are cold" he said.

"Peh" she said.

Around the outer grounds it was mysterious. As they passed the theater door Maugham got a sly grin. "Hey wait here...wait up."

He walked quietly over to the door and quietly entered the access code...714.

As the door released and he slided it slowly open he could hear moans inside. He took a quick peak and saw two Keds flopped down on the floor to the left of the first row and some inverted footwork that was in rythmic sync. Jacob's head popped up for a moment above the fourth seat and he steeled a look at Maugham who grinned and closed the door.

"What was that?"

"Just doing a security check Marty. Just a simple security check."