Youve had enough, said the bartender, no more.
They crowded closer.
Standing in a rank, very well trained, not a whicker.
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?
Older people tend to overlook the frame, even when they are looking right at it, said Thomas. They dont like to think about it.
Perhaps they werent real? asked the Dead Father.
Not one of those we passed back up the road?
Can I see it? asked the bartender.
Three olives, said the bartender.
I dont suggest I understand it now. I do understand the frame. The limits.
Yum, said Emma.
A crowd had gathered, both men and women. They were laughing.
Julie rotated the stomach at the crowd. Sunlight bouncing off the tips of her breasts (purple).
Left out, said the Dead Father.
A double Scotch appeared on the bar.
Thought so, said the bartender, I can talk to you. We understand each other.
Black horses, said the Dead Father.
Oh, you rascal! cried the crowd. Oh, you rogue!
Yes, Thomas said.
Suffer, Julie said.
Beyond counting.
One never knows, said the Dead Father. Thirsty pilgrims, natives of the district, commercial travelers.
Dont touch! she said, youll make the others angry.
Hands were stretched out toward the stomach.
Emma sulking at the bar. Drinking a Campari-and-soda.
On the rocks and could I have three olives?
Leave our stomach alone! the man shouted.
Ill decide when Ive had enough, Julie said. I want another.
We can parley, said the bartender, make powwow.
Very much so.
You had hope, Thomas said. Grateful for that.
Button button whos got the button? chanted Julie. Ive got the button.
Who do you think you are? a man shouted angrily.
Julie knocked back the Scotch. Then she removed her shirt. There was nothing under the shirt.
The crowd stopped laughing, both men and women, moved nearer, was looking at Thomas with angry looks.
Thomas began to write something with lipstick on the stomach. The white, interestingly folded, stomach.
Till the cows come home, said the Dead Father, so much are we on each others wavelengths.
Never thought you were color-blind or dim either, said the Dead Father, despite what I was told by the specialists.
Not yet, he said.
Our stomach! they said. Hes taking it away!
The pink of you against the green of the fields, said Thomas. Several of my favorite colors.
Shocking, said the Dead Father happily. Never in all my years --
I am this ladys lover, Thomas shouted back.
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.
Have I lost my beauty altogether?
They were real, said Thomas.
Another, Thomas said.
I wonder who he is, Thomas said. He looked at the Dead Fathers watch, which he was wearing on his wrist.
That was vodka, right? the bartender asked.
Julie ordered another drink.
Not too bad, said the Dead Father.
Do you mean the one in the orange tights or the one in the golden robes?
They told me you were color-blind, when you were a boy, said the Dead Father. I never believed you were color-blind. A son of mine.
Thats not what I meant, said the bartender, but God Almighty.
I thought I was color-blind, Thomas said, because they told me I was color-blind. To green, they said.
Look there, he said. He pointed.
Can I have another drink?
Thomas smoothed Julies stomach with his hand.
Did you see the horses? asked the Dead Father.
No. Those were black, this is a bay.
Ah! said Thomas.
Thomas held out the shirt to Julie.
Mostly we dont get this kind of group, the bartender said.
Youve children, said the bartender, responsibilities.
Yes, fire away.
Your stomach? Thomas asked pointedly.
Thomas was looking at the yellow sky.
I saw what I thought and still think was green.
Julie put on the shirt tucking the loose ends of it into her long dark-green skirt to the ground.
They came then to a man tending bar in an open field.
I never thought you were color-blind. You saw what we had agreed to call green.
Relaxation of the cable.
We do not serve unaccompanied women, said the bartender.
I am accompanied am I not?
He could lose his license if you fell down or committed an outrage, Thomas said.
She looked at Thomas.
Youve seen him before?
Quite wonderful, said the Dead Father. I was offended, ofcourse.
Drinks for everyone.
Alexander approached Thomas.
The stomach heaved like a trampoline in the direction of its admirers.
Black plumes, Thomas said. Black bridles, black trappings.
Having made the drinks he folded his arms and leaned against a tree.
Okay, he said, lets make tracks.
My criticism was that you never understood the larger picture, said the Dead Father. Young men never understand the larger picture.
The line of march. Line of the cable. Viewed from above, this picture:
Make it a double, said Julie.
Of course the frame is easier to understand.
Thats true, said the bartender, I could lose my license.
Hes right, said Thomas, youve had enough.
Youre a family man, now, the bartender said to the Dead Father. Thats perfectly plain.
A horseman on the hill.
Clump of eight, Julie said. I counted.
Yesterday. Always keeps the same distance.
The cable taut. The straggle along the road. The horseman following.
I think hes following us, said Alexander.
Both.
