themexhadablackandwhitecheckedsportshirt,heavilypleatedblackslackswithoutabelt,two-toneblackandwhitebuckskinshoes,spotlesslyclean.histhickblackhairwasbrushedstraightbackandshiningwithsomekindofhairoilorcream.

“señor,”hesaid,andsketchedabriefsarcasticbow.

“helpmr.marlowecarrymyhusbandupstairs,candy.hefellandhurthimselfalittle.i’msorrytotroubleyou.”

“denada,señora,”candysaidsmiling.

“ithinki’llsaygoodnight,”shesaidtome.“i’mtiredout.candywillgetyouanythingyouwant.”

shewentslowlyupthestairs.candyandiwatchedher.

“somedoll,”hesaidconfidentially.“youstaythenight?”

“hardly.”

“eslástima.sheisverylonely,thatone.”

“getthatgleamoutofyoureyes,kid.let’sputthistobed.”

helookedsadlyatwadesnoringonthecouch.“pobrecito,”hemurmuredasifhemeantit.“borrachocomounacuba.”

“hemaybedrunkasasowbuthesureain’tlittle,”isaid.“youtakethefeet.”

wecarriedhimandevenfortwohewasasheavyasaleadcoffin.atthetopofthestairswewentalonganopenbalconypastacloseddoor.candypointedtoitwithhischin.

“laseñora,”hewhispered.“youknockverylightmaybesheletyouin.”

ididn’tsayanythingbecauseineededhim.wewentonwiththecarcassandturnedinatanotherdooranddumpedhimonthebed.thenitookholdofcandy’sarmhighupneartheshoulderwheredug-infingerscanhurt.imademinehurthim.hewincedalittleandthenhisfacesethard.

“what’syourname,cholo?”

“takeyourhandoffme,”hesnapped.“anddon’tcallmeacholo.i’mnowetback.mynameisjuangarcíadesotoyosoto-mayor.iamchileno.”

“okay,donjuan.justdon’tgetoutoflinearoundhere.keepyournoseandmouthcleanwhenyoutalkaboutthepeopleyouworkfor.”

hejerkedlooseandsteppedback,hisblackeyeshotwithanger.hishandslippedinsidehisshirtandcameoutwithalongthinknife.hebalanceditbythepointontheheelofhishand,hardlyevenglancingatit.thenhedroppedthehandandcaughtthehandleoftheknifewhileithungintheair.itwasdoneveryfastandwithoutanyapparenteffort.hishandwentuptoshoulderheight,thensnappedforwardandtheknifesailedthroughtheairandhungquiveringinthewoodofthewindowframe.

“cuidado,señor!”hesaidwithasharpsneer.“andkeepyourpawstoyourself.nobodyfoolswithme.”

hewalkedlithelyacrosstheroomandpluckedtheknifeoutofthewood,tosseditintheair,spunonhistoesandcaughtitbehindhim.withasnapitdisappearedunderhisshirt.

“neat,”isaid,“butjustalittleonthegaudyside.”

hestrolleduptomesmilingderisively.

“anditmightgetyouabrokenelbow,”isaid.“likethis.”

itookholdofhisrightwrist,jerkedhimoffbalance,swungtoonesideandalittlebehindhim,andbroughtmybentforearmupunderthebackofhiselbowjoint.iboredownonit,usingmyforearmasafulcrum.

“onehardjerk,”isaid,“andyourelbowjointcracks.acrackisenough.you’dbeoutofcommissionasaknifethrowerforseveralmonths.makethejerkalittleharderandyou’dbethroughpermanently.takemr.wade’sshoesoff.”

iletgoofhimandhegrinnedatme.“goodtrick,”hesaid.“iwillremember.”

heturnedtowadeandreachedforoneofhisshoes,thenstopped.therewasasmearofbloodonthepillow.

“whocuttheboss?”

“notme,chum.hefellandcuthisheadonsomething.it’sonlyashallowcut.thedoctorhasbeenhere.”

candylethisbreathoutslowly.“youseehimfall?”

“beforeigothere.youlikethisguy,don’tyou?”

hedidn’tanswerme.hetooktheshoesoff.wegotwadeundressedlittlebylittleandcandydugoutapairofgreenandsilverpajamas.wegotwadeintothoseandgothiminsidethebedandwellcoveredup.hewasstillsweatyandstillsnoring.candylookeddownathimsadly,shakinghissleekheadfromsidetoside,slowly.

“somebody’sgottotakecareofhim,”hesaid.“igochangemyclothes.”