Page 125

while outside struck constantly. Flickers of white; Animal thought of the Caribbean, and the nights of blue. He knew in- stantly that Colonel deemed it absolutely necessary to appear responsible, but that the character of his wish dream belonged to adventure; Maybe even Colonel had a ship in this mind that he would never leave. The bartender brought more drinks; and laughter was at his being the waiter to rummies. The bartender winked at Animal and Colonel, for these fellows were not damned; Animal recognized that the presence of himself and Colonel brought a security to the tavern; for the bartender was the realitive to continuous death. He had several times made a partnership with a way to follow his deceased father, and thus felt a daily kinship to the temptation of doom; Animal thought of the men the bartender served, and marvelled at what he understood to be their complete disgust for addi- ing drugs. Occasionally comers and goers would shout cutting, but plain, remarks at both Colonel and Animal; Each would turn them around in the air, and send them back on a wave of humor with a snapped curl on the end of their voices. They were only making sure that moment- ary enemies could not muster collaboration; Forthright, neither wanted disruption, though their silence was un- called for; for each knew what they wanted to say.