Page 175 - Rainbow County and Other Stories

Rainbow County 163

“I’ve seen London,” Lloyd, W. C. Fields, said, “and I’ve seen
France. I’ve seen the queen in her underpants.”
“Are you making fun of me?” Robert said.
“I wouldn’t dare make fun of you,” Lloyd said. “My blood
sugar’s too low to keep this up. My prescription for you is to get
laid twice before bedtime, and don’t call me in the morning.”
“What does all that mean? Everything means some thing.”
“It means,” Lloyd said, “you’ve come to the right place. It
means, Welcome to San Francisco. Welcome to Rainbow County.”
“That’s better,” Robert Place said. “I like that attitude much
better.”
“Have you ever thought,” Lloyd said, raising his SORRY
CLOSED shade and opening the door, “about maybe swallowing
something you can buy on the street to lay yourself back some,
about letting your hair grow long again?”
“Why, Lloyd,” Robert said, halfway down to the first land-
ing, “You surprise me. I would never have figured you to be one
to turn away business. I’m going out and I’m staying out...”
“You’re coming out.”
“...until he talks to me. So you’ll see me again. A real regular.
Plan on it. I intend to show your Rainbow County a thing or two.
I intend to stay a close-cropped soldier until all of them down
there in that intersec tion talk to me, and you’re going to keep me
ready for him and for them, groomed like I just stepped out of a
bandbox.”

©Jack Fritscher, Ph.D., All Rights Reserved
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