Commandant has become an unlicensed surgeon and often refers to future events contemporaneously. Bears teeth to dogs locked in cars, Packards colliding
at intersections, a painted sign says, "This too shall pass."
Stevenson's got Anthony tied down and is inspecting him seriously, pushing
aside his robe now and then to get a closer look.
"Look at this," Stevenson says excitedly. "Notice the lack of skin? Gallbladder like a twelve year old, feet that point both ways. His deformities are god damn gorgeous. "
"Enough, enough," Commandant says. "Do you have a diagnosis? Or is it prognosis?"
Stevenson thumbs his nose and says, "When in Rome."
"This is bullshit ," Kell says, bleeding from sores in his ears.
"You still here?" Stevenson wants to know. "What did you ever do for anybody?"
"I beat Tooie Stevens for $10,000 once."
"Why?"
"He knows why."
Stevenson looks to the Commandant and says, "Prime specimen of the human
disease. Like a Bolivian indigenous, you see? Now look at the arm, find the track
marks. See the needle's tears?"
Commandant grabs Kell by the arm and says, "You heard him, junkie. We want
to see the track marks."
"Track marks? Me?" Kell tries to fool.
The audience breaks into laughter.
"Why are you on me?" Kell asks Commandant. "Don't we have a truce?"
"Just because you keep saying it doesn't make it true."
Commandant becomes very serious when Viceroy walks in. Viceroy is in charge
of the bureaucracy that governs Eberhart and is probably the only man of power
in the town. He's walked in with his entourage, one of whom leads a tiger
the color of yellowed teeth.
Commandant begins yelling at policia to get to work, do this, do that. Viceroy
glides up and says, "Commandant, I believe Eberhart is under siege by perilous
forces."
"Absolutely," Commandant agrees eagerly. "We're putting out feelers, laying
down stoolies like land mines. I'd draw a damn nickel from the scum but it's
like drawing an eyetooth. We're trying to get some to play ball."
The opera house bursts into flames and Stevenson enters from a rear door wearing
a suit. "What can I do for you, sir?" he asks Commandant and then, quietly,
"Just play along till he's gone, I'll explain later."
"Ah, your butler, again," Viceroy says. "We have much to discuss. Budget cuts
coming."
"How about a PBR?" Commandant asks. "I can have it chilled or you can have
it warm, like mother used to make."
This is a secret joke because Viceroy comes from a bootlegging family, an offshoot of
the Kennedys. Commandant may have gone too far because Viceroy blushes and
his face turns to stone. Kell thinks he's gone too far, pointing out the sordid
past of the man in charge, but this is dispelled when Viceroy says, "I only
drink that when I'm already drunk."
Now Anthony has worked out of his restraints and he smashes Viceroy over the
head with his amputated limb.
"Easy now," Stevenson says. "I can still cut your finger off and stick it
in your ass and glue it shut."
"You don't know where my finger's been," Baker eggs him on.
"I know damn well where your asshole's been and I know where your finger will
be if you don't shut it."
Anthony's jaw falls off and drops to the floor.