4

    ()    sixoclockinthemorning.hesawakenedbyvoicesfromthebackofthehouse,fromoutside.awomanlaughing.

    hegetsoutofbedandwalkstothebigsecond-floorwindowsoverlookingthegardenbelow.

    inthenextgarden,separatedfrohhihedoutontheflagstones,hefenceslashestheminhalfdiagonally.thewoopoftheman,herdark-redskirtbunchedaboutherhips.sihecolorofherhair.

    herubshiseyesandgoestotherefrigerator.reachesforabottleofwhitewinewhichsits,corkless,inthere?frigeratordoor.hepourswineintoatudwalksbackintothebedroomforhiscigarettes.

    behindhimthemansvoicesays"hey,hey,hey."

    sixoclock?andtheflagstonescantbewonderfullyfortable.ardentloversmusttheseloversbe.

    thebuildingheslivinginisonehundredandsevenyearsold.thewindowwallinthebackhasseparatedfroweenthem.

    siheopening,and,twohourslater,sloshesalittlewhitepaintoverit.notbadforgovernmentwork,hethinks.

    thebigclosethasalargejaggedholeintheceiling,littletuftsofinsulationfloatingatitsedges.hedecidestodonothingaboutthis;hewontbehereforever.hesbeentoldnottouseeitherofthefireplacesbecausethechiedforyears.

    heclosesuphispaintcanandwashesouthisbrush.now,breakfast.popoversfromthedeliwithrarecheeses.

    onhiswayouttothedelitogetthegroupbreakfasthehearsgigglingfromthefrontroom.didyousleepwell?andyou?andyou?outside,onthestreet,some?onesscreaming.

    peeringfrodfists.thecopisablackwoman,slightofbuild.theresbloodonthebackofherhead.simonthrowsopenthewindowandyells"hey!"——aprodigiousshout,theshoutthatkills.theastonishedakeoffintwodifferentdirections.simonrunsoutthedoorandrushesdownthestairs.

    thecopistryingtopullherselftoherfeetbytheironrailinginfrontofthebuildingandatthesametimewipingbloodfromthescalpwoundoutofhereyes.simonplaceshishandsunderherarms,half-dragss,sitsherdown.

    "motherfuckers,"shesays."goddamnmother?fuckers."

    "sitstill,"hesays.&aambulance."

    "dontneednoambulance.wheresmystick?"

    sirievesitforher.shesproducedahandker?chiefandisholdingittoherhead.

    "wheresmycap?"

    hefindstheunifordhandsittoher.shestuffsthehandkerchiefinsidethecapandplacesitonherhead.sheleansforward,half-rises,thenmoansandsitsdownagain.

    "motherfuckers."

    &aocalltheprecinct?"

    &agimmeaminute."

    shespretty,ortwenty-nine.

    "thosecreepshadmoremusclethanifiguredthemfor,"shesays."perpslookinforsomethingtomakehappen.shakeemdownandyoullfindburglartools.theydressupallraggedyandyouthinktheyrenotasyoungastheyreallyare.gotmydamnstickawayfromme."

    &aowalkyoudowntothehospital?"

    "imgonnawalkinjustaminute."

    shepullsaradiofroketandcallsin,tellingtheprecinctabout"twowhitemales,lookintodoabreak-in,&aion.

    "thankyou,"shesaystosimon."youreagoodciti?zen.gotagoodyellonyou."shestandsand,stagger?ingslightly,reet.sheturnsandcallsagain,"thankyou!"

    sisideandpoursanotherglassofwine.deathuttasstreets,butteemingcitythrobswithlife.