Moral Zero Read Free

announced Red triumphantly as he brought a tray of shots, lemon and salt over to their table.
    Tequila? Oh no .
    I got salt and lemon too. Just what we need. Ready?
    Not at all. Mr White looked sorry for himself but picked up the first of his shots and clinked it sadly with Red’s.
    Red looked Mr White in the eyes with a wicked grin and as if they shared some telepathic connection they both downed them in perfect unison.
    Red flushed and exhaled harshly, smiling fiercely while Mr White gagged.
    Go on, off you run, Red said throatily, and Mr White nearly overturned his chair in his haste to reach the nearest toilet. Neither had touched the salt and lemon.
    I’ll bring the rest of the shot s to you! Red called out after him.
    It wasn’t an idle threat. Red pushed open the cubicle door, left unlocked in haste, and crouched by Mr White as he retched emptily into the bowl, saliva dripping from his lips.
    What . . . do . . . you want?
    I brought the rest of the shots. Red couldn’t keep the grin out of his words.
    You have got to be kidding me.
    I paid for em, so you got to have em. That’s the rules. And look, you ain’t even been sick. You just thought you would, but you ain’t.
    I’ll be sick if I have any more.
    Well then you’ll feel better, won’t you?
    Mr White’s body told him that this was sound judgement. His mind was too clouded by alcoholic burn to think it through.
    Red laid the tray out on the cubicle floor and held up a torn sachet of salt.
    He re, gimme your hand. Red took Mr White’s unresisting hand, raising it up to wipe his dripping lips.
    There you go, Red said soothingly. He lowered the hand and poured some of the salt on to it where it stuck to the spit.
    Red took another shot and offered it up to Mr White, holding a lemon slice in his other hand.
    Mr White took hold of the shot with his unsalted hand and stared at it dumbly.
    It’s to drink, Red said helpfully. Preferably quickly.
    Mr White sucked the salt, his hand and mouth acting together as if forming some rebellious coalition independent of the brain, and he downed it, quickly, clenching his teeth into the lemon a second before it fell out of his mouth as he retched again and his eyes streamed.
    Quick man, this’ll take the e dge off. Red handed him another.
    Wha?
    It’s water, it’ll help.
    Mr White threw it down his gullet as if it was life-saving.
    It weren ’t water, it was more tequila, I’m sorry.
    Mr White’s head went right into the toilet bowl.
    Don’t worry, smiled Red happily, as he took a shot himself and coughed and his cheeks went red again. There’s only four more left for you.
     
    It was twenty minutes later and miraculously Mr White had drunk two more of his shots. One more had been spilt down the toilet (Red felt this was deliberate), and the last one has been finally drunk by Red himself, after rolling his eyes at the hopelessly negative Mr White. Still, he was a little proud of the man. Or at least, he would be if he wasn’t now slightly concerned that he had now consigned Mr White to spend the rest of the night huddled by the toilet.
    Real vomit was coming out now, in heaving splurts. Red peered in the bowl. Yep, that was sick alright.
    That’s the spirit amigo. Red clapped Mr White on the back. Get it all out.
    Unnurrgh .
    I’m surprised you can even be sick in this place. That shit must hit you pretty hard.
    Ungh .
    It’s all in your head man.
    Nugh. More vomit.
     
    Fifteen minutes later and a slightly cleaned up Mr White was back at the bar with Red.
    There you go, feel bette r? asked Red, as he beckoned the bar girl to take his order.
    Yes. Thank you.
    Don’t mention it. D’you want more tequila?
    No.
    Six beers, hot stuff. Keep the change. The bar girl rolled her eyes but took all the money and gave a wry smile.
    There’s only two of us, reminded Mr White.
    Red grinned. Ah, bless. He patted him on the back affectionately.
     
    They were talking to a couple of girls. Or, Red was talking for the both