The Hammer of Eden Read Free Page B

descriptions of him or Star.
    When he arrived at the Doodlebug, Mario was already there, sitting at a table with five or six of the jug team and the party boss, Lenny Petersen, who controlled the entire seismic exploration crew.
    Not to seem too eager, Priest got a Lone Star longneck and stood at the bar for a while, sipping his beer from the bottle and talking to the barmaid, before joining Mario’s table.
    Lenny was a balding man with a red nose. He had given Priest the job two weekends ago. Priest had spent an evening at the bar, drinking moderately, being friendly to the crew, picking up a smattering of seismic exploration slang, and laughing loudly at Lenny’s jokes. Next morning he had found Lenny at the field office and asked him for a job. “I’ll take you on trial,” Lenny had said.
    That was all Priest needed.
    He was hardworking, quick to catch on, and easy to get along with, and in a few days he was accepted as a regular member of the crew.
    Now, as he sat down, Lenny said in his slow Texas accent: “So, Ricky, you’re not coming with us to Clovis.”
    “That’s right,” Priest said. “I like the weather here too much to leave.”
    “Well, I’d just like to say, very sincerely, that it’s been a real privilege and pleasure knowing you, even for such a short time.”
    The others grinned. This kind of joshing was commonplace. They looked to Priest for a riposte.
    He put on a solemn face and said: “Lenny, you’re so sweet and kind to me that I’m going to ask you one more time. Will you marry me?”
    They all laughed. Mario clapped Priest on the back.
    Lenny looked troubled and said: “You know I can’t marry you, Ricky. I already told you the reason why.” He paused for dramatic effect, and they all leaned forward to catch the punch line. “I’m a lesbian.”
    They roared with laughter. Priest gave a rueful smile, acknowledging defeat, and ordered a pitcher of beer for the table.
    The conversation turned to baseball. Most of them liked the Houston Astros, but Lenny was from Arlington and he followed the Texas Rangers. Priest had no interest in sports, so he waited impatiently, joining in now and again with a neutral comment. They were in an expansive mood. The job had been finished on time, they had all been well paid, and it was Friday night. Priest sipped his beer slowly. He never drank much: he hated to lose control. He watched Mario sinking the suds. When Tammy, their waitress, brought another pitcher, Mario stared longingly at her breasts beneath the checkered shirt.
Keep wishing, Mario—you could be in bed with your wife tomorrow night
.
    After an hour, Mario went to the men’s room.
    Priest followed.
The hell with this waiting, it’s decision time
.
    He stood beside Mario and said: “I believe Tammy’s wearing black underwear tonight.”
    “How do you know?”
    “I got a little peek when she leaned over the table. I love to see a lacy brassiere.”
    Mario sighed.
    Priest went on: “You like a woman in black underwear?”
    “Red,” said Mario decisively.
    “Yeah, red’s beautiful, too. They say that’s a sign a woman really wants you, when she puts on red underwear.”
    “Is that a fact?” Mario’s beery breath came a little faster.
    “Yeah, I heard it somewhere.” Priest buttoned up. “Listen, I got to go. My woman’s waiting back at the motel.”
    Mario grinned and wiped sweat from his brow. “I saw you and her this afternoon, man.”
    Priest shook his head in mock regret. “It’s my weakness. I just can’t say no to a pretty face.”
    “You were
doing
it, right there in the goddamn road!”
    “Yeah. Well, when you haven’t seen your woman for a while, she gets kind of frantic for it, know what I mean?”
Come on, Mario, take the friggin’ hint!
    “Yeah, I know. Listen, about tomorrow …”
    Priest held his breath.
    “Uh, if you’re still willing to do like you said …”
    Yes! Yes!
    “Let’s go for it.”
    Priest resisted the temptation to hug