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.Crope,tell Fiyero all about yourself, he's dying to know, I can see it."Actually Fiyero was interested, if only for a rest from the staccato chatter."He's shy," Glinda pushed on, "shy shy shy, always was." Fiyeroand Crope exchanged glances and tried to keep their mouths from twitching."He's got this so avant-garde little palace of a loft apartment on the top floor of adoctor's surgery, could you imagine? Stunning views, the best views in the EmeraldCity, and at this time of year! He dabbles a bit in painting, don't you dear? Painting, alittle musical operetta set design here and there.When we were young we thoughtthe world revolved around Shin.You know there's real theatre here now, the Wizardhas made this a much more cosmopolitan city, don't you think?""It's good to see you, Fiyero," said Crope, "say something about yourself, fast,before it's too late.""You cad, you kid me mercilessiy," sang Glinda."I'll tell him about your little affairwith-well never mind.I'm not that mean.""There's nothing to say," Fiyero said, feeling even more taciturn and Vinkus thanhe had when he first arrived in Shin."I like my life, I lead my clan when they need it,which isn't often.My children are healthy.My wife is-well, I don't know.- 263 -"Fertile," supplied Glinda."Yes." He grinned."She's fertile and I love her, and I'm not going to stay muchlonger as I'm meeting someone for a business conference across town.""We must meet," said Glinda, suddenly plaintive, suddenly looking lonely."OhFiyero, we're not old yet, but we're old enough to be old friends already, aren't we?Look, I've gushed on like a debutante who forgot to splash on her Eau d'Demure.I'msorry.It's just that that was such a wonderful time, even in its strangeness andsadness-and life isn't the same now.It's wonderful, but it isn't the same.""I know," he said, "but I don't think I can meet you again.There's so little time,and I have to go back to Kiamo Ko.I've been away since the late summer.""Look, we're all here, me and Chuifrey, Crope, Nessarose, you-is Avaric around,we could get him? We could get together, we could have a quiet dinner together inour rooms upstairs.I promise not to be so giddy.Please, Fiyero, please, YourHighness.It would do me such an honor." She cocked her head and put a singlefinger to her chin, elegantly, and he could tell she was struggling through thelanguage of her class to say something real."If I think I can, I'll let you know, but please, you mustn't count on it," he said."There'll be other times.I'm not usually in town so late in the season-this is ananomaly.My children are waiting-have you children, Glinda?""Chuifrey is dry as two baked walnuts," said Glinda, making Crope choke on histea again."Before you go-I can see you're getting ready to dash-dear, dear Fiyero-what do you hear from Elphaba?"But he was prepared for this, and had readied his face to be blank, and he onlysaid, "Now that's a name I don't hear every day.Did she ever turn up? SurelyNessarose must have said."- 264 -"Nessarose says if her sister ever does turn up she'll spit in her face," Glindaremarked, "so we must all pray that Nessarose never loses her faith, for that wouldmean the evaporation of such tolerance and kindness.I think she would kill Elphaba.Nessa was abandoned, rejected, left to look after her crazy father, her grandfather-thingy, that brother, that nurse, that house, the staff-and you can't even say single-handedly, as she doesn't have any hands!""I thought I saw Elphaba once," said Crope."Oh?" said Fiyero and Glinda together, and Glinda continued, "You never told methat, Crope.""I wasn't sure," he said."I was on the trolley that runs along the reflecting pool bythe Palace.It was raining-some years ago now-and I saw a figure struggling with a bigumbrella.I thought she was about to be blown away.A gust of wind blew theumbrella inside out and the face, a greenish face which is why I noticed, duckeddown to avoid the splash of rainwater-you remember how Elphaba hated gettingwet.""She was allergic to water," Glinda opined."I never knew how she kept herself soclean, and I her roommate.""Oil, I think," said Fiyero.They both looked at him."That is, in the Vinkus," hestammered, "the elderly rub oil into their skin instead of water-I've always assumedthat's what Elphie did.I don't know.Glinda, if I were to meet up with you again,what's a good day?"She rooted in her reticule for a diary.Crope took the opportunity to lean forwardand say to Fiyero, "It really is good to see you, you know.""You too," said Fiyero, surprised that he meant it."If you ever get- 265 -out into the central Kells, come stay at Kiamo Ko with us.Just send word ahead, aswe're only there for half a year at a time.""That's just your speed, Crope, the wild beasts of the untamed Vinkus," saidGlinda."I think the fashion possibilities, all those leather thongs and fringe and such,they might interest you, but I can't see you as Mister Mountain Boy.""No, probably not," agreed Crope."Unless it affords fabulous cafes every four orfive blocks, I don't think a landscape quite developed enough for human habitation."Fiyero shook hands with Crope and then, remembering the rumors about poorTibbett's deterioration, kissed him; he threw his arms around Glinda and hugged herhard.She laced her arm through his and walked him to the door."Do let me shake off Crope and have you back, all to myself," she said in a lowvoice, her patter evaporating into seriousness."I can't tell you, dear Fiyero.The pastseems both more mysterious and more understandable with you right here beforeme.I feel there are things I could yet learn.I don't want to wallow, dear boy, neverthat! But we go way back." She held his hand between hers."Something's going on inyour life.I'm not as dumb as I act.Something good and bad at the same time.Maybe Ican help.""You were always sweet," he said, and motioned to the doorman to hail ahansom cab."How I regret that I won't meet Sir Chuffrey."He moved out the doorway, across the marble entrance pavement, and turned totip his hat at her.In the doors (the doormen held them open to enhance his partingview) she was a calm, resigned woman, neither transparent nor ineffectual-even, itmight have been said, a woman full of grace."If you should see her," said Glindalightly, "tell her I miss her still."- 266 -He didn't see Glinda again.He didn't call at the Florinthwaite Club.He didn't strollpast the Thropp family house in Lower Mennipin Street (though he was sorelytempted).He didn't stop a scalper to try to get one of the tickets to Sillipede'striumphant fourth annual comeback tour [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]