Chango's Beads and Two-Tone Shoes by William Kennedy Read Free Book Online Page B

persona like a weapon, aggressive behavior for a great beauty. It was the most popular work in the artist’s subsequent exhibition and Berenguer did not want to sell it. Esme’s husband offered twenty-five thousand but Berenguer refused to sell. After months of persuasion he finally yielded the painting to Esme as a gift. How did Esme persuade him?
    That is my secret, Esme always says.
    It is no secret, Renata always says.
    Esme came into the room four steps ahead of Moncho. She kissed and embraced her sister, greeted Quinn with an odd gesture of elevated fingers and pursed lips, with her breasts rising from excited inbreathing, a gesture of concern.
    “So, you’re alive,” Esme said. “Mother called me five times. All that shooting she thought you were dead.”
    “I called her from the museum,” Renata said. “All afternoon you could not use a telephone. If you stood up you’d be shot.”
    Esme looked to Quinn, and Moncho offered him a handshake. “Ramón Quevedo,” he said.
    “Daniel Quinn,” said Quinn. “A pleasure to meet you. I understand you don’t live here.”
    “Only historically,” Moncho said. “It is not possible to separate from Esme. No husband should be asked such a thing.”
    “Husbands seem to play a peculiar role in Cuba,” Quinn said.
    “Husbands are extinct,” said Moncho. “Wives are eternal.”
    “I may refuse to become a Cuban husband,” Quinn said. “I’ve already proposed to Renata, but maybe I’ll postpone the wedding.”
    “You proposed?” said Esme. “When?”
    “This morning.”
    “When did you meet?”
    “Last night.”
    “What took you so long?” Moncho asked.
    “Daniel rescued me after the attack,” Renata said. “He found a taxi to bring us here when no one else could. He’s a reporter and Max just hired him to write for the Post. He was near the Palace all during the attack.”
    “How intrepid,” Esme said, and she sat in the Peacock cane chair in front of her portrait. “You really proposed?” she said to Quinn.
    “He suggested the possibility,” Renata said. “He wrote the story of the Palace attack for Max.”
    “A pity they did not kill the puta, ” Moncho said.
    “Be quiet or they’ll arrest you,” Esme said. “Did you see the shooting, Daniel?”
    “I did, but my luck seems to be running,” Quinn said. “I didn’t get shot and I found the gorgeous Renata when the shooting stopped.”
    “You can do two things at once,” said Esme.
    “I do covet beauty,” Quinn said. “That portrait of you is very beautiful, and it does you justice.”
    “The artist said he made me too beautiful,” Esme said.
    “There is no such thing. An artist can only imitate the exquisite beauty that runs in your family.”
    “Such a charmer. Please sit down, Daniel. Would you like a drink?”
    “As my uncle once said, the last time I refused a drink I didn’t understand the question.”
    Moncho exploded with laughter. “I understand the question and I will make you a drink,” he said, and he left the room.
    “Very droll,” Esme said. And she asked Renata, “Nena, what brings you here on such a day?”
    “I need a car. After today I absolutely must go away, anyplace, Cárdenas, perhaps, but I can’t take Mother’s car from her. You don’t know, Esme, you don’t know.”
    “Of course I know, dear. Take the Buick. Those hateful people trying to kill the president, shooting all over the city, nobody is safe anywhere, what’s wrong with them? They’re all insane and lower class. As soon as I heard the news I tried to get a flight to New York, but they closed the airport. Americans will be afraid to come to Havana now.”
    “Soldiers killed an American tourist,” Quinn said. “I was in his suite at the Regis Hotel when they shot him.”
    “You weren’t.”
    “An armored truck and a foot soldier both fired at us. I saved another man by pulling him to the floor when the shooting started.”
    “You saved someone? You are a clever person.