Nymphomation(29)
The professor thinks highly of your work, quiet girl.’
It took Daisy a few seconds to realize that she was being spoken to, and a few more to realize that the speaker was Joe Crocus. ‘Max Hackle has told all about your probabilities.’
‘Benny Fenton’s got something of mine,’ Daisy said.
‘That’s right, girl,’ answered Joe. ‘Benny’s shown me your handkerchief. He hasn’t put it through the mangle yet, so don’t worry. But how come you’re so worried about your precious DNA? I’ve had the spoonful done. I know exactly when I’m going to die. Of natural diseases. It’s actually kind of peaceful, knowing it. Makes you want to exhaust your little life. So what’s so special about your destiny?’
‘I just want it back, that’s all.’
‘So then, what can you offer?’
‘OK, Daisy,’ said Jaz, smiling. ‘Show them the gift.’
Daisy Love took the half-winning bone out of her pocket.
Play to win
Little Celia pulled aside the last of the wooden battens and then stepped inside. Amidst the shadows of her former comfort, hearing a cough from faraway, over the splinters of dust.
‘Who’s there?’ she whispered, fearful of her own voice, echoing.
‘Who’s there?’ Her own voice, echoing, whispering…
Through the motes of dust and the darkness. ‘Who’s there?’ whispering, another echo. ‘Is that my little charmer?’
Play to win
Daisy placed it full-square on the table. Where it pulsed and flashed. Where the half-winning five-spot winked and seduced. And where Joe and Benny and even Jazir were all drawn to the dance of all dots.
‘Cookie Luck!’ squirmed Benny. ‘That’s worth a hundred.’
‘Told you so,’ answered Jaz.
‘What time is it?’ asked Joe.
‘A quarter to midnight,’ answered Benny, and then to Daisy, ‘You’ve got fifteen minutes to cash it. We can just make it to Piccadilly, if we run.’
‘It’s not my bone,’ said Daisy.
‘Whose is it then?’ asked Benny.
‘A young kid,’ answered Daisy. ‘She’s called Little Celia. She’s a tramp.’
‘We’ve got to find her,’ said Benny. ‘Especially with all these killings of half-casters. What do yer reckon, Joe?’
Joe said nothing.
Play to win
Little Celia was sitting at a battle-scarred workbench. Eddie Irwell was sitting opposite her, drinking a mug of chicken pseudo. They could hear the distant music from the Snake Lounge club. It meant nothing to them; cool music means nothing to the street merchants. Music is the tinkling of puny coins in a cup.
‘You’re not captured, then?’ asked Celia.
‘Unless I’m a ghost,’ answered Eddie.
‘I thought the others had caught you.’
‘They let me go, a half-hour ago. I think they gave up on finding yourself and the bone. They’re basically moral.’
‘They didn’t hurt you?’
‘I said basically, didn’t I? I’m not excusing them. To more important matters; we can still make the winning post, Celia. Let’s see the good bone.’
‘I haven’t got it.’
‘What’s that?’
‘I gave it away.’
‘Away? Who to?’
‘A stranger.’
‘What? Why so?’
‘I thought you were dead, Eddie. Or something…’
‘There is no something other than death. Now where’s the bone? Where the fuck is it? And stop twiddling with that feather!’
‘How could I dare to let the others take our winnings?’ Celia said. ‘So I slipped the bone into the pocket of this woman.’
‘Woman. What woman? Where is she?’
‘I don’t know. I don’t know where she is.’
Play to win
Daisy Love, where she was, only a few yards away. All eyes around the Snake Lounge table were glued to the barely alive dots of the domino. As the clock drained away in seconds towards midnight.
‘I told you the Daisy had something to show,’ said Jazir. ‘Didn’t I, Joe?’
Joe said to Daisy, ‘You said the real winner was a young girl?’
‘About eight years old,’ replied Daisy. ‘Something like that.’
‘Eight years old!’ said Benny. ‘That mean’s she’s…’
‘That means she’s too young to buy the bone herself,’ carried on Joe. ‘Which means that somebody else bought the bone for her. We’re not even looking for the winner. Sweet Benny, what time is it?’
‘Five minutes to shutdown.’