SHOW TIME

Phil Harvey

Chapter 11

Day 34. September. Rudy watched Ambrose and Cecily as they joined the others around their fire. “I think it’s Labor Day,” he said, looking at Ambrose and Cecily. “You all been laboring? We thought maybe you’d eloped.”

“Hello Rudy,” Cecily said. “It’s true that Ambrose and I are married.” She looked at the others, head tilted, chin raised. “Just not to each other.”

“Har har,” Rudy said.

Cecily said, “Hello, Ivan, Ashai. Maureen.”

Ambrose nodded to the others. They had formed two groups. Ivan, Rudy and Maureen had been sleeping in Ivan’s Rope Zone for the past week, becoming clubby. When they said “We” they meant the three of them.

The other group was with Ambrose: Cecily and Ashai. They referred to the other three as “Ivan’s Idiots.”

Valentín stayed by himself, avoiding them all. If he’d had to choose, Ambrose knew, he’d have followed Maureen. But the anger and the pain he felt from seeing Maureen with Rudy was transparent. Perhaps it was easier to stay apart.

“You guys know this area is covered by cameras,” Ambrose said. “And mikes.”

“Yes,” Ashai said, smiling. She was wearing a bikini, her rangy body athletic, her muscles rippling. “There are cameras all over. Why worry about it? I think they’ve got one on our latrine. Who cares? Let them see what they see. We’re being paid to perform, let them see the performance. Fuck it.”

“I see morale is high as usual,” Cecily said.

“We’ve been here a month,” Ambrose said. “No injuries, no major sickness.”

“If you don’t count diarrhea.”

“Yes. But we’ve had enough food.”

“The raspberries are delicious,” Maureen said.

“Stretch those rations as much as possible,” Ambrose said.

“You’re a pompous poltroon, you know that?” Rudy said.

“Maybe,” Ambrose said. “But if you eat enough out of those lockers to feel normal, you’ll starve after Christmas.” He looked around at them. “Especially Ashai and Ivan.”

“No... advice!” Ivan said. He turned and walked a few steps into the woods. In a low voice he muttered “Mexico! Foxtree!” He kept his .22 on its sling, behind his left shoulder. They had never seen him without it.

“If you’re going to piss, go farther than that,” Ashai said. “And stop mumbling!” Ivan took two more steps away from them, stopped and unzipped.

“Maybe we could sing,” Maureen said. “Red Rubber Ball? The Old Mill Stream?”

“That’s not a bad idea,” said Cecily. “Why not? Does everyone know Down by the Old Mill Stream?”

“Down by the what?” Rudy said.

“Old Mill...”

“Are you people crazy or just old?” Valentín said. He had just walked up from the beach. He wore a tight, French-style Spandex swimming suit that pouched his genitals.

“We’re old, Valentín,” Ashai said.. “I’m old enough to be your mother. Maybe I am.”

“Old and crazy,” Valentín said.

“I ain’t heard no goddam mill streams,” Rudy said. “Maybe Ashai here knows about old mill streams. With her bikini top falling off she’d make a terrific song leader.”

“Up yours, Rudy,” Ashai said. “You’re almost as bad as the juvenile there, with his balls poking out.”
“I’m no juvenile,” Valentín said. “I’m 23, old enough for any of you!”

“You’re boring us, Valentín,” Cecily said. “You’re 19. I’ve got everyone’s ages and starting weights.” They all looked at her. “They gave me some extra information along with the map.”

“Map?”

“Yeah, they gave her a detailed map of this island,” Ambrose said.

“Map,” Ivan said. “Rifle.” He touched his gun and looked at Rudy and Valentín. Then he made a buzzing sound, “Hmmmzz.”

“I didn’t get a goddam thing,” Valentín said. “They probably figured I could take care of myself.”

“Sure Valentín,” Rudy said. “You take care of yourself.”

Ashai said, “Can I see the map?”

Cecily didn’t reply. Then she said, “Okay.” She pulled her map from the lining of her jacket, unfolded it part way, and held it open on her knees. Ashai looked over her shoulder.

“We’re here,” Ambrose said, pointing to a spot where the green and red land markings approached a half-circle bay of water. “The island’s 11 kilometers long. Maybe two kilometers wide for most of its length.” He pointed. “There’s a lake there. And this island is laced with streams. Water won’t be a problem. The problems will be food and cold.”

“Can I borrow this?” Ashai said.

“No,” Cecily said. She hesitated and looked back at Ashai. “You can look at it. Take notes, okay? But I’m keeping it, the same way you’re keeping whatever you’ve got.”

“Map’s no big deal,” Rudy said. “I’ve got one.”

“I’ve seen your map, Rudy,” Cecily said. “It covers half of Lake Superior. No detail.”

“Well, so what?” Rudy said. “Who needs a map?” He looked at Ambrose. “You got any more of those lake trout?”

“Maybe,” Ambrose said.

“I think Ambrose is holding out on us,” Valentín said. “I think he’s catching fish and not sharing them.”

“Doesn’t have to,” Ashai said. “Catch your own fish. You got three fish hooks like everyone else.” She looked around. “Did everyone get those hooks?” They all nodded, except Valentín.

“So what?” Valentín said. “What good are fish hooks if there’s no line? What if you haven’t spent your life like a fucking Boy Scout? What’s the big deal?”

Ashai turned to Rudy. “I understand you and Maureen were performing for the camera the other night at the twin birch clearing. Good tight Rudy buns humping away, seen round the world.”

“We don’t know there’s a camera there,” Rudy said.

“I don’t think there is,” Maureen said, edging closer to Rudy. “I’m sure there isn’t.”

“Let’s back off,” Ambrose said. “We’re going to have to get along here. If there are seven of us holed up in seven shelters through the cold months, someone’s going to die, maybe all of us. If we can cooperate, we’ve got a chance.”

“We’ve been picked especially so we won’t cooperate,” Ashai said. “I’m pretty good at not cooperating.”

“We noticed,” Cecily said.

“Well, well, well,” Ashai said. “Miss Happy Face has a little acid in there.”

“Sure,” Cecily said.

“They want us to fight,” Ambrose said. “But we get no reward for fighting.”

“Is there some place we can get away from the cameras and mikes?” Ashai said.

“Not here baby,” said Rudy. “Hi Janice! Hi Mom!” he waved.

“Maybe there is,” Cecily said. They turned to her. She signaled the others to come close. When their heads were nearly touching she whispered, “I found a good looking spot, on the north shore.”

“Where’s that?”

“The direction Rudy’s facing.”

“I wouldn’t mind getting my butt off screen once in a while,” Rudy whispered. He glanced at Maureen.

“Lead on Lady Bumpo,” Ashai said. “Let’s check it out.” Cecily consulted her map, folded it and put it in her shirt pocket. She ducked into the trees. Four of them, Ashai, Ambrose, Ivan and Rudy, followed her into the woods.

. . .

Read more chapters... Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 7, Chapter 11