Johnnie (8 page)

“How do you know they won’t come to Dorp’s house when they see I’m missing? How do you know they won’t follow us there?”

She didn’t say, “Stupid,” but her voice implied it. “Dorp is a respectable professor of languages at Columbia University. No one is going to break into his house. And if they did, what would they find? A respectable house. That downstairs would fool anyone. It’s hideous.”

“Suppose they came upstairs? Suppose they—”

Janssen snarled, “Make him stop it, Magda. He’s getting me nervous. I can’t afford to be caught by the F. B. I. It’s all right for the rest of you but I can’t afford it. You know I was enrolled in the party before I got away. I couldn’t help it but I was. They’d find it out and shoot me. How
do
you know we’re safe, Magda?”

Magda said wearily, “For God’s sake, Louie, don’t I have enough on my hands without you going to pieces? If you and Rudo can’t take my word for it, I’ll get out of this car right now and you can stew in your own juices. Now shut up both of you. You make me excruciatingly ill.”

“But Magda,” Rudolph whimpered.

“Light me one of your cigarettes, Johnnie,” Magda interrupted. “Or are your hands shaky?”

“I’m not afraid of man nor beast,” Johnnie drawled. “Or the F. B. I.” He almost swallowed that one with a gulp. If the F. B. I. really were on the trail, how was Private Johnnie Brown going to explain wearing this monkey suit instead of his G. I. uniform? He passed the cigarette to her. There wasn’t any F. B. I. That was her contribution to spiriting Rudolph back to Dorp’s.

Rudolph stammered, “I wish I were back in Mexico.”

Magda didn’t say, “So do I.” She merely began to hum, “Get Out of Town.”

The car pulled up in the quiet side street, stopped short.

Rudolph quavered, “Where are we? What is it?”

“Dorp’s,” Magda said.

“Where is Dorp? Where’s Trudy?”

“They’re already here. We came roundabout purposely. I told you that.”

Rudolph backed into the corner. “How do you know they’re—”

She drew a breath. “I say they’re here. They’re here. Now get out.”

“Before I beat your brain in,” Johnnie murmured to himself. He helped her to the street. She rushed ahead up the stairs. He stuck with her. The rest pattered after them. It wasn’t Theo who opened the door; it was Trudy, sparkling white in the dim hallway.

“Hiya, Babe,” Johnnie greeted her.

“Go right on up.” Her mouth was grim. “I’m waiting for the squad to get here.”

Johnnie followed Magda. Dorp was pacing up and down, his short arms behind his back, his fat face red as the velvet throne. Theo was standing in the corner chewing his fingernails. Dorp waited only until the five, trailed by a wheezing Ottomkopf, were inside. Then he exploded. “Theo has lost the papers!”

Ottomkopf fell back. “It cannot be!” He was hoarse. His eyes were like broken glass now.

“Do any of you have them?”

Johnnie shook his head along with the rest of them.

Rudolph asked, “What papers?”

“Your passports. Your identifications.”

“But I have them,” Rudolph began.

“Idiot!” Dorp raged. “You have the ones to take you from this country to Europe. You do not yet have the ones to take you from Switzerland to Rudamia. The true ones.” His eyes opened hopefully. “Or do you?”

“I have never seen them and you know it.” He flounced to the throne chair and extracted from his pocket the long cigarette holder. “You know very well I haven’t seen them. You told me you’d give them to me when I boarded the Clipper.”

“Theo has lost them,” Dorp repeated with menace. “I keep them on me until we go to the party. Then I think it is not wise I carry them there. They do not look so well in the full dress suit. Perhaps Ferenz will grow snoopy. He is so afraid we do something outside the law, something at which we get caught. He would not like doctored papers such as Rudolph must use to enter his country. So the last thing in the car I pass them to Theo. He has big military pockets to keep them safe. And Ferenz does not like Theo.” His little eyes narrowed. “Because Theo does not like Ferenz.” He shrugged. “Does he put them into the inner pocket as anyone with the brains of a peahen would do?”

Johnnie had the papers! He realized it suddenly. This didn’t seem exactly the time to disclose that fact. Besides Trudy had been insistent he keep mum. More than insistent. She’d threatened him. He kept his mouth shut. Despite everything he liked Trudy a lot better than this passel of thieves. He didn’t like Dorp at all.

“No!” roared Dorp. He slapped his fat thigh and winced. “He puts them in his coat pocket where when he leans over to make the bow they fall out.”

“They couldn’t have fallen out,” Theo blubbered. “I told you, Herr Dorp. The envelope went way deep.”

“Someone picked his pocket,” Magda said. “That’s obvious. In the crush while Rudolph was speaking. Who was near you?”

“I don’t know.” There were tears in Theo’s eyes. One hung from the tip of his nose. “I didn’t notice. I was listening like Herr Dorp told me to.” He wailed, “I didn’t want to carry the papers. I didn’t want to be responsible.”

“Enough,” Ottomkopf commanded. “You will turn in your uniform, be confined to quarters.” He looked about the room. The rear guard hadn’t caught up yet. The only uniforms were Janssen attending Rudolph, and Johnnie following Magda. “Who will escort him?”

“I know the way,” Theo sniffled. “I’ll go.” He turned at the door. “If you’d only told me the inside pocket, Herr Dorp. But you said pocket.”

“Go. Go on!” Dorp waggled five thick fingers. Theo went.

“It’s Ferenz.” Magda scowled. “Of course it’s Ferenz in back of it.”

“But why?” Dorp shook his head. “He is paying good money for Rudolph to go. And he knows nothing of the false papers.”

“When you’ve known Ferenz as long as we have, Herr Dorp, you won’t ask why. You’ll know that everything he does is to make trouble and sell some more of his nasty bombs and stuff.”

Rudolph almost fell off the throne. “You think Ferenz doesn’t want me to return to Rudamia? Because I won’t go if that’s the way he feels. After all I owe him a hundred and fifty thousand rudls. Besides he might be planning another revolution.”

“He might be,” Magda admitted. She sat on the throne steps and put her chin in her hand. She surveyed the ruby lovingly. “But in that case why wouldn’t he let you go ahead? A revolution’s no good without a king to dethrone. And he promised me I could be queen. He even got the betrothal ring out of hock.”

“There are no revolutions in the new Rudamia,” Dorp swelled up.

“There can be,” Ottomkopf countered.

Dorp stuck out his chin. “Saupreussen!”

Ottomkopf turned the colors of roquefort. He couldn’t get his tongue to work.

Magda said, “I wish you’d be quiet. I’m trying to think how we can get Ferenz over here now.” She stood up. “I can’t think in these clothes. I’m going to get comfortable. Don’t start any more name-calling until I return. Save that for Furry.”

Rudolph said, “I want to take a bath.”

“Now?” Magda turned on him violently.

“I don’t know when I’ve had a bath,” he said dreamily. “I’ve heard so much about American hot water. You and Trudy and Rupe were always bragging about it. I want a bath now.”

“Don’t drown,” Magda said with set teeth.

“Janssen will show you your room,” Dorp said.

Magda added, “Get back before Ferenz arrives.” She sailed out. Johnnie was in her wake. She didn’t turn around until she was on the floor above, outside her door. “You can’t come in. I’m going to change.”

“I want to change too,” he said. “I don’t like these clothes.”

“Why not? On you it looks good.”

“I want my own uniform.”

“A uniform’s a uniform.” She slammed the door behind them.

It was not. This snake thing wasn’t anywhere near as good as old G.I. He didn’t mention that. Not with two warnings not to talk too much. He was looking around. His suit wasn’t here yet. He said, “I guess Trudy hasn’t brought my things up yet.”

“For heaven’s sake why should she bring them to my room?” Magda demanded.

“Well, she put me in here to dress, didn’t she?”

“God knows why.” Magda had the white skirts half over her head before he could yell, “Wait a minute!”

“If you’re still squeamish,” she retorted, “get out.”

He started for the door.

“No, don’t.” It was a command. “I want to talk. I’ve got to talk.”

He did the next best thing. He turned his back and sat down. He said sadly, “My uniform ought to be back by now.”

“Keep quiet about your uniform,” said Magda through a mouthful of dress. “How can I go about getting Ferenz over here? That’s the trouble. He’s so full of good manners he won’t walk out on his party. And he didn’t want to see Rudolph in the first place. He made the best of it, that’s Ferenz, but he didn’t like it.” Her mouth was empty now. “Well, why don’t you say something.”

“I want my suit,” Johnnie said.

“Your suit! You worry about a suit when I have this to contend with!” She was quiet for a spell and then she said, “You can turn around now, Johnnie. I’m decent. But think, how can I make Ferenz come? It’s got to be good.”

She was more than decent. She was a thriller. Yellow slacks, yellow sweater, black velvet coat and sandals. She was rolling a yellow chiffon handkerchief to tie around her black hair.

Johnnie had a brainstorm. “Business,” he stated.

“What business?”

“Tell him it’s business. Tell him there’s a new war started, lots of business for him.”

She whirled from the dressing table. “Darling!” She plastered a kiss on his yellow cowlick.

“Don’t
do
that!” Johnnie murmured, not loud.

She dipped some more magnolia perfume, touched her chin. “But of course. That will bring him. Why didn’t I think of it before? I’ll tell him there’s a revolution broken out in Rudamia. We just heard it over short wave. We need his help. He’ll have to come then. Rudamia’s royal family owes him too much money to let the country go Bolshie.”

There was a white phone by her bed. She stretched herself full length on the fluffy white coverlet. Johnnie gazed at the rug. She was made for sweaters, or maybe she wasn’t. He lit a cigarette.

She said, “It’s most important that I speak to Mr. Lessering, Shanks. Call him at once.” Her voice stroked the space between the bed and Johnnie. “Whoever you are, you’re a lamb and a love. I don’t know why Dorp didn’t bring you around sooner. Why don’t you come over here?” She patted the edge of the bed. There wasn’t room for a toothpick on that side of it.

Johnnie felt his ears turn scarlet. He just shook his head.

“You’re a darling. Hello—hello—Ferenz, Magda.” Her voice became throaty, conspiratorial. “We’ve just heard the most awful news. Rudamia has revolted against the Nazis. Bolshies. You’ll have to come over at once. I know but this is important. Don’t you understand? We must decide what to do about Rudolph. We can’t send him into that and we don’t dare keep him here. No! Don’t tell Ruprecht—he’d just upset Rudolph.” She nodded her gorgeous head, smiled at Johnnie. “Yes, Furry. You do understand? You will come? Angel! Hurry!” She replaced the phone and stretched her arms above her head. She laughed. She reminded Johnnie of a leopard he’d seen once at the circus. She looked at Johnnie between those foot long eyelashes. “You don’t want to come over here?”

Johnnie breathed deeply. “Not now.” He breathed some more. “I really haven’t time. I have a date downtown I’m late for.” He’d get back to Trudy, find out what she’d done with the uniform, and he’d skip out fast. Before anything more happened. He wasn’t used to babes like this one.

“You’ll have to break it.” She leaned on an elbow. “But I had better get downstairs and tell them Ferenz is coming. We’ll have to plan an attack. The dirty bum. Snatching those papers.” She patted the yellow chiffon back in place. “He isn’t easy to work on. Come along, Johnnie.”

He waited until she had the door open before he moved. He didn’t want to get any nearer than that to her. His neck was damp enough. She didn’t speak again until she reached the door of the throne room. “Go down and tell Trudy he’s coming so she’ll wait for him.” She patted his cheek. “You’re sweet as well as smart, Johnnie.”

He ducked down the flight to first but fast. This was the break. Tell Trudy. Trade her the papers for his uniform and beat it.

She was sitting on the straight chair, a deserted white cherub. He said, “Everything’s under control, baby. Ferenz is coming.”

She jumped up. “What for?”

“I forgot. You don’t know.” He glanced upstairs. No one in sight. He lowered his voice. “Anyone hear us?” She motioned him down on the steps, sat beside him. “They think Ferenz took the papers.” He patted his left upper pocket. “So Magda’s called him up and told him there’s a revolution on in Rudamia and he’d better get over and decide what to do with Rudo. Only there isn’t any revolution. We sort of thought it up together,” he admitted modestly. He talked fast under his breath. “When he gets here they’re going to try to get the papers. Only he hasn’t them.” He stuck his hand toward his pocket. “Where’s my uniform? I got to be going now so you’d better take these and—”

“Going?” Her blue eyes were rubber balls.

“Sure. I told you. Or I’ve told everybody else. I got a date.”

“You can’t go now. It’s too late.”

“It is late,” he admitted. “But Bill and Hank kind of expect me not to turn up on time. They’ll keep looking. Where’s my suit?”

“I mean you don’t dare go. They’d nab you if you left now.” Her hand touched him. “Listen, Johnnie, you don’t think they’re going to let anyone leave here, not until the papers turn up, do you?”

He stuck out his chin. “Then I’ll give them the damn papers.”

“You can’t do that!” She put her face up to his. “How are you going to explain where you got them?”

“You gave them to me.”

“Do you think they’d believe you? A—a strange Soldier—? When I said that it was all a big lie?”

He leaned just a little bit closer and he kissed her. Like that. She jerked back. He said, “You’re cute, baby. Even if you are a stinker.”

“I’m no baby. I’m no stinker either. Johnnie,” she softened up again, “the cleaner hasn’t sent your suit yet so you’ll have to stick around just a little longer. It’ll be here by the time we get Rudolph on his way, I’m sure. You can stay that long.”