His room was on the third floor, and Raphael was puffing slightly as he reached the top of the stairs. The door at the end of the hall was open, and billowing clouds of smoke were rolling out. Raphaels stomach turned cold. Everything had gone too well up until now. He went down the hall and into the smoke.
A young man with olive skin and sleek black hair brushed by him carrying a large vase filled with water. Dont just stand there, man, he said to Raphael in a rich baritone voice. Help me put this son of a bitch out. He rushed into the room, bent slightly, and threw the water into a small fireplace that seemed to be the source of all the smoke. The fire hissed spitefully, and clouds of steam boiled out to mingle blindingly with the smoke.
Damn! the dark-haired man swore, and started back for more water.
Raphael saw the problem immediately. Wait, he said. He set down his suitcases, stepped across to the evilly fuming fireplace, and pulled the brass handle sticking out of the bricks just below the mantelpiece. The damper opened with a clank, and the fireplace immediately stopped belching smoke into the room. Its a good idea to open the chimney before you build the fire, he suggested.
The other man stared at the fireplace for a moment, and then he threw back his head and began to laugh. Theres a certain logic there, I guess, he admitted. He collapsed on the bed near the door, still laughing.
Raphael crossed the room and opened the window. The smoke rushed out past him.
Its a good thing you came by when you did, the dark-haired man said. I was well on my way to being smoked like a Virginia ham. He was somewhat shorter than Raphael, and more slender. His olive skin and black hair suggested a Mediterranean background, Italian perhaps or Spanish, but there was no Latin softness in his dark eyes. They were as hard as obsidian and watchful, even wary. His clothing was expensivetailored, Raphael surmised, definitely tailoredand his wristwatch was not so much a timepiece as it was a statement.
Then the young man looked at Raphael as if seeing him for the first time, and something peculiar happened to his face. His eyes widened, and a strange pallor turned his olive complexion slightly green. His eyes narrowed, seeming almost to glitter. It was as if a shock of recognition had passed through him. You must be Edwards, right? His expression seemed tight somehow.
Sorry, Raphael replied. The names Taylor. I thought you might be my roomie. No. Im two doors up the hall.
Oh, wellthe stranger shrugged, making a wry facethere goes my chance to keep the knowledge of my little blunder a secret. Edwards is bound to smell the smoke when he gets here. He rose to his feet and extended his hand. J. D. Flood, he said by way of introducing himself.
Rafe Taylor, Raphael responded. They shook hands. What were you burning, Flood?
Some pieces of a packing crate. Ive never had a dormitory room with a fireplace before, so I had to try it. Hell, I was even going out to buy a pipe. He raised one eyebrow. Rafeis that short for Raphael?
Afraid so. It was a romantic notion of my mothers. You wouldnt believe how many school-yard brawls it started.
Floods face darkened noticeably. Unreal, he said. That strange, almost shocked expression that had appeared in his eyes when he had first looked at Raphael returned, and there was a distinct tightening in his face. Once again Raphael felt that momentary warning as if something were telling him to be very careful about this glib young man. In that private place within his mind from which he had always watched and made decisions, he began to erect some cautionary defenses. And what does the J.D. stand for? he asked, trying to make it sound casual.
Jacob Damon Flood, Junior, Flood said with distaste.
Jake? Raphael suggested.
Not hardly.
J.D. then?
Thats worse. Thats what they call my father. How about Damon?
Flood considered that. Why not? How about a martini? Is it legal? In the dorm, I mean?
Who gives a shit? Im not going to start paying any attention to the rules at this late date.
Raphael shrugged. Most of my drinking has been limited to beer, but Ill give it a try.
Thats the spirit, Flood said, opening one of his suitcases and taking out a couple of bottles. I laid in some ice a bit earlier. I make a mean martiniits one of the few things Ive actually learned. He busied himself with a silver shaker. Any cretin can swill liquor out of a bottle, he went on with a certain brittle extravagance, but a gentleman boozes it up with class.
Floods language seemed to shift back and forth between an easy colloquialism Raphael found comfortable and a kind of stilted eastern usage. There was a forced quality about Flood that made him uncomfortable.
They had a couple of drinks, and Raphael feigned enjoyment, although the sharp taste of nearly raw gin was not particularly to his liking. He was not really accustomed to drinking, and Floods martinis were strong enough to make his ears hot and the tips of his fingers tingle. Well, he said finally, setting down his glass, I guess Id better go get moved in.
Taylor, Flood said, an odd note in his voice. Ive got a sort of an idea. Is your roommate up the hall an old friend?
Never met the man, actually.
And Ive never met Edwards eitherobviously. Why dont you room in here? There was a kind of intensity about the way Flood said it, as if it were far, far more important than the casual nature of the suggestion called for.
They dont allow that, do they? Raphael asked. Switching rooms, I mean?
Its easy to see youve never been in a boarding school before. Flood laughed. Switching rooms is standard practice. It goes on everywhere. Believe me, I know. Ive been kicked out of some of the best schools in the east.
What if Edwards shows up and wants his bed?
Well give him yours. Ill lie to himtell him Ive got something incurable and that youre here to give me a shot in case I throw a fit.
Come on. Raphael laughed.
You can be the one with the fits if youd rather, Flood offered. Can you do a convincing grand mal seizure? I dont know. Ive never tried.
The whole point is that we get along fairly well together, and I dont know diddly about Edwards. I know that youre white, but I havent got any idea at all about what color he is.
Is that important? Raphael said it carefully.
Floods face suddenly broke into a broad grin. Gotcha! he said gleefully. God, I love to do that to people. Actually, it doesnt mean jack-shit to me one way or another, but it sure as hell does to old J.D. Sooner or later somebody from back home is going to come by, and if words gets back to the old pirate that his son has a nigger roommatehis word, not minethee shit will hit thee fan. Old J.D.s prejudiced against races that have been extinct for thousands of yearslike the Hittitesor the Wends.
It wont work out then, Damon, Raphael told him with a perfectly straight face. My mothers Canadian.
Thats all right, Raphael. Im liberal. Well let you come in through the back door. Have Canadians got rhythm? Do you have overpowering cravings for northern-fried moose?