SHANE OBSCURE CHAPTER 18

 18. 

 

   One night it was myself, Cudd, Gale, and Marc at the Cavern. It was during the course of the poker nights but this wasn’t a poker night. Ed was at work (back to working nights) and Dusk had gone home. I think he’d left for a couple reasons. Marc was drinking and I don’t think Sean was in the mood to drink. 

  “You know how I know Sean feels like partying?” Marc asked me.  

  “How?” 

  “When I go out and have a cigarette and he comes right outside and smokes one with me.” 

  “Really?” 

  “Yeah. And Sean hasn’t been smoking too much lately.” 

  “Why’s that?” 

  “I’m not sure.” 

  Gale, up at the counter, cracked a tall can of imported beer. What Marc (and Sean) drank was domestic light beer. Cudd was watching one of those nature shows where animals chase, kill and eat each other. This was Cudd’s personal slice of heaven. Ed loved these shows also. Dusk couldn’t stand them. It really got under his skin. I think what bugged him more than the show was how much Cudd - and Ed - enjoyed it. I think that was the other reason he’d left early that night. 

  “How can you drink American beer,” Gale asked Marc.  

  “Because I like this beer,” Marc answered wistfully. 

  “I can’t stand American beer,” Gale said in his I’m-about-to-tell-a-story tone. “I used to drink it till I went to Amsterdam. Then I got into all kinds of beers - and other things. They have so many beers all over Europe. I guarantee when you come back you won’t even want to look at American beer.” He glanced down at his can and smiled privately. “This beer - this one I’m drinking - beat’s ‘em all out. That I guarantee.” 

  “You got another one?” Marc asked him. 

  “No. This is my last.” 

  That was Gale Trask, summed up. He would lead you to the fountain and tell you along the way there’s nothing quite like drinking water from that fountain and then, when you get there, there’d be only enough water for him.  

   Then, about ten minutes later:  

   Marc had fallen asleep on the couch. Gale had finished his immaculate beer and left. Marc snored so loud Cudd got a little bit (silently) perturbed and he went to bed. I took off soon after, leaving Marc, once again, like so many times before, asleep at the Cavern.