Над пропастью во ржи

           Thenhetookoutallthesewomen’sclothes,andputthemon. Realwomen’sclothes—silkstockings,high-heeledshoes,brassiere,andoneofthosecorsetswiththestrapshangingdownandall. Thenheputonthisverytightblackeveningdress.IsweartoGod. Thenhestartedwalkingupanddowntheroom,takingtheseverysmallsteps,thewayawomandoes,andsmokingacigaretteandlookingathimselfinthemirror. Hewasallalone,too. Unlesssomebodywasinthebathroom—Icouldn’tseethatmuch. Then,inthewindowalmostrightoverhis,Isawamanandawomansquirtingwateroutoftheirmouthsateachother. Itprobablywashighballs,notwater,butIcouldn’tseewhattheyhadintheirglasses. Anyway,firsthe’dtakeaswallowandsquirtitalloverher,thenshedidittohim—theytookturns,forGod’ssake. Youshould’veseenthem. Theywereinhystericsthewholetime,likeitwasthefunniestthingthateverhappened. I’mnotkidding,thehotelwaslousywithperverts. Iwasprobablytheonlynormalbastardinthewholeplace—andthatisn’tsayingmuch. IdamnnearsentatelegramtooldStradlatertellinghimtotakethefirsttraintoNewYork. He’dhavebeenthekingofthehotel. 

           Thetroublewas,thatkindofjunkissortoffascinatingtowatch,evenifyoudon’twantittobe. Forinstance,thatgirlthatwasgettingwatersquirtedalloverherface,shewasprettygood-looking. Imeanthat’smybigtrouble. Inmymind,I’mprobablythebiggestsexmaniacyoueversaw. SometimesIcanthinkofverycrumbystuffIwouldn’tminddoingiftheopportunitycameup. Icanevenseehowitmightbequitealotoffun,inacrumbyway,andifyouwerebothsortofdrunkandall,togetagirlandsquirtwaterorsomethingallovereachother’sface. Thethingis,though,Idon’tliketheidea. Itstinks,ifyouanalyzeit.