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Ninety Days Inside The Empire: A Novel by William Appleman Williams

Into the Dining Room

Page 72

*****

Cat walked into the kitchen and back out.

"Kinda tight there at the end, Mrs. Wye. Next time I'll send you to talk to the Admiral."

"Either we're equal or we're not, Cat. Course the Lees want to run it, but it's either a community paper or it'll fold."

"True. One preacher around here is enough. But you can still see Admiral next time. You are an impressive lady. Let's have a real drink and let the dishes go till morning. I don't fly tomorrow and the review of today's play-time isn't till 1300."

Susan flipped her dress. "I ain't no lady, I'm your wenchy woman. But put the mixers and the beer in the fridge while you make our drinks."

She curled up on the couch and continued when he joined her.

"That story about Mrs. Warrener makes me nervous, but Run-Run's curtain idea isn't the answer. I could borrow Caroline's machine and run them up, but that would really make Mrs. Nosey curious. Anyway, we've always pulled the roll shades at night."

"I suppose so; but I think we ought to consider moving if we're going to have Negroes coming in and out of here doing the paper. That's bound to raise questions from others than Mrs. Busybody."

"Maybe the Reverend would let us use the basement of the church?"

"Could be, but I'm not sure that's a good idea. When the NAACP or other groups use the church they pay rent, and anyway this is different."

"I'll ask Caroline what she thinks. She's close enough to Lette to talk it over with her and see if she thinks it's maybe a good idea."

Cat put a hand high on Susan's thigh and kissed her ear.

"And I'm close enough to you to ask you if...."

"The answer is yes, and I'm already wet. God, I wanted you when everybody started coming in the door."

On their wedding night they had begun with an hour in a grand old bathtub. Now they began slowly to undress each other, discovering themselves as well as each other as if for the first time with eyes, words, tongues, hands and mouths. They shared great joy in arousing and pleasing each other. Susan eased a leg over him and placed him where she wanted him. After several wiggles to get the fit just right he carried her into the bedroom.

In the afterglow, as she snuggled half across him, Susan purred.

"H'mm"

"H'mm what?"

"Our friend down there liked that a lot."

"He or her is a late comer to such carryings-on."

"Who turns out the lights?"

"Mrs. Warrener."

"Don't get paranoid."

"Why not? It's realistic."

"H'mm."