iancaldwell&dustinthomason.theruleoffour-第61部分

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　at　the　edge　of　the　closet；　laces　tucked　in；　last　year's　pair　is　still　being　broken　in　on　weekends。　But　everything　in　Gil's　half　of　the　room　seems　unlived…in；　new　and　dusty　at　the　same　time。　From　inside　the　box　he　lifts　a　silver　watch；　the　one　he　wears　on　special　occasions。　Its　hands　have　stopped　moving；　so　he　shakes　the　casing　gently；　winding　it。
　〃What　time　you　got？〃　he　says。
　I　show　him　the　face　of　my　watch；　and　he　sets　his　to　match。
　Outside；　night　has　risen。　Gil　takes　his　key　ring　in　his　hand；　then　the　phone　from　its　charger。　〃My　dad's　favorite　day　of　college　was　the　Ivy　ball　his　senior　year；〃　he　says。　〃He　always　used　to　talk　about　it。〃
　I　think　of　Richard　Curry；　of　the　stories　he　told　Paul　about　Ivy。
　He　said　it　was　like　living　a　dream；　a　perfect　dream。
　Gil　places　the　watch　to　his　ear。　He　listens　to　it　as　if　there　is　something　miraculous　about　the　sound；　an　ocean　trapped　in　a　seashell。
　〃Ready？〃　he　says；　pulling　the　band　around　his　wrist　and　fastening　the　metal。
　He　focuses　on　me　now；　checking　the　cut　of　the　tux。
　〃Not　bad；〃　he　says。　〃I　think　she'll　approve。〃
　〃You　okay？〃　I　ask。
　Gil　adjusts　his　jacket　and　nods。
　〃I　don't　think　I'll　be　telling　my　kids　about　tonight。　But　yeah。　I'm　fine。〃
　At　the　door　we　both　take　one　last　look　before　locking　up。　With　the　lights　out；　the　room　es　to　shadows。　When　I　look　out　the　window　at　the　moon　one　last　time；　I　see　Paul　in　the　reflection　of　my　mind's　eye；　trudging　across　campus　in　his　worn　winter　coat；　alone。
　Gil　looks　at　his　watch　and　says；　〃We　should　be　just　on　time。〃
　Then　he　and　I；　in　our　black　suits　and　black　shoes；　head　out　to　the　Saab　in　the　shoals　of　the　night…colored　snow。
　　
　A　costume　ball；　Gil　had　told　me。　And　a　costume　ball　it　was。　We　arrive　to　find　the　club　magnificent；　the　center　of　all　attention　on　Prospect　Avenue。　Tall　berms　of　snow　rise　like　ramparts　along　the　brick　wall　that　surrounds　the　club；　but　the　path　leading　to　the　front　door　has　been　cleared；　and　the　walkway　has　been　covered　with　a　thin　layer　of　black　stones。　Like　rock　salt　they　melt　a　swath　through　the　ice。　Mirroring　the　effect　are　four　long　cloths　draped　down　the　front　bays　of　the　clubhouse；　each　one　with　a　vertical　stripe　of　ivy　green　flanked　by　thin　pillars　of　gold。
　As　Gil　parks　the　Saab　in　his　space；　club　members　and　the　few　other　invitees　are　approaching　Ivy　ark…style；　in　twos；　each　entrance　staggered　from　the　next　in　polite　intervals；　careful　not　to　intrude　on　one　another。　Seniors　arrive　last；　because　warm　receptions　are　customary　for　graduating　members；　Gil　tells　me　as　he　shuts　off　the　headlights。
　We　cross　the　threshold　to　find　the　club　bustling。　The　air　is　heavy　with　the　heat　of　bodies；　the　sweet　odor　of　alcohol　and　cooked　food；　the　slurring　conversations　that　form　and　re…form　across　the　floor。　Gil's　entrance　is　met　with　clapping　and　cheers。　Sophomores　and　juniors　stationed　across　the　first　floor　turn　toward　the　door　to　wele　him；　some　crying　Gil's　name　aloud；　and　it　seems　for　a　second　that　this　could　still　be　the　night　he　hoped　for；　a　night　like　his　father　had。
　〃Well；〃　he　says　to　me；　ignoring　the　applause　when　it　continues　too　long；　〃this　is　it。〃
　I　look　around　at　the　club's　transformation。　The　work　Gil　has　been　doing；　the　errands　and　planning　and　conversations　with　florists　and　caterers；　is　suddenly　more　than　just　an　excuse　to　leave　our　room　when　things　aren't　well。　Everything　is　different。　The　armchairs　and　tables　that　were　once　here　are　gone。　In　their　place；　the　corners　of　the　front　hall　have　been　rounded　by　quarter…circle　tables；　all　hung　with　silky　cloths　in　regal　dark　green　and　decked　in　china　platters　trembling　with　food。　Behind　each　one；　as　behind　the　wet　bar　to　our　right；　stands　an　attendant　in　white　gloves。　Flower　arrangements　are　everywhere；　not　a　speck　of　color　in　any　of　them：　just　white　lilies　and　black　orchids　and　varieties　I　have　never　seen　before。　In　the　storm　of　tuxedoes　and　black　evening　gowns；　it's　even　possible　to　overlook　the　brown　oak　of　the　walls。
　〃Sir？〃　says　a　waiter　dressed　in　white　tie；　who　has　appeared　from　nowhere　bearing　a　tray　of　canapés　and　truffles。　〃Lamb；〃　he　says；　pointing　at　the　first；　〃and　white　chocolate；〃　pointing　at　the　second。
　〃Have　one；〃　Gil　says。
　So　I　do；　and　all　the　hunger　of　the　day；　the　missed　meals　and　hospital　food　fantasies；　all　of　it　instantly　returns。　When　another　man　circles　by　with　a　tray　of　champagne　flutes；　I　help　myself　again。　The　bubbles　rise　straight　to　my　head；　helping　to　keep　my　thoughts　from　drifting　back　to　Paul。
　Just　then；　a　musical　quartet　kicks　up　from　the　dining　room　antechamber；　a　place　where　weathered　lounge　chairs　used　to　stand。　A　piano　and　drum　set　have　been　tucked　into　the　corner；　with　enough　room　for　a　bass　and　electric　guitar　in　between。　For　the　time　being；　it's　R&B　standards。　Later；　I　know；　if　Gil　has　his　way；　there　will　be　jazz。
　〃I'll　be　right　back；〃　he　says；　and　suddenly　he　leaves　my　side；　heading　up　the　stairs。　At　every　step；　a　member　stops　him　to　say　something　kind；　to　smile　and　shake　his　hand；　sometimes　to　hug　him。　I　see　Donald　Morgan　place　a　careful　hand　on　Gil's　back　as　he　passes；　the　easy；　sincere　congratulations　of　the　man　who　would　be　king。　Junior　women　already　in　their　drinks　look　at　Gil　with　foggy　eyes；　sentimental　about　the　club's　loss；　their　loss。　He　is　tonight's　hero；　I　realize；　the　host　and　guest　of　honor　both。　Everywhere　he　goes　he'll　have　pany。　But　somehow；　without　anyone　by　his　side…Brooks　or　Anna　or　one　of　us…he　looks　alone　already。
　〃Tom！〃　es　a　voice　from　behind　me。
　I　turn；　and　the　air　converges　in　a　single　fragrance；　the　one　Gil's　mother　and　Charlie's　girlfriend　must've　worn；　because　it　has　the　same　effect　on　me。　If　I　imagined　that　I　liked　Katie　best　when　I　saw　her　with　flaws；　with　her　hair　up　and　her　shirt　untucked；　then　I　was　a　fool。　Because　here　she　is　now；　tucked　into　a　black　gown；　hair　down；　all　collarbones　and　breasts；　and　I　am　undone。
　〃Wow。〃
　She　puts　a　hand　on　my　lapel　and　rubs　off　a　flake　of　dust　that　turns　out　to　be　snow；　still　lingering　in　this　heat。
　〃Same　to　you；〃　she　says。
　There　is　something　wonderful　in　her　voice；　a　wele　ease。　〃Where's　Gil？〃　she　asks。
　〃Upstairs。〃
　She　pulls　two　more　flutes　of　champagne　from　a　passing　tray。
　〃Cheers；〃　she　says；　giving　me　one。　〃So　who　are　you　supposed　to　be？〃
　I　hesitate；　unsure　what　she　means。
　〃Your　costume。　Who'd　you　e　as？〃
　Now　Gil　reappears。
　〃Hey；〃　Katie　says。　〃Long　time　no　see。〃
　Gil　sizes　the　two　of　us　up；　then　smiles　like　a　proud　father。　〃You　both　look　beautiful。〃
　Katie　laughs。　〃So　who　are　you　supposed　to　be？〃　she　asks。
　With　a　flourish；　Gil　swings　back　the　side　of　his　jacket。　Only　now　do　I　see　what　he　went　upstairs　to　get。　There；　hanging　between　the　left　flank　of　his　waist　and　his　right　hip；　is　a　black　leather　belt。　On　the　belt　is　a　leather　holster；　and　in　the　holster　is　an　ivory…handled　pistol。
　〃Aaron　Burr；〃　he　says。　〃Class　of　1772。〃
　〃Flashy；〃　Katie　says；　watching　the　pearly　butt　of　the　gun。
　〃What's　that？〃　I　blurt。
　Gil　seems　taken　aback。　〃My　costume。　Burr　shot　Hamilton　in　a　duel。〃
　He　puts　an　arm　at　my　back　and　leads　me　toward　the　landing　between　the　first　and　second　floors。
　〃See　the　lapel　pins　Jamie　Ness　is　wearing？〃　He　points　at　a　blond　senior　whose　bow　tie　is　embroidered　with　treble　and　bass　clefs。
　On　the　left　lapel　I　can　make　out　a　brown　oval；　on　the　right；　a　black　dot。
　〃That's　a　football；〃　Gil　says；　〃and　that's　a　hockey　puck。　He's　Hobey　Baker；　Ivy　section　of　1914。　The　only　man　ever　inducted　into　both　the　football　and　hockey　halls　of　fame。　Hobey　was　in　a　singing　group　here…that's　why　Jamie's　tie　has　notes　on　it。〃
　Now　Gil　points　to　a　tall　senior　with　bright　red　hair。　〃Chris　Bentham；　right　beside　Doug：　James　Madison；　class　of　1771。　You　can　tell　by　the　shirt　buttons。　The　top　one　is　a　Princeton　seal…Madison　was　the　first　president　of　the　alumni　association。　And　the　fourth　one　is　an　American　flag。　。　。　。〃
　There　is　something　mechanical　in　his　voice；　a　tour　guide's　inflection；　as　if　he's　reading　a　script　in　his　head。
　〃Just　make　up　a　costume；〃　Katie　interjects；　joining　our　conversation　from　the　foot　of　the　stairs。
　I　glance　down　at　her；　and　the　leverage　gives　me　a　new　appreciation　for　the　way　she　fits　into　her　dress。
　〃Oh；　listen；〃　Gil　says；　looking　past　her；　〃I've　got　to　go　deal　with　something。　Can　you　two　manage　on　your　own　for　a　second？〃
　Over　by　the　wet　bar；　Brooks　is　pointing　to　one　of　the　white…gloved　attendants；　who　is　leaning　heavily　against　the　wall。
　〃One　of　the　servers　is　drunk；〃　Gil　says。
　〃No　rush；〃　I　tell　him；　noticing　how　Katie's　neck　looks　impossibly　thin　from　this　height；　like　the　stem　of　a　sunflower。
　〃If　you　need　anything；〃　he　says；　〃just　let　me　know。〃
　Side　by　side；　we　begin　to　descend。　The　band　is　playing　Duke　Ellington；　the　champagne　flutes　are　clinking；　and　Katie's　lipstick　has　a　high　red　gloss；　the　color　of　a　kiss。
　〃Want　to　dance？〃　I　say；　when　I　step　down　from　the　landing。
　Katie　smiles　and　takes　me　by　the　hand。
　Listen　。　。　。　rails　a…thrumming　。　。　。　on　the　〃A〃　train。
　At　the　foot　of　the　stairs；　Gil's　tracks　and　mine　diverge。
　
　Chapter　26
　
　The　dance　floor　is　ten　degrees　hotter　than　the　rest　of　the　club；　couples　pressed　tight　into　each　other；　merging　and　turning；　an　asteroid　belt　of　sl