pbien.jaws-第27章
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He refilled Hooper's drink and Daisy Wicker's without refilling his own。 Then he sat down and nursed his drink through a long story Meadows was telling Daisy。 Brody felt all right … pretty good; in fact … and he knew that if he didn't have anything more to drink before dinner; he'd be fine。
At 8:30; Ellen brought the soup plates out from the kitchen and set them around the table。 〃Martin;〃 she said; 〃would you open the wine for me while I get everyone seated?〃
〃Wine?〃
〃There are three bottles in the kitchen。 A white in the icebox and two reds on the counter。 You may as well open them all。 The reds will need time to breathe。〃
〃Of course they will;〃 Brody said as he stood up。 〃Who doesn't?〃
〃Oh; and the tire…bouchin is on the counter next to the red。〃
〃The what?〃
Daisy Wicker said; 〃It's tire…bouchon。 The corkscrew。〃
Brody took vengeful pleasure in seeing Ellen blush; for it relieved him of some of his own embarrassment。 He found the corkscrew and went to work on the two bottles of red wine。 He pulled one cork cleanly; but the other crumbled as he was withdrawing it; and pieces slipped into the bottle。 He took the bottle of white out of the refrigerator; and as he uncorked it he tangled his tongue trying to pronounce the name of the wine: Montrachet。 He arrived at what seemed to him an acceptable pronunciation; wiped the bottle dry with a dish… towel; and took it into the dining room。
Ellen was seated at the end of the table nearest the kitchen。 Hooper was at her left; Meadows at her right。 Next to Meadows; Daisy Wicker; then an empty space for Brody at the far end of the table; and; opposite Daisy; Dorothy Meadows Brody put his left hand behind his back and; standing over Ellen's right shoulder; poured her a glass of wine。 〃A glass of Mount Ratchet;〃 he said。 〃Very good year; 1970。 I remember it well。〃
〃Enough;〃 said Ellen; tipping the mouth of the bottle up。 〃Don't fill the glass all the way。〃
〃Sorry;〃 said Brody; and he filled Meadows' glass next。
When he had finished pouring the wine; Brody sat down。 He looked at the soup in front of him。 Then he glanced furtively around the table and saw that the others were actually eating it: it wasn't a joke。 So he took a spoonful。 It was cold; and it didn't taste anything like soup; but it wasn't bad。
〃I love gazpacho;〃 said Daisy; 〃but it's such a pain to make that I don't have it very often。〃
〃Mmmm;〃 said Brody; spooning another mouthful of soup。
〃Do you have it very often?〃
〃No;〃 he said。 〃Not too often。〃
〃Have you ever tried a G and G?〃
〃Can't say as I have。〃
〃You ought to try one。 Of course; you might not enjoy it since it's breaking the law。〃
〃You mean eating this thing is breaking the law? How? What is it?〃
〃Grass and gazpacho。 Instead of herbs; you sprinkle a little grass over the top。
Then you smoke a little; eat a little; smoke a little; eat a little。 It's really wild。〃
It was a moment before Brody realized what she was saying; and even when he understood; he didn't answer right away。 He tipped his soup bowl toward himself; scooped out the last little bit of soup; drained his wine glass in one draft; and wiped his mouth with his napkin。 He looked at Daisy; who was smiling sweetly at him; and at Ellen; who was smiling at something Hooper was saying。
〃It really is;〃 said Daisy。
Brody decided to be low…keyed … avuncular and nonetheless annoyed; but lowkeyed; so as not to upset Ellen。 〃You know;〃 he said; 〃I don't find。。。〃
〃I bet Matt's tried one。〃
〃Maybe he has。 I don't see what that。。。〃
Daisy raised her voice and said; 〃Matt; excuse me。〃
The conversation at the other end of the table stopped。 〃I was just curious。 Have you ever tried a G and G? By the way; Mrs。 Brody; this is terrific gazpacho。〃
〃Thank you;〃 said Ellen。 〃But what's a G and G?〃
〃I tried one once;〃 said Hooper。 〃But I was never really into that。〃
〃You must tell me;〃 Ellen said。 〃What is it?〃
〃Matt'll tell you;〃 said Daisy; and just as Brody turned to say something to her; she leaned over to Meadows and said; 〃Tell me more about the water table。〃
Brody stood up and began to clear away the soup bowls。 As he walked into the kitchen; he felt a slight rush of nausea and dizziness; and his forehead was sweating。
But by the time he put the bowls into the sink; the feeling had passed。
Ellen followed him into the kitchen and tied an apron around her waist。 〃I'll need some help carving;〃 she said。
〃Okeydoke;〃 said Brody; and he searched through a drawer for a carving knife and fork。 〃What did you think of that?〃
〃Of what?〃
〃That G and G business。 Did Hooper tell you what it is?〃
〃Yes。 That was pretty funny; wasn't it? I must say; it sounds tasty。〃 〃How would you know?〃
〃You never know what we ladies do when we get together over at the hospital。
Here; carve。〃 With a two…tine serving fork; she hefted the lamb onto the carving board。
〃Slices about three quarters of an inch thick; if you can; the way you'd slice a steak。〃
That Wicker bitch was right about one thing; Brody thought as he slashed the meat: I sure as shit feel alienated right now。 A slab of meat fell away; and Brody said; 〃Hey; I thought you said this was lamb。〃
〃It is。〃
〃It isn't even done。 Look at that。〃 He held up the piece he had sliced。 It was pink and; toward the middle; almost red。
〃That's the way it's supposed to be。〃
〃Not if it's lamb; it isn't。 Lamb's supposed to be cooked through; well done。〃
〃Martin; believe me。 It's all right to cook a butterfly lamb sort of medium。 I promise you。〃
Brody raised his voice。 〃I'm not gonna eat raw lamb!〃
〃Ssshhh! For God's sake。 Can't you keep your voice down?〃
Brody said in a hoarse whisper; 〃Then put the goddam thing back till it's done。〃
〃It's done!〃 said Ellen。 〃If you don't want to eat it; don't eat it; but that's the way I'm going to serve it。〃
〃Then cut it yourself。〃 Brody dropped the knife and fork on the carving board; picked up the two bottles of red wine; and left the kitchen。
〃There'll be a slight delay;〃 he said as he approached the table; 〃while the cook kills our dinner。 She tried to serve it as it was; but it bit her on the leg。〃 He raised a bottle of wine over one of the clean glasses and said; 〃I wonder why you're not allowed to serve red wine in the same glass the white wine was。〃
〃The tastes;〃 said Meadows; 〃don't plement each other。〃
〃What you're saying is; it'll give you gas。〃 Brody flied the six glasses and sat down。 He took a sip of wine; said; 〃Good;〃 then took another sip and another。 He refilled his glass。
Ellen came in from the kitchen carrying the carving board。 She set it on the sideboard next to a stack of plates。 She returned to the kitchen and came back; carrying two vegetable dishes。 〃I hope it's good;〃 she said。 〃I haven't tried it before。〃
〃What is it?〃 asked Dorothy Meadows。 〃It smells delicious。〃
〃Butterfly lamb。 Marinated。〃
〃Really? What's in the marinade?〃
〃Ginger; soy sauce; a whole bunch of things。〃 She put a thick slice of lamb; some asparagus and summer squash on each plate; and passed the plates to Meadows; who sent them down and around the table。
When everyone had been served and Ellen had sat down; Hooper raised his glass and said;
〃A toast to the chef。〃
The others raised their glasses; and Brody said; 〃Good luck。〃
Meadows took a bite of meat; chewed it; savored it; and said; 〃Fantastic。 It's like the tenderest of sirloins; only better。 What a splendid flavor。〃
〃ing from you; Harry;〃 said Ellen; 〃that's a special pliment。〃
〃It's delicious;〃 said Dorothy。 〃Will you promise to give me the recipe? Harry will never forgive me if I don't give this to him at least once a week。〃
〃He better rob a bank;〃 said Brody。
〃But it is delicious; Martin; don't you think?〃
Brody didn't answer。 He had started to chew a piece of meat when another w