“Bernard, this is Perry.”
The visitor seemed momentarily startled, recovered himself, made the ghost of a formal bow and muttered, “Do you a service?”
Perry acknowledged as briefly.
Bernard turned to Diana. “Dancer?” Diana shook her head. Bernard continued, “OK. Let’s get going. I’ve got a lot of brand new stuff and, baby, it’s hot. Look at this.” He pulled a roll out of his belt, then shrugged off the belt and threw it on the couch. “This one now. It’s historical, see? I’m an army aviator and you’re a war nurse. We do the first half in costume with lots of action, then in the finale we duck the costumes and it’s all symbolical. The score is Radetzky’s War Birds with my own arrangement.” They fell into a discussion of technical terms which Perry failed to understand. He went over to the reproducer, selected a record and cut in the earphones. Grimly he kept up the pretense of studying for the better part of two hours. Finally he realized that he had played a record on engineering materials and processes three times and remembered none of it. He snapped off the machine and turned and watched the rehearsal. There was no avoiding the fact that Bernard was graceful and handsome. His shoulders were broad and his hips narrow and he moved like a black panther. His body was the true golden bronze all over and his profile could have been the model for a Greek coin. Except for a slight petulance of his features in repose Perry could by no rationalization regard him as effeminate in spite of his occupation. At the moment they were rehearsing a phrase in which Diana leaped into the air and was caught by him as he turned. Bernard seemed dissatisfied.
“No, beautiful, no. You’re not in time. It goes like this: Tata Tata, tata tata, thrrrrrrump, bump bump.” He illustrated in pantomime. “Now try it.” The music started and Diana whirled and came out in a long flying leap. Bernard caught her from a turn, swung her about and set her down. “That’s better. Now once more.” He caressed her upper arm. Perry felt his jaw muscle tighten until hard lumps and an acrid smell came into his nostrils. Diana whirled again and leaped to be swept from the air like a netted butterfly. Bernard gave a shout. “Bravo! Bravo! That’s it!” He retained her in his arms and planted an enthusiastic kiss on her mouth, then hugged her to him. Perry was on his feet and striding across the floor.
“Put her down!”
Bernard looked up with surprise and annoyance across his face. “What did you say?”
“Put her down!” Perry grasped his arm roughly. “Cut out that stuff. Put her down.”
“Do you know that you are being offensive?”
Diana squirmed loose and stood between them. “Perry, please! Bernard, don’t pay any attention. Perry, please go back and sit down.”
“Just a moment, Diana.” Bernard stepped toward Perry. “Your words require explanation. Why were you offensive?”
“Offensive! Pah!” Perry gave a short hard laugh.
“He obviously is not rational. Come, Diana.” Bernard placed a hand on her shoulder.
Crack! Perry’s left fist connected with Bernard’s jaw and he went down in a heap. He struggled to his knees, fingered his jaw, and looked at Perry with an expression of utter amazement.
“Get up and defend yourself.” The amazement increased.
Without moving Bernard spoke. “Diana, get behind me. He’s dangerous.” Instead she broke from her shocked immobility and flung herself on Perry.
“No more, Perry! No more! Oh God, look what you’ve done already.”
“Diana, come away from him. We’ve got to get out of here.” She turned, still clinging to Perry.
“No, he won’t hurt me. You get out. Go. Go at once.”
“I can’t leave you alone with him.”
“Yes, go. I’m perfectly safe. Get out.” Perry finally spoke.
“Do as she tells you. I won’t hurt her, you fool. But get out or I’ll cut you to ribbons.”
Bernard backed toward the door, hastily grabbing his belt as he did so. As he opened the door, Diana stopped him. “Bernard!”
“Yes?”
“You won’t do anything?”
“Do anything? I’ll have to report it.” He slid through the door and closed it. Diana burst into tears. Perry stared at her.