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‘I can’t see!’ Gomez squinted, shielding his eyes. ‘What’s he doing?’
Martinez peered. Yes! There, way back in the shadows, was a big chunk of snow, and the idiot smile of Vamenos winking above it, wreathed in smoke.
‘He’s smoking!’ said Martinez.
‘He’s drinking!’ said Dominguez.
‘He’s eating a taco!’ reported Villanazul.
‘A juicy taco,’ added Manulo.
‘No,’ said Gomez. ‘No, no, no …’
‘Ruby Escadrillo’s with him!’
‘Let me see that!’ Gomez pushed Martinez aside.
Yes, there was Ruby! Two hundred pounds of glittering sequins and tight black satin on the hoof, her scarlet fingernails clutching Vamenos’s shoulder. Her cow-like face, floured with powder, greasy with lipstick, hung over him!
‘That hippo!’ said Dominguez. ‘She’s crushing the shoulder pads. Look, she’s going to sit on his lap!’
‘No, no, not with all that powder and lipstick!’ said Gomez. ‘Manulo, inside! Grab that drink! Villanazul, the cigar, the taco! Dominguez, date Ruby Escadrillo, get her away. Ándale, men!’
The three vanished, leaving Gomez and Martinez to stare, gasping, through the peephole.
‘Manulo, he’s got the drink, he’s drinking it!’
‘Olé! There’s Villanazul, he’s got the cigar, he’s eating the taco!’
‘Hey, Dominguez, he’s got Ruby! What a brave one!’
A shadow bulked through Murillo’s front door, travelling fast.
‘Gomez!’ Martinez clutched Gomez’s arm. ‘That was Ruby Escadrillo’s boy friend, Bull La Jolla. If he finds her with Vamenos, the ice-cream suit will be covered with blood, covered with blood –’
‘Don’t make me nervous,’ said Gomez. ‘Quickly!’
Both ran. Inside, they reached Vamenos just as Bull La Jolla grabbed about two feet of the lapels of that wonderful ice-cream suit.
‘Let go of Vamenos!’ said Martinez.
‘Let go that suit !’ corrected Gomez.
Bull La Jolla, tap-dancing Vamenos, leered at these intruders.
Villanazul stepped up, shyly.
Villanazul smiled. ‘Don’t hit him. Hit me.’
Bull La Jolla hit Villanazul smack on the nose.
Villanazul, holding his nose, tears stinging his eyes, wandered off.
Gomez grabbed one of Bull La Jolla’s arms, Martinez the other.
‘Drop him, let go, peón, coyote, vaca!!’
Bull La Jolla twisted the ice-cream suit material until all six men screamed in mortal agony. Grunting, sweating, Bull La Jolla dislodged as many as climbed on. He was winding up to hit Vamenos when Villanazul wandered back, eyes streaming.
