"Huh?" Stony turned as if just noticing Butler's presence. Butler looked over at Mott. He punched Stony in the arm. "Hey! You gonna do a number tonight or what?"

"Nah... nah." Stony's gaze turned back to the table.

"Hey look, I'm not gettin' in a fight tonight... you know? You promised."

"No sweat."

Manu Dibango's "Soul Makossa" played over the PA. Butler took a deep gulp of air and plunged back onto the dance floor. Stony finished his drink as Cheri walked in dressed in tight dungarees and a white silky blouse, the shirttails pulled up and knotted under her tits. Stony dropped a load. He could see her nipples stand out from ten yards off. She came up to him, ran a hand up his rigid arm and kissed him on the cheek. He didn't respond. She saw Mott and smiled. Her teeth glowed ghostlike under the black light. Stony wanted to crack her in the mouth.

"Whadja do, burn your bra?"

She looked at him, her face collapsing in exhaustion. "Stony, gimme a break."

"Where do ya wannit?" He sniffed.

She started walking away. Stony grabbed her arm. "Where you think you goin'?"

"I wanna dance, you mind?"

"Then dance with me." He pushed her to the dance floor. They both danced in a rage, out of rhythm, stiff. Halfway through the number, Cheri walked off the floor. Stony stood there, panicked. He pushed through the dancers after her, grabbing her arm again back at the bar.

"I love you, Cheri." Sweat streamed down his face. Her features relaxed for a moment.

"I love you too, Stony, but you promised," she pleaded.

"I know, I know." He winced. He stared at her thin, dark face bordered with long plaits of black hair. Her huge brown eyes searched his face for parole. He let go of her arm. She smiled, kissed him lightly on the nose and walked over to Mott's table. Stony watched in horror as she sat down next to him, kissing him full on the mouth. Stony clutched his forehead and staggered blindly away from the bar.

Butler stopped him. "What happened?"

"I'm gonna kill 'em both."

"What?" He looked at Mott's table. "Oh Christ, Stony, I knew this was gonna happen."

"I'm gonna kill 'em both."

"Stony, give her some slack. You can fuck around too, you know."

"I don't want to. I don't need to. She don't need to either, fuckin' cocktease." He was panting, staring off wildly.

"C'mon, let's go to the Third Rail."

"I wanna stay here!" He stabbed a trembling finger at the floor.

Butler exhaled wearily. Suddenly his eyes lit up. "Hey, Three-Finger Annette said she was goin' to the Camelot tonight. Let's go ov—"

"I don't need no town pump, Butler, all I need's right in that corner." He pointed.

"Hey, Stony! Howya doin'?"

Stony grunted a hello to the bouncer, a tall black guy with long bow shoulders and a high Afro. "Butler, what's shakin'?" He slapped Butler on the back.