‘There is a Greek myth—I forget which gods were involved—about all lovers being the same person split in half. We look for the missing part of ourselves. And something strange and good happens when we find it.’

‘That is a silly myth.’

‘I wasn’t sure whether to mention it.’

‘I like that you owned up to your Benny Goodman deceit, even if it might cost you.’

Lucky addressed Gregor across the table: ‘I’ve told Valia the truth.’

‘Hey, it’s your show, pal,’ Gregor said.

‘We are sharing this table with the world’s greatest living musician!’ Asquith said when he returned.

‘Really?’ asked Gregor.

‘My boy, did you not hear him tonight? I couldn’t get enough. Benny here was daring. Big band music—with no big band! How perfect for these times. I admit I run the risk of sounding pretentious. Your concert was an expression of life at home in 1944.’

Asquith pushed across the table a piece of paper that bore his letterhead, including his address in Elizabeth Bay. ‘Valia, are you interested in attending one of those parties I mentioned? It’s a salon.’

‘I’m not interested, no,’ said Valia.

‘My word,’ replied Asquith. ‘That’s honest.’

With a sour smile, and without saying any words of farewell, Asquith stood and Lucky got up as well. The two men shook hands as Valia pulled on her hair to stop from laughing. She expected she’d never meet Asquith again. He left behind a cosy-shaped silence. Lucky folded up the paper he’d left behind. The manager brought two room keys, on the house for Benny Goodman and his manager.

From his hotel room Gregor heard the locomotives at Central Station hush and hiss and impatiently grind. Street cats began making bitter sounds. They galloped about and sang with terrible strength and Gregor closed his eyes and wished for them to stop. Twenty-three days from now he’d deliver flowers to Maeve Doyle, manager of the Herbert Arms Hotel, who had found the clarinet for Lucky, the uniforms for them both. They would (briefly) kiss in the hotel garden. Walking home that night, Gregor would be hit and killed by a supply truck a mile or so from Bankstown Airport.

Down the hall, Valia and Lucky sat at the foot of his hotel bed. Their bodies made an A-shape when they kissed. They would make love another time, said Valia. There would be enough time for all that. Lucky asked, What are we to each other? Soon we will find out, Valia said. The new couple, who would marry within the year, spent their first night together in a room booked under a false name.

Chapter 7: 1971

1971

1.