SNUFF (h.s.)

Chapter 16

The Tropic of Venus

Nora.

Nora. Nora. Nora.

He had whispered to Nora that he's in love with her near the lemon tree at the backyard of her house. He was a manchild with some worn blue-jeans and a leather jacket. He used to dip his comb in his cola and brush his hair to look as if he had greased them. He didn't have the money to doll up, all he could find in his hip pockets were a couple fivers. So, when Sergio asked for his help here and there, he got his kicks.

Nora in her underwear and denim jacket. Barefeet on the motel bed.

"Aren't you telling me what happened, huh?"

"No", she took the half orange moon from the plate and ate it. Harry had another orange in his hand peeling it with his thumb. He was sitting on the moquette while resting his hand at the edge of the duvet. Nora was staring. Whenever he glanced at her, she smiled.

"What happens when he'll come our way?"

"He won't find us, my Party Partner"

"Well, he won't lay on his carpet forever. Once he's on his feet, he'll start looking"

"We'll have crossed by then...", he left the peeled orange on the plate. Her shoulders had a few bruises, her belly was aching but she didn't bother.

"What mischiefs are we gonna do there?"

"You won't have to answer to anyone, whatever mischief you dream up", Harry had folded under his shirt sleeve a cigarillo pack. Nora took it and caressed his hair. She lit one and ate one more half orange moon.

"Are you shooting more Rosas there?"

"I don't desire much, Harry. You know this alright. I don't mind sleeping in the car, washing at the beach showers until we find a place. I don't like being rich..."

"It suits you, Bon-Bon", she laughed.

"It suits me, say you?", the only expensive thing Harry had taken with him was his Great Alexander necklace, the one Nora was watching as she was talking to him, "All the jewels, the clothes, the dinners, the dance parties. You fancy a fur and a better hot rod than your Caddy outside?", he didn't answer, he kept peeling a third orange, "You wouldn't enjoy any of these..."

"I'd do the job. When he asked, I said yes"

"You'd quit loving me, Harry"

"Perhaps I'd get tired", the juice trickled on his hand reaching for his elbow only to drip on his bare leg, "I'd prefer a part in your films"

"You've never been in a porno"

"You wouldn't put my name in the titles?"

"No", her fingers played between her toes, she was tender as if Sergio had never existed. She knew them well, yet Nora never told him everything.

"What? Am I butterfingers?", she smiled and waved her head.

"You are free. You do whatever you want. We fuck and then... There's nothing else. I don't worry if I look good or if I have to do it all over again. It's true and mine. Anything Rosa has, she gives allover"

"I love fucking with you, Nora"

"Not because you're shooting a porno"

"No. I'd love to shoot one of yours..."

"I'd love that too...", her bangs had grown and fell in front of her eyes. She parted them but some of them were left aloft and whenever she blinked, they jumped.