25 Short Stories and Novellas Part 59

"So you have come after all! How good! How very good!"

The hotel man said, "Senhor Magalhaes, this woman claims-"

"Yes. Yes. Is all right. I am expecting. Please, let us go inside.

Please. Please. Such a great honor, General Crawford!" He extended his

arms in a gesture so splendid that it would have been worthy of the

Emperor himself. "Come," he said. He led them into the building.

The lobby of the Imperial was a great glittering cavern, all gla.s.s

and lights. Carlotta felt dizzy. The Brazilian was in complete command,

shepherding them to some secluded alcove, where waiters in brocaded

livery came hustling to bring champagne, little snacks on porcelain

trays, a glistening bowl br.i.m.m.i.n.g with fruit. Magalhaes pulled a

recorder from his pocket, a holido scanner, and two or three other

devices, and set them on the table before them.

"Now, if you please, General Crawford-"

"The fee," Carlotta said.

"Ah. Yes. Yes, of course." Magalhaes pulled crumpled old dirty bills

from his wallet, imperial money, green and gold. "Will this be enough,

do you think?"

She stared. It was more than she made in six months. But some demon

took hold of her and she said, recklessly, "Another five hundred should do

it."

"Of course," the Brazilian said. "No problem!" He put another bill on

the edge of the table and aimed his lens at the old man. "I am so

eager to record his memories, I can hardly tell you. Now, if you would

ask the general to discuss the day of the famous battle, first-"

Carlotta bent close to the old man's audio intake and said, "Uncle,

this man wants you to talk about your war experiences. He's going to

record a sort of memoir of you. Just say whatever you can remember,

all right? He'll be taking your picture, and this machine will record

your words."

"The war," Uncle James said. And immediately lapsed into silence.

The Brazilian watched, big-eyed, holding his breath as if he feared it

would interfere with the flow of the old man's words.