Easy shaded his eyes again, frowned at Jonny from under his arm. 'Why you telling me about this?'
' 'Cause I'm a right guy,' said Jonny. ' 'Cause I'm Dragon head-Snake body, and I know that all thought is illusion, that any event in our lives, the worst and the best, can lead us toward enlightenment. Also, I don't really give a fuck.'
'You're lost in space, man.' Easy shook his head. 'They're gonna come after you with nets and needles.'
'Goodbye Easy.'
'Adios, asshole.'
Easy made his way awkwardly up the hill, limping on his clubfoot in the direction of Conover's place. Jonny watched him as the man followed the same squatter's trail Conover had lead him down last night. It seemed a long time ago. The sun flashed off Easy's one remaining horn, then he was gone behind a stand of withered oaks.
Jonny stepped off the piano, weighing the Futukoro in his hand, marveling that at any other time in recent memory he would have given anything to have Easy Money and a loaded gun at the same time. The feeling was gone, all echoes now. He had moved on. To where, he was not sure. Jonny took off his jacket and wrapped the gun inside. Just before he dropped the bundle into the piano, something fell from one of the pockets.
He picked it up and rang it gently, remembering that the Groucho had given him the small bell for luck in the deserted club.
Jonny considered the notion of enlightenment.
Everybody he cared about was gone. Ice and Sumi, Random, Groucho, all dead. Yet he felt their presence strong within him. It was a corny sentiment, something you would read on a greeting card, and he would have dismissed it entirely if the feeling had not been so powerful, so genuine.
Enlightenment.
Jonny still did not know what it really meant, was certain it was not what he was feeling now. All he knew for certain was that although he did not feel good, in some odd way, he felt a hell of a lot better.
He held the bell in his left hand, letting it ring as he walked.
The way to Ensenada would be a long one, so he sang himself through the city.
As I passed Saint James Infirmary
I saw my sweetheart there,
All stretched out on a table, so pale, so cold, so fair
As I passed Saint James Infirmary.
