have done together, I know how much money you have. I do not know the source of that money, but I know you are not a criminal.”
“Thanks.”
“I am only speaking to you, Fletch, because I am sixty, and you are only in your twenties. Your father is not here….”
“I appreciate it.”
“It is not good for a young man to live without a plan.”
“Are you saying I should leave Brazil, Teo?”
“Brazil is a difficult place, even for Brazilians.” Teo scratched the back of his head and laughed. “Especially for Brazilians.”
“Is this about Laura, Teo?” Fletch fixed Teo in the eye. “Did Otavio Cavalcanti ask you to speak to me?”
Teo used his hooded eye on Fletch. “Brazil is not that way. Not intolerant.”
“Otavio is.”
Teo laughed. “Otavio Cavalcanti is one of the most liberal men we have. So liberal he cannot go to New York and read his poetry at a university.”
“About some things he is liberal. About his daughter…?”
“And what do you think of Otavio?”
“He is a great scholar and poet who does not answer my questions.”
“Brazil is difficult to understand.”
“Did Otavio speak to you last night, Teo?”
“Yes,” Teo admitted. “He did. That is not what concerns me.”
“Laura put a frog under our bed.”
“Yes,” Teo said. “So Otavio told me. You know what that means?”
“I do now.”
“You see, you do not know Brazil. Perhaps cannot know Brazil. There is so much here that came from the Nago and the Bantu, particularly the Yoruba. You can have no feeling for it.”
“
“What did you do before you came here? You were a journalist?”
“I worked for a newspaper.”
“Then you must make a plan to work for a newspaper again. Buy your own small newspaper, somewhere you want to be. Understand the new technology of communications. Grow along the course you were on.”
Fletch sat silently a moment.
Then he finished his coffee.
“Teo, have you heard about this Janio Barreto … situation? That I am someone who was murdered here forty-seven years ago—?”
“Yes. I was told about it last night. It worries me.”
“Why?”
“It worries me that you might not understand.”
“Of course I don’t understand. Perhaps you could help me to understand.”
“I’m sure the woman—What’s her name?”
“Idalina. Idalina Barreto.”
“I’m sure the woman is entirely sincere in what she believes. There is no scam, swindle. There is no trick involved, as you asked last night.”
Upstairs, a vacuum cleaner was being run.
“Teo, do you personally give any credence to such a thing?”
“Do I think you are a peri-spirit?” Teo smiled. “No.”
Fletch said, “Phew!”
“I worry that you won’t know what to do about it.”
“What do I do about it?”
Teo hesitated a long moment. “I don’t know either. Brazil is one of the most modern nations on earth …” His voice dwindled off.
“I think I understand what you are saying, Teo.” Fletch stood up. “I promise I will think.”
“It’s just that your father is not here.”
“I will think of a plan.”
In shaking, Teo held Fletch’s hand a long moment. “The Tap Dancers,” he said, “Your father would not want you to become a tap dancer on life.”
“Laura?”
The window drapes were open. The room had been made up. Fletch pushed the ajar door to the bathroom all the way open.
“Laura?”
There was a note for him on the bureau.
Fletch—
Otavio called. He is feeling too tired to stay for Carnival in Rio. He wants to be home in Bahia. He said this morning he feels too tired to travel alone, through all the Carnival crowds. So I am helping him travel to Bahia.
Surely I will be back Sunday. Enjoy the Canecao Ball tonight even without me. If you get too lonely without me, I have left you Jorge Amado’s
Laura
Across the utility area, the man was still painting the room.
The phone rang.
“Janio?”
“Not here, at present.”
“Is Fletcher there?”
“Yes, he’s here. I think.”
“Toninho Braga, Fletch.”
“How are you? Have you slept?”
“We thought you might like to spend the day with us. Drive up to a place we know in the mountains. Laura can go shopping.”
“Laura’s gone to Bahia with her father.”
“That’s well. Then will you come? A place we know, very amusing, very relaxing. It is important to get away during Carnival.”
“Toninho, I haven’t slept. I went running.”
“This place is very relaxing. You can have a sleep there, after lunch.”
“Teo da Costa is expecting me for the Canecao Ball tonight.”
“Oh, we’ll be back in plenty of time for that. We are going to the ball, too.”
“Who’s we?”
“Just Tito, Norival, Orlando, and myself. Get away from the women a few hours.”
“I think I should try to sleep.”
“You don’t understand.”
“I don’t understand anything.”
“We are downstairs in the lobby, expecting you.”
“Toninho.”
“You will come?”
