The Language Of Cannibals

whether or not to pursue his examination of my sense of patriotism and duty to country, apparently thought better of it. 'I live here,' he said with a shrug. 'I moved from Washington to Cairn just about a year ago.'

'Oh. Nice town.'

'And you? Would you, uh. . be here on business? I can't imagine what there would be in Cairn that would require or test the keen investigative skills of the famed Mongo Frederickson.'

'You're too kind. Actually I'm just visiting; I happened to be passing by here, saw there was an art show, and decided to check it out.'

'See anything you like?'

'As a matter of fact, yes,' I replied, turning around in the otherwise empty corridor and pointing toward Jack Trex's dimly lighted painting. 'I was rather taken with that work over there.'

Culhane grimaced, as if something he'd had for lunch or dinner had just repeated on him. 'Really? I don't like it at all. It doesn't make any sense, and it's depressing. In fact, I recommended that it not be included in the exhibit, but since the artist is the commander of this particular chapter of Vietnam Veterans of America, I was overruled.'

'You recommended that it not be included? What are you, the local censor?'

'No,' he replied in what I may only have imagined was a wistful tone, perhaps missing my sarcasm. 'I underwrite a good many activities of the Vietnam veterans; as a matter of fact, this exhibit was my idea, and I'm sponsoring it. That painting has no place in a show like this. It does nothing to improve the image of the Vietnam veterans; it gives people the wrong impression. I think it was Patrick Buchanan who wrote that the food you put in a man's mind is at least as important as the food you put in his stomach.'

'By golly, that sounds almost Marxist. I think most people would rather have food in their bellies and be left alone.'

'That painting is just garbage, and it's not good for people to eat garbage.'

'You think image ranks high on the Vietnam veterans' list of problems?'

'Yes. I think their image ranks high on the nation's list of problems. They're perceived as a bunch of drug addicts, alcoholics, adulterers, and sissies who can't handle stress.'

'I always thought they were perceived as a group of fighting men who have some special problems because they were unfortunate enough to have been caught up in a special kind of war we weren't really prepared to fight.'

'They have problems because they fought in a war America lost, Frederickson,' Culhane said with real emotion, his slur once again becoming pronounced. 'America now has special problems because it fought a war and lost, a war that was lost because of fuzzy-headed thinking and cowardly actions by leaders like Kevin Shannon. The Vietnam veterans were betrayed; the country was betrayed. Many of these men don't really understand that to this day. When they do understand it, and when they, or men like them, can be unleashed to fight communists once again and win for a change, they'll feel better. The country will feel better. When people see a painting like Trex's, their image of the veterans is that they're a group of cowards who blame America for what happened to them. It's defeatist.'

'An intriguing political and artistic analysis.'

'You're patronizing me.'

'What do you expect me to say, Culhane? You expect me to argue with you? I'm not interested in politics, and I'm even less interested in political discussions. Sometimes I suspect that strong political ideology, like religious fervor, has a genetic as well as a cultural basis. Maybe they're just two faces of the same psychological phenomenon.'

'You don't believe in God? You don't believe in your country?'

'I believe in gravity, mathematics, and mystery, as a friend of mine once said. As far as my country is concerned, I'm constantly amazed that our institutions have enabled us, at least so far, to survive the band of fools we keep on elevating to positions of power, not to mention the dunces, liars, thieves, and hypocrites.'

'You're naive.'

'Hmm. Does that mean you don't agree with me?'

'What does that painting mean?'

'I wouldn't presume to try and second-guess the artist. You probably wouldn't see it the same way in any case.'

'What does it mean to you, Frederickson?'

'It means Jack Trex probably wouldn't see it the same way as you either.'

Elysius Culhane studied me for a few moments, looked down at the floor, then back at me. I had the impression that he was making an effort to calm himself. 'I'm enjoying this conversation immensely, Frederickson,' he said at last. 'May I suggest that we continue it tomorrow? I have a rather nice home on the river. Why don't you join me tomorrow afternoon for cocktails?'

'I won't be here that long, Culhane, and I don't believe you're enjoying this conversation. What do you really want from me?'

Again Culhane flushed, and he averted his gaze. His smile had become a grimace. He took a deep breath, slowly let it out. 'All right, that's blunt enough,' he said. 'What I'd like is to talk some more about your relationship with Kevin Shannon.'

'You mean you want me to tell you what you think I know that could hurt the president and his administration.'

'Some people say you and your brother know more about some of this country's vital secrets than the director of the CIA.'

'You know, Culhane, I can never tell if you're putting me on. I read your columns and listen to you on television; you're the one who's the obvious recipient of leaks of classified information. Every time there's going to be a vote on the defense budget, you come up with some of the most wondrous information.'

'You may not always feel as anti-American as you do now. You-'

'Who said I feel anti-American?'

'There may come a time when your opinions will change.'

'Meaning that I'll see things your way?'

'If and when that time comes, you may want to make some moves that could help your country. If you'll share information about Shannon with me, I'll make it worth your while.'

'You'd pay me?'

'Of course.'

'I love it. Is betrayal high on that list of what you call 'Christian values'?'

'Supplying information that will hurt the enemies of this country isn't betrayal.'

'Do you really believe that Kevin Shannon is an enemy of this country?'

'Unwittingly, perhaps, but his actions make him a dupe of the communists.'

'Culhane, has it ever occurred to you that there are people in this country who believe that the American right wing has been, and continues to be, a greater threat to our personal liberties than the communists ever have been, or will be? You guys are always talking about getting government off the backs of the people, but what you really mean is that you want the government to get off the back of business. It doesn't bother you at all, in fact you like it, when the government goes snooping into our bedrooms and libraries. Total social control has always been a wet dream of the far right. I don't mind the government auditing my taxes, Culhane, but I sure as hell don't want it auditing my mind.'

The color drained from Elysius Culhane's face. He shifted his weight slightly, like a prizefighter, raised a thick index finger, and stuck it in my face. 'You're what's wrong with this country, you fucking dwarf communist! People like you are the reason this country is going down the toilet!'

I was studying the finger in front of my face, trying to decide just what I wanted to do with it, when there was a sudden loud screech of brakes from the street, then movement and shouts from the people in the other room. Culhane turned in the direction of the noise, and I decided it was better to leave his finger alone than risk a lawsuit for assault. I brushed past him in the narrow corridor, went into the main viewing area to see what all the excitement was about.

It looked as if the house had listed and thrown everyone to the front; people were crowded in the