9780241995563

INFO BAR From the author of The Mosquito Coast

‘One of the most accomplished and worldly-wise writers of his generation’ The Times

‘Laden with jealousy, betrayal and a mythic lust for vengeance’ The New York Times

-10/07

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-09/23

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A riveting tale of adventure, betrayal and the true cost of family bonds, The Bad Angel Brothers is a remarkable novel from one of America’s most distinctive writers.

‘No one turns a screw better than Theroux’ Herald

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But when Cal, newly rich and newlywed, returns to the town of his birth, Frank gives him the opposite of a brotherly welcome, leading to a series of betrayals and reprisals culminating in the ultimate plan: murder.

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Enemies since childhood, the brothers find the small town of Littleford just isn’t big enough to hold them both. So, Cal strikes out for the world’s wild places – a gifted geologist in search of gold and other precious minerals – leaving Frank to develop a successful career as the town’s lawyer, fixer and local hero.

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There’s sibling rivalry and then there’s the relationship of brothers Cal and Frank Belanger.

I S B N 978-0-241-99556-3

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22/05/2023 09:59

The Bad Angel Brothers ‘Theroux plays skilfully on reader sympathies until the bitter end, showing how a man’s beliefs can make him turn to violence.

The result is searing and memorable’ Publishers Weekly ‘Watch the magician’s hands: Theroux has some powerful twists in his hat, and the language and compelling prose with which to offer them into the spotlight’ New York Journal of Books ‘Theroux writes in a manner most contemporary authors can only dream of.

One senses the shades of Graham Greene, Somerset Maugham and V. S. Naipaul hovering in the ether, all of whom sought inspiration far from madding crowds and so-called civilization’ Herald ‘Theroux’s prose leaps to life like a mosaic splashed with water’ Spectator ‘There is very little that Paul Theroux cannot fit onto a page. Love, death, sex, despair – with or without the exotic locations that frequently provide the frame for his fiction. His writing skills are disciplined and muscular, his ear as finely tuned as a musician’s, his eye sharper than any razor, and, in pinpointing the bizarre and the unexpected, he both entertains and underlines the absurdity of humans’ Daily Mail ‘A remarkably vivid writer’ Sunday Telegraph ‘Theroux has long been the most exciting contemporary practitioner of a literary tradition honed to elegantly crafted terseness by Somerset Maugham and Graham Greene. Always a terrific teller of tales and conjurer of exotic locales, he writes lean prose that lopes along at a compelling pace’ Sunday Times ‘Theroux’s prose is so rich, his perceptions so many layered, he involves us in a world that extends well beyond the physical limits of his novel’ The Times

a bout the author Paul Theroux has written many works of fiction and travel writing, including the modern classics The Great Railway Bazaar, The Old Patagonian Express, My Secret History and The Mosquito Coast. He won the Edward Stanford Award for Outstanding Contribution to Travel Writing in 2020. Paul Theroux divides his time between Cape Cod and the Hawaiian Islands.

aLSoaLSo

bY PauL

bY PauL therouX therouX FICtIoN FICtIoN The Lower The Lower RiverRiver WaldoWaldo Mr. Bones Mr. Bones Fong Fong and the andIndians the Indians Mother Mother LandLand Girls Girls at Play at Play UnderUnder the Wave the Wave at Waimea at Waimea Murder Murder in Mount in Mount HollyHolly CrItICISM CrItICISM JungleJungle LoversLovers V. S. V. Naipaul S. Naipaul Sinning Sinning with with AnnieAnnie SaintSaint Jack Jack NoNFICtIoN NoNFICtIoN The Black The Black HouseHouse Th e Great Th e Great Railway Railway Bazaar Bazaar The Family The Family Arsenal Arsenal The Old ThePatagonian Old Patagonian Express Express The Consul’s The Consul’s File File The Kingdom The Kingdom by thebySea the Sea A Christmas A Christmas Card Card Sailing Sailing Th rough Th rough China China Picture Picture PalacePalace Sunrise Sunrise with with Seamonsters Seamonsters London London SnowSnow The Imperial The Imperial Way Way World’s World’s End End Riding Riding the Iron the Rooster Iron Rooster The Mosquito The Mosquito CoastCoast To theToEnds the Ends of theofEarth the Earth The London The London Embassy Embassy The Happy The Happy Isles ofIsles Oceania of Oceania Half Half MoonMoon StreetStreet Th e Pillars Th e Pillars of Hercules of Hercules O-Zone O-Zone Sir Vidia’s Sir Vidia’s Shadow Shadow My Secret My Secret History History FreshFresh Air Fiend Air Fiend Chicago Chicago Loop Loop Dark Dark Star Safari Star Safari Millroy Millroy the Magician the Magician GhostGhost TrainTrain to thetoEastern the Eastern Star Star My Other My Other Life Life The Tao TheofTao Travel of Travel Kowloon Kowloon Tong Tong Th e Last Th e Train Last Train to Zona to Zona VerdeVerde HotelHotel Honolulu Honolulu Deep Deep SouthSouth The Stranger The Stranger at theatPalazzo the Palazzo d’Orod’Oro Figures Figures in a Landscape in a Landscape Blinding Blinding LightLight On the On Plain the Plain of Snakes of Snakes The Elephanta The Elephanta Suite Suite A Dead A Dead HandHand

TheThe

Bad BadAngel AngelBrothers Brothers a NoVeL a NoVeL

Paul Paul Theroux Theroux

HAM I SH HAMILTON

MaanrMa I N errI ofNBeoroBKSo o KS imprint

P EN GUNew I N BO O KS Boston New York York Boston

PENGUIN BOOKS UK | USA | Canada | Ireland | Australia India | New Zealand | South Africa Penguin Books is part of the Penguin Random House group of companies whose addresses can be found at global.penguinrandomhouse.com.

First published in the United States of America by HarperCollins 2022 First published in Great Britian by Hamish Hamilton 2022 Published in Penguin Books 2023 001 Copyright © Paul Theroux, 2022 The moral right of the author has been asserted Designed by Emily Snyder Printed and bound in Great Britain by Clays Ltd, Elcograf S.p.A. The authorized representative in the EEA is Penguin Random House Ireland, Morrison Chambers, 32 Nassau Street, Dublin D02 YH68 A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library ISBN: 978–0–241–99556–3

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To Sheila

I hadIto admit that to metoeach person’s worstworst instinct had to admit that me each person’s instinct seemed the most sincere. seemed the most sincere.

—aNDrÉ GIDe,GIDe, the the IMMoraLISt IMMoraLISt —aNDrÉ A brother A brother is as easily is as easily forgotten forgotten as anasumbrella. an umbrella.

— JaMeS — JaMeS JoYCe, JoYCe, uLYSSeS uLYSSeS

Part One

Two Lunches

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TheThe Rejection Rejection Ritual Ritual

YY

’’       ’ ’ , ,   so I didn’t so I didn’t realizerealize that the thatwhole the whole awfulawful business business was about was about to start to start whenwhen Vita said, Vita said, “It’s been “It’s been ages since ages since you had youlunch had lunch with with Frank.

Frank.

WhyWhy don’tdon’t you two you grab two grab a bite?” a bite?”

Whenever Whenever FrankFrank was asked was asked a question a question he hated he hated to answer to answer he’d say, he’d say, “Look“Look in theinmirror the mirror and ask andyourself ask yourself that.”that.”

I wasItempted was tempted today,today, but Ibut I smiled smiled at myatlovely my lovely wife, wife, whilewhile I contemplated I contemplated my hateful my hateful brother. brother.

As the As kind the kind of lawyer of lawyer he was, he was, FrankFrank had ahad whopper a whopper license, license, and and it helped, it helped, because because he told he awfully told awfully long,long, ratherrather dubious dubious stories. stories.

It wasIt was sometimes sometimes the same the same story,story, or nearly or nearly so. Now so. Now and then and then it wasitone wasIone hadI had told him, told him, and he and later he told later ittold back it back to me, toinserting me, inserting himself, himself, with with embelembellishments, lishments, not remembering not remembering it wasitmine. was mine.

Talkers Talkers who repeat who repeat themselves themselves pay no payattention no attention to their to their listeners— listeners— they’re they’re at anatimaginary an imaginary podium, podium, waving waving their their arms,arms, broadcasting broadcasting to a crowd, to a crowd, and are andusually are usually themselves themselves bad listeners, bad listeners, if notifcompletely not completely deaf. deaf.

ManyMany people people foundfound Frank’s Frank’s stories stories amusing, amusing, othersothers calledcalled him ahim bore, a bore, and said, and said, “How“How do you dostand you stand him?”him?”

He’s aHe’s higha highfunctioning functioning asshole, asshole, I wanted I wanted to say, to but say, instead, but instead, to beto be noncommittal, noncommittal, “He’s“He’s my big mybrother.” big brother.”

I wasInot wasanot talker. a talker.

I wasIthe waseluthe elusive brother, sive brother, the geologist, the geologist, who’dwho’d left home left home to beto a rock be a rock hunter, hunter, and an and an adventurer adventurer in theinextractive the extractive industries. industries.

Yet I Yet wasI often was often fascinated fascinated

by Frank’s

by Frank’s stories. stories.

You don’t You don’t have have to like to like someone someone to listen. to listen.

WhenWhen I wasIin was theinmood, the mood, I heard I heard him repeat him repeat them,them, noting noting how how he changed he changed themthem in theintelling, the telling, whatwhat he left hein, leftwhat in, what he he

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The Bad The Angel Bad Angel Brothers Brothers

omitted, omitted, the exaggerations, the exaggerations, the irrelevancies, the irrelevancies, the new the details, new details, the whopthe whoppers. pers.

The nun The who nun who caught caught him smoking. him smoking.

In one In version one version she told she him told to him to confess confess it as aitmortal as a mortal sin and sinlingered and lingered outside outside the confession the confession box to box hear to hear him bare him his baresoul his to soul thetopriest. the priest.

In another, In another, she forced she forced him to him kneel to kneel on on a broomstick a broomstick a whole a whole day asday punishment. as punishment.

In theInone the Ione liked I liked best, best, the the nun handed nun handed him his himunsmoked his unsmoked half pack half pack of cigarettes of cigarettes and made and made him him eat them. eat them.

But IBut knew I knew that because that because of wheezy of wheezy lungslungs FrankFrank had never had never smoked. smoked.

The one The about one about his being his being brutally brutally murdered murdered in Florida in Florida by a by drug a drug gang,gang, his bullethis bulletriddled riddled bodybody discovered discovered in a Miami in a Miami mansion, mansion, his face his face mangled mangled beyond beyond recognition. recognition.

Our Our parents parents got the gotcall, the on call,a on weekend a weekend whenwhen FrankFrank was on wasvacation, on vacation, and they and they were were devastated. devastated.

Turned Turned out, out, the man the man had Frank’s had Frank’s stolenstolen passport passport on him. on him.

A great A great story,story, but untrue. but untrue.

Another: Another: his saving his saving the life theoflife myofhigh my high schoolschool friend, friend, Melvin Melvin Yurick, Yurick, whom whom he’d found he’d found bleeding bleeding at a campsite at a campsite in theinlocal the local woods, woods, Yurick Yurick hav- having gashed ing gashed his hand his hand with with a hunting a hunting knife.knife.

In Frank’s In Frank’s telling, telling, by rescuing by rescuing Yurick Yurick he’d altered he’d altered the course the course of history, of history, because because later later Yurick Yurick became became a billionaire, a billionaire, as a pioneer as a pioneer innovator innovator in digital in digital media. media.

The story The story was was mine— mine— it wasit I,was hiking I, hiking with with Yurick, Yurick, who’dwho’d stanched stanched the blood the blood on his on his gashed gashed handhand and helped and helped him home. him home.

The part The about part about Yurick Yurick becoming becoming a a billionaire billionaire was true, was true, though. though.

I listened I listened to know to know FrankFrank better,better, because because even even as a child as a child I found I found him him tricky,tricky, cruel,cruel, dangerous, dangerous, and unreliable, and unreliable, as well asas well (people as (people can sometimes can sometimes be their be their opposites) opposites) direct, direct, kindly, kindly, reassuring, reassuring, and helpful. and helpful.

ThereTh was ereso was so muchmuch of Frank, of Frank, and he andwas heso was contradictory, so contradictory, the whole the whole of him of so him overso overwhelming, whelming, I hadI to had deal to with deal with him in him pieces. in pieces.

Although Although he made he made a cona convincing vincing enough enough pretense pretense of being of being my friend, my friend, I knew I knew he didn’t he didn’t like me. like me.

He was He awas local a local hero,hero, FrankFrank Belanger Belanger Esq.,Esq., InjuryInjury Law, Law, a successful a successful attorney attorney in our intown our town of Littleford. of Littleford.

Because Because of our ofname our name (school (school kids kids are such are such mockers mockers of names), of names), we Belanger we Belanger brothers brothers were were known known as theas the Bad Angel Bad Angel brothers. brothers.

FrankFrank was awas tough a tough opponent opponent but abut good a good ally, very ally, very wealthy wealthy from from the accumulation the accumulation of contingency of contingency fees from fees from personal personal injuryinjury and medical and medical malpractice malpractice suits.suits.

Whiplash Whiplash windfalls, windfalls, he called he called them.them.

He He mademade no secret no secret of hisofambition, his ambition, crowing crowing to metowhen me when we were we were kids, kids, I I

The Rejection The Rejection RitualRitual

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want want to be to so be richso Irich can Ishit canmoney! shit money!

He defended He defended wounded, wounded, usually usually poor poor people; people; so justice so justice was money, was money, punishment punishment was money, was money, reward reward was money, was money, morality morality was money, was money, love was love money. was money.

His admiring His admiring clients clients quoted quoted his his well-known well-known remark, remark, with with approval, approval, I biteIpeople bite people on theonneck the for necka for living. a living.

He’d He’d plagiarized plagiarized that, that, and other and other wisecracks, wisecracks, fromfrom a ruthless a ruthless lawyer lawyer he’d he’d worked worked for, named for, named Hoyt.Hoyt.

I wasI no wasmatch no match for Frank’s for Frank’s sarcasm sarcasm and his andcompetitive his competitive nature, nature, or hisorkiller his killer instinct. instinct.

I hadI left hadhome left home to to escape escape his shadow. his shadow.

My work My work as a geologist as a geologist kept kept me away, me away, at first at in first in the West, the West, then then in theinwider the wider world, world, a spell a spell in Africa, in Africa, later— later— my cobalt my cobalt years— years— in theinNorthwest. the Northwest.

Earlier, Earlier, whenwhen I married I married Vita,Vita, I bought I bought a house a house in town in town and returned and returned moremore and more and more frequently frequently as myasmother my mother aged aged and and was cheered was cheered by visits. by visits.

Vita,Vita, who’dwho’d grown grown up inup theinunregulated the unregulated sprawl sprawl and improvisation and improvisation of South of South Florida, Florida, foundfound the solidity the solidity and order and order of of New New England England a reassurance. a reassurance.

And And this was this also was aalso chance a chance for our for son, our son, Gabe,Gabe, to attend to attend my old myhigh old high school school and be and a Littleford be a Littleford Lion.Lion.

Usually, Usually, whenwhen he heard he heard I wasI in was town, in town, FrankFrank insisted insisted on our onmeetour meeting for inglunch, for lunch, always always at theatLittleford the Littleford Diner— Diner— he’d once he’d once owned owned a parta part interest interest in “the in spoon,” “the spoon,” as heassometimes he sometimes calledcalled it, short it, short for “the for greasy “the greasy spoon.” spoon.”

If I was If Ifree was Ifree tended I tended to agree, to agree, because because seeingseeing him, him, hearing hearing his his stories, stories, I wasI able was to able gauge to gauge the temperature the temperature of ourofrelationship. our relationship.

Fam-Family members ily members have have a special a special untranslatable untranslatable language, language, of subtle of subtle gestures, gestures, fingerfinger play, play, winkswinks and nods, and nods, little little insults, insults, odd allusions odd allusions and needling and needling words, words, that are thatdevastating are devastating within within the family the family yet mean yet mean nothing nothing to anto an outsider. outsider.

But when But when Vita Vita urgedurged me tomehave to have lunchlunch with with him, him, I smiled— I smiled— and and equivocated. equivocated.

And And a fewa days few days later later I saidI flsaid atlyflno, atlybecause no, because of theofway the way FrankFrank himself himself askedasked in anin e-mail, an e-mail, framing framing it as aitdemand, as a demand, putting putting LunchLunch in theinsubject the subject line, line, with with the date the and datetime, and time, and the andmessage, the message, Be there.

Be there.

I hadI left hadhome left home to avoid to avoid ordersorders like this. like this.

Mineral Mineral prospecting prospecting and and exploration exploration couldcould be frustrating be frustrating and expensive— and expensive— I hadI started had started out with out with an old anvan oldand van aand dirta bike, dirt bike, taking taking samples samples of gravel of gravel fromfrom dry riverbeds dry riverbeds in theinArizona the Arizona desert, desert, testing testing themthem for surface for surface gold.gold.

I liked I liked the freedom, the freedom, and now and and nowthen and then I hit pay I hitdirt. pay Early dirt. Early on, I on, wasIawas one-aman one-man company, company, so so I could I could do asdo I wished, as I wished, and later and later with with money money acquired acquired technology technology and and dug deeper. dug deeper.

In theInyears the years whenwhen I traveled I traveled internationally internationally I specialized I specialized in in

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The Bad The Angel Bad Angel Brothers Brothers

industrial industrial diamonds diamonds in Australia in Australia and emeralds and emeralds in Colombia in Colombia and Zamand Zambia. My bia. contracts My contracts were were sometimes sometimes with with majormajor conglomerates, conglomerates, whichwhich helped helped develop develop the claims, the claims, but even but even at myatbusiest my busiest I wasInever was never subjected subjected to anytorigorous any rigorous oversight. oversight.

My success My success rate spoke rate spoke for itself, for itself, I wasItrusted was trusted by the by companies the companies that that hiredhired me, and me, ifand I happened if I happened to betogiven be given or- orders, ders, they were they were tactfully tactfully phrased. phrased.

No one Noin one theinextractive the extractive industry industry ever ever loomed loomed over me overand mesaid, and said, Be there.

Be there.

As a As child a child I wasI given was given commands commands by my byfather, my father, and when and when he died, he died, Mother Mother was the wasorder the order giver.giver.

NowNow that she thatwas she fading, was fading, it seemed it seemed that that FrankFrank had begun had begun to beto thebedominant the dominant one in one theinfamily. the family.

I disliked I disliked his insistence, his insistence, his barking his barking an order, an order, so I did so Inot didreply not reply to to this lunch this lunch invitation. invitation.

I wasI well was aware well aware that my thatsilence my silence would would annoyannoy him, him, sincesince he was heused was used to being to being listened listened to and, to more and, more than than that, that, obeyed, obeyed, always always getting getting his way. his way.

I wasIin was myinstudy, my study, at myatdesk my desk whenwhen Vita pushed Vita pushed openopen the door the door and and said, said, “Got“Got a minute?” a minute?”

This is Thalways is is always for me fora me daunting a daunting question, question, but itbut wasitespecially was especially wor- worryingrying that day. that Vita day. and Vita Iand hadI been had been goinggoing through through a marital a marital transition. transition.

It hadItbegun had begun whenwhen I formed I formed a mining a mining company company to conduct to conduct an extensive an extensive search search in Idaho in Idaho for a for source a source of cobalt— of cobalt— ethical ethical cobaltcobalt as opposed as opposed to to the freethe forfree-allforinall theinCongo, the Congo, smallsmall children children sitting sitting in mud in mud in remote in remote Kolwezi, Kolwezi, clawing clawing at oreatbearing ore-bearing sludge. sludge.

The Idaho The Idaho searchsearch area was areavast, was vast, the highthe hightech equipment tech equipment othersothers had trained had trained on it on hadit been had been expensive. expensive.

This is Thnot is isthe notplace the place to describe to describe nuclear nuclear magnetic magnetic resonance resonance imagery imagery or or satellite satellite technology technology in prospecting, in prospecting, but these but these had been had been used,used, without without finding finding the coppery the coppery deposits deposits that indicate that indicate a source a source of cobalt. of cobalt.

I knew I knew the area, the area, I hadIprospected had prospected nearby nearby in myinearly my early dirt-bike dirt-days; bike days; the landscape the landscape had distinctive had distinctive features features and aand morphology— a morphology— a shapelia shapeliness, ness, an attitude— an attitude— I could I could read.read.

MoreMore telling telling than than that, that, I could I could sensesense it: some it: some ores have ores have a distinct a distinct taste taste and smell, and smell, their their presence presence pulsespulses in in the ambient the ambient air and air can andbe canpinned be pinned downdown in theinword the word geologists geologists oftenoften use, its use,facies— its facies— the gestalt the gestalt of complex of complex rock rock formations. formations.

I wasI away was away for for months months and the andresult the result was awas deposit a deposit that would that would lead in lead time in time to thetomost the most productive productive cobaltcobalt minemine in theinUnited the United States.

States.

Riches: Riches: cobaltcobalt is theisessenthe essen-

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tial element tial element in theinbattery the battery of every of every smartphone, smartphone, everyevery computer, computer, everyevery electric electric car, every car, every gizmo. gizmo.

My success My success also signaled also signaled a crisis a crisis in myin marriage. my marriage.

In recent In recent years,years, with with each each of myofprospecting my prospecting trips— trips— trips trips I hadI taken had taken all my allmarried my married life—life— Vita Vita had drawn had drawn away.away.

Before Before the cobalt the cobalt strikestrike I’d been I’d been in thein the Zambian Zambian Copperbelt, Copperbelt, pioneering pioneering the mining the mining of highof highquality quality emeralds. emeralds.

I wasIgone was gone for months for months at a time at a time and on andeach on each homehome leave leave saw asaw growing a growing distance distance between between Vita and Vitame; andwith me; with her objecting her objecting moremore and more and more to myto my absences, absences, I knew I knew I’d have I’d have to work to work to regain to regain her trust. her trust.

WhatWhat mademade this this hard hard was that, was that, although although I always I always returned, returned, I made I made the mistake the mistake of theof the committed— committed— the singlethe singleminded, minded, the selfi thesh— selfitraveler, sh—traveler, who regards who regards traveltravel as a mission. as a mission.

I stopped I stopped coming coming all theallway the back. way back.

I wasI distracted was distracted by a by a new venture. new venture.

Having Having seen seen the exploitation the exploitation of children of children mining mining cobaltcobalt in theinCongo— the Congo— a subject a subject that Vita that Vita herself herself was outraged was outraged by, asby, a board as a board member member of theofagency the agency Rescue/Relief— Rescue/Relief— I became I became involved involved in theinmining the mining of ethical of ethical cobaltcobalt in Idaho. in Idaho.

ThenTh something en something unexpected unexpected happened. happened.

Vita Vita did not did scold not scold me for me for beingbeing away.away.

She said She she saidhappened she happened to betopreoccupied, be preoccupied, she clucked she clucked and and went went aboutabout her business; her business; and ifand youifwere you were outside outside this marriage this marriage looking looking in you’d in you’d feel allfeel was allmore was more or lessorwell, less well, because because so little so little was said, was said, two busy two busy people, people, life returning life returning to normal, to normal, no raised no raised voices, voices, the marriage the marriage ticking ticking away.away.

But that But ticking, that ticking, whichwhich was in was fact in afact silence, a silence, something something like acceplike acceptance,tance, was ominous. was ominous.

It seemed It seemed to indicate to indicate that we thatwere we were too far tooapart far apart to to talk— talk— not anot peaceful a peaceful silence silence but abut shadow a shadow of distrust, of distrust, and now and Inow felt Iour felt our marriage marriage was hollow was hollow and unrepairable. and unrepairable.

I didn’t I didn’t have have another another woman. woman.

I hadIwork had work and prospects. and prospects.

My business My business was booming— was booming— I wasIcontent. was content.

But IBut wasIalone. was alone.

No anger, No anger, no yelling. no yelling.

It wasIt not was hatred, not hatred, because because hatred hatred is passion, is passion, and passion and passion means means caring. caring.

It wasItworse was worse than than hatred. hatred.

She was Sheindiff was indiff erenterent and loveless. and loveless.

She simply She simply didn’tdidn’t care. care.

I hadI returned had returned homehome to find to afind diffaerent different Vita.Vita.

She reminded She reminded me that me that she had she asked had asked me not meto not take to the takeIdaho the Idaho contract, contract, that she thatwas she (as wasshe (as she put it) put“perimenopausal,” it) “perimenopausal,” and hadn’t and hadn’t I been I been awayaway long long enough enough in our in our

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marriage? marriage?

I toldI her toldthat her although that although I constantly I constantly referred referred to what to what I did Iasdid as “my work,” “my work,” I did Inot didregard not regard it as work. it as work.

I loved I loved beingbeing active,active, I enjoyed I enjoyed the the challenges challenges of being of being outdoors— outdoors— of bad of roads bad roads and tent and camps— tent camps— hauling hauling technical technical equipment equipment into into the wilderness, the wilderness, to locate to locate a mother a mother lode.lode.

It It was treasure was treasure hunting, hunting, involving involving risk and risk expense. and expense.

And And my months my months of of diligent diligent prospecting prospecting in Idaho in Idaho had paid had paid off. off.

Vita was Vitanot wasimpressed. not impressed.

I said,I said, “It wasn’t “It wasn’t easy— easy— I missed I missed you.”you.”

“I told “I myself told myself you were you were dead.dead.

I got Ion gotwith on with my life.” my life.”

“The “Th strike e strike was huge,” was huge,” I said.I said.

I never I never uttered uttered the word the word cobaltcobalt or said or said that substance that substance was in was high in high demand demand as theasessential the essential metalmetal in every in every seri- serious battery ous battery on earth. on earth.

I never I never mentioned mentioned how much how much money money I wasImakwas making. Iing. explained I explained that my thatcontract my contract included included a sharing a sharing clause. clause.

It meant It meant I I had to had make to make a personal a personal investment investment on the onfront the front end, but end,Ibut would I would profitprofit on the onback the back end, end, if we ifwere we were successful. successful.

And And so it so happened. it happened.

It wasIt still was early still early but the butcash the cash flow flwas ow considwas considerable, erable, whichwhich was the wasreason the reason I could I could go home go home moremore frequently. frequently.

But IBut I had stayed had stayed awayaway too long. too long.

I came I came homehome to a diff to aerent different house, house, to a wife to a wife I scarcely I scarcely recognized, recognized, and— and— sadly— sadly— one who one who scarcely scarcely recognized recognized me. Ime. I couldcould see the seeupset the upset in Gabe, in Gabe, obviously obviously torn.torn.

Vita had Vitaworked had worked on him. on him.

He was He diff waserent, different, too—too— sad, confused, sad, confused, watchful watchful and, and, whenwhen I tried I tried to to hug him, hug him, squirming squirming out ofout myofgrasp. my grasp.

The worst The worst of it of wasit that was he thathad he had been been accepted accepted to lawtoschool, law school, and Iand could I could not share not share his joy. his joy.

My great My great strikestrike in Idaho, in Idaho, Vita now Vita now a wealthy a wealthy wife, wife, and successful and successful in in her own her own career, career, GabeGabe on the onDean’s the Dean’s List— List— threethree great great developments. developments.

I I felt we felthad weevery had every reason reason to beto happy. be happy.

That Th was at the wassituation the situation whenwhen Vita Vita pushed pushed the door the door openopen and said, and said, “Got“Got a minute?” a minute?”

I happened I happened to betobusy be busy mapping mapping a further a further IdahoIdaho claim,claim, but Ibut putIitput it asideaside because because of this ofdelicate this delicate time time and said, and said, “Sure.“Sure.

HaveHave a seat.” a seat.”

“I’ll stand.”

“I’ll stand.”

She folded She folded her arms. her arms.

“What’s “What’s on your on your mind?” mind?”

“Did“Did you get youa get message a message fromfrom Frank?”

Frank?”

I smiled, I smiled, hearing hearing her speak her speak his name, his name, because because whenever whenever I heard I heard it I it I was on wasmy onguard. my guard.

“Yes, “Yes, a week a week ago, after ago, after you suggested you suggested it, heit, e-mailed he e-mailed me about me about lunch.” lunch.”

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“You“You didn’tdidn’t reply.” reply.”

“I’m— “I’m— ah—ah— crafting crafting a response,” a response,” I said.I said.

It wasItawas typical a typical FrankFrank expresexpression, sion, like his likeothers, his others, In thisInfashion this fashion and At and this Atjuncture this juncture and I’m andthinking I’m thinking it overit mentally. over mentally.

ThenTh I said, en I said, “How“How do you doknow you know I didn’t I didn’t reply?” reply?”

“He’s“He’s waiting.” waiting.”

“Okay— “Okay— I’ll tell I’llhim. tell him.

I’m not I’mgoing. not going.

I’ve heard I’ve heard enough enough fromfrom him.”him.”

“You“You reallyreally oughtought to go,toCal.” go, Cal.” I remembered I remembered his message: his message: Be there.

Be there.

And And Vita Vita was repeating was repeating this this command, command, punctuating punctuating it with it with my name. my name.

As a As geologist a geologist in seismic in seismic locations locations I knew I knew that shaky that shaky ground ground was was something something actual, actual, and undesirable, and undesirable, and often and often dangerous. dangerous.

I’d just I’d had just had another another greatgreat commercial commercial success, success, but I’d butreturned I’d returned to uncertainty to uncertainty in in marital marital terms.terms.

And with And with Vita standing Vita standing there,there, and my andfearing my fearing a longa long dis- discussion cussion that would that would become become a harangue a harangue possibly possibly ending ending in tears, in tears, I knew I knew whatwhat I must I must do. I do. wanted I wanted to stay to happy. stay happy.

“Okay, “Okay, I’ll go.”

I’ll go.”

“You“You mightmight learnlearn something.” something.”

The lunch The lunch he’d proposed he’d proposed was in wastheinweek the week of myofbirthday my birthday and, and, as I’veas I’ve mentioned, mentioned, the period the period of oneofofone myofgreatest my greatest successes successes as a prospector— as a prospector— ethical ethical cobalt. cobalt.

FrankFrank was awas mana man of insinuations, of insinuations, of subtle of subtle gestures gestures and and sly asides, sly asides, and long and long ambiguous ambiguous stories stories ratherrather than than explicit explicit statements. statements.

But, as But, always as always in these in these lunches, lunches, it helped it helped to know to know wherewhere I stood, I stood, and he and he had what had what Vita often Vita often calledcalled “lunchtime “lunchtime charm.” charm.”

“Fidge,” “Fidge,” he said, he said, risingrising from from the booth the booth to greet to greet me. Ime. wasIatwas theatdiner the diner on time, on time, but obviously but obviously he had he come had come earlier— earlier— his coat his was coatarranged was arranged on on a hanger a hanger ratherrather than than slungslung on a on hook. a hook.

FidgeFidge was my was childhood my childhood nickname. nickname.

I’d been I’d been a restless, a restless, fidgeting fidgeting youth. youth.

ApartApart fromfrom FrankFrank and our andwidowed our widowed mother, mother, no one noelse onein else thein the worldworld used used this name this name for me. forItme. wasItlike wasan like obscure an obscure password. password.

I wasInot was not Pascal, Pascal, or Cal, or to Cal, anytoofany them: of them: I wasIFidge, was Fidge, with with all that all name that name implied. implied.

Rather Rather than than a handshake, a handshake, FrankFrank gave gave my fimy ngers fingers a saucy a saucy little little slap, slap, cuffing cuffi them ng them with with the back the back of hisofhand his hand and not andanot word a word but abut snorta snorthonkhonk of recognition. of recognition.

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The Bad The Angel Bad Angel Brothers Brothers

“Hi, “Hi, Frank, Frank, how you howdoing?” you doing?”

I sat across I sat across fromfrom him in him theinbooth the booth by thebywall the and wall took and took a menu a menu out out of theofrack the rack near near the ketchup the ketchup bottlebottle and condiments. and condiments.

He sat Hewith sat with his his handshands folded folded in a prayerful in a prayerful posture posture and lowered and lowered his head. his head.

Did he Didre-he remember member my birthday? my birthday?

Did he Didknow he know of myofsuccess my success in Idaho? in Idaho?

And what And what stories stories was he was going he going to tell? to tell?

He lifted He lifted his head his head to stare to stare at meatwith me with his odd his lopsided odd lopsided face. face.

It wasIt was divided divided into two into vertical two vertical planes, planes, the right the right part, part, cheek, cheek, jaw, portion jaw, portion of of forehead— forehead— enlarged enlarged by hisbybaldness— his baldness— and cold and cold eyes, eyes, swagged swagged downdownwardward in a frown; in a frown; the left thepart left of part hisofface his uplifted face uplifted in a smile, in a smile, the contrathe contradictory dictory face you face see youinseesome in some GreekGreek masks. masks.

WhenWhen the facial the facial droopdroop on on his right his right side was sidesaying was saying no, his no,left hisside— left side— eye and eye crinkled and crinkled forehead— forehead— was insisting was insisting yes. Iyes. imagined I imagined this complex this complex face, face, with with its builtits builtin stare in stare to register to register righteous righteous surprise, surprise, very very intimidating intimidating to a witness to a witness and very and very persuasive persuasive to a jury. to a jury.

His angular His angular expression expression operating operating independently, independently, he actually he actually had two had faces, two faces, one opposing one opposing the other. the other.

As forAsthe forset theofset hisof his jaw, his jaw,bared his bared teethteeth were were also at also odds, at odds, as though as though he was he biting was biting openopen a a pistachio. pistachio.

He seldom He seldom smiled smiled but when but when he didhehis didmouth his mouth had, ironically, had, ironically, the goofy the goofy gape gape of a pistachio of a pistachio nut. nut.

Poor Poor guy, you guy,think, you think, but no. butHis no.was Hisnot wasan not afflaniction, affliction, it wasitawas boast a boast that set thathim set him apartapart as someone as someone special. special.

WhatWhat had begun had begun in hisinteenhis teenage years, age years, after after a spell a spell of mumps, of mumps, as a mild as a mild formform of Bell’s of Bell’s palsy,palsy, FrankFrank had discovered had discovered to betoanbeasset, an asset, and he andsomehow he somehow contrived contrived to remain to remain uncured— uncured— his face his fiface xed fiand xedasymmetric, and asymmetric, and looking, and looking, he once he once told me told me with with pride,pride, like alike pirate. a pirate.

Something Something else: Ielse: always I always felt that felt he that was hescowlwas scowling ating meatfuriously me furiously behind behind this face. this face.

As hisAsbrother his brother I often I often studied studied my face my in facetheinmirror the mirror and talked and talked to to myself, myself, to seetoifsee myifface my was faceseparated was separated in theinsame the same lopsided lopsided way. way.

But itBut it wasn’t, wasn’t, and Iand concluded I concluded that Frank’s that Frank’s had become had become like that like over that decades over decades of equivocation, of equivocation, the way the away habitual a habitual smilersmiler acquires acquires laughlaugh lines,lines, or a or a doubtful doubtful one aone permanent a permanent scowl.scowl.

“There’s “Thaere’s short a short answer answer and aand long a long answer answer to that,” to that,” he said he of saidmyof my harmless harmless greeting. greeting.

“The “Th short e short answer answer is ‘I’ve is got ‘I’veagot tonaofton things of things on my on my mind.’ mind.’ ” His”eyes His dismissed eyes dismissed this asthis he as agitated he agitated his folded his folded hands. hands.

He said, He said,

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“The “Th longe long answer answer is what is what I haveI have on my onmind, my mind, the details. the details.

I keepI keep think-thinking, when ing, when Dad Dad was my wasage myhe agehad he ahad small a small insurance insurance agency, agency, and was and was in debt in debt because because of some of some bad faith bad faith policies, policies, and two and young two young kids. kids.

I don’t I don’t knowknow how he how kept he kept his composure his composure . . .” . . .”

I started I started to say, toDad say, Dad was an wasoptimist, an optimist, and was and going was going to add to how add how he he was positive was positive and spiritual, and spiritual, his piety his piety givinggiving him strength, him strength, but Frank but Frank had had unfolded unfolded his hands his hands to gesticulate to gesticulate and was andstill wastalking. still talking. “. . . something “. . . something to dotowith do with not facing not facing facts,facts, beingbeing a kinda kind of dreamer. of dreamer.

Ask him Ask him whatwhat he did he for dida for living a living and he’d and say, he’d ‘Insurance, say, ‘Insurance, but what but what I’ve always I’ve always wanted wanted to dotowas do some was some sort of sortforestryof forestryrelated related work.’ work.’

He He wanted wanted to betoa forest be a forest ranger! ranger!

I could I could nevernever live like livethat. like that.

WhatWhat I never I never understood understood . . .” . . .”

Dad Dad nevernever wanted wanted to betoa be forest a forest ranger. ranger.

But instead But instead of correcting of correcting Frank, Frank, I said,I said, “He admired “He admired you for youhaving for having important important friends.” friends.”

This Th seemed is seemed not to not register. to register.

FrankFrank said, said, “Think “Thofink it.ofHow it. How he died he died beforebefore the reckoning the reckoning came.came.

It wasItMum was Mum who had whoto had face to the facemusic. the music.

She She had her hadfeet heron feetthe onground.” the ground.”

“And“And her parents’ her parents’ money.” money.”

FrankFrank wagged wagged his fihis nger, finger, usingusing it to itclear to clear my statement my statement away.away.

He He said, said, “She “She paid paid back back everyevery penny.” penny.”

This Th wasisan wasold anstory old story I’d heard I’d heard before. before.

In anInearly an early version version the debts the debts were were forgiven, forgiven, Dad Dad was absolved, was absolved, but Frank but Frank had advised had advised MumMum on the on the procedure. procedure.

Today, Today, MumMum was the washeroine, the heroine, having having settled settled Dad’sDad’s bad faith bad faith debt.debt.

Something Something was unspoken, was unspoken, too. Itoo. hadI always had always been been Dad’sDad’s favorite, favorite, and Frank’s and Frank’s disparaging disparaging him as him a deadbeat as a deadbeat seemed seemed a dig aatdig me— at me— another another of those of those roundabout, roundabout, untranslatable untranslatable family family slurs slurs I referred I referred to earlier. to earlier.

“Can“Can I get Iyou get gentlemen you gentlemen a drink?” a drink?”

It wasIt the waswaitress, the waitress, an older an older woman woman with with a weary a weary smile,smile, and aand pada in pad herinhand. her hand.

“And“And whatwhat else can else can I do you I dofor?” you for?”

“Tomato “Tomato juice,juice, please,” please,” I said.I said.

“No ice.”

“No ice.”

Clasping Clasping his hands his hands again,again, FrankFrank said, said, “Water.”

“Water.”

“Still“Still or sparkling?” or sparkling?”

“Tap“Tap water.” water.”

“Shall“Shall I tell Iyou telltoday’s you today’s specials?” specials?”

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The Bad The Angel Bad Angel Brothers Brothers

“Pass,” “Pass,” FrankFrank said in said a snippy in a snippy voice.voice.

Seeing Seeing the woman the woman wince, wince, I said,I said, “I know “I know whatwhat I’m going I’m going to have. to have.

A A cup of cup clam of clam chowder chowder and the andgrilled the grilled haddock.” haddock.”

“Good “Good choice. choice.

Mashed Mashed potato potato or salad?” or salad?”

“Mashed “Mashed potato.” potato.”

“And“And you, you, sir?” sir?”

FrankFrank said, said, “Same “Same here.”here.”

The waitress The waitress repeated repeated the order, the order, reading reading from from her pad. her She pad.then She then said, said, “I’ll be “I’ll right be right back back with with your your drinks.” drinks.”

FrankFrank leaned leaned toward toward me. “Imagine, me. “Imagine, Dad Dad an insurance an insurance stiff grandly stiff grandly calling calling himself himself an importer.” an importer.”

“It was “It his washobby. his hobby.

SomeSome of theof stuff the stuff he sold he sold was made was made overseas. overseas.

China, China, for sure. for sure.

Like Like a lot aoflot myofdrilling my drilling equipment.” equipment.”

Leaning Leaning closer,closer, as though as though to someone to someone on a on witness a witness stand,stand, FrankFrank said, said, “Think “Thhow ink hard how hard it is to it be is to who be you whosay youyou sayare.” you are.”

Leaving Leaving me with me with this enigmatic this enigmatic thought, thought, he satheback, sat back, looking looking pleased pleased with with himself. himself.

The waitress The waitress set down set down my tomato my tomato juice juice and Frank’s and Frank’s glass glass of water of water and said, and said, “Food’s “Food’s on the onway.” the way.”

FrankFrank tapped tapped the side the of side theofglass the glass with with one fione nger,finger, as though as though to testto test its temperature. its temperature.

“What “What was Iwas saying?”

I saying?”

“Mum “Mum paid back paid back everyevery penny.” penny.”

I did Inot didcorrect not correct him. him.

I wasIenjoying was enjoying this skewed this skewed version version of theofstory. the story.

And And therethere was more, was more, the valiant the valiant widow widow repaying repaying her late herhusband’s late husband’s debt,debt, usingusing her own her own money. money.

And And FrankFrank taking taking time time off from off from his law his law practice practice to help to her. helpAs her. heAs talked he talked I noted I noted the variations the variations in theinstory, the story, Dad Dad now portrayed now portrayed as selfi asshselfi and shneglectful, and neglectful, concealing concealing his profi his ts, profi squirrelts, squirreling money ing money away,away, defaulting defaulting on hisondebts, his debts, undermining undermining the family. the family.

At a At certain a certain pointpoint in this in conversation, this conversation, my interest my interest waned, waned, I found I found this painful this painful to hear, to hear, as though as though listening listening to it Itowas it Ibeing was being disloyal disloyal to Dad. to Dad. I said,I said, “What “What aboutabout the things the things Dad Dad did that did had that nothing had nothing to dotowith do with money? money?

His sacrifi His sacrifi ces. His ces. great His great heart.heart.

HowHow he never he never complained. complained.

He He lovedloved Mum. Mum. He adored He adored her. Th her. at Th counts at counts for a for lot.”a lot.”

FrankFrank staredstared at meatasmeI spoke, as I spoke, expressionless, expressionless, his slanted his slanted lips narlips narrowed, rowed, unimpressed, unimpressed, or else ornot elselistening. not listening.

He was Heawas relaxed a relaxed and expanand expan-

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sive talker, sive talker, but he butwas hean wasimpatient an impatient and agitated and agitated listener, listener, and his andblank his blank stare stare was an wasexample an example of hisofimpatience. his impatience.

He said, He said, “Every “Every time time I pickI pick up a up screwdriver a screwdriver I think I think of how of how Dad Dad used used the tip theoftip a knife of a knife as a screwdriver. as a screwdriver.

So allSotheallknives the knives in ourincutlery our cutlery drawer drawer had ahad sorta of sorttwist of twist at theattip, the atip, weird a weird little little kink,kink, wherewhere it wasit was used used to remove to remove a screw.” a screw.”

“I do“Ithat do sometimes.” that sometimes.”

FrankFrank knewknew that, that, he’d often he’d often mocked mocked me for me for it. Some it. Some of those of those damaged damaged knivesknives mightmight have have been been my doing. my doing.

“And“And not only not only the knives,” the knives,” FrankFrank said. said.

“What “What aboutabout the time the time he he lunched lunched the car thedoor?” car door?”

He was He disparaging was disparaging Dad,Dad, yet I yet smiled I smiled at a Littleford at a Littleford wordword I loved, I loved, like bollocky like bollocky for naked, for naked, tonic tonic for soda, for soda, hoseyhosey for choose, for choose, and What and What a a pisser.pisser.

Lunched Lunched meant meant “ruined,” “ruined,” but Ibut hated I hated hearing hearing it applied it applied to someto somethingthing Dad Dad had done. had done.

“Banged “Banged the door the door against against a parking a parking metermeter in a hurry in a hurry to seetoa see client.” a client.”

“Just “Just a ding,” a ding,” I said.I said.

“Then, “Thtrying en, trying to smooth to smooth it outit he outpushed he pushed too hard too hard on his onelectric his electric bufferbuff and erfried and fried the coil— the coil— lunched lunched that, that, too.” too.”

“Two“Two lunches, lunches, what’swhat’s the big thedeal.” big deal.”

“One“One lunchlunch too many,” too many,” FrankFrank said. said.

“Clam “Clam chowder,” chowder,” the waitress the waitress said, said, sliding sliding the cups the cups toward toward us. “Hadus. “Haddock’sdock’s coming coming up.” up.”

“Consider “Consider beingbeing a woman a woman that age,” that age,” FrankFrank said, said, as theaswaitress the waitress hur- hurried away. ried away.

He was He nodding was nodding knowingly. knowingly.

“Probably “Probably fiftysomething fiftysomething and and still hustling still hustling for tips. for You tips.know You know what what waitresses waitresses make?make?

Probably Probably around around a buck a buck and change and change an hour.” an hour.”

He said He this said sourly, this sourly, so I said, so I said, “She’s“She’s aboutabout my age— my age— and younger and younger than than you.”you.”

FrankFrank rapped rapped on the ontable the table and said and in saidanininsistent an insistent hiss, hiss, “Cash“Cash is is king.”king.”

I wasI looking was looking at hisatlips, his how lips, how they they trembled trembled with with thesethese words, words, and and expected expected him to him saytomore. say more.

But there But there was no wasmore. no more.

His statement His statement was was assertive, assertive, but his buteyes his looked eyes looked unsure, unsure, as with as with the Dad the Dad storystory of debt, of debt, and and the one theabout one about Dad Dad usingusing a kitchen a kitchen knifeknife as a screwdriver, as a screwdriver, and lunching and lunching the car thedoor, car door, and the andobnoxious the obnoxious asideaside aboutabout the waitress’s the waitress’s pay. pay.

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Dumping Dumping oysteroyster crackers crackers into my intochowder, my chowder, I began I began eating. eating.

WatchWatching me ingwith me with dampdamp lips, Frank lips, Frank stirred stirred his chowder, his chowder, dabbing dabbing at it at with it with his spoon, his spoon, but instead but instead of eating of eating any, he any,went he went on fiddling on fiddling with with it, like it, like a chemist a chemist with with a potion. a potion.

His not Hiseating not eating disconcerted disconcerted me and me made and made it it hard hard for me fortome swallow to swallow until,until, self-conscious, self-conscious, I gaveI gave up and up pushed and pushed my my half-eaten half-eaten cup aside. cup aside.

FrankFrank was still waspoking still poking at hisatuntasted his untasted chowder. chowder.

He said, He said, “Took“Took Dad Dad and Mum and Mum to thetoGovernor’s the Governor’s Ball. Ball.

MumMum just sat, justdazzled. sat, dazzled.

Dad Dad goes goes up up to Senator to Senator McBride McBride and says, and says, ‘I remember ‘I remember your your father.’ father.’ ” ” “Dad“Dad was very was very congenial. congenial.

The only The only people people he couldn’t he couldn’t standstand were were lazy aimless lazy aimless types.types.

Remember Remember his expression?” his expression?”

FrankFrank was staring was staring at hisatchowder. his chowder.

“He’s“He’s like alike fartainfart a mitten— in a mitten— nice.”nice.”

But Frank But Frank said, said, “McBride’s “McBride’s fatherfather was convicted was convicted of bank of bank fraud,fraud, mail mail fraud,fraud, and wire and fraud. wire fraud.

He served He served six years six years in a federal in a federal lockup.” lockup.”

The waitress The waitress returned returned with with two plates. two plates.

“Still“Still working working on that?” on that?” she she said to said Frank, to Frank, who’dwho’d left his leftspoon his spoon in hisinuntasted his untasted chowder. chowder.

“Take“Take it,” heit,” said he and saidnudged and nudged it with it with his knuckles. his knuckles.

The waitress The waitress set down set down the plates the plates of haddock of haddock and clearing and clearing awayaway the the chowder chowder cups cups said, said, “Let me “Letknow me know if youifneed you need anything anything else.”else.”

“Thanks,” “Thanks,” I saidI and said started and started to eat, to but eat, seeing but seeing FrankFrank poking poking at hisat his fish and fishnot andeating not eating I wasIthrown, was thrown, and in and thisindelay, this delay, as though as though FrankFrank was was tryingtrying to find to out findifout theiffithe sh was fishedible, was edible, I found I found it hard it hard to swallow. to swallow.

“How’s “How’s your your son?”son?”

I asked.

I asked.

FrankFrank said, said, “Look“Look in theinmirror the mirror and ask andyourself ask yourself that question.” that question.”

He lifted He lifted and dropped and dropped the food the food on hisonplate, his plate, seeming seeming to seek to someseek somethingthing underneath underneath it, and it, he anddid he this did studiously, this studiously, with with a faint a faint scowlscowl of of disgust disgust on hisonlips. his lips.

I wondered I wondered whether whether he’d ask he’dme askabout me about my son, my Gabe. son, Gabe.

I wasI proud was proud of Gabe’s of Gabe’s academic academic recordrecord but decided but decided not tonot volunteer to volunteer anything anything unlessunless FrankFrank asked.asked.

Frank’s Frank’s head head was down. was down.

He was Hemaking was making a little a little hut ofhut hisof his heap heap of mashed of mashed potato, potato, squaring squaring the sides, the sides, hollowing hollowing out the outmiddle, the middle, roofing roofi it ng with it with flakesflof akes hisofbroken his broken fish. fish.

Just then Just then a shadow a shadow fell over fell over our booth, our booth, a man a man in a fedora, in a fedora, leaning leaning toward toward Frank.

Frank.

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“Sorry “Sorry to interrupt.” to interrupt.”

FrankFrank looked looked up and upatand once at once his face his glowed face glowed with with lunchtime lunchtime charm, charm, its opposing its opposing features features seeming seeming to resolve to resolve into ainto smooth a smooth smiling smiling wholewhole of of welcome. welcome.

He dropped He dropped his fish hisknife fish knife and lifted and lifted both both handshands to enclose to enclose the the extended extended handhand of theofman the man who’dwho’d happened happened by. by.

“Well“Wellmet, met, well-met!” well-met!”

FrankFrank said, said, sounding sounding warmly warmly grateful, grateful, and he and he hunghung on, tugging on, tugging the man’s the man’s hand.hand.

It wasIt Dante was Dante Zangara, Zangara, an old anschool old school friendfriend of Frank’s of Frank’s who’dwho’d been been a politician a politician in Littleford in Littleford for years for years and was and now was now the mayor. the mayor.

Zangara Zangara greeted greeted me, ame, casual a casual fist bump fist bump with with his free his hand, free hand, saying saying “Who’s “Who’s this this stranger?,” stranger?,” but Frank but Frank was still wastalking still talking excitedly. excitedly.

“Who“Who said, said, ‘The ‘Th art eofart public of public life consists life consists of knowing of knowing exactly exactly whenwhen to stop, to stop, and then and then goinggoing a bit afurther’?” bit further’?”

And And with with visiblevisible reluctance reluctance he he released released Zangara’s Zangara’s hand.hand.

“Search “Search me,” me,” Zangara Zangara said. said.

He had He small had small close-closeset eyes set over eyes aover hawk a hawk nose,nose, and aand waya of waylicking of licking his thin his thin lips and lips spacing and spacing his words his words that that mademade him seem him seem as though as though he was he speaking was speaking to someone to someone taking taking dicta-dictation. tion.

“But,“But, hey, Ihey, would I would not call notthat call guy thataguy chadrool. a chadrool.

Listen, Listen, how’show’s the the family?” family?”

“Never “Never better,” better,” FrankFrank said, said, a sweetness a sweetness in hisinvoice. his voice.

“What “What aboutabout la la famiglia, famiglia, Zangara?”

Zangara?”

“Connie’s “Connie’s a wreck.” a wreck.”

Zangara Zangara raisedraised his arms his arms in aninoperatic an operatic gesture gesture of of despair. despair.

“Gina’s “Gina’s applying applying to college.” to college.”

“How“How can Ican help?”

I help?”

FrankFrank said. said.

He seemed He seemed to levitate to levitate in hisinseat, his seat, ris- rising toward ing toward Zangara, Zangara, his intense his intense gaze figaze xed fion xedthe onman. the man.

“She “She wantswants to gototogoWillard, to Willard, maybe maybe studystudy veterinary veterinary science. science.

The The kid’s kid’s nuts nuts aboutabout animals.” animals.”

“I know “I know a guy,” a guy,” FrankFrank said. said.

“He has “Hethe hasear theofeartheofdean the dean of admisof admissions.sions.

I could I could writewrite a reference.” a reference.”

“Frank, “Frank, that would that would be fantastic.” be fantastic.”

“A distinct “A distinct honor,” honor,” FrankFrank said. said.

“Gina“Gina will make will make all ofall us of proud.” us proud.”

TheyTh hugged, ey hugged, awkwardly, awkwardly, because because FrankFrank was still was in stillthe in booth, the booth, canted canted forward, forward, the table the table edge edge jammed jammed against against his thighs, his thighs, Zangara Zangara top- toppling,pling, and then and then breaking breaking free. free.

“The“Th Bade Angel Bad Angel brothers,” brothers,” Zangara Zangara said, said, straightening straightening his jacket, his jacket,

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The Bad The Angel Bad Angel Brothers Brothers

coming coming to attention, to attention, with with a littlea little salute, salute, touching touching his hat hisbrim hat brim in homin homage. A age. high A high school school nickname nickname is forever, is forever, and itand annoyingly it annoyingly defines defiyou nes you whenwhen you’reyou’re still living still living in your in your hometown. hometown.

“You“You guys guys are fabulous.” are fabulous.”

WhenWhen this sunny this sunny visitation visitation ended, ended, and Zangara and Zangara left the leftdiner, the diner, FrankFrank seemed seemed to subside to subside and become and become smaller, smaller, twisting twisting himself himself back back into his into his seat, seat, to resume to resume toying toying with with his food. his food.

He’d He’d fallenfallen silent,silent, but still butwas stillnot was not eating. eating.

I watched I watched him resisting him resisting his food, his food, and his andstubbornness his stubbornness mademade me reme recall his callslights his slights and abuses and abuses whenwhen we were we were younger. younger.

In myInangered my angered imag-imagination ination I pictured I pictured myself myself dragging dragging him out himofout theofbooth the booth and violently and violently force-forcefeeding feeding him. him.

It wasItthe wasway the an way imprisoned an imprisoned hunger hunger strikerstriker was fed, was fed, first immobilized, first immobilized, strapped strapped to a sixto apoint six-point chair,chair, a nasogastric a nasogastric feeding feeding tube tube pushed pushed into into his nose his nose and snaked and snaked into into his throat, his throat, and nutritious and nutritious slop hosed slop hosed into him, into him, whilewhile he gagged he gagged and struggled and struggled to breathe. to breathe.

ForceForcefeeding feeding had been had been used used manymany times,times, by the byU.S. the U.S. and others and others on prisonon prisoners, and ers, itand wasit deemed was deemed torture— torture— cruel,cruel, inhumane, inhumane, and degrading, and degrading, and and sometimes sometimes fatal— fatal— but torture but torture as a fiasneaart, finemaking art, making it especially it especially pleasant pleasant for me fortome contemplate to contemplate with with FrankFrank (who(who once once mentioned mentioned to metothat me he that he approved approved of it),ofintubated it), intubated and choking and choking to death to death and unable and unable to speak, to speak, or or to telltome tellanother me another bullshit bullshit story.story.

“McBride “McBride later later joined joined the D.C. the D.C. branch branch of myofold mylaw oldfilaw rm.”firm.”

I needed I needed to remind to remind myself myself that this thatwas thisthe wasfather the father of theofsenator the senator Dad Dad had apparently had apparently insulted. insulted.

“Became “Became a lobbyist.” a lobbyist.”

FrankFrank launched launched into into a vaguely a vaguely familiar familiar storystory aboutabout lobbying, lobbying, set- setting up tingbusinesses up businesses on Native on Native American American tribaltribal land land in Idaho, in Idaho, leasing leasing agreements agreements and fiand nancial financial schemes, schemes, saying, saying, “Some “Some of that of land that land is fracis fractionated,” tionated,” and repeating and repeating the phrase the phrase “Cash“Cash is king.” is king.”

But as But heaswas he still was still poking poking at hisatfood— his food— sculpting sculpting it, soit, to so speak— to speak— and not andeating, not eating, I could I could not understand not understand his story. his story.

I knew I knew I hadIheard had heard it before, it before, something something aboutabout casinos, casinos, but this buttime this time it hadit ahad diffaerent different emphasis emphasis that got thatmy gotattention my attention and seemed and seemed personal. personal.

“Mineral “Mineral rights,” rights,” he kept he kept repeating, repeating, and Iand wonI wondereddered whether whether he was he referring was referring in some in some enigmatic enigmatic way to waythetocobalt the cobalt deposit deposit I’d discovered I’d discovered in that in same that same area of areatheofstate. the state.

Yet asYet long as long as heas he pushed pushed his food his food around around his plate, his plate, and did andnot dideat notany eat of any it,ofI was it, I too was too

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distracted distracted with with my fantasy— my fantasy— force-forcefeeding feeding him to him death— to death— to follow to follow his his story.story.

To get Tohim get to him stop, to stop, I said,I said, “Do you “Dowant you want anything anything else?”else?”

“Yes,”“Yes,” he said. he said.

“I want “I want to find to the findrich the jerk rich who jerk who took took a dump a dump on on me—me— kept kept me waiting me waiting in aninouter an outer officeoffi forcealmost for almost an hour, an hour, seeming seeming to to take some take some pleasure pleasure in it, in and it, then and then snubbed snubbed me when me when he deigned he deigned to seeto see me. ‘We’ll me. ‘We’ll get back get back to you. to you.

HaveHave a nicea day.’ nice ”day.’ ” “When “When was this?” was this?”

“When “When I wasInineteen, was nineteen, the summer the summer I did Ioffi didceoffi work ce work for that for Boston that Boston law filaw rm.”firm.”

He pushed He pushed his plate his plate aside.aside.

“I’d like “I’dtolike punch to punch him in him theinface.” the face.”

In anInearly, an early, muchmuch longer longer version version of this of story this story the rich the jerk rich was jerk awas a youngyoung woman, woman, and Frank and Frank had an had exquisite an exquisite rejoinder rejoinder to Have to Have a niceaday. nice day.

He said, He said, I haveI have other other plans.plans.

In another In another version, version, it wasit an wasolder an older woman woman and he anddemanded he demanded to seetoher see boss. her boss.

Getting Getting even even was awas mission a mission with with Frank; Frank; but you butnever you never reallyreally get even, get even, you just youdo justmore do more damage. damage.

“Anyway, “Anyway, I heard I heard his wife his ditched wife ditched him.”him.”

FrankFrank folded folded his arms, his arms, pre- presidingsiding over over his strange his strange mounded mounded plate plate of uneaten of uneaten food.food.

“Turned “Turned out out he wasn’t he wasn’t doingdoing his homework. his homework.

But here’s But here’s the kicker. the kicker.

He claimed He claimed he he stumbled stumbled on some on some stairsstairs and bumped and bumped his wang his wang on the onnewel the newel post. post.

So So whatwhat does does he do? heHe do?sues He the suesbuilding’s the building’s owners owners for loss forofloss consortium. of consortium.

Because Because of theofinjuries the injuries he sustained he sustained in hisinstumble, his stumble, his wife his wife has been has been deprived deprived of her”— of her”— FrankFrank liftedlifted his hands his hands and clawed and clawed air quotes air quotes near my near my face— face— “husband’s “husband’s services.” services.”

He twisted He twisted his swagged his swagged face into face into a smile. a smile.

“Her“Her comfort comfort and happiness and happiness in hisinsohis called so-called society society have have been been impaired impaired by hisbydamaged his damaged wang.wang.

Hey, Hey, I hated I hated the guy thebut guyIbut learned I learned something.” something.”

I wanted I wanted to ponder to ponder “loss “loss of consortium,” of consortium,” but Ibut hadI indigestion. had indigestion.

I I was disgusted was disgusted by mybyhalfmy eaten half-eaten meal,meal, and Iand wasIdisturbed was disturbed at theatsight the sight of of Frank’s Frank’s uneaten uneaten meal,meal, which, which, scraped scraped and combined, and combined, was lumped was lumped like like garbage. garbage.

“Fidge,” “Fidge,” FrankFrank said suddenly, said suddenly, shoving shoving his cuff his. cuff “Look . “Look at theattime— the time— gottagotta go.” go.”

He slid Heout slidofout theofbooth, the booth, liftedlifted his coat his from coat from the hanger, the hanger, and left andinleft in a hurry. a hurry.

He had He not hadeaten not eaten anything. anything.

He had He not hadasked not asked me ame personal a personal ques-question. tion.

He had Hedefl hadected deflected my questions. my questions.

To a passerby— To a passerby— such such as theaswaitress the waitress

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The Bad The Angel Bad Angel Brothers Brothers

who who was approaching was approaching the booth— the booth— his stories his stories were were rantings, rantings, if notifbornot borderline derline insane. insane.

But IBut knew I knew they contained they contained a meaning. a meaning.

“Someone “Someone wasn’twasn’t hungry,” hungry,” the waitress the waitress said. said.

I thanked I thanked her, gave her, gave her aher bigger a bigger tip than tip than she was she expecting, was expecting, and and spentspent the rest theofrest theofday therefl dayecting reflecting on the onlunch— the lunch— whatwhat FrankFrank said, said, whatwhat he didn’t he didn’t say, his say,having his having eateneaten nothing nothing of what of what he’d ordered, he’d ordered, and Iand grewI grew melancholy. melancholy.

That Th wasat the wasfithe rst lunch. first lunch.

I wasI puzzled. was puzzled.

He dislikes He dislikes me, Ime, thought, I thought, and and wentwent no further, no further, because because who who wantswants to enter to enter the head the head of theofperson the person who who hateshates you? you?

But itBut alsoit occurred also occurred to metothat me he thatmight he might have have had ahad a stomach stomach upset— upset— he tended he tended to betobilious be bilious in every in every sense— sense— and maybe and maybe it it was too waspainful too painful for him for to him talk toabout. talk about.

Maybe Maybe he was hedepressed, was depressed, though though apartapart fromfrom his divorce his divorce fromfrom his first his wife first long wife long ago and agoaand period a period of deep of deep gloom, gloom, I’d never I’d never known known FrankFrank to betodepressed. be depressed.

He made He made a point a point of of beingbeing jaunty, jaunty, especially especially in hisincruel his cruel teasing. teasing.

So I So gaveI gave him the himbenefi the benefi t t of theofdoubt the doubt and began and began to think to think I wasI reading was reading too much too much into his intoamhis ambiguous biguous stories stories and his anduneaten his uneaten meal.meal.

That Th plate at plate he’d left, he’d however, left, however, the the mass mass of food, of food, that slop that disturbed slop disturbed me. He me.had He hovered had hovered over over the plate, the plate, and lumped and lumped it andit pushed and pushed it around, it around, making making it hisitown, his own, then then rejected rejected it, making it, making a sorta of sort statement of statement I needed I needed to interpret— to interpret— very Frank. very Frank.

Yet my Yetbirthday. my birthday.

He had He not hadmentioned not mentioned it, nor it, had nor he hadgiven he given me ame a present present as heasoften he often did, even did, even a token, a token, as in as theinpast, the past, like the likekey thechain, key chain, or baseball or baseball cap, or cap, ballpoint or ballpoint pen, pen, logo items logo items he’d gotten he’d gotten free atfree a luxury at a luxury hotel.hotel.

I knew I knew they were they were cheesy cheesy mementos mementos he’d regifted, he’d regifted, yet they yet showed they showed he remembered. he remembered.

And And my cobalt my cobalt strike,strike, the Idaho the Idaho mine,mine, a bigapayday— big payday— he had he not had not said anything said anything aboutabout that either; that either; and speculation, and speculation, mentioning mentioning me, had me, had been been in theinbusiness the business newsnews that Frank that Frank habitually habitually read when read when trawling trawling for for clients. clients.

He had He not hadasked not asked aboutabout Vita,Vita, and in and theinpast the he pasthad he never had never failedfailed to to do so.do so.

You think: You think: Odd Odd not tonot mention to mention any ofany this, of this, but one but of one Frank’s of Frank’s per- perversities versities was emphasizing was emphasizing the importance the importance of something of something by not bybringing not bringing

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it up.itI up. wondered I wondered whether whether that was thatthe wascase the at case thisatlunch, this lunch, and of and course of course therethere was the wassight the sight of hisofmangled his mangled plate plate of food of food that he’d that left he’dlooking left looking punished, punished, an obvious an obvious powerpower move.move.

That Th night at night I toldI told Vita Vita aboutabout the lunch— the lunch— the stories, the stories, the uneaten the uneaten food,food, the references the references that that seemed seemed directed directed at me. at As me.weAswere we were goinggoing through through a badapatch bad patch at theattime, the time, I suppose I suppose I wasIlooking was looking for sympathy. for sympathy.

“He’s“He’s a piece a piece of work,” of work,” she said, she said, yet before yet before I could I could agreeagree she said, she said, “But “But so aresoyou.” are you.”

“It’s my “It’sbirthday, my birthday, Vee. He Vee.didn’t He didn’t say a say word a word aboutabout it.” it.”

“That’s “Ththe at’ssort the of sort thing of thing you might you might do.” do.”

“Maybe “Maybe by accident, by accident, but this butseemed this seemed deliberate.” deliberate.”

“You“You forgotforgot my birthday my birthday one year.” one year.”

“I was“Iprospecting was prospecting in Zambia, in Zambia, Vee!”Vee!” “Husband “Husband comescomes downdown with with a severe a severe case of caseamnesia of amnesia in Zambia,” in Zambia,” Vita said.

Vita said.

One One of theof characteristics the characteristics of a troubled of a troubled marriage marriage is that is wisps that wisps of of half-remembered half-remembered slights slights fromfrom the distant the distant past appear past appear fully fully formed formed and and offensive offensive in theinpresent, the present, to beto marshaled be marshaled as evidence. as evidence.

“A lunch, “A lunch, Vee. Vee. A lunch A lunch wherewhere one of onetheoflunchers the lunchers doesn’t doesn’t eat anyeat anything.” thing.”

“Maybe “Maybe he wasn’t he wasn’t hungry.” hungry.”

“The “Th waye he way played he played with with his food his food seemed seemed hostile.” hostile.”

“You“You play with play with your your food food sometimes,” sometimes,” she said. she said.

“Vee,“Vee, therethere was something was something unspoken unspoken at that at lunch. that lunch.

It wasn’t It wasn’t just just that he thatdidn’t he didn’t eat anything eat anything and told and those told those stories stories aboutabout Dad.Dad. It wasItall was all oblique oblique and empty, and empty, like alike ritual.” a ritual.”

“Ritual,” “Ritual,” she said, she said, doubtful, doubtful, as if as I was if I overdramatizing was overdramatizing the event. the event.

“Of what?”

“Of what?”

“Of rejection.

“Of rejection.

Like Like the sort the of sort thing of thing somesome African African tribe tribe mightmight do asdo as a waya of way ostracizing of ostracizing someone someone in theinclan. the clan.

Except Except he was he inventing was inventing the the wholewhole procedure, procedure, like creating like creating a tradition a tradition that had thatnever had never existed existed before. before.

The rejection The rejection ritualritual of theofuneaten the uneaten meal.” meal.”

“Oh “Oh god,”god,” Vita said.

Vita said.

And And that was that the wasend the of end theofdiscussion, the discussion, fromfrom whichwhich I emerged I emerged un- unconsoled. consoled.

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The Bad The Angel Bad Angel Brothers Brothers * * * * *

A fewA days few days later, later, Vita Vita said, said, “We’re “We’re having having a cookout a cookout on Saturday on Saturday for for GabeGabe and some and some of hisoffriends. his friends.

WhyWhy don’tdon’t you invite you invite Frank?”

Frank?”

“He doesn’t “He doesn’t like me.” like me.”

“But “But I likeIhim,” like him,” she said, she said, whichwhich was clearly was clearly a dig aatdig me.at me.

When When I phoned I phoned him him to invite to invite him, him, FrankFrank said he saidwasn’t he wasn’t sure sure he he couldcould makemake it anditthat and he that needed he needed somesome time time to think to think aboutabout it. it.

“Frank, “Frank, it’s the it’sday theafter day after tomorrow.” tomorrow.”

“I’ll let “I’ll you letknow,” you know,” he said. he said.

This hesitation This hesitation was usually was usually Frank’s Frank’s way of way of indicating indicating that he that might he might get a get better a better invitation invitation in theinmeantime. the meantime.

Vita said, Vita said, “You’re “You’re so paranoid,” so paranoid,” whenwhen I toldI her toldthis. her this.

I did Inot didhear not from hear from FrankFrank and assumed and assumed he was hesnubbing was snubbing us. But us.on But on the morning the morning of theofcookout, the cookout, he called he called and said, and said, “See “See you later.” you later.”

He came He came carrying carrying a small a small brown brown bag, and bag,when and when he doff heed doff hisedbaseball his baseball cap, his cap,lopsided his lopsided face became face became fullerfuller and more and more distorted, distorted, as he as said he hello said hello in a grouchy in a grouchy way to way metowith me with one side one while side while offering offering a twinkling a twinkling gaze to gaze to Vita with Vita with the other the other side. side.

He went He went to thetosmoking the smoking grill and grillsetting and setting downdown the bag, the he bag, removed he removed two hot twodogs hot dogs and two andbottles two bottles of beer. of beer.

He tossed He tossed the the hot dogs hot dogs on the ongrill the and grilluncapped and uncapped a beer, a beer, sayingsaying “Cheers,” “Cheers,” to Vita. to Vita.

The The otherother side of side hisofface his still faceregarded still regarded me with me with displeasure. displeasure.

GabeGabe and his andfriends his friends wavedwaved fromfrom wherewhere they sat theyeating sat eating underunder a tree.a tree.

FrankFrank jerkedjerked his head his head at them, at them, as heastonged he tonged the sweaty, the sweaty, split-splitopenopen hot hot dogs dogs onto onto a paper a paper plate.plate.

“Mustard?”

“Mustard?”

I said.I said.

“Bad“Bad for you. for you.

HighHigh fructose fructose corn corn syrup,” syrup,” he said he to saidme, to while me, while his his eyes searched eyes searched for Vita. for Vita.

“I wish “I wish therethere was something was something I could I could do todo please to please you.”you.”

Walking Walking away,away, FrankFrank said, said, “Piss “Piss in one in hand, one hand, and make and make that wish that wish with with the other, the other, and see andwhich see which one fione lls up fillsfaster.” up faster.”

As heAs stood he stood at theatfar theend farofend theofswimming the swimming pool,pool, drinking drinking his second his second beer, beer, I thought: I thought: He isHe here, is here, but hebutis he notishere. not here.

And And that was that when was when Vita Vita wentwent over over to him. to him.

TheyTh were ey were too far tooaway far away fromfrom me tome hear to hear anything anything they they said, said, though though once once or twice or twice Vita Vita glanced glanced at me, at then me, then looked looked back back

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at Frank. at Frank.

And And the way the they way they stood,stood, laughing, laughing, poking poking each each other,other, they they looked looked like husband like husband and wife, and wife, or lovers. or lovers.

FrankFrank left, taking left, taking his brown his brown bag and baghis andtwo hisempty two empty beer bottles beer bottles with with him, him, facingfacing me and me wordlessly and wordlessly winking, winking, and raising and raising one eyebrow— one eyebrow— the the eyebrow eyebrow flash flheash knew he knew infuriated infuriated me. me.

“He hates “He hates me,” me,” I said.I said.

Vita said, Vita said, “Ever“Ever think,think, maybe maybe it’s you?” it’s you?”

That Th wasatthe wassecond the second lunch. lunch.

Not long Not long after,after, Vita said, Vita said, “I need “I need to telltoyou tellsomething.” you something.”

By then, By then, I wasn’t I wasn’t happyhappy anymore, anymore, so I knew so I knew exactly exactly whatwhat she was she was goinggoing to say.to say.

I startI start this way, this way, with with thesethese long-longago lunches, ago lunches, whenwhen FrankFrank and Iand wereI were in in our late ourfilate fties,fifties, because because it wasitawas turning a turning point,point, deliquescing deliquescing into someinto somethingthing I never I never expected. expected.

And And to give to agive glimpse a glimpse of how of how odd, odd, oblique, oblique, and unreadable and unreadable FrankFrank was, was, I guessed I guessed therethere was much was much moremore to know to know and wondered and wondered whether whether I’d find I’d out findwhat out what it was. it And was. why, And why, in theinend, the end, I I wanted wanted him dead. him dead.

But IBut haveI have to gotoback go back to thetobeginning, the beginning, in Littleford, in Littleford, whenwhen it wasit was just the justtwo the of two us.of us.

Part Part TwoTwo

Brotherhood Brotherhood

2 2

Parallel Parallel Lives Lives

TT

        —  — , , - selfish, selfi pure sh, pure in heart, in heart, life-affi liferming; affirming; but there but there are many are many vivid vivid versions versions of hatred. of hatred.

The hatred The hatred that makes that makes your your enemy enemy abandon abandon you you is nothing is nothing compared compared to thetohatred the hatred that impels that impels this monster this monster nevernever to to leave leave you alone, you alone, infecting infecting you like you alike virus, a virus, sickening sickening you and you seeming and seeming to gloat. to gloat.

My brother, My brother, Frank, Frank, resented resented my long my long absences absences fromfrom town,town, because because it wasit harder was harder then then for him for him to provoke to provoke me. Ime. knew I knew this, this, but for butmy for my own own mental mental health health I avoided I avoided pondering pondering whatwhat was in washisinhead. his head.

And And as a prospector, as a prospector, in theinbusiness the business of searching of searching wild wild placesplaces for minerals for minerals and metals, and metals, I’d dealt I’d dealt with with somesome roughrough individuals. individuals.

TheyTh were ey were ornery ornery or or contrary, contrary, but Ibut could I could handle handle them;them; they were they were difficult, difficult, but like butme likethey me they were were looking looking for profi for tprofi andtwere and were willing willing to work to work hard hard for it.for Prospecting it. Prospecting for any forore anyisore a physical is a physical challenge challenge and only and only the toughest the toughest are equal are equal to it. to it.

TheseTh men ese men and women and women didn’tdidn’t intend intend me any meharm; any harm; it wasitterritorial— was territorial— they wanted they wanted to beto thebefithe rst to first stake to stake a claim. a claim.

FrankFrank was diff waserent: different: his was hisawas mental a mental game,game, no risk noinvolved, risk involved, and itand it was personal. was personal.

He wanted He wanted to torture to torture me, he me, enjoyed he enjoyed seeingseeing me suff meer,suff heer, he aimedaimed to ruin to me. ruinIme. hadIno hadidea no why. idea why.

OverOver the years, the years, I wasIfrequently was frequently far away far away fromfrom Littleford Littleford and Frank, and Frank, but even but even at a great at a great distance distance he could he could be obnoxious, be obnoxious, because because he had he ahad a gift, common gift, common to tyrants, to tyrants, of insinuating of insinuating himself himself into my intoconsciousness, my consciousness, and humming and humming therethere like alike fever. a fever.

When When I wasI anywhere was anywhere near near him, him, he he

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The Bad The Angel Bad Angel Brothers Brothers

was unbearable. was unbearable.

I banished I banished vengeful vengeful thoughts thoughts fromfrom my mind my mind and was and was unfailingly unfailingly courteous courteous to him, to him, the way the you way might you might behave behave with with exaggerexaggerated ated politeness politeness to someone to someone you dislike, you dislike, because because you don’t you don’t wantwant your your contempt contempt to show. to show.

We were We were born born threethree yearsyears apart,apart, to older to older grateful grateful and therefore and therefore indul-indulgent parents. gent parents.

I came I came second second and was andthe washappier the happier for it,for because it, because so much so much less was lessexpected was expected of me. of As me.the Asfithe rstborn, firstborn, FrankFrank was adored— was adored— he was heawas a pleaser pleaser and aand prodigy, a prodigy, Mother’s Mother’s favorite. favorite.

Father Father consoled consoled himself himself with with me, asme, both as both of us of were us were lowlylowly and solitary. and solitary.

Like Like Dad,Dad, I wasIrestless, was restless, goodgood with with my hands, my hands, but slow but slow to speak. to speak.

I didn’t I didn’t mindmind the attention the attention that that FrankFrank got from got from Mother; Mother; to betooverlooked be overlooked freedfreed me from me from the responsithe responsibilities bilities and high and high expectations expectations that burdened that burdened Frank, Frank, who who was (Mother was (Mother said) said) destined destined for great for great things. things.

In anInearly an early family family portrait, portrait, takentaken in a Littleford in a Littleford studio, studio, we fiwe ttedfitted together together as a plausible as a plausible and matching and matching quartet, quartet, parents parents and children. and children.

Mother Mother was small was small and delicate and delicate and smiling; and smiling; Father, Father, stern,stern, his features his features echoed echoed in those in those of theoftwo the boys, two boys, his beaky his beaky face with face with his interrogating his interrogating nose,nose, his querying his querying close-closeset eyes, set eyes, thin skeptical thin skeptical lips, sharp lips, sharp chin,chin, densedense dark dark hair, hair, thickthick at theatsides, the sides, modifying modifying his large his large sagging sagging ears. ears.

Quebecois Quebecois features, features, he would he would have have said, said, but powerful. but powerful.

In a red In aflred annel flannel shirt shirt he’d he’d have have looked looked like alike lumberjack; a lumberjack; in hisinexpensive his expensive suit he suit could he could have have passedpassed for anforaristocrat, an aristocrat, a bit aforeign, bit foreign, aloof,aloof, with with an airanofair concealment— of concealment— his his origins origins perhaps. perhaps.

It wasIt this, was this, though though he seldom he seldom mentioned mentioned it: hisit:mother his mother was Nawas Native American— tive American— and our and mother our mother had an hadAbenaki an Abenaki in herinancestry. her ancestry.

So So we Belangers we Belangers were were special special in Littleford, in Littleford, wherewhere everyone everyone but us buthad us an had an immigrant immigrant story.story.

We had Weno hadtale nooftale anofAtlantic an Atlantic crossing, crossing, no Ellis no Island Ellis Island stopover, stopover, only only the simple the simple fact that fact in that hard in hard timestimes the families the families (Mother (Mother was awas Bouchard) a Bouchard) dropped dropped into New into New England England fromfrom the north, the north, after after be- being ining Quebec in Quebec forever, forever, or before or before recorded recorded time,time, at least at least recorded recorded in thein the family family memory. memory.

Dad Dad was mostly was mostly silent,silent, watchful, watchful, stoical, stoical, accepting, accepting, somewhat somewhat un- un-