Read Online 21 Tales by Dave Zeltserman - Free Book Online Page B

thirty-five foot cliffs that Heile had momentarily forgotten himself. For a split second he had let his true disappointment show on his face, and during that split-second he noticed Almondo staring at him. He could see the little man's face grow dark and he knew the little man understood everything. Understood why Heile had become a patron of the cliff divers. Understood what Heile was waiting for. Since then all genuineness in the waiter's manner faded. His civility became a facade and his dull black eyes masked something Heile dreaded.
    Those dull black eyes were the reason Heile stayed away for six days. The thought of facing them became unbearable. But staying away any longer became even more so. Heile fidgeted uneasily and took out a handkerchief to mop away dampness that had formed over his upper lip. Somehow he had to ignore those dull black eyes. Somehow ...
    The four divers appeared on the rocks opposite the cliffs. They spotted Oscar Heile and began to jump up and down and wave wildly at the fat man. Heile acknowledged their attention with a short embarrassed wave back. Champagne was brought to his table. Dom Perignon 1986, a very good and very expensive champagne. Later, he would give the signal, and as had become the custom, Almondo would pour him a single glass.
    He heard a low murmuring from behind and saw that champagne had been delivered to the two ladies. They were talking to Almondo, and Heile knew what they were asking the little waiter and what he was telling them. That Heile was immensely wealthy.
    Heile gave the women a polite nod and introduced himself. "Please accept the champagne for any inconvenience I may have caused," he added, smiling demurely. From the corner of his eye he noticed Almondo staring vacantly at him before turning and walking away. The two women's faces were brightly lit. The honey-blonde remarked that the divers seemed to be good friends of his. "They were waving right at you," she said, awe-struck.
    "We have become very close," he explained. "I have bought them many shots of tequila."
    "I certainly hope they haven't had too many today," noted the dark brunette. She picked up her champagne glass, drank, and slowly licked her red lips. "The waiter mentioned you have a spectacular villa in the Las Brisas area?"
    Heile nodded. Normally, a man like him would have no chance with two women like these, but money was the great equalizer. Even though layers of soft pink flesh hung loosely from his body, looking as if they could be torn off as easy as meat from a roasted chicken, he knew these two would be available to him. The thought of his grossly obese body sandwiched between their slender firm flesh seemed obscenely ludicrous. He would get little satisfaction from it, but it would be expected. "Just a small villa of twenty-two rooms. I would be honored to give both of you a private tour later," he offered.
    He noticed the divers had jumped into the water and were swimming towards the cliffs. He felt a rush of impatience. The two ladies told him they would love a private tour. "Tonight then," he said, bowed courteously from the neck, and hurried his gaze back to the divers.
    He tried to enjoy himself, but he couldn't—not with the unsettling feeling that Almondo was staring at him. He was afraid to look around, afraid he might catch the little waiter's eyes. It seemed so unfair. He had finally found a way where he could appear normal—actually be respected and admired—and also satisfy his morbid perversity. The dives were so dangerous! From one hundred and thirty-five feet into at most eight feet of water. And that was only when the tide was rolling in. Eventually there would be an accident, but in the meantime, each successful dive would be a delightful tease, building the anticipation. And when the fatality came, so would come the incredible release. And the fatality would eventually come—it would have to with all the alcohol Heile was inducing the divers to drink.
    But how could