Read Online The Angels of Catastrophe by Peter Plate - Free Book Online

was someone from another time with roots back in Europe. He spoke with a Polish accent. He examined his cuticles and sighed with apparent sorrow. “I don’t know what the fuck Sugar ever saw in a loser like you. Maybe you can tell me. Is there something I’m missing?”
    Durrutti blinked in rage. “What are you getting at?”
    â€œYou don’t have a pot to piss in. For example. Look at where you’re living. I hate to tell you this, but it’s not exactly wonderful. What did you ever do for her anyway?”
    Ephraim’s hubris was unbearable. Some people were born to make money. Some were meant to suffer in a wilderness of incomprehension. Durrutti’s destiny was to pay for what he’d done to Rook. It was his burden. He replied, “Me and her, we’re through. I made a mistake. What more can I say? I’m sorry.”
    Rook’s mealy face was haggard. His retort was a lesson in economy. “You’re sorry? How white of you. Now get this. Sugar is my first priority. You ever hurt her again, I don’t know what I’ll do.”
    The threat invigorated Durrutti, deepening his interest and his investment in the conversation. He fell on the bed and fluffed a pillow. “Fuck off. I didn’t hurt her when we were together.”
    â€œBaloney. You turned her into a fucking neurotic. She told me everything about you two. You know Sugar. She can’t help herself.”
    The hell of breaking up with someone is compounded
by the fact that they’ll divulge everything you did with them to their next lover. The hermetic code of love you devised and shared with that person is a foreign language no one is speaking anymore. Private secrets became public misery. To get Rook off his back Durrutti explained that Sugar was prehistory. “We separated months ago. We ain’t even talking anymore.”
    Ephraim didn’t buy that. He wasn’t interested in history. He didn’t care about the past. He was interested in territory, the acquisition of property. He didn’t want romance; he wanted real estate. He said, “That goddamn shiksa. I will be frank with you since you had sex with her.” He winked. “No, don’t deny it. She was a colossal headache. But she was mine. She was all I had. The best of the best. And you robbed me.”
    Durrutti was quick to engage. “How’s that? She left you.”
    Rook thundered, “Because you stole her from me.”
    â€œI did not.”
    â€œDid too. Every fucking time I turned my back, you were doing a number on her head. She just collapsed under it.”
    â€œWe had a fling,” Durrutti scoffed. “That’s all. She took her freedom. What, you haven’t left someone before?”
    â€œShe almost took my life and not without some help from you. I’m not a young man. I can’t take this shit anymore. But what’s your excuse. Did you like fucking Sugar?”
    Durrutti attempted to appease Rook. “I was just being her friend.”
    â€œFriend? You don’t even know how to spell the word.
Friends like you, no one should have. It makes life so confusing.”
    The more upset Ephraim got, the clearer it became: he regarded Sugar as his most important liquid asset. His crowning achievement. His greatest trophy. His victory in life. The fuel in his gas tank. His raison d’être. Without her, he didn’t exist. She was his mirror. He explained this to Durrutti. “You don’t know her like I do. Sugar and I are soul mates. We were meant for each other. I hired the most expensive astrologer in this goddamn town to make sure. Sugar needs me.”
    â€œI’m glad.”
    â€œYou, glad?” Rook unleashed one of his trademarks, the humorless laugh. “That’ll be the day. Since when? A black man will become the President of the United States before that happens. Glad, my ass.” He grew thoughtful, quite contrite. His