THEN THERE was Sy Rodrigo. I owed him. I went up to him by way of the same elevator that had trapped me. The bad elevator. But it was not so bad now. Sy’s secretary said he was on the phone. Before, that would have made no difference, but now I was commanded to remain in the outer office. So I waited, and I waited.
“He’s very busy this morning,” said the woman.
“I only need a minute.”
She disappeared into his office. When she came out she said, “He’ll see you now.”
Sy was not his usual self. So formal all of a sudden.
“Rough morning,” he said. “But you know how it is.”
“Yeah, I had a rough morning myself, Sy. You know how it is.”
“I heard you were in our dispensary. Listen, I did not mind comping you to a room again. But I am curious. I mean, you’re welcome here and all that, but why are you here? Is Joan with you?”
“Joan is back in Philadelphia, Sy. She also had a rough morning.”
“Rough all around, huh?”
“Mind if I sit down?”
“I can only give you a minute, Josh. I’ve got a speech to get out.”
“Then I’ll stand. Do you mind if I stand?”
“No need to take that tone with me, Josh. What’s up?”
“Who’s the speech for?”
“Oh Stavros, our president. He’s giving a talk to a group of visiting travel agents. The usual.”
“You’re writing the speech?”
“I wish you were. You’re an expert.”
“I’m very good at writing speeches.”
“I just said you were. What’s going on?”
“Yes, I would like to write that speech for you, Sy.”
“Thanks, but it’s my problem. You don’t know what to say, anyway.”
“Oh, but I do. Like the truth, maybe. Wouldn’t that be a change?”
“You know a truth, Josh? Remember it’s me you’re talking to. Your friend Sy. I know all the truths. You know how? By knowing all the lies.”
“Can you still tell the difference?”
“I don’t need this from you, Josh. Please leave.”
“Do you know the difference?”
“Maybe I don’t. Maybe there is no difference anymore.”
“I’m here to tell you that there is.”
“Good for you. Now please go. Let’s keep this friendship.”
“I could lose my privileges, couldn’t I?”
“Yes, yes you could. Why are you doing this?”
“No more freebies, huh?”
“Come on Josh. What happened?”
“Something happened, Sy.”
“Obviously.”
“Something very bad happened. People were hurt.”
“An accident?”
“On purpose.”
“Well don’t come here laying the blame on me. I didn’t do anything.”
“I didn’t say you did and I’m not here to lay blame.”
“So what do you want?”
“I’m a high-roller now, Sy.”
“Oh? Congratulations. Hit the jackpot?”
“Maybe you even know how.”
“No, I don’t know how.”
“Isn’t that what I mean? You don’t know a truth from a lie.”
“We traffic in lies, Josh. That’s my business.”
“Speaking of business, here’s what I intend to do. I intend to deposit a million dollars in your bank, right here in the Galaxy. I may gamble none of it, or I may gamble it all. In either case, I’d be the highest roller you ever had, potentially speaking.”
“Yes, you would be.”
“I mean, high-rollers, that’s what it’s all about.”
“Correct. That’s what it’s all about.”
“Who do I see about depositing this money?”
“Me.”
“You don’t seem surprised by my new wealth.”
“You say you’ve got it, Josh. That’s good enough for me. Anyway, nothing surprises me.”
“Suppose I went directly to Mr. Stavros.”
“It’s your prerogative.”
“What would he do to net a quality player like me?”
“Anything.”
“So we’re finally talking price, Sy. You and me. A million dollars. Would that be his price?”
“Stavros?”
“Yes.”
“A million dollars? Yes, I’d say that’s his price.”
“He’ll do anything for that money.”
“Anything.”
“Would he betray a friend?”
“We’re close.”
“Well that’s the price, Sy. That’s the exchange.”
“What’s the exchange?”
“You, Sy. You for a million dollars.”
“Me? You want me fired?”
“Absolutely.”
Terror emptied his face of all expression. Saliva dripped from his mouth. Now it was plain to him and it was plain to me, too, how frail he was--him and all the rest of us.
I had him now, the man who had sold me and my wife to buy Ibrahim. Now Sy was mine, mine to buy and sell. That had been King David’s prayer. Make me wiser than my enemies. Well, I was no wiser. I just got lucky.
Ibrahim had said it for me. Luck is everything.
This was supposed to be the end of the line for Sy, this job. No more shilling for wrestlers and roller derby queens. Public relations director for an Atlantic City casino hotel--that was a satisfying conclusion to a checkered career. He was home.
No more chasing after newspaper columnists. They now came to him. He even had comping rights, so everybody came to him. He had power. Now that power was turning on him.
He said, “I concede that you have the power to ruin me, and I’m sure you have your reasons. But will that make you happy, Josh? Will it make you happy to ruin me?”
A moment ago, yes, it would have made me happy. I had been so sure. Now, however, I was convinced that no revenge would be the greater revenge. Spare him, I thought, and let him know that money is not first. Something else is first. Something else.