stood just inside
the door。 The empty tables； their white linen cloths neatly cleaned and pressed
beneath their clear plastic covers； glimmered up at him。 All was deserted now
but
（Dinner Will Be Served at 8 P。M。
Un…Masking and Dancing At Midnight）
Jack walked among the tables； momentarily forgetting his wife and son
upstairs； forgetting the dream； the smashed radio； the bruises。 He trailed his
fingers over the slick plastic dustcovers； trying to imagine how it must have
been on that hot August night in 1945； the war won； the future stretching ahead so various
and new； like a land of dreams。 The bright and particolored Japanese lanterns
hung the whole length of the circular drive； the golden…yellow light spilling
from these high windows that were now drifted over with snow。 Men
and women in costume； here a glittering princess； there a high…booted
cavalier； flashing jewelry and flashing wit every
where； dancing； liquor flowing freely； first wine and then cocktails and then
perhaps boilermakers the level of conversation going up and up and up until the jolly cry rang out
from the bandmaster's podium； the cry of 〃Unmask！ Unmask！〃
（And the Red Death held sway 。。。）
He found himself standing on the other side of the dining room； just outside
the stylized batwing doors of the Colorado Lounge where； on that night in 1945；
all the booze would have been free。
（Belly up to the bar； pardner； the drinks're on the house。）
He stepped through the batwings and into the deep； folded shadows of the bar。
And a strange thing occurred。 He had been in here before； once to check the
inventory sheet Ullman had left； and