The Demon (2 page)

and Steve looked down at

his catcher as Boiler Head, a huge, redheaded Norwegian came up to the plate swinging a fistful of bats.

 
The Swenson team was yelling and screaming as beer dribbled down their chins. They sensed the kill and were jubilant as they anticipated winning the game in the first inning. Shove it down his throat Boiler. Comeon Boiler baby, over the fence, over the fence. Lets go, lets go! We all score. We all score. Boiler Head let his brown teeth hang out as he grinned at Steve, swinging the toothpicklike bat, defying him to let him hit the ball. Steve took a slow windup and let a high floater come down and Boiler Head waited and leaned into the ball with a Neanderthal swing, and as the bat splat into the ball it sounded as if it would split it into a hundred pieces, and the ball shot quickly and rapidly up into the air and out toward the left-field fence. Everyone watched, beer bottles stopping suddenly as they approached a mouth, as the ball slowly curved foul and went out of the playground, a dozen kids running after it. Boiler Head snapped his bat as the ball turned foul, then grinned at the pitcher and stepped back in the batters box, his face suddenly becoming gruesomely defiant. Just straighten it out Boiler baby. Chuck it in there Steve, hes nothin. O, pitcher, O, pitcher, we gotya now. Throw it past the big baboon. . . .

              
Steve and Boiler Head stared at each other for a few moments and then Steve spit and went into his slow windup again, then snapped the ball toward the plate with almost invisible speed. Boiler Head swung and hit the ball squarely and solidly, but just a fraction of a second too late to hit it over the left-field fence. The ball went sailing down the right-field line toward the fence and the spectators ooood and aaahhhhd, and the Swensons jumped and screamed and hollered and the runners took off like thieves and Harry, who had been playing in right center for the pull hitter, ran with the thud of the bat toward the right field fence. The Swenson coaches were waving their arms and screaming at their teammates to run, run ya son of a bitch, and the man

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from third had already crossed the plate and the man from second was halfway home when Harry leaped in the air, his glove hand high over his head, and crashed into the fence just a fraction of a second before the ball, the ball thumping into his glove. Harry bounced off the fence holding the ball with both hands and cradling it in his gut as he rolled over on the concrete, unwound and stood and threw the ball to the first baseman, who easily doubled the man off first but was unable to throw to any of the other bases as there was a sudden confusion of players all running back to their former bases and the man trying to get back to first knocked Boiler Head into the first baseman and so there was no chance for any other play. Harry stood watching the action, his mind quickly decoding what he had seen and heard as he crashed into the fence as a woman, a woman on the other side of the fence . . . yeah, and she had blonde hair and was wearing a pair of shorts and a halter, and, it seemed to Harry from what he could remember from the brief flash out of the farthest corner of his eye, that she had a nice pair of boobs, too. Harry turned and she was still there. He looked a little closer and he noticed a stroller with a young child in it. Harry walked back to the fence and stood half facing the playing field. The confusion had ended and the next batter was standing in the batters box as Harry smiled at the woman. Hi.

 
Hi, smiling and shaking her head slightly, I thought you were going to come right through the fence.

 
Harry raised his eyebrows and his smile broadened. If I had known you were there, I would have.

 
The game had started again, but everyone was still so excited over the last play that no one, on either side, noticed that Harry was still over on the right-field line with a right-handed pull hitter up.

 
Sally, she nodded toward the little girl in the stroller, seemed to think it was some sort of joke. She just giggled. I guess it doesnt take much to amuse her.

 
They both laughed and the count was o and 2 on the batter when Steve steamed one right down the middle and the batter

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swung an hour too late and the Caseys started hootin and hollerin and spritzin a little beer on each other.

 
As the teams started to change places, with the Caseys yelling and pounding Steve on the back, the woman nodded toward the field and asked what was happening. Harry turned and smiled. I guess they got the third out. Its our turn to bat. She started to turn as if to leave and Harry told her to stay. Its just the first inning. You have a lot of good softball left in the day.

 
Im afraid I don't know very much about the game, smiling softly.

 
Harry leaned against the fence and stared at her for a moment, then told her he could teach her everything she needed to know. You just wait here and I/ll be back in a few minutes. We never hit this guy early in the game. She smiled and Harry went trotting off toward the sidelines as his teammates and friends patted him on the back and cheered.

 
Harry batted fifth in the lineup and as he waited along the sidelines he kept glancing, from the corner of his eye, at the woman behind the fence. She wasnt bad. Not bad at all. Nice pair of boobs and a nice round ass. And not a kid either. Probably a few years older than Harry, maybe around thirty. He wished they would hurry up and get their three outs so he could go back and see what was happening. Harry remained oblivious to the action of the game until he heard a loud roar and some cursing around him and he realized that the third man had struck out and it was time for them to go back in the field. He joyfully trotted out along the right-field line.

Hi there, leaning against the fence and smiling at her.

 
You werent gone very long, standing close to the fence, smiling.

 
Yeah, well . - . actually, shrugging, his mouth opening in a broad smile, it was all planned so that I could get out here faster.

Why would you want to do that?

To see you. After—

Hey, Harry, move over, eh? Comeon for kris sake.

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Yeah, yeah, O.K. Dont go away now, and he sprinted over to right center, looking back in her direction, and continuing to look there from time to time during the inning.

 
Steve was really inspired now and he put the Swensons down in a matter of minutes with three pop flies to the infield. The Caseys trotted noisily from the field and Harry trotted back to the fence.

 
Why dont you come on in? You can sit on the bench over there.

O, I dont think so. There are some things I have to do and—

 
On a beautiful day like this? Come on, smiling gently, you can be our good-luck charm.

 
Her smile opened into a happy chuckle. No one has ever called me that before.

There, you see, it will—

 
Hey, Harry, youre on deck. Comeon, eh? Get your ass over here.

 
Yeah, yeah, Im coming. The gates right down there, trotting toward home plate and looking back in her direction and smiling as he noticed her walking toward the entrance. Steve poked Harry on the arm. Screw the broad, eh?

If you insist.

 
Comeon, knock it off, eh? Lets beat these bastards. I got twenty-five bucks riding on the game.

 
Dont worry about it, slapping Steve on the back, we cant lose. I feel good.

 
The first guy up struck out and as Harry walked toward the batters box he looked around and noticed a blonde head just barely visible over the top of the hedges along the path to the ball field. Harry felt nice and loose as he swung his bat and looked at the pitcher. He always did hit this guy pretty good and just stepped back as the first pitch sailed in high. He looked around before stepping back into the batters box and saw the woman as she turned the corner and entered the ball field. Both teams were yelling, and Harry stepped back in and ripped the next pitch to left center and only a great play by the center fielder held Harry to a double. Harry stood on

(12)

second base listening to the yelling from his teammates and friends and watched the woman as she pushed the stroller to the last bench on the right-field side, and sat. The next batter struck out, but the next man up got a hit to right center, not too deep, and Harry thrust his way around third and flew toward home as the ball reached the catcher and Harry slid around him, scraping his ankle on the concrete. The Caseys yelled and screamed and Harry hopped around, sucking air between his teeth and swinging the burning ankle back and forth, as his friends slapped him on the back. Harry sat on the bench as the next batter struck out, then trotted back onto the field, favoring his right foot. He waved at the blonde, and she smiled, as he took his position in right field.

 
That inning Steve mowed them down again and when the Caseys left the field, Harry sat with the blonde. By the way, my name is Harry, smiling and leaning close to her.

 
She smiled and told him her name was Louise, and this is my daughter, Sally, bending over and adjusting her hat to protect her from the sun.

 
Harry showed her his scraped ankle and joked about it and they continued to chat until it was time for Harry to go back to the field, and as he raised himself from the bench he put his open hand on the inside of her thigh, just at the edge of her shorts, and exerted just the slightest of pressure with the palm of his hand and finger tips, and looked into her eyes for a brief second, then trotted off.

 
Harry sat with her between innings, and when he got to the bench during the fifth inning, she told him she had to leave. He immediately got a hurt and forlorn look on his face. You cant leave now, youre our good-luck charm. You wouldnt want us to lose the game, would you?

 
She smiled and looked him full in the face, her eyes closing slightly. My husband will be home in a few hours and there are some things I have to do.

 
Harry returned her look and was about to speak when Steve yelled at him. Comeon, Harry, you lead off. Harry waved at Steve, O.K., O.K., then pressed his hand against her thigh

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again, wait just a minute. Harry trotted over to the plate and stepped in the box and didn't move as three strikes went flying by. He dropped the bat and went back to the bench. Then you really have to go?

 
Yes, I do. We/re going out tonight and there are some things I have to get done.

 
Harry looked at her for a moment. Maybe I should walk you home.

But what about your game?

 
O, they dont need me. And anyway, the way Steves pitching that run we got will be enough.

She shrugged slightly and smiled. Well, if you want to.

 
Sure I do. Harry stood. You start and I/ll meet you by the gate. Louise started to leave, pushing the stroller, and Harry went over to Steve and told him he had to go.

What do you mean you have to go? You cant leave now.

 
Im sorry Steve, but I have to go. Theres something I got to do—and anyway, my leg is killing me.

 
O, bullshit, you son of a bitch. There aint nothin wrong with your leg.

 
Comeon Steve, get off my back, eh? Im tellin you I got to go.

 
Yeah, you got to go. You know somethin Harry, youre a big prick. A first-class prick with ears.

Lighten up Steve, its not—

 
You know fuckin well right how much money we got on the game and you dont give a shit about blowin our dough just so you can sniff some broads crotch. Up yours, man!

 
Im tellin you I have to go and thats all. It aint got nothing to do with no broad and I can hardly stand on this ankle. Im not—

 
Aaaahhhh bullshit, waving at Harry with disgust and walking away. Your ass sucks wind. Hey Vinnie! VINNIE!

Yeah?

Comere.

 
Harry started to limp away as the teams started to change places and Steve told Vinnie to play right field.

Whats with Harry?

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That son of a bitch? He/d take a fuckin murder rap for a piece of ass.

 
Harry heard Steves remark, distantly but clearly, and twisted his glove violently as he limped as fast as possible from the field, pushing Steves words from his head by concentrating on Louise and the distance between himself, the teams and the hedge, trying to decrease the distance to the hedge by concentrating on it and bringing to the foremost part of his consciousness the fact that as soon as he got to the hedge there was a corner to turn and he would be out of sight of the teams, the game and Steve, and the noise from the game would soon be a dull din and everything about the game would be out of sight and behind him.

 
Harry rushed around the hedge, bumping into it, a small branch brushing his face, and his limp subsided and his pace quickened as his ears filled with the sound of children playing and the traffic on the streets, and he saw Louise slowly walking along the path in front of him. He started trotting and quickly caught up with her.

Your friend sounded angry.

 
Who, Steve? Naw. He just likes to yell, is all. But I/ll tell you one thing, though.

Whats that?

I sure could go for a cup of coffee.

 
She looked at him for a moment, then smiled. That shouldnt be any problem. I always keep a pot on the stove.

 
Good, smiling and gently rubbing the back of her hand with the tips of his fingers. Where do you live?

Seventh Avenue. Not too far.

 
When they got to the corner, she stopped and told him the address and the apartment number. It might be best if we didnt go there together, if you waited a few minutes.