Now You See It... Part 11

"I merely sustained the tradition." G.o.d bless you for that. Son.

"Whatever," Harry said, disinterested. "Thafs not the point. The point is, you're closing your mind to the facts of life.

"Ifs not nineteen-thirty anymore-or the forties or me fifties; or the sixties. What was good enough for your father and you doesn't cut it anymore. By me way, does he have to be in here?"

"Yes," said Max. "Ifs his favorite room. Are you con- cerned about what he might hear?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" demanded Harry.

"Nothing," Max said. Something, I thought. "Go on."

Harry bared his teeth, then continued. "Ifs nineteen- eighty, pal. Las Vegas. Lake Tahoe. Reno. Theaters in places that were the sticks when you started out. Television. Cable- Pay-per-view. Video ca.s.settes.

"Look at Henning; Copperfield. Everything they do is

Now You See It.. 51

now, Max! Now! Quick. Smart- Vivid. State of the art. Ifs no accident they're where they are. Ifs not the effects. Ifs not!

Your effects are still the best. But what you're doing with them is behind the times, pa.s.se. You aren't up to date, you're out of touch. Can't you see mat? Ca.s.sandra can."

Max stiffened noticeably at that, but Harry, sensing his

position strengthening, pressed on.

"She knows what's going on. Max," he said. "Let her help

you."

He braced himself; that was easy to see. "Especially now

that your health is ... giving you problems." I'm sure he was about to use the word "failing," then didn't have the

guts.

Even so, I saw the skin drawn tight across Max's cheeks.

"All right, I shouldn't have said mat," Harry retreated.

"But you did," said Max.

Harry's features tightened then. "Yes, I did," he said.

"Ifs said. And-" He gritted his teem. "Well, d.a.m.n it, ifs

the truth, isn't it?"

Max said nothing, gazing at his agent with unblinking

eyes, intimidating him-

"All right," Harry said. "I'm sorry. Shall we forge on?"

He flipped over the first page of the contract- "You're in luck," he said. "The casino still wants you. Which, under the circ.u.mstances..." He let the sentence hang.

"Baltimore?" asked Max.

Harry's gesture said. What else? (My G.o.d/ how bad had it

been? I wondered.)

"Word travels quickly," Max observed.

"As quickly as a phone call," Harry said. He flipped more contract pages. "The figures are on page six. And, I might add, lots more bucks than they cared to be parted

from."

Max only stared at him.

Harry was about to go on when he heard me same faint

52 Richard Mtfc.u.m

sound that I did and looked around. "What's that?" he mut- tered.

Max cupped a hand behind his right ear. "Pardon?"

"I-heard-a-noise," Harry said, exaggerating his p.r.o.nun- ciation.

Max gestured vaguely. "I didn't hear anything," he said.

(If he hadn't, he really was going deaf; I'd heard it clearly.)

Harry nodded disgnmuedly. "Okay." He looked back at the contracts. "Never mind. You on page six?"

"Page six," Max said.

'^ou see what it is then," Harry told him. "Ten weeks.

Two shows a night. Seventeen-fifty per. You understand the conditions?"

Max remained silent, and I saw how Harry tensed. Max always could get on his nerves-those gray-blue eyes, the autocratic demeanor; like faAer, like son.

"Do-you-understand-the-conditions?" Harry asked, once more verbally exaggerating.

When Max still didn't reply. Harry continued quickly, curtly. "Co-billing for Ca.s.sandra. Your policy regarding partial nudity to be dismissed. I'm talking topless at the very least. Not Ca.s.sandra, of course." His smile was per- nmctory-

They gazed at one another and, like Harry, I began to wonder what my son was thinking; his expression was un- revealing, a face carved from stone.

"Well?" asked Harry.

As though in response to his words, the sound occurred again, not faintly this time. Very distinct. A chuckle.

Coming from the direction of the globe.

Harry scowled. "That I know you heard," he said. "I know you made it happen, too."

The smile on Max's lips was somewhat more guarded than that of the Mona Lisa.

Harry stood and moved toward the globe. Max rose to