Free Don't Stop the Carnival by Herman Wouk Page A

the nicest beach we've got."
     
     
"No intrusion, Governor, it's your island," called Iris.
     
     
Both Africans were magnificent men: broad-shouldered, narrow-waisted, with muscles heavy and marked under their gleaming black skins. The governor by contrast was a meager whey-colored object. The Africans shyly waved and called greetings in French; followed the governor splashing into the water and swam and laughed.
     
     
Paperman said, "Shall we offer them beer, when they come out? There's plenty left."
     
     
"Nothing doing. This is our party. God, a black man should be black, shouldn't he? Look at those two, and look at him. A yellow stork. What's more, they're smarter than he is. Here he sits on a silly rock in the sea. They're in the United Nations. Which at this point is practically the number-one black social club."
     
     
Though Paperman was hardly a radical any more, he was a good New York liberal. This remark offended him. He said, "You know, I'm surprised that you stay on an island like this, with your prejudice against Negroes."
     
     
She turned her head slowly and stared at him. "Me? Are you insane? Prejudiced? I don't like anybody much, but I like blacks a lot more than I do white people."
     
     
"Maybe I'm mistaken. Just from things you've said-"
     
     
"You're mistaken."
     
     
"Okay."
     
     
It was a snappish, tense little exchange. Paperman thought it best to let it drop. He put his head down on his arms. The sun, the beer, the silence soon lulled him into a sweet doze. He jerked when he heard her say, "Oh damn."
     

 
"Huh-Wha-?"
     
     
"Out of cigarettes."
     
     
"Are there more in the car?"
     
     
"Packs. Glove compartment. Stay put, I'll get them."
     
     
"Nonsense." He stood, yawning. The three Negroes were just coming out of the water, fairly close by. At the car Paperman peered through the closed door at Meadows. The dog was fast asleep on the back seat. Cautiously Paperman turned the front door handle, making a noise. Meadows did not flick an ear. He slowly opened the door, and pressed the catch on the glove compartment. It fell open with a thud. Meadows sat up. The next instant Paperman was knocked sprawling, and the dog was racing toward the three Negroes, ears back, uttering fearsome snarls.
     
     
"Iris, Iris!" Paperman's yell was useless, the dog was upon the men. He leaped like a cougar, straight at the governor's throat, and bore him to the ground, where the man and the animal rolled in sprays of sand.
     
     
Iris was sitting up, impassively watching the struggle. Paperman ran toward Meadows and the governor, shouting, "Iris! For Christ's sake, call the dog-" He broke off, and stopped in his tracks.
     
     
"Hey, Meadows! Hey, you're going to eat me, are you? Hey, pup, how goes it? Long time no see." Sanders, flat on his back, was holding off the dog by the jaws, and Meadows was snarling and shaking his head, but his tail was wagging. The Africans laughed and chattered in baritone French.
     
     
After a moment of stupefaction Paperman came to Iris. She said with a wry smile, "Something, isn't it? He made friends with Meadows the first day they met. His Excellency could burgle my place with ease. Meadows would just tiptoe around and open the drawers for him."
     
     
Sanders was sitting up, brushing off sand, and Meadows was frolicking in circles around him. Paperman said, "It's incredible. Has he seen the dog often?"
     
     
"Meadows came to Government House with me every day when I worked there. It got so he would go and flake out in His Excellency's office. All right, Meadows." Iris raised her voice. "All right. Enough."
     
     
The dog was frisking and lunging at the lean yellow governor, who was getting to his feet. "I don't mind, Iris," he called.
     
     
"I do. Meadows!" The dog hesitated, then came trotting to his mistress, tail wagging, full of good humor. He even made a friendly little lunge at Paperman. "Lie down, you. Norm, let me have another beer." There wasn't