Rescue

street, trying to trade their ass for some hard money, a dinner of real food, not the—how you say it, the outside of the grapefruit?“
    “The rind.“
    “The ‘rind.’ Yeah, that’s what we doing, cooking the rind in spices, like Hamburger Helper, only there is no hamburger.“
    We got onto a highway. In a different tone, Pepe said, “See that building?“
    He gestured toward an oddly shaped skyscraper with pink glass.
    I said, “Yes.“
    “You got to drive back to us, you use that for your— land mark?“
    “Landmark, right.“
    “It is just seven blocks south from Mr. Vega’s house, they keep that pink glass all shiny with the spotlights, even at night.“
    “Thanks, I’ll remember it.“ I looked back at Pepe. “You think Castro’s in trouble?“
    Another shrug. “The young people, they try to leave, these old boats of wood, man. Even this Air Force captain, he fly his plane to Key West.“
    “I thought that happened years ago.“
    “It did. This is the second one, I am talking about.“
    “And the rest of the people?“
    “The old ones, they remember when they could no see a doctor, could no find good work, everything corrupt. They still support Fidel. And many of the middle people, too. But now you hear even the soldiers and the police talk in private about him, or make with the fingers....“ Pepe mimed a man stroking his beard. “Talking about him without saying his name, you know it?“
    “I follow you.“
    “Well, they now having—not ‘parade,’ the... deh-mone- stray -tion?“
    “Yes, demonstration.“
    “Yeah, well, the people, they now in the streets sometimes, thousands of them, man. They yelling, ‘Libertad! Libertad!!’ louder each time. ‘Freedom, Freedom.’ “
    “You think there could be another revolution?“
    “I think maybe. Or Fidel figure out he can no stay in power, he step to the side, have somebody else talk with United States about letting the companies make the trade again.“ Pepe glanced at me, sharply. “He no do this, maybe we go back for our families, because a lot of people, they going to die. Starve to death, man.“
    I didn’t want to push him on that. “Speaking of trading, you find anything for me last night?“
    Pepe grinned and reached under the driver’s seat of the Escort. “I wonder when you get around to that.“
    He handed me something heavy, wrapped in a towel. When I took the package from him, it felt like two independent pieces inside.
    “You want to open that, make sure is okay for you?“
    I looked around us on the road. “Here?“
    “Be better than when you on line for the rent-a-car. Make them nervous, no?“
    I leaned forward and laid the package on the floor mat. Unwrapping the towel, I saw a Smith & Wesson Detective’s Special with a checkered grip and a box containing fifty rounds of thirty-eight cartridges. “Perfect.“
    “I did no fire the thing, man. Hope it gonna work.“
    “I hope it doesn’t have to, but thanks.“ I found the serial number, still on the frame. “We have any idea where this came from?“
    The head went left to right like a metronome. “I drive to the city, go in a bar. I talk to a guy, he know another guy. The guy I know go out for a while, I have a drink. The guy I know come back, he got what is between your feet.“
    “I was thinking about whether it’s been used recently.“
    “Oh, you mean, like for a crime or something?“
    “That’s what I mean.“
    “Maybe, but I do no think so. This guy I know, he pretty good, that way.“
    It was the best I was likely to get. “Thanks, Pepe. What do I owe you?“
    “Two-fifty, man.“
    I took out my wallet. “That’s all?“
    “Nobody want this kind no more, like I told you yesterday. Too old-fashion.“
    I counted out three-fifty and handed it to him. He used his right hand to flare the bills, then gave them back. “You got too much, there, man.“
    “A commission.“
    Emphatic shake of the head. “I work for Mr. Vega. I get you the gun because he tell me to get what you want, and you tell me you want the gun. Two-fifty.“
    I took out the extra hundred, handed him back the rest.
    Sticking the money in his pocket, Pepe said, “You want real good deal on a rent-a-car, I take you to this other guy I know?“
    “Thanks, but I need one from the airport.“
    “Okay.“ Pepe got serious. “You just be careful driving now, John Francis, all you got is that old-fashion gun.“

    “Takes longer to rent the fucking car than it took