Cut out car park
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Little legs found Liliane welding two pieces of scrap iron into the familiar vulval shapes that seemed to interest her. On seeing him she motioned him to sit and continued on until the composition pleased her, making tiny adjustments that to Little Legs seemed to make little difference but to Liliane required her total concentration. Eventually satisfied she turned off the torch and came and pulled a paint spattered chair next to Little Legs. Little Legs handed her a prepared roly which she took and a can which she demurred
“Not when I am working”
Little Legs told her about Rolf and asked her more about Needle city. She gave him a potted history of how the authorities in an attempt to contain Zurich’s growing drug problem had decided to allow drug use and sales in the park without police interference.
“They think that all in one place, no problem, yes?”
Even though clean needles were given out and police not allowed in predictably dealers and users had made a beeline from all four corners of Europe and crime and fighting were habitual amongst the hundreds of addicts lying around in the muddy needle filled mess including sadly Emile (nee Rolf)
“Ambulance here every night because of violence and ...”
She struggled for the word and made a face with eyes rolled up
“overdoses?” offered Little Legs
She nodded.
Little legs was enjoying Lilianes company and mentally making plans for the rest of the day. He had never really met anyone like her, intelligent, artistic and physically bold and uninhibited. He usually downplayed his success with the mix of bored housewives and taxi widows he tended to hang around with
“Keeps it wet”
Just one night with Liliane however had made him feel the opposite i.e he had an overwhelming urge to see, be seen with and let everyone know about her.
He was thus very disappointed when half way through the morning a large man with a shaved head, beard and leather coat appeared and greeted Liliane in a way that made it plain that they were more than just friends.
Liliane spoke quickly in German nodding at Little Legs who smiled self consciously. Sleeping with people already in relationships was his forte but generally he made it his business to ensure secrecy and to avoid potentially awkward encounters. This seemingly overt expression of the facts unnerved him and he made to exit but was stopped with a large paw like hand. He expected pain to follow but instead found himself led to a paint spattered cabinet where a bottle of schnapps was extracted and three glasses poured.
“To women and all who sail in them “ he bellowed
Liliane raised her eyes and punched his ear
“Asshole” she smiled but it was obvious she didn’t mean it.
Liliane wanted to carry on with her work so Nils and Little Legs retired to her room to carry on drinking. Little legs awkwardness soon evaporated as it became obvious that Nils and Liliane had some sort of open relationship and despite his disappointment he found Nils a fascinating and generous companion. His interesting and varied life had involved various stints in the merchant navy, running a diving school in Thailand, spending a short time in jail (he didn’t elaborate) and doing something Little Legs didn’t quite understand involving sawmills.
“ I like Hank, rambling man you know?”
He seemed just as interested however in hearing about Little legs, staring intensely in his eyes plying him with drink and pumping him for more and more stories. He particularly liked the ones involving close scrapes with, and escapes from, returning husbands and drivers to which he laughed uproariously slapping Little Legs on the back and occasionally sending him sprawling. Much later Liliane joined them but sensing where things were leading and though open minded he decided to leave. He had tried swinging once and just found it a bit weird and awkward. Before he left Nils reached in his pocket and gave Little Legs a present
“Bullet from the past”
He said it was the reason he was in jail. He mimed a little scenario where a gun was shot in the air and a richochet pinging around the room eventually entered and lost someone their eye.
As he left the room he saw Liliane cradle his head in her arms.
Little legs wandered about the building feeling a little bruised. He couldn’t quite put his finger on what it was about the situation that bothered him. He sat for a while reflecting and for the first time since leaving found himself feeling a little displaced, out of his depth. He eventually found the band at a table in the bar looking at a map and planning a route to the next destination Berlin.
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