Page 381 of Edge of Eternity (The Century 3)

"You were sweet at that age."

"And the sight of your lips sucking on a Chesterfield was strangely arousing to me, though I could not have said why."

She laughed. "I could have told you."

He took another sip of the wine. It might be better in a couple more years. He said: "How is Walli?"

"Fine. He does more dope than he should, but what can I tell you? He's a rock star."

Dave smiled. "I smoke a joint most evenings myself."

"Are you dating anyone?"

"Sally Dasilva."

"The actress. I saw a picture of the two of you, arriving a

t some premiere, but I didn't know if it was serious."

It was not very serious. "She's in LA, and we both work a lot. But we get a weekend together once in a while."

"By the way, I have to tell you how much I admire your sister."

"Evie's a good actress."

"She made me weep with laughter in that movie where she played a rookie cop. But it's her activism that makes her a hero. A lot of people oppose the war, but not many have the guts to go to North Vietnam."

"She was scared shitless."

"I bet."

Dave put down his glass and gave Beep a direct look. He could not contain his curiosity any longer. "What's really on your mind, Beep?"

"First, thanks for seeing me. You didn't have to, and I appreciate it."

"You're welcome." He had almost said no, but inquisitiveness had overcome resentment.

"Second, I apologize for what I did back in 1968. I'm sorry I hurt you. It was cruel, and I'll never cease to be ashamed."

Dave nodded. He was not going to disagree. To let her fiance find her in bed with his best friend was about as cruel as a girl could be, and the fact that she had been only twenty at the time was not enough of an excuse.

"Third, Walli is sorry too. He and I still love each other, don't get me wrong, but we know what we did. Walli will tell you so himself, if you ever give him the chance."

"Okay." She was beginning to churn up Dave's emotions. He felt echoes of long-forgotten passions: anger, resentment, loss. He was impatient to find out where this was leading.

Beep said: "Could you ever forgive us?"

He was unprepared for the question. "I don't know, I haven't thought about it," he said weakly. Before today he might have said that he no longer cared, but somehow Beep's questions were reawakening dormant grief. "What would forgiving you involve?"

Beep took a breath. "Walli wants to re-form the group."

"Oh!" Dave had not been expecting that.

"He misses working with you."

Dave found that gratifying, in a mean-minded sort of way.

Beep added: "The solo albums haven't done so well."

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