Does she--?"
"Rinin," I said. "Please shut up.
If you want to be my friend, shut up."
"I don't want to be your friend, baby.
I am your friend."
"Then shut up."
"All right."
I went over to the bed and sat down beside Rinaldi.
He was holding his glass and looking at the floor.
"You see how it is, Rinin?"
"Oh, yes.
All my life I encounter sacred subjects.
But very few with you.
I suppose you must have them too." He looked at the floor.
"You haven't any?"
"Not any?"
"No."
"I can say this about your mother and that about your sister?"
"And that about your sister," Rinaldi said swiftly.
We both laughed.
"The old superman," I said.
"I am jealous maybe," Rinaldi said.
"No, you're not."
"I don't mean like that.
I mean something else.
Have you any married friends?"
"Yes," I said.
"I haven't," Rinaldi said. "Not if they love each other."
"Why not?"
"They don't like me."
"Why not?"
"I am the snake.
I am the snake of reason."
"You're getting it mixed.
The apple was reason."
"No, it was the snake." He was more cheerful.
"You are better when you don't think so deeply," I said.
"I love you, baby," he said. "You puncture me when I become a great Italian thinker.
But I know many things I can't say.
I know more than you."
"Yes.
You do."
"But you will have a better time.
Even with remorse you will have a better time."
"I don't think so."
"Oh, yes.
That is true.
Already I am only happy when I am working." He looked at the floor again.
"You'll get over that."
"No.