Chapter 6
When the doctor asked Barney if he could give him a hand in the kitchen, it was at first the fact that he found the doctor to be in such close proximity that startled him. The double meaning of the doctor's words hit their mark a second later, sending an extra surge of adrenalin through his body. Adrenalin keeps us alert and going but exasperates us faster. Barney was starting to experience that effect, he yawned shortly as the doctor lead him out of the room, presumably to the kitchen. Barney wasn't sure of the doctor's intentions toward him right now and he wished many things, most of all to be anywhere but here. Ironically, the Stones came to mind and Barney could hear Mick singing "You can't always get what you want".
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"Doctor Lecter?"
"Yes, Barney?"
"Could you show me the bathroom, please?"
Hannibal half turned and smiled.
"Of course," he said and led the way again.
They walked and Barney noticed they now were at the backside of the house, he saw they passed the back door.
"Here's the bathroom," Hannibal told Barney. "The kitchen is over there. I'll be waiting for you."
"Thank you, doctor."
With a small and elegant bow, Dr. Lecter left Barney alone.
The big man quickly stepped inside the bathroom, closed the door and locked it. He leaned against the door for a few seconds and lifted his hands. They were still trembling a bit. After a few conscious breaths, he was able to leave the door and step over to the toilet. He hoped he would be able to re-button his pants with such shaky hands when he was done. And he was sure the doctor expected him to sit down, so he did.
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When he washed his hands after he was done, the cool water running down his hands had a soothing effect on him. Its coolness was great, he needed that. The bar of soap he found on the sink had a splendid almond scent and was a pleasure to use.
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On his way to the kitchen, he shortly shuddered as he recalled his gram reading from the Bible, Isaiah 53: "He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth."
Then his eye caught sight of the key in the back door. The key was still in it. A quick glance down the corridor assured him Dr. Lecter wasn't looking. Here was an option for escape. He could get out. Now. Or some time later, under the pretense of another visit to the bathroom. But how could he get Lillian out at the same time?
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Dr. Lecter was busy in the kitchen. He heard the hesitation in Barney's stride and knew he had seen the key. Barney didn't take it though, he noticed. Hannibal shortly smiled to himself, a spontaneous response he'd never allow himself if he wasn't alone.
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Barney entered the kitchen and found the doctor dressed in a white smock-frock.
"I have an apron for you over here, Barney. Though I wonder if the clothes you're wearing would be worth less or more if you spoiled something on it from my kitchen..."
Barney managed a smile.
"Really, Barney. The next time you take a woman to the opera, and most definitely at the Teatro Colón, you ought to dress up for the occasion. I am surprised they let you in. But I admit I'm glad they're clean at least. I know how difficult that can be when you're on the move."
"Suitcases and hotels aren't kind to clothes, doctor. But I know how to wash."
"I know, Barney, I know. I remember your cleanliness back then. And you still are, I perceive you've already washed your hands. Will you take care of the entrée?"
"I'm not much of a cook, Dr. Lecter. You will have to help me."
"It's very simple, I assure you. We're having Melone e Prosciutto - melon and ham. Here we have the Melone di Cantalupo and over here, some Prosciutto di Parma."
Barney could smell both ingredients, a nice combination of sweet and salt.
Hannibal walked over to the dresser and when he turned back to Barney again, he held two knives in his hands, a broad and a narrow kitchen knife. He savoured the sight of Barney flinching.
"Use the broad knife to cut the melon into wedges. You don't need to wash the melon, I've already done that this afternoon. Ten wedges, you can use the stripes on the melon for that. But we'll only need eight wedges. Remove the seeds with a spoon - yes, over there are the spoons you can use. And fillet the melon with the narrow knife. Will you manage, or do you need a demonstration?"
"I think I'll manage, Dr. Lecter."
"Good. Then put the wedges by two on a plate and slice them into parts carefully, so they'll remain in a row. Then you can drape a slice of the ham on each wedge. You know how to handle a meat slicer?"
"I'm sorry, Dr. Lecter. No."
"Come here, I'll show you."
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Barney started cutting up the melon, feeling like a surgeon performing a delicate operation. No mistake allowed or someone dies. To his surprise, all went rather well. The knives were frightfully sharp, which helped a lot. He removed the seeds with a spoon, then filleted the wedges. When he was done, he straightened his back since the dresser was a bit too low for him. He saw the doctor busy with his own pans and ingredients. It seemed the man didn't notice him, but he knew him better than that. And indeed, Hannibal had heard him and knew exactly what he was doing, even if he couldn't see him. He heard him put down the knife after some time and walk over to the meat slicer.
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After slicing enough ham, Barney turned off the machine and took the ham to the dresser. There he draped it over the melon on the plates. Finally, he put the plates on a serving cart. But when he was busy with the third plate, he accidentally dropped it. With a loud noise it crashed and broke into many pieces.
Barney froze in his place.
Hannibal turned around.
"There's another plate in that cabinet, Barney. There are two wedges left and there's ham enough. But don't spoil it this time, that was my only melon."
Feeling his heart beating in his neck, Barney nodded and went back to work. He was very glad when he finished the final plate.
"I'm all done, Doctor."
"Good. I'll be done in a moment also. Help yourself to some wine, it's on your left."
Barney turned and walked over to the wine cooler. He took the bottle out of the cooler and took a look at the label, but Cartizze Prosecco didn't mean much to him. He poured out half a glass and replaced the bottle. But if he had his druthers, he'd have poured a full glass and drunk it ad fundum. Or perhaps take a good pull directly from the bottle. He could use the relaxing effect of a good measure of alcohol. But he contained himself and only took a few sips.
"Will you put the wine cooler on the cart also, Barney? And four glasses?"
"Yes, Doctor."
Having done that, Barney stood and waited.
Hannibal took a final look in his pans and declared he was ready too, for now. Then he walked over to Barney, who was with his back against the dresser and didn't feel comfortable at all. The doctor halted a few inches in front of Barney, then asked Barney to follow his lead to the dining room. He took hold of the serving cart and left the kitchen with Barney in his trail.
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Lillian was enjoying the third and last course of the dinner, an orange flavored créme brûlée. She had it before, but always vanilla flavored and less firm than this one. It was a double twist to the dessert. The orange was a nice touch that added a fresh note to the taste. She found the firmness fitting the calories involved. Seeing Hannibal perform the caramelizing at the table with a good butane torch had been a sight to remember; everything had been perfect and it could have been an evening in a Michelin-starred restaurant.
Barney surprised himself by actually being able to eat. And not a few bites, but a regular meal. And in a strange way that went beyond his conscious mind, he even dared to call the evening enjoyable. Even with the serial killer Hannibal 'The Cannibal' as chef, and former FBI-officer and - according to some - loose cannon Clarice Starling hosting. However, he kept his guard as much as possible. That's how he survived in Chilton's dungeon and that was how he was going to survive now. Be alert, be polite, be alive.
"Lillian," Clarice said, "if you like to shop, as you said..."
"I'm a bit of a shopaholic," Lillian confided casually.
"… then Buenos Aires will surely be a place to your liking. Enough to see and buy here."
"If circumstances allow, I'll make sure to do some serious shopping," Lillian said, giving her eyes all the acid intention she dared to right now, and got an appreciating smile from Clarice in return, but no reply.
Lillian had already noticed the moments of silence these two sometimes would keep. And they'd continue the conversation at a time convenient to them alone. A token that they lived in a world of their own. She couldn't get through to them. She felt the connection they had and the insurmountable wall that surrounded them. Everytime she tried to provoke some primal reaction, it turned out useless.
"Lillian," Dr. Lecter spoke, "would you like some more wine?"
"No, thank you. If I drink any more, I'll get slizzard!"
And then she registered many things at once. His eyes. The goosebumps on her arms and the chill down her spine. Barney's hands slopping in mid-air. And after that, Clarice laughing. Laughing heartily and well meant, a surprise to all at the table, even to Dr. Lecter. It took Clarice some time to recover.
"I'm so sorry, Lillian," she said, with some hiccups of laughter, "it was just hilarious to hear you say that, with your Received Pronunciation! I'm sorry."
All just sat wide-eyed, watching Clarice still giggle and snort. A few unaccountable seconds later, Lillian couldn't resist anymore and joined Clarice's merriment with a bit of laughter of her own. The doctor soon followed suit, and finally Barney too. Lillian was the first to recover.
"Maybe it's an aberrance that I have, but I am fond of using slang."
"I don't mind, Lillian, though I know others who dislike slang. It was just the combination that cracked me up," Clarice said. Her eyes joined Hannibal's and she winked at him.
"But it's no problem right now, I assure you," Clarice added.
"Barney, may I ask, did you already see the Vermeer here in Buenos Aires?" Hannibal suddenly asked.
"No, doctor, I had planned on doing that tomorrow."
"In that case... Barney, Lillian, may I suggest the following - but I honestly won't take no for an answer," Hannibal said and his eyes were all bright maroon and fierce again, "you two remain here, as our guests this night. I'll arrange for everything you'll need."
Clarice watched the couple listen to Hannibal and she took in the delicious fright she saw in Barney's face and the luscious discomfort in Lillian's. This was going to be so much fun.
"Tomorrow, Barney, you and I are going to see that Vermeer while our ladies will honor the shops in town with their presence and humor them with their cash."
"Wonderful idea," Clarice chimed in, all smile and joy.
"Now, I suggest you three retire to the drawing room where I will provide you with coffee and tea. While you enjoy the untroubled moment and recline from the repast, I'll arrange for everything you two will need for the night."
Hannibal rose, Clarice after him. Their guests followed.
"Yes, I almost forgot," added Hannibal, "don't worry about the expenses tomorrow, I'll spring."
Though many of you have suggested Hannibal and Clarice should invite only Lillian to stay with them, and see what Barney would do, I just could not get them do that. Wouldn't it have been rude? And what for - an experiment on Barney's loyalty? Which can be measured in other ways? Therefore, both of them were 'invited'. But what's going to happen next? I'm eagerly awaiting your suggestions - just review and write what you'd like to read in the upcoming chapter!
