Color Him Gay: The Further Adventures of the Man from C. A. M. P. by V. J. Banis

Author:V. J. Banis
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: parody, gay, comedy, mystery, adventure
ISBN: 9781434438652
Publisher: Wildside Press
Published: 2011-03-28T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

The route that they were following carried them back downtown. Jackie drove with one eye on the evening traffic and the other on the dashboard, watching the signal that was giving him directions. The brilliance of downtown San Francisco by night spread around him. Market Street was a bawdy river of sailors in tight-fitting uniforms and high-voiced, effeminate young men. Cheap arcades and magazine shops, that he knew displayed blatantly erotic pictures and books, lined the sidewalks. Theaters advertised vulgar girlie movies. It was an area that reeked of vice, sex and unconcealed desire.

They turned and left behind the tawdry atmosphere of Market Street. He realized they were heading toward Chinatown—a city within a city, another world almost. His heart beat faster as he sensed that they were near their destination.

The signal from the dashboard told him that the car ahead had stopped. Jackie drove slowly, dodging the streams of cars and pedestrians. Here the tourists were out in full force, for Chinatown was a sight to be seen by night as well as by day. Strange, exotic buildings were silhouetted against the San Francisco sky. Quaint shops offered works of art and tourist junk together and dimly lighted side streets and alleys hinted at adventure and danger.

He saw the car he had been following parked at the curb ahead of him. He drove by it, seeking a parking place of his own and found it on the next block. He parked and walked back, blending in with the crowds of tourist, moving inconspicuously.

The car was still where he had seen it. Jackie paused as he approached, glancing about. Just past the spot a narrow alleyway led from the busy street. Jackie glanced at it as though he were merely a curious visitor and then stepped into it, starting down its dim path.

It was a singular experience, as though a curtain had been closed upon the activity and rush of the city. Here, with only a few steps, he had left behind the tourist attractions and the gaudy displays. All was quiet. The signs displayed no English and the unfamiliar Chinese symbols on a few of the doors made them appear all the more mysterious and ominous.

There was no way of knowing into which door his adversaries had disappeared. Nothing stirred except a big, indolent cat that glowered at him for a minute before disappearing into a shadow.

Still another passageway opened off this one, a few feet of narrow tunnel that dropped down a short, steep flight of steps to a basement type building. The shades had been drawn over the door and window but beyond that a dim light could be seen. As he listened he heard the muffled sound of voices that seemed to be arguing.

He hesitated for a moment and then started down. It could be something perfectly innocent, unrelated to his search—perhaps a family discussion or an argument over prices. The risk would have to be taken, however. He was convinced his quarry was somewhere in this alley, behind one of the closed doors.

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