The Bell Tolls for No One Read Online Free PDF Page A

too,” she said pulling her dress up. She didn’t have any panties on.
    â€œWhere’s Teddy?” I asked.
    â€œDon’t worry about Teddy. He wants you to have me.”
    â€œHow do you know?”
    â€œHe told me.”
    We walked into the bedroom. There was Teddy sitting on a chair, smoking a cigarette. Helen pulled her dress off and climbed onto the bed.
    â€œGo ahead,” said Teddy, “do it.”
    â€œBut Teddy, it’s your wife.”
    â€œI know it’s my wife.”
    â€œI mean, look Teddy—”
    â€œI’ll give you ten bucks to do it,” he said. “Is it a deal, Bukowski?”
    â€œTen bucks?”
    â€œThat’s right.”
    I took off my clothes and got on.
    â€œGive her a long ride,” said Teddy. “No quickies.”
    â€œI’ll try, but she’s got me going.”
    â€œJust think of a stack of horseshit,” said Teddy.
    â€œYeah, think of a stack of horseshit,” said his wife.
    â€œHow tall?” I asked.
    â€œReal tall. Wide. Covered with flies,” said Teddy.
    â€œ Thousands of flies,” said Helen, “all eating shit.”
    â€œFlies are sure strange,” I said.
    â€œYour ass looks funny,” Teddy said to me.
    â€œYours does too,” I said.
    â€œHow does my ass look?” asked Helen.
    â€œPlease,” I said, “I don’t wanna think about your ass or I’m not gonna last.”
    â€œTry singing the National Anthem,” said Helen.
    â€œ Oh, say can you see? By the stars early light? Oh —”
    â€œWhat’s the matter?” she asked.
    â€œI don’t know the words.”
    â€œSay anything that comes to your mind then,” said Helen.
    â€œI’m coming,” I said.
    â€œ What? ” she asked.
    â€œI said, ‘I’m coming! ’ ”
    â€œOh, my gawd!” she said.
    We clutched and kissed, moaning. I climbed off. I wiped off on the sheet and Teddy handed me a ten.
    â€œNext time,” he said, “try to last longer or it’s only five bucks.”
    â€œO.K.,” I said.
    â€œOh, Teddy!” said Helen from the bed.
    â€œWhat, dear?”
    â€œI love you . . . ”
    The second night was a bit different. Teddy and his wife had wrestled on the floor. Then Teddy had disappeared. I was drinking beer and watching television. Helen snapped off the TV and stood in front of it.
    â€œHey—that was a good program, Helen. Why’d you turn it off?”
    â€œYou’re not much of a man, are you?”
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œDid you like that fried chicken tonight?”
    â€œSure.”
    â€œDo you like my legs, my hips, my breasts?”
    â€œSure, sure.”
    â€œDo you like the color of my hair? Do you like the way I walk? Do you like my dress?”
    â€œSure, sure, sure.”
    â€œYou’re not much of a man, are you?”
    â€œI don’t understand.”
    â€œBeat me!”
    â€œ Beat you? What for?”
    â€œDon’t you understand? Beat me! Use your belt! Use your hand! Make me cry! Make me scream! ”
    â€œLook—”
    â€œ Rape me! Hurt me! ”
    â€œLook, Mrs. Ralstead . . . ”
    â€œOh, for Christ’s sake, get going!”
    I took off my belt and slapped her across the thigh.
    â€œ Harder , you fool!”
    â€œMrs. Ralstead . . . ”
    â€œBe a beast!”
    I slammed her across the ass with the buckle. She screamed.
    â€œMORE! MORE!”
    I laid the belt to her. All up and down her legs. Then I slapped her and knocked her down, picked her up by the hair.
    â€œRip my dress!” she said. “Rip my dress to shreds!”
    â€œBut Mrs. Ralstead—I like your dress.”
    â€œOh, you fool— rip my dress!”
    I ripped it straight down the front. Then I kept ripping until she didn’t have anything on.
    â€œWhat do I do now?”
    â€œ Hit me! Rape me!”
    I hit her again,