THE ROAD TO PREDATION REDOUX - UPDATED

MID 1970s

Peter followed Richard, Robyn and her sister into the foyer of the Cosmopolitan Club. There was no-one in attendance but Richard seemed to know the ropes and signed in his visitors in a large book placed on a pedestal. He then led his entourage into the bar and dining area. The after-work hubbub of voices, clacking pool balls, clinking of glasses and laughter gradually subsided to a deathly silence.

Richard went to the bar to order some drinks. The now silent people in the bar area could clearly hear his order:

"Four glasses of chardonnay please"

An audible gasp came from the people in the bar. All men.

The barman, surprised, dropped the glass that he'd been spitting on and stammered:

"I c.c.c.c.c. can't ....."

The visitors weren't sure what the barman couldn't do or say as just then the club president (not a king Peter noted) came up to them and identified himself. He ushered the little group into a side room which he generously described as the salon. It was a small room with no windows. Some furniture was stacked up in a corner and there was a general feeling of neglect and  a smell of un-vacuumed carpet and stale beer.
"I'm sorry ladies and gentlemen but we think that you'd be better in here" he said, wringing his hands.

"Why?" Richard asked.

         "Er... because there are certain types of visitors who aren't allowed in the main bar area."

he replied.

"What type of ....... Oh, you mean guys from the big city?" asked Peter.
"Er, no, I mean, um, ladies." said the clearly uncomfortable president.
"Women he means" said Robyn, sternly looking down at the little man wringing his hands.

"let's go back to your place Richard." she commanded and the thirsty quartet went out and back to Richard's car.

Richard stopped off at the local bottle store and bought a half dozen of DB Lager and a bottle of McWilliams Cream Sherry. There was no chardonnay to be had in Taumaranui it seemed.

"We'll make our own party" 

he said rakishly and threw his car (1964 Skoda) into gear and took off back to the motel reaching upwards of 30 mph at some points.

Arriving home Richard quickly unscrewed the cap from the sherry and poured three large glasses - one for Robyn, one for her sister and one for himself. Peter assumed that the DB Lager was then for him and declined, pouring himself a glass of water from the tap. The water was pretty good he thought, not like that chlorinated city water.

Richard was in a good mood even though the trip to the club was a disaster and poured more sherry. He started singing some old Marty Robbins songs in an attempt to get the party going. Peter noticed that he was edging closer and closer to Robyn and that Robyn's sister was giving both him and Robyn the evil eye.

"This'll be good" 

Peter thought then another thought came to him. He moved over to Richard when Robyn and her sister began some sort of argument and pulled him outside. Reaching out he took Richard's glasses off him and held them up to the streetlight.

"I thought so!" he exclaimed. "Rose. Rose coloured glasses!"

**************

JANUARY 2020

Peter walked down to the Thai restaurant just off the main street. He ordered and ate pad kra pao gai (Thai Basil Chicken). He didn't go looking for the Cosmopolitan Club (Aaaaargh!) and simply went back to the motel and left early the next morning for the drive to Auckland.