Chapter 47 Section IX

"Is it delivered?" "It came this afternoon," Decker said, "and I haven't had time to show you." After the party, they drove back down the tree-shaded Lindo Road. "Now let me see." "Are you sure you're not tired?" "Well, if I get tired, I can live with you and use it," said Beth. "It" refers to a bed that Decker commissioned from a local artist named John Massey, unique in that it is cast entirely in metal.In the forge, Marcie used a hammer and an anvil to create elaborate patterns on the bed frame bars that looked a lot like wood carvings.

"It's amazing," Beth said.By this time Decker had parked the Cherokee in the carport and walked inside with her. "It's grander than you've described." She stroked the glossy black lacquer on the metal. "Also, the patterns are carved into the headboard—or should it be called the headboard. Whatever you call it, it's made of iron. The patterns look like they're a reference to the Nava Haw pattern, but also like Egyptian hieroglyphs, with their feet going one way and their hands another. Actually, they look like drunks." "John has a great sense of humor and the patterns are not referenced to anything, they are his own creations."

"Well, I really like it," said Beth, "the patterns make me happy." Decker and Beth admired the bed from different angles. "It does look solid," Decker said. Beth pressed the mattress with one hand, then raised her eyebrows in a mischievous look. "Want to check it out?" "Of course," Decker said, "if we crush it, I'm going to make John a refund." He turned off the light.They kiss affectionately and slowly undress each other.The bedroom door was open.Moonlight shone in from the tall and wide daylighting windows in the corridor outside the bedroom.Beth's breasts shone slightly, reminding Decker of ivory.