ATDTDA (10): Frankly covert, 282-289

[Paul Nightingale]

Frank, "at supper in the hotel, through the window", watches a round-up of
miner-vagrants, "unlucky enough to be visible". Talking to fellow diners he
is careful to maintain his cover, "pretend[ing] to inquire about Bob
Meldrum. The dialogue, concerning hair-Trigger Bob and Ellmore Disco, is
informative, for Frank and the reader also. The dialogue passage segues into
a narrative description that emphasises his elusiveness. Among the diners
talking to Frank there is consensus regarding "the man to see" (283). The
moment the narrative voice takes over, it signals a lack of consensus: "Some
believed Ellmore Disco was Mexican, some said he'd come from even further
away ." etc, and so on for the rest of this passage.

Ellmore is a mythical figure, his business "the thrivingest enterprise
between Grand Junction and the Sangre de Cristos" (284). The department
store depersonalised shopping, made it possible for the shopper to remain
anonymous; yet the capitalist enterprise itself is personalised in the form
of the entrepreneur himself, here Disco. Cf. Scarsdale Vibe, "a widely
celebrated mogul" (31). Hence, the visit to Ellmore, to ask for networking
assistance, opens up a parallel narrative, the alternative being to work for
Vibe. In the same way, in the previous chapter, he gave up on gold and
silver, and "began to work with less glamorous elements, such as zinc"
(274). Here, he continues to push zinc, less an engineer than a salesman:
"But now this set-up of mine ." (286). After Ellmore has suggested the
possibility that, as an engineer, Frank might have the wherewithal to be a
bomber, Frank first says he should have claimed to be a "pastry chef or
something"; then he goes on to say he is "more of a zinc man". Previously,
working with zinc was an attempt to put distance between himself and
whatever Vibe controlled; now his claim to be "a zinc man" is designed to
counter the suspicion that he might be a bomber.

To Lupita's for lunch, and a view of the busy town in daylight; Ellmore is
well-known, and [m]ost [are] careful to compliment him on his choice of
hat". Cf. Scarsdale Vibe's turn-out (156).

The popularity of the fare at Lupita's makes it something of a social
leveller: "Clerks and cashiers ." etc (287).

The purpose of Lupita here is to introduce La Blanca, much discussed from
here although she doesn't actually appear. As with the description that
introduces Ellmore (283-284) there is a tension between consensus and
disagreement. It seems La Blanca and Bob are seldom seen together; and it
might be surmised, by "reckless and basically thick-headed boys", that what
she 'really' wants is "some form of relief from her deaf runt of a
cabinmate, who didn't, besides, look all that tough ." etc. Hence, a
connection is made between the possibility that Bob cannot fully satisfy his
wife and the possibility that he might not be so bad a badman.

Cf. the opening passage and the image presented there of Bob, perhaps a way
of testing Frank and leading to: "All raggin' aside, son ." etc (283).

Finally Frank has to survive his lunch. When Ellmore has drawn attention to
"some of the old snot runnin' out there", Loomis, who doesn't have much to
say for himself, suggests that he'll "need to grow a mustache, soak some of
that up" (289). Hence, a further disguise, which takes us back to where the
section began. The meal, and strength of chillies, seems to be another test
for Frank; and Bob in absentia is allowed the final word.