Digital Fortress Chapter 37

Downstairs at the Alfonso XIII, Becker wandered tiredly over to the obviate. A dwarf-like mixologist set a napkin in front of him. Que bebe Usted? What are you swallow?Nothing, thanks, Becker replied. I need to know if there are any clubs in townspeople for punk rockers?The barkeep eyed him strangely. Clubs? For punks?Yeah. Is there anyplace in town where they all hangout?No lo se, senor. I dont now. But sure enough not here He smiled. How about a drink?Becker matte like shaking the guy. Nothing was going quite the way hed planned.?Quiere Vd. algo? The bartender repeated. ?FinoJerez?Faint strains of classical music were being piped in overhead. Brandenburg Concertos, Becker thought. Number four. He and Susan had seen the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields play the Brandenburgs at the university last year. He suddenly wished she were with him now. The breeze from an overhead air-conditioning vent reminded Becker what it was like outside. He image himself walking the sweaty, d rugged-out streets of Triana looking for some punk in a British flag T-shirt. He thought of Susan again. Zumo de arandano, he heard himself say. Cranberry juice.The bartender looked baffled. pilot? Cranberry juice was a popular drink in Spain, but drinking it alone was unheard of.Si. Becker said. Solo.?Echo un poco de Smirnoff? The bartender pressed. A splash of vodka?No, gracias.? gratis? he coaxed. On the house?Through the pounding in his head, Becker project the filthy streets of Triana, the stifling heat, and the long night ahead of him. What the hell. He nodded. Si, echame un poco de vodka.The bartender seemed much relieved and hustled off to make the drink.Becker glanced around the ornate bar and wondered if he was dreaming. Anything would make more sense than the truth. Im a university teacher, he thought, on a secret mission.The bartender returned with a flourish and presented Beckers beverage. A su gusto, senor. Cranberry with a splash of vodka.Becker thanked him. He took a sip and gagged. Thats a splash?