Downstairs at the Alfonso XIII, Becker wandered tiredly over tothe bar. A dwarf-like bartender lay a napkin in front of him."Qué bebe Usted? What are you drinking?"

"Nothing, thanks," Becker replied. "I need toknow if there are any clubs in town for punk rockers?"

The bartender eyed him strangely. "Clubs? Forpunks?"

"Yeah. Is there anyplace in town where they all hangout?"

"No lo sé, señor. I don't now. But certainlynot here!" He smiled. "How about a drink?"

Becker felt like shaking the guy. Nothing was going quite theway he'd planned.

"¿Quiere Vd. algo?" The bartender repeated."¿Fino? ¿Jerez?"

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 playthe Brandenburgs at the university last year. He suddenly wishedshe were with him now. The breeze from an overhead air-conditioningvent reminded Becker what it was like outside. He pictured himselfwalking the sweaty, drugged-out streets of Triana looking for somepunk in a British flag T-shirt. He thought of Susan again."Zumo de arándano," he heard himself say."Cranberry juice."

The bartender looked baffled. "Solo?" Cranberry juicewas a popular drink in Spain, but drinking it alone was unheardof.

"Sí." Becker said. "Solo."

"¿Echo un poco de Smirnoff?" The bartenderpressed. "A splash of vodka?"

"No, gracias."

"¿Gratis?" he coaxed. "On thehouse?"

Through the pounding in his head, Becker pictured the filthystreets of Triana, the stifling heat, and the long night ahead ofhim. What the hell. He nodded. "Sí, échame unpoco de vodka."

The bartender seemed much relieved and hustled off to make thedrink.

Becker glanced around the ornate bar and wondered if he wasdreaming. Anything would make more sense than the truth. I'm a university teacher, he thought, on a secretmission.

The bartender returned with a flourish and presentedBecker's beverage. "A su gusto, señor. Cranberrywith a splash of vodka."

Becker thanked him. He took a sip and gagged. That's asplash?