After a time Rick emerged, none the worse as far as we could tell. He did look a little spooked. Jim and I stood up and I handed Rick the joint.
"What happened in there?" I asked.
Rick took a deep hit. "They gave me a feather," he croaked, holding his smoke.
"They gave you a what?" asked Jim.
Rick opened his fist to reveal a small, white feather, damp with sweat.
"What's it for?" I asked.
"Luck on my journey they said."
"Did they fuck you?" Jim interjected.
"What journey?" I asked. "You're not going anywhere."
Rick shrugged and stuck the feather in his pocket.
"Better not fucking lose that," I said.
"They didn't do nothin' to your cock?" Rick persisted.
"What happens if I lose it?"
"I dunno. Something bad? You should know. You're the one that was blessed."
Rick looked down the front of his pants to assess whether the feather would be secure.
"I can't believe they didn't do nothin' to your cock in there."
"They're not that type o' witch," Rick protested.
We stood and smoked in silence, listening to the band. They sang:
The wheel is turning and you can't slow down
You can't let go and you can't hold on
You can't go back and you can't stand still
If the thunder don't get you then the lightning will
A wild-eyed man without a shirt insinuated himself into our circle.
"What it is, what it is, fellas! Can you lay some of that fine-smelling shit on me?" He was hopping a little, foot-to-foot.
Jim passed him the joint.
"Cool, cool, cool, much appreciated, much appreciated!" He took a hit and passed it to me.
"What are you guys doin', man? Fucking enjoying the show?"
"Yeah. Actually we're looking for someone right now," said Jim.
"Cool, cool, cool. Who? Who?"
"His girlfriend," Jim replied, indicating Rick with his elbow.
"Yeah? What she look like?"
"Pink pants. Blond hair–"
"NO FUCKING WAY!" the man shouted abruptly. "Blond chick? Young chick?"
We nodded.
"Holy FUCKING SHIT, man! She DISAPPEARED!"
We stared at him, perplexed.
"Yeah," Rick said. "That's what we're saying, man, she dis–"
"No, no, no, no, no! Dig it, man: she DISAPPEARED!" He was clutching his head now. "I fuckin' saw it happen, man! So far out!"
"What did you see, man?" asked Rick.
"Check it out, check it out, check it out: I was up there, dancing, you know?" He nodded in the direction of the field. "And there's this chick just like you describe, fine chick, blond chick. Dancing. Pink pants."
"Yeah?"
"The band was jammin', man, it was so intense. And suddenly, I swear to God, a, like, bolt of pure fuckin' energy came out of Jerry's guitar and fuckin' zapped the chick!"
"Pure energy?" I said.
"And she fuckin' disappeared, man!"
"Disappeared?" asked Jim.
"I mean like she was there and then she was not there, man! Fuckin' blew my mind!"
He shook his head and smiled, his whole body swaying now. He took another hit of our joint.
"Uh, we gotta go look for her now," said Jim.
"I told you she disappeared," the man said emphatically. He looked at us sharply. Sternly, even.
Outside, the band sang:
If I had my way
If I had my way
If I had my way
I would tear this whole building down
"She'll turn up," I offered.
"Dude, turn up. Forget it. She turned out."
"We'll find her."
"Dude, she's gone, man. There's nothing to find."
"Yeah. We're gonna go looking anyway, man. Thanks."
"Good fuckin' luck, man. You're lookin' for nothing."