L.A. Mental by Neil McMahon Page B

high as the moon on mushrooms and ego.”
    The guy she was talking about was a real hunk, with shaggy blond hair, teeth so white they could blind you, and a suntanned, chiseled physique. He was the one other face in the room that had seemed most familiar to me, and now I made the connection—he was Chris Breen, a hot young action-adventure star. Several of the babes were hovering around him with their body language saying it all; he seemed not just used to that, but oblivious to any other possibility. He was also obviously stoned out of his skull. As he walked toward Lisa and me, he actually gave the impression of floating, and I was sure that his wide, dancing eyes were seeing things I wasn’t.
    He managed to focus on us, looking mysterious and a little perturbed. “I’m starting to feel the nahngs —I’ve got to chill out,” he said. Then, to me, “Dude, somebody said this is your place. Anywhere good to go swimming?”
    â€œGo out to the road you came in on and head back a quarter mile, just past that little bridge,” I said. “There’s a pool in the creek—where you were earlier, Lisa.”
    â€œExcellent. How about it, Leese?”
    â€œSorry, Chris. Swimming’s not my thing. But I’m sure you’ll have plenty of company.”
    His eyes went back to that glitter of seeing into another dimension. “Hey, yeah, like—water nymphs!” He returned to his harem, this time moving more purposefully.
    â€œWater nymphs,” Lisa murmured wryly. “It’ll be more like the beach at Rio—Brazilians everywhere you look.”
    I smiled again. “His riff about—what did he call them, nahngs ? Did that actually mean anything?”
    â€œSort of. It’s Nhangs , capital N-h. They’re in the movie. The part about him feeling them’s in the mushrooms. Hey, are you leaving here anytime soon—like back to L.A.?”
    â€œAs soon as I can. I’m supposed to have a talk with Dr. Kelso, but I wouldn’t think it’ll take too long.”
    â€œCould I follow you to the freeway? When I was coming in, I saw one of the limos ahead and just tagged along the last few miles—I wasn’t really paying attention, and I’m afraid I’ll get lost.”
    â€œOf course,” I said. “You really want to miss the rest of the party?”
    â€œI’m not much of a party girl these days. I did my share of it, back when. And Dustin’s just waiting to corner me again.”
    â€œI’ve got a feeling you can handle him. But yeah, sure—I’ll come look for you when I’m done.”
    â€œI’ll be right around here. Unless I kill him first.”
    â€œI’ll hurry. I wouldn’t want that on my conscience.”
    That wry look came back onto her face, but with more of an edge this time—like a beautiful cat with a glossy coat that you yearn to touch, even though you know there are fangs and claws attached.
    â€œNot much conscience in this business, honey,” she said.

Fourteen
    B y now a half hour had passed; it was time to meet up with Kelso. I found him outside chatting with Chris Breen’s swimming party. They were loading a couple of car trunks with iced coolers of drinks and urging Kelso to come along. He had the amused look of a parent dealing with a bunch of kids who were up to harmless mischief. There did seem to be a summer-camp element about it.
    â€œNot just now—I’ll wander by later,” I heard him say. He didn’t seem inclined to bask in the adulation that came his way, although he clearly didn’t mind it, either.
    When he saw me, he split away from the group, and the two of us started walking. I followed his lead; it looked like he was taking us toward the bizarre city set.
    â€œDoes our party seem bacchanalian to you?” Kelso said.
    â€œNo, it actually strikes me as pretty tame, at least from what I’ve seen so