Constantine - The Novelization - Whoa is (Not)

No one there. Not even a dial tone. No sound of someone at the other end.She hung up - and the phone on the next desk rang. She got up and put her hand on it... andthe phone on the desk beyond that one rang. Then another phone, and another, and another yet,till every phone in the room was ringing.She tensed, and then thought: No. Stay calm. Stay calm and see...And as if in response to her refusal to be intimidated, the phones stopped ringing. All at once.She took a long breath, looking around. But there was nothing to see.She stepped to the printer, plucked off the page with Constantine's address, and left thebuilding. Kind of hastily.--Chaz slammed the taxi's door and hurried after Constantine. Always trailing after. "It'susually the bear, right?" Chaz asked. "Or three ducks in a cloud?"Constantine just shook his head.The rain had eased to a drizzle by the time they got to the EI Carmen. "So am I coming inwith you?" Chaz asked."Give it a shot," Constantine said."Give it a shot? What does that mean?"But Constantine was already on his way through the crowd outside the club. Some very elegantpeople here, Chaz noted.Chaz heard a lady in a sparkly black gown say, in a sort of stage whisper, "I understand there'sa kind of backroom club here that almost no one can get into.... ""You wouldn't want to go there, from what I've heard," her handsome, tuxedoed companionsaid.Constantine and Chaz threaded through the crowd and into the bar, where the sounds of amariachi band pervaded the air like the flavor of pineapple. Chaz suddenly wanted a pina colada.But there wasn't time for that - Constantine was headed for the back, through a side door.Chaz hurriedly followed, caught up with Constantine around the comer from the bathrooms,where a sizeable bouncer sat at a small table, looking uncomfortable on a small folded metalchair.Despite his red blazer and tie - the jacket stretching tight for his massive chest - the bouncerhad the look of a thug, but one who maybe knew more than most thugs do. He seemed to beblocking access to whatever was beyond the red velvet curtain behind him.The big man sized Constantine up for one expressionless moment, then cut what looked like atarot deck on the little table, and pulled out a single card. He held the card so that only he couldsee the front of it; Constantine and Chaz saw only the back, which showed an image of twodolphins leaping into the air.Constantine looked at the card. He closed his eyes.After a moment he said, "Two frogs on a bench."The card smacked down on the table, faceup. On it was artwork showing two frogs sittingcompanionably on a bench. The bouncer gestured for Constantine to pass.He sidled past the table and started through the curtain, which he left half-open, as if invitingChaz to follow.And Chaz started to follow - then was blocked by the bouncer's hand. He drew another cardfrom the deck, held it up between them, face away from Chaz. It was Chaz's turn to take the test.On the back of the card were the same two dolphins. Chaz said, ''Two frogs on a bench."The bouncer frowned, and slapped the card on the table faceup. It showed a dancing bear in adress.The bouncer wordlessly pointed at the exit, shaking his head."Hey, I'm with him!" Chaz said, shouting after Constantine. "Right, John? John! Come on,don't be such a dick!"