081413 #worm #roach Actually, Barp knew. Barp the troglodyte. That's why he took extra pleasure in watching Krim's flirtations that night, after Him and Me were gone, and no-one remained in the Cafe except Barp, Krim, and an unprepossessing young man at the counter named Ltiky. Barp took pleasure in Krim's display even though Barp himself was not (and he knew he never would be) its intended audience. Of course, despite her uncanny ability to ignore his every need, Krim had to know Barp was in the room, and her willingness nonetheless to flirt so shamelessly indicated, in some remote sense, her inclusion of him in the dynamics of her little passion play. It was just that Barp's role was not (and he was fairly certain it never would be) that of the object of adoration. Barp was not the male lead.