while most of his mind and body were given over to the rage engendered by jays remarks , a small part of genes mind dug through old files and found a memory of what he was feeling , a memory that contained a steamy summer night , yellow , insect-buzzing street light swimming its way through the feathery maze of nearly black willow branches , harsh laughter , boozy bravado , and , suddenly , a hens egg of warm , beery spit balanced for a slow second on his cheek before slaloming down and off his chin .