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“I’ve called and called to him, but all I get is silence.”
There’s a knife in one of his coat pockets. I’ve never seen one quite like it. It’s over a foot long, double-bladed, with a black wooden grip. Sort of like an oversize athame ritual blade, but with a silver eagle on the grip. There’s what looks like a glob of tar by the pommel, maybe to hold it in place.
I hold it out to him.
“What’s this?”
“That, I believe, was what killed me.”
“How do you know?”
“Because someone pulled it out of my chest and I awoke.”
“Who pulled it out?”
He holds up a hand and gestures vaguely.
“I don’t know. I get the impression they were teenagers having some kind of party. By their startled reaction when I awoke, I don’t think they were looking for me.”
“Okay,” I say. “It’s New Year’s and some kids are out partying. They find you and pull the sword out of the stone like King Arthur. Then you came and found me. Is that pretty much it?”
“I think so,” he says.
“And you’ve never seen this knife before?”
“Not before I woke up.”
“How did you find me?”
He’s closed his eyes again. We’re losing him.
“I’m an angel. I reached out and there you were, so I walked to where I found you.”
“Where did you walk from?” says Candy.
“I don’t know. There was a concrete structure. Not quite a building, but like it once was. It was covered with painted words and images. There were trees and scrub. It was dry and warm there. And stone stairs. Yes. I had to walk up a long stairway. After that, I walked for a long time down a highway and then through the city. That’s where I found you.”
He’s looking at me and I don’t want to believe any of it, but he’s such a whipped dog I can’t throw him out yet.
“I’m tired again. You are right about the brew. It took the pain away,” he says.
“Okay. You get some more rest. But we’re going to talk again later.”
“Yes.”
“And you’re going to take a goddamn shower. Today.”
“Yes. Thank you,” he says, and lies down. “Would you turn the light off, please?”
“There’s just one more thing before we go.”
“Yes?”
“I’d appreciate it if you never mentioned anything about Candy’s face or name again.”
“As you wish.”
Candy turns off the light and we go back outside. It’s good to be out of the room and the dead man’s stink. I turn the knife over in my hands.
