21
Ruddy!
Take it easy, youre okay, youre okay, Alan urged.
I realized I had been shouting incoherently.
I staggered, wiping my face.
I was by the side of a dark, wet road somewhere.
I was wearing shorts and a T-shirt and a pair of running shoes.
What the hell is happening?
Hold on, youre okay.
Weve been running, thats all.
Youre fine, youre fine.
What do you mean, running?
How did I get here?
What is going on?
Alan didnt say anything.
I hugged myself, though I really wasnt cold.
There was a pothole, and we slipped, he explained.
What does that mean?
I crossed the street and began trotting back toward my house.
Its the middle of the night, Alan.
Look, theres something I have to tell you that you may not like very much.
That didnt sound good.
Yes, but sometimes Im awake when you arent.
And I was thirsty … .
Would you just let me tell it, like?
I would never be so rude as to interrupt you like this, Alan answered in a snippy tone.
Okay, fine, but how could you be thirsty?
Do we have an agreement that you will let me tell this my own way?
Okay, yes, sure, Alan.
You have got to be kidding me.
From then on, whenever you fell asleep, I found I could do things.
Go out for a run.
Youve been using my body when I was asleep?
I yelled, outraged.
Are you out of your mind?
Whats wrong with that?
Youre getting exercise in your sleep.
Were up to five sets of fifty push-ups, three hundred sit-ups, and a run every night.
You know how many people in this country would love to be able to do that without waking up?
You cannot be serious.
Alan, this is like the invasion of the body snatchers.
Where the heck did you think we were going?
Just up the road to Leetsville and back.
Thats ten miles away!
No it isnt, its only five.
I measured it on the odometer, Alan soothed.
Youve been driving in my sleep?
Do you have any idea how dangerous that is?
Would you stop shouting?
Anyone hearing you will think youve gone crazy.
I have gone crazy!
Ive got a voice of a dead man in my head who is trying to take over my body!
Its like Ive become some sort of zombie!
Its not like that at alljust the opposite, in fact, Alan argued indignantly.
Do you know how quickly our times have fallen on a five-mile run?
I cant believe how strong and fast you are.
You make it sound like Im some sort of Ferrari youve been cruising around in, I stormed.
Im giving you a compliment.
You may not do this again.
You read me on this?
I realized I was mimicking Sheriff Stricklandnot a bad role model for issuing orders.
Maybe I should be calling Alan Lottner.
I paused outside my door.
I asked if you understand what I am telling you.
I know youre not sleeping.
I dont see what the problem is, he griped.
My body is my body and youre not to take it on any more joyrides.
I went inside and showered off the sweat and the mud.
You knew and you didnt say anything?
Why didnt you bark, wake me up?
Jake just gave me a weary look in return.
By the time I drifted off, the sky was growing lighter with the dawn.
I went to Milts and picked up an SFU assignmentSpot For Unit.
Jimmy was waiting tables at the Bear.
Alan was still asleep.
Claude and Wilma came in together, sat together, and ate together without slander.
Claude had a sheepish look on his face when he glanced in my direction.
Wilmas expression was warmerapparently I was included in the general amnesty.
I smiled at them and Wilma patted Claudes hand.
Jimmy was right about the two of them.
I sipped coffee and took in the general transformation of the Bear.
It wasnt just the new curtains and tablecloths; there was a whole new feel to the place.
Bob the Bear looked less grumpy.
The only way to get a Corvette in there would be to drop it in with a crane.
I would tell Milt to close file.
Alan wanted to go to East Jordan and stake out Burby to see if Wexler showed up.
I think we need to go at it a different way.
Actually, Alan did most of the deciding on this, but it sounded reasonable.
I knocked on the door, wondering if a butler would answer.
No, not a butlera killer.
He stood there and looked me up and down with his cold green eyes.
Shorter than I remembered from the dream, which made senseAlan wasnt as tall as I. Yeah?
I asked, for something to say.
Alan seemed too shocked to speak.
I was over in East Jordan, at PlasMerc Manufacturing?
Saw your picture on the wall, there.
Annoyance tugged at the corners of his mouth.
I was wondering if youre hiring.
Night shift, maybe?
Im a friend of Einstein Croft.
Wexler shook his head.
I dont have anything to do with that.
Theyve got a personnel office.
You should try there.
Tell him as a board member, youre hoping hed have influence, Alan coached.
Look … whats your name?
I was testing for some sort of reaction, but he obviously hadnt heard about me from Nathan Burby.
Well, I dont have anything to do with that place, okay?
I thought the land was from the old cemetery.
He thought for a second, his eyes unreadable.
So how does something like that work?
Did you and the cemetery guy get together and approach the factory, or did they contact you?
They contacted me, but I never met the owner of the cemetery.
Wait, never met?
Why would he lie about that?
So you get it?
I sold them the land, but I dont have anything to do with running the factory.
Its some outfit out of Memphis.
Whats the name of the guy who owns that cemetery?
He blinked his cold green eyes at me.
I told you, he said evenly.
I never met the man.
So good luck with the job.
He made to shut the door, but I put out a friendly hand and stopped it.
His expression flashed at me, then turned unreadable.
I bet his hands were itching to get themselves wrapped around a shovel.
We got a problem, here?
I was just wondering, you live here now, but back then you were in East Jordan?
You want to let go of my door?
Its a pretty place, dont you think?
Theres that little river in the valley, there.
You and Nathan Burby, standing around having a conversation when this big wide Oldsmobile station wagon drives past?
He stared at me.
My God, Ruddy, Alan breathed.
What are you doing?
They never found the car, you know.
What do you suppose happened to it?
The cops didnt bother to check the junkyards, because they thought Lottner ran away.
Did you hear they found him?
Alan Lottner, I mean.
Dug up his body.
You have no idea what youre stepping in, he said softly.
Oh I do, I do, Frank, I responded.
I took a deep sniff.
I know because I can smell it.
I turned and walked down his flagstone path.
What in Gods name were you thinking?
Alan wanted to know.
Did you like that?
I know because I can smell it.
