That misbegotten Saucerhead. He didn"t bother using the gate even though there was n.o.body there to contest it. He came over the wall, down the lane. I noticed when a major tree branch suddenly dipped its chin in the dust. It popped when Tharpe let loose.
He was carrying somebody.
How does the man do these things? He isn"t human. I limped over. "What you got?" Like I hadn"t figured it out at first glance.
Her mother had told me that she looked like her only with less wear. I promise you, Maggie Jenn turned them to stone in her day. The kid made it plain why Teddy went goofy back when.
"Spotted her when we was sneaking out. I figured it wasn"t right we went to all that trouble, so many folks got hurt, you didn"t get a crack at what started it all."
His shirt wiggled, heaved. Something made an ugly noise. I had a bad feeling.
Saucerhead worsened it immediately. "Oh. Yeah. I brung your bird. I stuffed him in my shirt on account of he wouldn"t shut up."
I brandished a fist at the sky.
The breeze in the boughs sounded like divine snickers.
Saucerhead asked, "You want the bird or the girl?"
"Looks like I got the bird already."
"To carry." He did understand, though. "The chit, she don"t really want to come."
"No. And you with your sweet tongue."
She hadn"t said anything yet. She didn"t now but did flash me a cold look that made me glad she couldn"t do what she was thinking.
"Give me the talking feather duster. I can"t manage anything bigger."
"Suit yourself." Saucerhead had kept the girl on his shoulder, sack of grain style. He asked her, "You want to walk? Or do I got to keep carrying you?"
She didn"t answer. Saucerhead shrugged. He hardly noticed her weight.
The others joined us, drawn by our voices. Spud fussed over the bird. Morley had rigged himself some crude splints. I gestured at the parrot. "My pal had to do me a favor."
Morley tried to chuckle. Pain got in the way. I asked, "Can you manage?"
"Just won"t play bowls this week."
"Poor Julie."
"We"ll work something out." He offered a glimpse of his wicked grin. "Let"s roll. Before Relway realizes he"s played it wrong and wants us to explain."
"What happened to Winger? Anybody see?"
n.o.body had but Morley opined, "She got away. She has her own guardian angels."
"She gets Relway after her she"ll need them." We walked as fast as we could with wounds and burdens, the G.o.dd.a.m.n Parrot denouncing the whole bleeding world for all the indignities he"d suffered. Even Spud"s patience became strained.
Sarge sneered, "Least it ain"t blamin" everythin" on you no more, Garrett."
Morley eyed that jungle chicken like he was considering abandoning the vegetarian life-style. I told him, "Thank Saucerhead. I I left it for Relway. They"re perfect for each other." left it for Relway. They"re perfect for each other."
n.o.body laughed. Sourp.u.s.s.es.
"Was that the Rainmaker you was chasing back there?" Saucerhead asked. He spat a wad of sourgra.s.s he"d been chewing. He remained indifferent to Emerald"s weight.
"Yeah."
"That runt? Hey!" The girl was wiggling. "Knock it off." He swatted her bottom. "I always thought the Rainmaker had to be nine feet tall."
"With hooves and horns. I know. I was disappointed, too."
Morley snickered. "He sure was." I gave him a dirty look. He never let up, pain or no pain.
72.
I lost the election. My place got picked for the human rea.s.sembly party. Morley hinted that he didn"t want word of his injury getting out right away. He didn"t want the wolves smelling blood before he was ready.
I bought it. He has his enemies.
I had trouble getting comfortable. My home contained too many reminders of Slither and Ivy.
"It wasn"t right," I told Eleanor. "They didn"t deserve it." I listened momentarily. My kitchen had become an infirmary. Saucerhead had recruited a defrocked doctor who imagined himself a crusty town character. He reeked of alcohol and hadn"t stumbled against soap or a razor for weeks so I guess he qualified.
"Yeah, I know," I told Eleanor. "Life don"t make sense, it ain"t fair and don"t ever ask the G.o.ds for dramatic unity. But I don"t have to like it. Got any idea what I should do with the girl?"
Emerald was confined in Dean"s room. She hadn"t delivered a word yet. She wouldn"t believe me when I said I wasn"t on her mom"s payroll.
Could be she didn"t care if I wasn"t. You s.n.a.t.c.h some people, they never do warm up.
Eleanor had no suggestions. I said, "I"d cut her loose if there weren"t people out there who"d jump all over her." Eleanor did not disapprove. "Speaking of whom, I wonder how long it"ll be before Winger turns up with one of her outstanding stories?"
I was looking forward to that.
Morley howled. There was a crash. I headed for the kitchen. Dotes began threatening bloodshed. "Not in my kitchen!" I yelled. I stopped to check on the Dead Man.
A bug darted across his cheek, hid behind his proboscis. If Dean didn"t get home soon, I was going to have to clean him up myself. Maybe I"d bring him some flowers. He used to like bouquets.
The G.o.dd.a.m.n Parrot started yelling louder than Morley. I told the Dead Man, "You"re not earning your keep."
It wasn"t pretty in the kitchen. All that whimpering and whining. The doc had finished, though. He was under an inverted wine bottle, using a half pint to clear his palate. I made a face. Even ratmen shunned the stuff he was swilling. "You all going to live?"
"No thanks to that butcher," Morley snarled.
Saucerhead asked, "You ever see him act like such a baby?"
"You oversized...If brains were fire you couldn"t burn your own house down." He jumped up on a chair and started ranting like some Holy Roller soul-scavenger.
I asked Sarge, "The doc give him something?"
Sarge shrugged. "Come on, boss. Give Doc a break. He fixed your arm. And he ain"t been getting much work since they cut him loose from the Bledsoe."
No wonder he was drinking bottom of the barrel. He was was bottom stuff himself...I glanced at Saucerhead. Doc must be some relative of his new lady. bottom stuff himself...I glanced at Saucerhead. Doc must be some relative of his new lady.
Surly but silent, Morley paid his fees. Spud didn"t look much happier. I decided to get the old boy out while Dotes was feeling generous. I got hold of Doc"s arm and pulled.
"You really get the boot at the Bledsoe?" Hard to imagine that as possible, yet I"d met two such in just a few days.
"I drink a bit, son."
"No."
"Steadied my hands when I was young, chopping off arms and legs down in the Cantard, couple lifetimes ago. Don"t work anymore, though. Barley kills the pain now."
He stepped outside, cloaked himself in what dignity he retained, started down to the street, stumbled, fell the last two steps. On her stoop, Mrs. Cardonlos paused to glare and nod to herself. I blew her a kiss. I studied the street.
It was hard to tell, but I thought I saw a few folks who didn"t ring right.
Again? Or still? I eyed Mrs. Cardonlos again. Her being out on point might mean she expected further proof that Garrett was a peril to the neighborhood.
I shut the door, thoughtful.
I had an idea.
I headed for the kitchen. "Saucerhead, want to run an errand?" I showed him some shiny copper.
"Talked me into it, you smoothie. What?"
"Give me a minute. I need to write a letter."
73.
At last the house was quiet. The mob was away. The G.o.dd.a.m.n Parrot had a full crop and was sleeping. I was in my office sharing the silence with Eleanor.
Naturally, somebody came to the door.
"My answer from Chaz." Or maybe Winger, if her creative side was hot.
I was hoping she had a block.
I used the peephole.
Got it right first guess. Mr. W. Tharpe with mail.
I leaned into the gloom of the Dead Man"s room. Vermin scurried. I told him, "I"m off. And she"s the most beautiful blonde you never saw. Don"t wait up."
He didn"t wish me luck.
I left the house without so much as a pa.s.sing thought about the gorgeous redhead stashed upstairs.
It was the best table in the place but still only the Joy House. You do business with a world-cla.s.s sorcerer, you can be a little more comfortable doing it on familiar ground.
Conscious of their bid to go upscale, Morley and his thugs were on their best behavior. Puddle even donned a clean shirt and tucked it in.
The Firelord had dressed down. Excellent. I didn"t want casual acquaintances getting nervous because of my contact with him.
He looked like a big old dock walloper.
With him dressed down and Chaz dressed up, n.o.body paid him much attention. Even I had trouble concentrating. "Excuse me?"
"I said I"m serving my own interests."
I recalled now. I"d thanked him for not making a show. "Oh."
"Believe it or not, there are people who might do me an injury if they caught me off my usual range."
"Really?" My gaze swerved back to Chaz. The woman had dressed to kill and was armed with her best a.s.sa.s.sin"s smile.
"Hard to believe, right? Big old cuddle bear like me?" He turned to Morley, who hovered at the head of a platoon of ready servers. "I"m not real hungry tonight. I"ll take half pound of roast beef rare, sides of mutton, and pork. No fruits or vegetables."
Morley went paler than a blanching vampire. He nodded sharply, once, some postmortem spasm. He fish-eyed me and my grin. His eyes were the lamps of h.e.l.l. I decided not to rub it in.
I ordered one of the more palatable house specialties. Chaz followed my lead.
Morley stamped toward the kitchen, dragging Puddle, muttering orders. I wondered which neighboring establishment would subcontract Direheart"s order.
I fought the chuckles as I brought the firelord up to date.