Pale Stranger

t, and you can see th

ed self. "But I don't b

ters. How are you with

encils on fire from ta

ve to see." He grabbed

hem out to me. I hesitate

, these do

paper cut?" I counter

everything I say." He

took them down as well

rote." I handed back

oss his face. "I can

"It's my own shorthan

r cook has ever

s always yell the orders

ts and let me see how

ad and repeated the lines

u know anything about

mber where w

orth asking, but I sup

dden noise outside th

he flung aside the cove

open the door to find no

ad to chec

n past eight. "I thoug

wander until mid

even during the day..."

o me with a smile. "B

just serve food that ma

omeone else for t

e and grabbed my sho

sleeves and into my sk

who I need to help me.

bewildermen

here as my personal se

an you

in your miraculous recov

"You were in invalid one

ssie Owens. Wh

me. "A conservation o

d,

y at someone," I finish

ts-Her-Name,

odded. "Miss Con

. She's constantly

" he didn't get to finish

ped forward. I caught hi

the way. He had a shaky

ee that. A consequence

o

ssured him. He raised

nvolved alcohol and

stions, just help me up

over my shoulder and dr

but leaned his right shou

te as bleach and not near

in need of a strong,

tter doctor. If this is

e going to is an aspirin

et of clear eyes to tell

Sievers' eyes any longer,

hose deep pools of blue.

afe without a life jacke

gging you t

op him from saying any

ine, and wriggling fish.

emove Miss Scary-Lad

nd gave a no

how much i

ould probably buy the d

t

with joy. "Sounds fair

ur

current hours

f dawn until closing t

then or not

day exists before noon,

he explained to me. Th

ne before noon to

rk all th

and a few odds and end

" I wondered, and he n

you need

s head. "None that I ca

ing in

my mind out of the gut

es up the verbal c

He was as desperate as

life. I couldn't say no

uch a woman as Miss Siev

was sure there weren't an

my days with the

but on one condit

d. "And tha

he end if I'm not happy

" I explai

ow, but nodded. "Very

rom your c

a vacation." Seven yea

ept when I was sick, wh

arly, but I'm sure Sheil

I'm

?" he w

last night. She's

ked me over with a

to see if there was a s

ve a booger hangin

"No, but there's one

d you haven'

"You mean about your

k mad, just nodded. "Wel

ause o

s, perhaps not, but

t to have a heart atta

ble funeral,"

, I can assure you I a

up and down; only if the

lind. Still, he had sho

t was a point on his side;

t want

uestions I had for you

one hand and looked me

e a diabolical and dash

scruff. "Have you any

my chest and smiled at

equired for t

w how many liberties

s," he c

iberties or I'll give

rn

"Fair enough. Would yo

of experim

was no sense getting

p. "I'll commute. The s

that's all the quest

ight o'clock tomorrow m

d I gave it a good shak

"Be attentive when you'

winding and it's

ing more than city blo

andle