Momma Sublett said, you know the doctor said you ought to get more sleep than you been getting.
Mrs. Sublett sighed. Yes, well, Joel, I know you young people want a chance to talk. She peered at Chevette Washington. Thats a shame about your hair, honey. Youre just as pretty as can be, though, and you know itll just grow in so nice. I tried to light the broiler on this gas range we had, down in Galveston, that was when Joel was just a baby, he was so sensitive, and that stove about blew up. I just had had this perm, dear and, well
Chevette Washington didnt say anything.
Momma Sublett said, now you know youve had your nice drink
Rydell watched Sublett lead the old woman off to bed.
Jesus Christ Chevette Washington said, whats wrong with his eyes?
Just light-sensitive Rydell said.
Its spooky, is what it is.
He wouldnt hurt a fly Rydell said.
Sublett came back, looked at the picture on the tv, then sighed and shut it off. You know Im not supposed to leave the trailer, Berry?
Hows that?
Its a condition of my apostasy. They say I might corrupt the congregation by contact. He perched on the edge of the recliner so he wouldnt have to actually recline in it.
I thought youd blown Fallon off when you came out to LA.
Sublett looked embarrassed. Well, shes been sick, Berry, so when I came here I told em I was here to reconsider. Meditate on the box n all. He wrung his long pale hands. Then they caught me watching Videodrome. You ever see, uh, Deborah Harry, Rydell? Sublett sighed and sort of quivered.
Howd they catch you?
Theyve got it set up so they can monitor what youre watching.
How come theyre out here anyway?
Sublett ran his fingers back through his dry, straw-colored hair. Hard to say, but Id figure its got something to do with Reverend Fallons tax problems. Most of what he does, lately, its about that. Didnt your job in San Francisco work out, Berry?
No Rydell said, it didnt.
You want to tell me about it? Rydell said he did.
I think he shot through something to do with the damned heater, too Rydell said. They were back in the RV, outside the perimeter.
I like your friend she said. I do too.
No, I mean he really cares about whats going to happen to you. He really does.
You take the bed he said. Ill sleep up front.
Theres no windshield. Youll freeze.
Ill be okay.
Sleep back here. We did before. Its okay.
He woke in the dark and listened to the sound of her breathing, to the creak of stiff old leather from the jacket spread over her shoulder.
Sublett had listened to his story, nodding sometimes, asking a question here and there, his mirrored contacts reflecting tiny convex images of them sitting there on that loveseat. In the end hed just whistled softly and said, Berry, it sounds to me like youre really in trouble now. Bad trouble.
Really in trouble now.
Rydell slid his hand down, brushing one of hers by accident as he did it, and touched the bulge of his wallet in his back pocket. What money he had was in there, but Wellington Mas card was in there, too. Or what was left of it. The last time hed looked, it had broken into three pieces.
Big trouble he said to the dark, and Chevette Washington lifted the edge of her jacket and sort of snuggled in closer, her breathing never changing, so he knew she was still asleep.
He lay there, thinking, and after a while he started to get this idea. About the craziest idea hed ever had.
That boyfriend of yours he said to her, in the tiny kitchen of Subletts mothers trailer, that Lowell?
What about him?
Got a number we could reach him at?
She poured milk on her cornflakes. It was the kind you mixed up from powder. Had that thin chalky look. The only kind Subletts mother had. Sublett was allergic to milk. Why?
I think maybe I want to talk to him about something.
About what?
Something I think maybe he could help me with.
Lowell? Lowells not gonna help you. Lowell doesnt give a rats ass for anybody.
Well Rydell said, why dont you just let me talk to him.
If you tell him where we are, or he has it traced back through the cd-net, hell turn us in. Or he would if he knew anybody was after us.
Why?
Hes just like that. But then she gave Rydell the phone and the numher.
Hey, Lowell?
Who the fuck is this?
How you doin?
Who gave you
Dont hang up.
Listen, motherf
SFPD Homicide.
He could hear Lowell draw on a cigarette. what did you say? Lowell said.
Orlovsky. SFPD Homicide, Lowell. That big fucker with the great big fucking gun? Came in the bar there? You remember. Just before the lights went out. I was over there by the bar, talking with Eddie the Shit.
Lowell took another drag, shallower by the sound of it. Look, I dont know what you
You dont have to. You can just hang up right now, Lowell. But if you do, boy, you just better kiss your ass goodbye. Because you saw Orlovsky come in there for the girl, Lowell, didnt you? You saw him. He didnt want you to. He wasnt in there on any SFPD business, Lowell. He was there on his own stick. And thats one serious bad oficer, Lowell. Serious as cancer.
Silence. I dont know what youre talking about.
Then you just listen, Lowell. Listen up. You dont listen, Ill tell Orlovsky you saw him. Ill give him this number. Ill give him your description, and that skinheads, too. Tell him you been talking about him. And you know what hell do, Lowell? Hell come out there and shoot your ass dead, thats what hell do. And nobody to stop him. Homicide, Lowell. Then he can investigate it himself, he wants to. Mans heavy, Lowell, I gotta tell ya.
Lowell coughed, a couple of times. Cleared his throat. This is a joke, right?
I dont hear you laughing.
Okay Lowell said, say its for real. Then what? Whatre you after?
I hear you know people can get things done. With computers and things. He could hear Lowell lighting a fresh cigarette.
Well Lowell said, sort of.
Republic of Desire Rydell said. I need you to get them to do me a favor.
No names Lowell said, fast. Theres scans set to pick things out of traffic
Them.
Them okay? Need you to get them to do something for me.
Itll cost you Lowell said, and it wont be cheap.
No Rydell said, itll cost you.
He pressed the button that broke the connection. Give old Lowell a little time to think about it; maybe look Orlovsky up on the Civil List, see he was there and he was Homicide. He flipped the little phone shut and went back into the trailer. Subletts mother kept the air-conditioning up about two clicks too high.
Sublett was sitting on the loveseat. His white clothes made him look sort of like a painter, a plasterer or something, except he was too clean. You know, Berry, Im thinking maybe I better get back to Los Angeles.
What about your mother?
Well, Mrs. Bakers here now, from Galveston? They been neighbors for years. Mrs. Baker can watch out for her.
That apostate crap getting to you?
Sure is Sublett said, turning to look at the hologram of Fallon. I still believe in the Lord, Berry, and I know Ive seen His face in the media, just like Reverend Fallon teaches. I have. But the rest of it, I swear, it might as well be just a flatout hustle. Sublett almost looked like he might be about to cry. The silver eyes swung around, met Rydells. And I been thinking about IntenSecure, Berry. What you told me last night. I dont see how I can go back there and work, knowing the kinds of things theyll condone. I thought I was at least helping to protect people from a few of the evils in this world, Berry, but now I know Id just be working for a company with no morals at all.