“and so, little fellow, “ the recruiting sergeant intoned in his booming voice,” you wish to enlist as a soldier in the king’s army.”
“indeed i do, sir.”
“we don’t get too many lizards in here. a few bears, a few dragons, a few wolves, mostly just folks - and no very impressive folks at that, just the froth and refuse of the lowest strata of folkkind.”
“be as that as it may, sir, i wish to join up.”
“well, his embattled majesty can use all the help he can get. if you can make it through the training i am sure we can put you to some service. here then, put your paw to this book and you will be enlisted.”
“thank you, sir.”
“and stop addressing me as ‘sir’ - the correct address to one in my situation is ‘sergeant’.
“yes, sir - i mean sergeant.”
“step outside. the recruit wagon will be here in about half an hour.”
*
kingfish came back outside. he was carrying a small package wrapped in plain brown paper. he headed for his truck without looking at either yancey or the old man. yancey jumped up and followed him.
as kingfish was opening the door to the driver’s side of the truck, he glanced back and noticed yancey.
after a moment’s hesitation he said, “you wanted a ride to the south side, right?”
“yes, sir.”
“i can’t guarantee it . i might have to make a detour.”
“yes, you already told me that.,” yaney said.
“all right, get in then.”
yancey hurried around to the passeger side and got in. as he was closing the door, kingfish took off, and they were on the highway and speeding down it heading south.
however he had gotten there, yancey had no memory of it, and he was surprised at how how empty the road was. there were no other vehicles on it, and no buildings or trees or lights or anything at all along the side.
“pretty bleak,” yancey offered.
“yes, it is,” kingfish replied, in a tone that said he was not interested in conversation.
yancey noticed the package wrapped in brown paper sitting on the seat between them. he wondered if he should offer to put it in the glove compartment and decided not to.
yancey quickly tired of looking at the unchanging dark landscape and started fantasizing about what might be in the package…
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