“it’s the big guy’s birthday on friday.”
“no, my birthday is next month.”
“very funny. you know what i mean.”
“oh - you mean that big guy.”
“yes, that big guy. seriously, you should get him something. i hear he is getting a little soft and sentimental in his old age, he likes presents.”
“all right, you’re the shopper, not me. get him something.”
“i will get something. should i have maurice bring it to him?”
“no, i got something a little more important for maurice. have the old lady take care of it. she always knows where to find him. “
“all right, i will get him something. then i will take it over to the old lady myself.”
“that sounds good. did you have anything else on your mind?”
“as a matter of fact, i did.”
“i thought so.”
just then the phone rang in lefty’s pocket. he nodded to lucy and she left the rom, closing the door quietly behind her.
lucy knew enough not to try to listen to the door. she moved on down the corridor.
*
yancey woke up when he heard a phone ring. it took him a couple of seconds to remember where he was , and then he realized the phone was in kingfish’s pocket.
kingfish took it out and answered it.
“2323, “ kingfish said, and then listened for about a minute. the car kept speeding down the dark deserted highway.
kingfish clicked the phone off and put it back in his ppcket.
“i am sorry, young man,” he told yancey. “but i have to change my plans, i have to get off this road.”
“um - do you think you will get back on it?” yancey asked.
“not any time soon, and besides, it would bot be possible for you to accompany me where i am going. sorry.”
and with that the car slowed down and pulled over.
”i am sorry about this,” kingfish repeated, “but that was the chance you took.”
“i understand. but where are we? i fell asleep, how far are we from nineveh? from the south side?”
“about seven kilometers.”
seven kilometers! unless he got another ride, yancey would never get to the restaurant by midnight.
he got out of the car. the car was out of sight before he got his second foot on the ground.
he started walking. there was no sign of any kind of life, or any kind of building.
and it was cold.
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