The Dead Republic
“I recognised Bill, Ford’s driver - he was the shadow across my legs - and then I knew.
—How long this time?
—Don’t know, Mister Smart.
—How come? I asked.
—Don’t know how long you was gone before Mister Ford told me to come get you.
I was sitting on a bench.
It wasn’t a bench. It was a low cement wall, at the edge of a dry dirt park.
It was hot.
—How long have you been looking?
—Six days, he said.—Maybe seven.
—That must be a record.
—I don’t think this one counts, Mister Smart, he said.
—Why n...ot?
—Well, he said.—Here’s what I think. This time you weren’t hiding. This time you were lost.
—You might be right, I said.
But he wasn’t. Granted, I didn’t know where I was or the last time I’d known the day and the date. I felt my chin. There was a beard there; I couldn’t get through to the skin. I’d been gone but I hadn’t been lost. I’d been on the step, beside my mother. I’d been looking up at the stars, at my dead brother and the other ones.MoreLess
—How long this time?
—Don’t know, Mister Smart.
—How come? I asked.
—Don’t know how long you was gone before Mister Ford told me to come get you.
I was sitting on a bench.
It wasn’t a bench. It was a low cement wall, at the edge of a dry dirt park.
It was hot.
—How long have you been looking?
—Six days, he said.—Maybe seven.
—That must be a record.
—I don’t think this one counts, Mister Smart, he said.
—Why n...ot?
—Well, he said.—Here’s what I think. This time you weren’t hiding. This time you were lost.
—You might be right, I said.
But he wasn’t. Granted, I didn’t know where I was or the last time I’d known the day and the date. I felt my chin. There was a beard there; I couldn’t get through to the skin. I’d been gone but I hadn’t been lost. I’d been on the step, beside my mother. I’d been looking up at the stars, at my dead brother and the other ones.MoreLess
Read book The Dead Republic for free
Write Review:
Guest
Read Also
8 / 10
User Reviews: