Page 15 of Creature
Harry looked over at him. “What?”
“I call myself John, butit’s not my name. I don’t have a name.”
“If that’s what you callyourself, I reckon youdohave a name, and it’s John.”
But John shook his headand pointed at the book. “He—it—was nameless.”
“Yeah, maybe, but that’sjust a story. You’re real. If you want to be John, fine withme.”
John seemed to relax a little, and Harrygrabbed underwear and a T-shirt. He almost removed the towel rightthere, but John kept staring at him, and that was… uncomfortable.So Harry returned to the bathroom long enough to dress and brushhis teeth, and after he came back to the main room, he climbed intobed and switched off the light.
He hoped that would signal John to go tosleep, but no such luck. Even though Harry couldn’t seehim—couldn’t hear him either, since John seemed to breathe onlywhen he spoke—Harry could sense John’s alert presence. He sighed.“Found us a nice place to stay. We’ll move in tomorrow morning.There’s a big park only a block away, so we can go there if you getstrong enough.” He hadn’t meant to add that last part; it justslipped out.
John’s response sounded wistful. “A park.With trees and grass?”
“I guess.”
“I’d like to see that.Please.” A long silence. “Harry?”
“Yeah?”
“You knew from the startthat I’m a monster.”
“Yeah. Townsend toldme.”
“You haven’t treated melike one.”
Harry had to think that over. “I don’t knowhow a monster’s supposed to be treated. You’re the only one I evermet. I mean, in the movies the good guys are supposed to kill ’em,but Townsend said you ain’t dangerous.”
“What if I am? What if Iget strong and…. Frankenstein’s monster killed everyone heloved.”
“I don’t love nobody, sono problem there. Anyway, you don’t seem like you want to go aroundkilling folks. Do you?”
“No.”
“Okay then. We’resettled.” Harry rearranged the pillow beneath his head and pulledthe blankets up higher. Portland was colder than LA.
He was almost asleep when John whisperedonce more. “Thank you, Harry.”
Chapter Eight
Harry had unsettling dreams, but that wasnothing new. At least nobody came to complain that he’d beenshouting in his sleep. And when he saw that John had again filledout overnight, his cheeks losing some gauntness and his yellow hairless sparse, Harry wasn’t even surprised.
“You figure if I helped,you could walk to the car? It’s just a few steps from thedoor.”
John smiled broadly. “I can try.”
As it turned out, Harry had to bear most ofJohn’s weight, but at least John remained upright, his bare feetmoving slowly over carpet and then pavement. No way was Harry goingto stuff him into the trunk again. They had only a short drive, andif anyone saw John in the passenger seat, they’d probably assume hewas a sick man. He no longer resembled a corpse.
John was surprised and delighted to ride upfront. “I can look out the windows?” he asked when Harry got intothe car. As if it was a big deal. As if it required permission.
“Sure.”
John remained silent during the trip, hisgaze tracking their surroundings. By the time they arrived at thehouse, he looked stunned. “There’s so much to see, Harry! I don’t…I don’t even have names for half of it.”
To Harry, the scenery had been ordinary.Cars. Houses. Shops. Bushes. Some pedestrians splashing down wetsidewalks.
The journey from car to front door waslonger at the house than at the motel, and Harry had to nearlycarry John up the three steps to the porch. But they made it insideokay. Harry left John on the living room couch while he went out tofetch his suitcase. He returned to find John smiling as he strokedthe salmon-colored fabric.
