Page 33 of Shadow Running
But we reached the front door without a problem and pushed through it.
I looked around.The dive was worse than I had imagined it.The floor was covered with peanut shells, the bar smelled of stale beer and burned grilled cheese, and I got the distinct impression that they looked the other way when people lit up with a joint or a cigarette.Given smoking was illegal in public places, that put them in danger of a fine, but they didn’t seem to care.
“I’m not holding my birthday party here,” I muttered.
Benny snorted.“Legs, even I wouldn’t come here if it wasn’t so goddamn cheap.It’s one of the few places I can afford to eat and have a drink.”
I sighed.“I know.All right, do you see your source around here?”
Benny looked around, then pointed toward a booth in the back.“There he is.Winston.”
The guy looked like a ferret.He was eating a plate of fries, with a beer next to his plate.Dressed in camo, his hair was slicked back with mousse or gel or something strong enough to keep every hair plastered in place.His face was gaunt—so gaunt that he was either starving or he was on something that burned up the energy.And he was twitchy.Every now and then, he’d shiver, as though in a spasm, but I had the feeling it was caused by some sort of drug.
“That’s Winston?”I asked.
“Yeah,” Benny said.“Don’t let the looks fool you.He’s more observant than he seems.And before you ask, nobody knows what’s wrong with him.He doesn’t trust doctors, though he’ll go along with other vets, to make sure they get there and back.Ever since he went camping last summer, he’s had that twitch.That’s right about when he slid into conspiracy theories super hardcore, too.”
I frowned.Whatever was going on, it definitely wasn’t normal.“He’s human?”
“Yeah.”
“You think he might visit one of our healers?We can tell him they’re…shamanic?It might make him feel better about being examined.”I hated knowing someone was going without care because they were afraid to seek treatment.
“He might,” Benny said.“You’d do that?”
“Yeah, I’d do that.”I took a deep breath.“Okay, introduce us.”
Benny led me over to the booth.“Winston?”
Winston looked up.He stared at Benny for a moment, then seemed to focus.“Yeah.Benny.”He turned his gaze to me.“Who’s this?”
“Winston?I’m Kyann Sarasan.I’m Benny’s friend and I’m trying to help him find Greg Swift, from the Soldiers of Misfortune encampment.I was hoping you could tell me what you saw?”I didn’t thrust out my hand.I’d wait for a signal that he would welcome the gesture.
Winston paused, staring at his plate.After a moment, he whispered, “Sit down.They say it’s okay to talk to you.”
I had no clue who he was talking about—it might just be voices in his mind—I made Benny slide into the booth first, then sat next to him.Instead of pushing Winston, I waited for him.This was a man who would move at his own pace—whatever pace made him comfortable.
A waitress approached.“What can I get you?”she asked, pulling a pencil out from behind her ear.
I didn’t want to eat, so I just ordered a Coke.“Benny, you want anything?My treat.”
Benny ordered a burger and fries, and a lemonade.
“You like lemonade?”I asked, for some reason surprised by that.
“I love juice,” Benny said.“Give me fruit any day over candy.”
“Really?Well, that’s good to know.”
The waitress brought our drinks and, as she walked away, Winston decided to talk.
“What do you want to know?”he asked.
“Just what you saw with Greg.Benny said you saw him being abducted?”I said.
After a moment, Winston nodded.“I did,” he said, playing with the last French fry.
“Are you still hungry?”I asked.“I’d be happy to buy you something more.”
