Shadowbahn(66)

He looks behind him at the Towers. “Did they ever think I was here?”

“They don’t think anything is here. I’m the only one.” She says to the darkening sky, “It actually looks like it’s going to rain. Should we go inside?”

“Well, darlin’, not like the buildings rightly belong to me, so I guess you can do as you want.”

Zema offers, “You can come with us. My brother’s back there waiting.”

“Don’t know as I rightly belong anywhere else, I’ve come to suspect,” answers Jesse, “so I believe maybe I shall just set myself down here to stay. Wouldn’t mind someone to talk to, though, if you got a minute to spare. I mean, someone who knows I’m the wrong one but doesn’t mind so much. Can’t say I expected anyone to wander my way at this point, let alone a little colored girl—” and then, aghast, contrition mixing with the anguish, he pleads, “Say, I’m sorry there.”

“It’s all right,” she says.

“Swear I didn’t mean nothing by it.”

“I know.”

“Don’t mind me, miss. I’m just a damn hillbilly.”

“Okay. Just don’t call me ‘miss.’”