The Passenger (The Passenger, #1)(67)

Do you know who all those people are?

We’re not at liberty to say.

He squared the deck of photos and put them in the envelope and picked the rubber band off the table and slid it over the envelope and tapped the envelope on the table and looked at Western. Do you believe in aliens, Mr Western? he said.

Aliens.

Yes.

Odd question. I didnt this morning.

The man smiled and rose and the other man rose with him and stood. He’d yet to speak at all.

Thank you, Mr Western.

Western nodded. You’re just welcome all to hell.



* * *





Kline’s office was on the second floor and Western climbed the stairs and knocked at the door. The name in gold and black on the pebbled glass. He waited and knocked again. He tried the door and it was unlocked and he pushed it open. The outer office was empty but Kline was sitting at his desk in a glassed-in office to the rear and he was on the phone. He nodded to Western and made a cupping motion with his hand. Western shut the door behind him. There was a parrot in a cage in the corner of the room. Newspapers on the floor. The parrot crouched and studied him and then raised one foot and scratched the back of its head. Kline hung up the phone and stood. Western, he said.

Yes.

Come in.

He crossed the office and they shook hands and Kline gestured at the chair. Sit down. Sit down.

Western pulled the chair back and sat. He nodded at the bird. Does he talk?

As far as I know he is now a deaf mute.

Now.

I inherited him from my grandfather. My family had a carnival. He was one of the acts. My grandfather died and the parrot hasnt spoken since. Sort of like my grandfather’s clock.

Is that a true story?

Yes.

What did the parrot do? In the carnival.

He rode a bicycle. On a wire.

Can he still ride one?

I havent asked him. Although supposedly it’s something you never forget.

He didnt seem to like me.

He doesnt like anybody.

I should ask what you charge.

I get forty bucks an hour. Including phone conversations.

Are we on the clock?

Not yet. I need to know what you’re up to.

Do you get a certain number of nut cases?

Yes. Are you one?

I dont think so. What do you do with them? The nut cases.

I just string them along and take their money.

You’re kidding.

Yes.

You said on the phone that you dont do divorces. What else dont you do?

Kline swiveled his chair slightly and swiveled back. This is going to be something weird, isnt it? Isnt that where we’re headed?

I dont know.

Why dont you just lay it out. With whatever economy you can muster.

Okay.

Western started with the airplane and he finished with the oil rig and with the two men in shirtsleeves at the Seven Seas. Kline sat with his fingertips pressed each to each. He was a close listener. When Western finished they sat.

That’s it, Western said.

Is that what you do? You’re a salvage diver?

Yes.

You’re a refugee from the university system.

I suppose.

Are you seeing a shrink?

No. You think I should be?

It’s sort of a standard question. A psychology major?

Physics.

What’s a gluon?

It’s the exchange particle in quark interactions.

Okay.

You knew the answer.

I didnt, actually. I just thought it was a weird name. Do you know what I did before I got into this business?

No. I dont think you were a cop.

No. I was a fortuneteller.

Is that true?

Everything’s true.

Was this in the carnival?

Yes. It was a family enterprise. They were a colorful lot. Bavarian immigrants. Steuben. Possibly gypsies in the old world, I’m not sure. They settled in Canada. I was actually born in Montreal. In later years kids would sometimes come up to me and say that they wanted to join the circus and I would say no you dont. Go away.

You hated it.

I loved it. Are you on the run?

I dont know. I dont think so. Not yet.

What is it that you’re not telling me?

A lot of things. What do you want to know?

What happened to you.

Something happened to me?

I think so.

What if I’d rather not tell you?

Then you’d rather not tell me.

I had a sister who died.

That you were close to.

Yes.

How long ago was this?

Ten years ago.

But you dont want to talk about it.

No.

All right.

Am I on the clock yet?

You’re getting close.

Do you usually interview your clients this way?

What way is that?

I dont know. In a sort of personal way I suppose.

Maybe not.

Why me?

You’re kind of interesting.

But there’s something about me that’s not forthcoming.

Kline looked at his watch. Maybe we should start. It’s surprising what people will tell you about themselves when they’re paying for it.

All right. Did you really tell people’s fortunes?

Yes.

Did you have a gift for it?

I dont know as it’s a gift. It’s mostly common sense. Observation. Insight.