Is he in trouble?
Well, he—
Original relations, Spokesman said. He shook his head.
Yes, relations. He is my brother. That’s why I’m here.
You look worried.
No. I wouldn’t say that. Concerned. His wife is worried.
Still married?
Yes, Lucifer said.
To the same woman?
Yes.
Spokesman looked Lucifer up and down, making no effort to hide his disgust. Lucifer didn’t hold it against him. He felt the same way about Gracie.
John said he was coming to see you. Did you go to the march?
Chickens can’t fly, Spokesman said.
Lucifer held his breath, hoping that Spokesman would go on and say something else. Spoke, I thought—
Have you seen Dallas?
Why was Spokesman steering away from John? Lucifer answered him. I can’t remember the last time.
You remember that time Spider got him a job at the Zanzibar Motel? The memory played itself on the two screens of Spokesman’s glasses.
Yeah. And the manager found Dallas asleep in one of the beds, dead drunk.
Lucifer and Spokesman rode a wave of shared laughter.
Now John and Dallas, Spokesman said, they were tight.
So you haven’t—
Wish I could help. To know more, we must assume more. Spokesman’s eyes hovered over him. Lucifer could feel their energy. The eyes gave the talk weight. But they also made Lucifer uncomfortable. Had they always made him feel like this? Prediction is our best means of distinguishing science from superstition.
Please, Spoke. The words rushed to Lucifer’s lips. I’m trying to clear up this confusion about John. When was the last time—
He asked me for a loan.
When was that?
A few months back.
Did you give it to him?
Do I look like Boo Boo the Fool? John rather cut out his heart than give you a dime.
This was true.
Spokesman began singing.
Captain, did you hear
All yo men gonna leave next payday,
Baby, next payday
You remember that one?
Lucifer nodded. One of John’s favorites.
Yes. I told him to fly down so we could do some hunting. Many good spots upstate.
Lucifer’s mind churned as Spokesman spoke. Spokesman liked spot hunting. John would shine his flashlight in the deer’s face and Spokesman would blast it.
I formed a new company. We stage live re-creations of the war for film, stage, and television. A lotta work these days, believe it or not. I offered John a job. He didn’t refuse or accept.
Lucifer wondered why Spokesman hadn’t offered him a job, too. Why he wasn’t offering him a job now. So you haven’t heard from him?
I wish I could help. Spokesman smiled, walrus teeth. Good fortune had not convinced him to correct his teeth.
Am I right?
I can’t help you.
What are you saying?
I’m saying that I don’t know why you came here to see me.
Because you and John were always tight. Close. Because—
Of course we were tight. Some things can’t be destroyed. If a hologram is cut or blemished, it retains the image of the whole in each portion of the film. Spokesman nodded with the possibility.
Interesting, Lucifer said. But—
More than interesting. It’s real. The war should have taught you that. Spokesman’s angry eyes testified to the validity of every word.
Lucifer didn’t let the anger bother him. It wasn’t clear to him where this might lead, but he intended to keep on with it. Teach me what?
That life is based on awesome immutable laws. Ignorance of those laws does not excuse anyone from the consequences of the nonapplication of those laws or, worst, the breaking of those laws. Spokesman’s head and teeth pumped a stream of words, a barking, spitting dog.
Lucifer sat and listened. He made an effort to vocalize his thoughts.
What? Spokesman said.
Lucifer rose from his seat and moved to the window behind Spokesman. He looked out on the green park and felt scared of the sky’s beauty. Where’s Spin?
Spin?
I need to speak to Spin.
He can’t tell you anything.
Do you know where I can find him?
It’s not what you know, it’s what you can acknowledge.
Lucifer turned from the green and the sky and faced Spokesman. He leaned into the words. I need to know.
He lives in Queens, Little Asia.
Little Asia?
Yes.
But I thought he lived in Harlem?
No. His company—
The Royal African Company.
Yes. His company is there.
I see.
He lives next to the cathedral with the cemetery out front. I know that cemetery because I designed some of the tombstones. Plastic. They last forever. Spokesman smiled with fanged pride.
You have the address?
You have a pen?
Yes.
Spokesman gave Lucifer the address. Lucifer wrote it down.
You’ll need the password, Spokesman said.
Password?
Yes. Spin only associates with those in the know. Fame will do that to you. Make you a prisoner.
What’s the password?
Spokesman gave Lucifer the password. Lucifer wrote it down. Thanks.
Thank you.
Why was Spokesman thanking him?
Don’t worry, Spokesman said.
I’ll try not to.
No, I mean it. Don’t try. Do it. No need to worry.
Why? Lucifer felt on the edge of something.
History is all matter, and matter cannot be destroyed. The moon pulls on the tides. The earth on a passing comet. But the object itself is not changed. Simply its path, the track or trace. And that track is external, nonessential to the object itself.
Spoke, Lucifer said, you’re not human.
32
BUT YOU GOT TO GET AWAY from a woman who love you too strong. I used to have this woman who would drive my car after I fell asleep. Then in the morning, hide my shoes so I can’t go back to my wife.
Damn, Hatch said. Damn.
Women is something.
You ain’t married no more?
Yeah. Well, separated. Guess that’s what you’d call it.
She left you?
I left her. Lazy. My wife got a good job workin for the city. A social worker. She be ready to retire next year. But she lazy. That’s why I left her. I work all day and have to come home and cook for her and clean the house. All I wanted was a little help. She be out shopping.
Man.
And the kids tryin to talk back to me. My daughter so lazy she throw out the silverware with the garbage. And my son got a smart mouth. No respect. I told my wife, I’m gon leave you with these bad-ass kids. See how you like that. She go, Pool, you know you won’t. I did too.
It bees that way sometimes, Hatch said.
Yeah, bout twice a week my wife come over here and I make her dinner.
What?
Yeah. See, my daughter don’t cook and—
Your wife lives across the street?
Yeah, right there. Pool pointed. Peaches live right there.
Peaches?
That’s her name.
Why ain’t yall get divorced?
Divorce too much trouble.
Hatch thought about it.
My son talking bout he gon jump on me. I put my gun on him. Told him to get out of my house. My wife told me to get out.
Damn.
Now, my wife come over here anytime she want. But I got to call before I go over there.
She ever catch you?
Hell nawl. My old lady Martha live right down the hall. She got a big apartment. If my dick get hard, I go down there and do my business. I got enough respect for my wife.