"Alexander Jablokov - Dead Man" - читать интересную книгу автора (Jablokov Alexander)

тАЬYes.тАЭ

She told me.

тАЬThanks, Ma. IтАЩll call you.тАЭ

I went into the kitchen and made a peanut butter sandwich for the road.

****
 Near Bellefonte, Pennsylvania

But I hadnтАЩt called herтАФnot since IтАЩd talked to Barnaby. And she hadnтАЩt
called me. That had been the longest time weтАЩd gone without talking since I met
Barnaby in the first place.

Let the dead man enjoy himself critiquing the senses and flirting with the
waitress, I figured. He didnтАЩt have much longer, now that IтАЩd finally caught up with
him. I finished my coffee and went to call my mother.

The diner no longer had a phone of its own, but people still used the
bathroom hall for a little communications privacy. The wall was covered with
penciled numbers, in between editorial comments like тАЬBitch!тАЭ тАЬGet on with
itititititIT,тАЭ and тАЬBig crusty loaf of French (Italian?) bread.тАЭ

тАЬMa. You there, Ma?тАЭ

Static, way more than I usually got. But I could feel her presence on the other
end, like when I was a kid and would go into her room to hear her breathing, and
know she was alive.

тАЬMa!тАЭ

тАЬWhat did you do to him?тАЭ Her voice was suddenly sharp in my ear.

тАЬBarnaby? I just talked to him ... I swear. He, um, he looks pretty good,
considering. I mean, heтАЩs really getting onтАФтАЭ

тАЬHe was picked up by an ambulance. HeтАЩs in intensive care. He might live,
they think.тАЭ

Poor Barnaby. HeтАЩd looked like crap, but IтАЩd really thought heтАЩd live
forever.... тАЬI didnтАЩt have anything to do with that. He was absolutely fine when I left
him.тАЭ

Silence.

тАЬMa! Please....тАЭ

I waited for a long time, but I got nothing else.