Old Tin Sorrows by Glen Cook Read Free Book Online Page B

the fire in the General’s quarters.
    “Pleased to meet you, Mr. Sexton.”
    “Likewise, Mr. Kaid.” See? I can be a gentleman. Rumors to the contrary are sour grapes and envy.
    Jennifer didn’t give me a chance to start eating. “What are you doing here?”
    “The General sent for me.” Everybody was interested in me. Nice to be the center of attention sometimes. I have to set the Dead Man on fire just to get him to listen.
    ‘”Why?”
    “Ask him. If he wants you to know, he’ll tell you.”
    Her mouth pruned up. Her eyes shot sparks. They were interesting eyes, hungry eyes, but eyes that had been brushed by a darkness. I couldn’t tell if they were green or not. The light wasn’t good enough. An odd one. Maybe unique. A one in a million beauty and not the least attractive.
    “What sort of work do you do, Mr. Sexton?” old Kaid asked.
    “You could call me a diplomat.”
    “A diplomat?” Surprised.
    “Sure. I straighten things out. I get people to change their minds. Kind of like the Corps, only on a small scale. Personal service.”
    Peters shot me a warning look.
    I said, “I enjoy good conversation as much as the next guy. But I’m hungry. And you folks got a jump on me. How about you let me catch up?”
    They all looked at me oddly. Cook more so than the others. She was wondering if maybe she’d missed the mark with her earlier guess.
    I stoked the fires some, then asked, “Where’s everybody else, Sarge?”
    Peters frowned. “We’re all here. Except Tyler and Wayne. They have the night off.”
    Kaid said, “Snake.”
    “Oh. Right. Snake Bradon. But he never comes in the house. Hell. He may not be around anymore. I haven’t seen him lately. Anybody seen Snake?”
    Heads shook.
    Cook said, “He come for supplies day before yesterday.”
    I didn’t want to ask too many questions too soon so I let Snake Bradon slide. I’d get Black Pete alone sometime and get a rundown on everybody. I said, “That doesn’t add up. I heard there were eighteen in the house besides me.”
    Everybody looked puzzled except Cook. Chain said, “Ain’t been that many people around here in years. You got us guys, Cook, Tyler, Wayne, and Snake trying to keep this barn from falling apart.”
    I ate some. I don’t know what it was. As good as lunch but less identifiable. Cook was fond of stuff she could do in a pot.
    After a while the silence got to me. I had a feeling it wasn’t just for my benefit. These people wouldn’t talk much more without me there. “What about the blonde girl? Who’s she?”
    That got them looking perplexed. Peters asked, “What blonde?”
    I looked at him for about ten seconds. Maybe he wasn’t yanking my leg. “About twenty, gorgeous. As tall as Jennifer, even slimmer, hair almost white that hangs to her waist. Blue eyes, I think. Timid as a mouse. Dressed in white. I caught her watching me several times today.” A recollection. “Dellwood. I saw her when you were there. You told me she was Jennifer.”
    Dellwood made a face. “Yes sir. But I didn’t see her. I assumed it was Miss Jennifer.”
    “I didn’t wear white today,” Jennifer said. “What kind of dress was it?”
    I tried my best, which isn’t bad. The Dead Man’s big accomplishment is that he’s taught me to observe and recollect.
    Jennifer said, “I don’t have anything like that,” trying to sound bored and failing. They all exchanged glances. I took it none of them knew who I was talking about.
    I asked, “Who’s taking care of the General? If you’re all here?”
    “He’s sleeping, sir,” Dellwood said. “Cook and I will wake him for supper after we’re finished.”
    “Nobody with him?”
    “He doesn’t want to be coddled, sir.”
    “You sure as hell ask a lot of question,” Chain said.
    “A habit I’ve got. I’m working on it. There any beer around the place? I could use some dessert.”
    Dellwood explained. “The General doesn’t approve of drink, sir. He doesn’t permit it on the