The Mortal Groove by Ellen Hart Read Free Book Online

buddies.”
    â€œYou’re still in Phoenix, right?”
    â€œYeah, but I gave up the apartment. I need a change. Thought I might settle somewhere in the North Country. Clean air. Clean water. Clean living.”
    â€œRight,” said Randy. “That’ll be the day.”
    Larry had been bartending for the last few years, not a particularly smart choice for a guy with a drinking and drug problem. He’d fought the good fight against his demons trying to getclean, attending AA meetings, doing an occasional stint in rehab, but nothing seemed to work. In the early nineties, he’d served four years in Douglas State Prison for aggravated assault. He had a temper that he didn’t control very well, especially when he was high.
    But none of that mattered to Randy. The blast-furnace pressure of war had formed powerful bonds. When he returned home from his tour in Vietnam, Randy was no longer a friendless loner. His new buddies might not have been the kind of guys he would have chosen under normal circumstances, but Nam had been a time in his life when none of the old rules mattered and nothing made sense except staying alive.
    â€œDel’s on his way over.”
    â€œNo shit?” said Larry with a crooked grin. “That’s cool.”
    They both leaned against the railing, looking out across the meadow. Larry lit a cigarette and offered the pack to Randy, but Randy shook his head.
    â€œQuit.”
    â€œYeah, I should, too, but I gotta have some vices or it wouldn’t be me.”
    â€œWhere are you staying?”
    â€œWith you.”
    â€œPerfect,” said Randy, looking back at the house looming above them. “Take two or three bedrooms. I got nothing but space.”
    â€œOne’11 be fine,” said Larry, blowing smoke circles into the twilight air. “Honest, I needed a break bad. There’s a woman down in Phoenix thinks I’m gonna marry her. You and I both know that ain’t gonna happen.”
    Randy laughed. “You’re running from a marriage ceremony?” “Damn straight, I am. No shame in that.” As his eyes pannedmore carefully across the meadow, he took a deep hit off the cigarette. “What’s it been? Three years since we last seen each other?”
    â€œSounds about right.”
    He fell silent, staring at the glowing tip of his smoke. “You’re gonna think old Larry’s gone soft, but I missed you, man. You and Del. I know this seems weird, but I miss the old days—our time in Nam. You ever go back there in your mind?”
    â€œIt still wakes me up at night.”
    â€œYeah. I hear you.”
    â€œMy wife told me I’m stuck in the past. Makes me awfully quiet sometimes. I guess I’m not much fun to be around.”
    â€œHell, you’re a hoot. Best drinking buddy I ever had.”
    Randy looked away.
    â€œWe were the lucky ones,” said Larry. “We came back. We survived.”
    They both turned at the sound of a car motor.
    Del was pulling his black Highlander up next to Randy’s Volvo. As he opened the door to get out, the automatic floodlight on the side of the garage came on.
    â€œI don’t believe it,” whispered Larry. “His hair’s almost as gray as mine. We’re gettin’ old, man. I hate it. I wanna live forever.”
    As Del trudged up the steps to the deck, Larry pressed his fingers around the lit end of the cigarette, pocketing what was left of it. “Hey there, my brutha,” he said, opening his arms wide.
    Del took one look at him and broke into a hearty laugh. “You old piece of dog meat, what are you doin’ here?”
    They did some backslapping, some hand shaking.
    â€œJust passin’ through,” said Larry. “Just passin’ through.”
    â€œAnybody hungry?” asked Randy. “I could order us a pizza. Seems like we should celebrate.”
    â€œYou mean somebody actually delivers way out