14
“Twilight whippoorwill...
Whistle on, sweet deepener
Of dark loneliness”
― Matsuo Bashō
Wolf River Lodge
“Glen, you’re gonna get someone killed, probably yourself, if you keep drinking so damn much.”
“Don’t gotta shout, Doubtful, I hear you loud and clear.” Glen Bassett drank of the rest of his tea and held the cup up toward Teddi who refilled it. “And I’ve got a splitting hangover.”
“Three-day drunks will do that to you. I’m surprised you didn’t end up frozen in a snow bank.”
“Thanks for seeing to my dogs. I really appreciate it.”
“Thank Thelma. Once we saw your condition she went out and tended to them. They’re staked out in the dog yard. You owe me about 32 pounds of dog salmon, so far.”
“There was somebody else here when I barged in the other night, wasn’t there?”
“Levi Fischer, the new personnel boss for the project.”
“The whole project?”
“The part he knows about. Actually, everything outside the security wire.”
“Does he know what’s going on in the annex?”
“No.”
“Then he might be worth recruiting.”
“Gee, why didn’t I think of that?”
“Okay, Doubtful, you can cut the crap. I apologize for coming in here and acting like an asshole. I’ve been out there alone for over six weeks and I had to make up for it.”
“Had to?”
“I wanted to. That all right with you, reverend?”
“We had him getting philosophical when you busted in here. In the long run maybe it’s better that it happened. At least now he has something to think about and hasn’t committed himself yet.”
“Was that a long-winded way of saying ‘You’re forgiven, Glen?’”
“Sure, if that makes you feel better.”
“What’s he like?”
“He’s complicated to say the least. When he first got to Yukon Station he was scared of being in the spotlight–“
“Why?”
“Don’t interrupt me, dammit. Probably because he’s a Jew, that’s why.”
“Oh, hell!”
Doubtful glared at him and plowed on. “Then he found out what they are doing up here and he sorta came unglued. Says he’s in the middle of a huge bullseye and he’s doomed no matter what, so he no longer gives a shit.”
“His words?
“Yes.”
“He’s correct, you know.”
“Of course he is. That’s why we have a real opportunity here. A key to a heavily locked door.”
“He can go places Gu–, er, others can’t?”
“If not now, definitely later.”
“How are you going to persuade him to our side all the way?”
“I think that’s already in the works.”
Glen waited. He rubbed his head and winced.
“Okay, you want to tell me how?”
“I would bet good money that he and Thelma are attracted to each other.”
“Already?”
“When they saw each other it was like a load of firewood toppling over. The rest of the evening they stared at each other no matter what else they were doing.”
“Well, he has good taste in women.”
Doubtful’s face softened and he made a wry smile.
“Sorry, Glen. I know you were interested in her, but I don’t think she ever noticed.”
“Yeah, you’re right. Damn, I could sure use a beer!”