IVE LOSt A LOt OF friends over t fe all of em older t gettin older is t not everbody is goin to get older ry to re payin your salary and of course you cant t ty y-one years. No nine of em in one kno you. time is not on your side. I dont knod be any compliment if you was known for second guessin a bunch of dopedealers.
Not t t mucrouble second guessin us. t for t aint . t even t t dont seem to even concern em. Of course onio t and killed a federal judge. I guess o t t ttin ricics. ts a painful to kno is for me. I dont believe t rue even ten years ago. A crooked peace officer is just a damned abomination.
ts all you can say about it. en times goin as about t aint goin ao?
And t but I t of it is kno probably till alive is t t for me. And ts very painful. Very painful. It of t about even a few years ago. y.
Just settin out in t. t and graded out a sort of landin strip and set out roarbarrels for lig t t of t ripped out to t s seat in it. You could smell t need no dog. ell t say ed to get set up and nail em nobody comin back. Never ood ellin got real quiet and turned around and got in .
buy a masonjar no up your preserves and suc none to be it o put t tick em do things.
o believe t a man nig, but t.
I tan and you tin around tryin to t bring to its knees ics. Maybe old t to somebody at breakfast tan. I said ell t aint t. And t do you? I o t t. I guess as a boy I did. Come t. Noartin to lean back t of t ot ion. Or not to me t.
MOSS SEt ter it. ed t stood along ard and ketced into te. look up. are you havin, he said.
I dont kno looked at the menu.
in front of urned and looked for tress.
are you? the girl said.
am I havin?
No. are you. Are you a cer?
udied know w a cer is, ers.
I mig be a felloraveler.
Felloraveler.
Yeah.
ell you are now.
Youre , aint you?
makes you say t?
You cant hardly walk.
Maybe its just a old war injury.
I dont t o you?
You mean lately?
Yeaely.
You dont need to know.
?
I dont you gettin all excited on me.
makes you t excited?
Cause bad girls like bad boys. are you goin to have?
I dont kno you do?
tizen. orkin a nine to five job. Eigo four, anyo you t ask first. t require your permission.
ts trut told, she said.
You .
You think Im a bad girl?
I to be.
s in t briefcase?
Briefs.
s in it.
I could tell you, but to kill you.
You aint supposed to carry a gun in a public place. Did you not kno? In particular a gun suc.
Let me ask you somethin.
Go ahead.
in starts her be armed or be legal?
I dont to be around no sin.
Yes you do. Its e all over you. You just dont to get s. are you havin?
are you?
Ce milk.
tress came and t t beef sandoes and gravy. You aint even asked me where I was goin, she said.
I know where youre goin.
hen.
Dohe road.
t aint no answer.
Its more t a answer.
You dont knohing.
No I dont.
You ever kill anybody?
Yeah, he said. You?
S never killed nobody.
I dont kno.
ell I aint.
You aint, then.
You aint done, either. Are you?
Done w.
I just said.
Killin people?
So see if t be overheard.
Yes, she said.
Be o say.
After a of mayonnaise and squeezed out tents over chup. here you from? he said.
Sook a drink of ea and hur, she said.
ook up t into it and sat back, c never been to Port Arthur.
I aint never seen you there.
never been there?
I couldnt. I sayin I aint. I h you.
Moss shook his head.
te. ched her.
I reckon youre on your o California.
?
ts tion youre headed in.
ell ts where Im goin.
You got any money?
s it to you?
It aint noto me. Do you?
I got some.
of t and took out ted out a to t to. Lets go, he said.
s t for?
to go to California on.
do I gotta do for it?
You dont o do not t up and lets go.
t to truck. You callin me a sow back yonder was you?
Moss ignored he keys, he said.
Sook t and maybe youd forgot I had em, she said.
I dont forget much.
I could of just slipped off like I o took your truck and left you settin there.
No you couldnt of.
?
Get in truck.
t in and tec-9 out of and slid it under t.
? she said.
Dont be ignorant all your life. In t place I could see all to t door and out t clear to truck. In to set o t called a cab and run you do t out of you and left you layin there.
S real quiet. tion and started truck and backed it out.
ould you of done t?
do you think?
o Van nig a good part of to a truckstop and s off t up and looked at at t. here are we? she said.
Van horn. You hungry?
I could eat a bite.
You some diesel fried chicken?
?
ed to the sign overhead.
I aint eatin not, she said.
Sime. sed to know if hed ordered.
I did. I ordered some of t chicken for you.
You aint done it, she said.
teaks. Do you live like time? she said.
Sure. ime desperado t.
s t on t chain?
this?
Yeah.
Its a tush off of a wild boar.
do you for?
It aint mine. Im just keepin it for somebody.
A lady somebody?
No, a dead somebody.
teaks came. c. Does t? he said.
?
I said does anybody know w.
Like who?
Like anybody.
You.
I dont kno know who you are.
ell t makes two of us.
You dont know who you are?
No, silly. I dont know who you are.
ell, keep it t neit not?
All rigd you ask me t for?
Moss mopped up steak gravy t it rue. For you its a luxury. For me its a necessity.
er you?
Maybe.
I do like it t part right.
It dont take long to get a taste for it, does it?
No, s dont.
ell, it aint as simple as it sounds. Youll see.
.
t. Kno.
Are you talkin about God?
No. Im talkin about you.
Se. ell, s know w.
I dont know. ould you?
I dont know.
Suppose you you didnt kno kno c w.
S about t. I try not to t stuff like t, she said.
You t to California youll kind of start over.
tentions.
I ts t. to California and t t to shere.
Shere.
Yeah.
You mean and not knohere?
Yea knohere.
I dont know .
I dont eits t.
Se. S some coffee? she said.
You can get anyt. You got money.
S sure is, she said.
t is t no point.
No. I mean knowin where you are.
er a about kno t t takin anytions about startin over.
Or anybodys. You dont start over. ts s about. Ever step you take is forever.
You cant make it go a. You understand w Im sayin?
I think so.
I kno but let me try it one more time. You terday dont count. But yesterday is all t does count. else is there?
Your life is made out of ts made out of. Not t knoart over. And t there?
She nodded.
You understand w Im sayin?
I understand t. I been there.
Yeah, I know you have.
So are you sorry you become a outlaw?
Sorry I didnt start sooner. Are you ready?
of tel office he handed her a key.
s t?
ts your key.
Sed it in s up to you.
Yes it is.
I guess youre afraid Ill see bag.
Not really.
arted truck and pulled do beel office.
Are you queer? she said.
Me? Yea.
You dont look it.
Is t rig of queers?
You dont act it I guess I should say.
ell darlin it?
I dont know.
Say it again.
?
Say it again. I dont know.
I dont know.
ts good. You need to practice t. It sounds good on you.
Later out and drove doo top. o tel tudying t. t out.
o apped at ted. apped again. ain move and tood t-s. S woken up.
I kno old enougo drink but I t Id see if you ed a beer.
Yeah, she said. Id drink a beer.
ed one of ttles out of t to her. here you go, he said.
urned to go. Sepped out and let t be need to rusaway, she said.
opped on tep.
You got anot sack?
Yea to drink both of em.
I just meant maybe you could set h me.
ed at ice rouble takin no for a ans starts about age three.
about men?
t used to it. tter.
I say a set here.
You say a word.
No.
ell ts already a lie.
ell I say .
on tep and pulled one of ted off tilted ttle and drank. S on t step up and did the same.
You sleep a lot? he said.
I sleep he chance. Yeah. You?
I aint s sleep in about t kno s beginnin to make me stupid.
You dont look stupid to me.
ell, ts by your lights.
does t mean?
Not raggin you. Ill quit.
You aint got drugs in t satchel have you?
No. hy? You use drugs?
Id smoke some weed if you had some.
ell I aint.
ts all right.
Moss shook his head. he drank.
I just meant its all rig set out here and drink a beer.
ell Im glad to s all right.
never said.
o say.
You aint goin to California though, are you?
No. I aint.
I didnt think so.
Im goin to El Paso.
I t you didnt know where you was goin.
Maybe I just decided.
I dont think so.
Moss didnt answer.
ttin out here, she said.
I guess it depends on wtin.
You aint just got out of tentiary or somethin have you?
I just got off of deatric cs started to grow back.
Youre full of it.
Be funny if it turned out to be true t it?
Is tin you?
Everbodys in me.
did you do?
I been pickin up young girls c in t.
t aint funny.
Youre rig aint. I pullin your leg.
You said youd quit.
I will.
Do you ever tell truth?
Yeaell truth.
Youre married, aint you?
Yeah.
s your wifes name?
Carla Jean.
Is she in El Paso?
Yeah.
Does s you do for a livin?
Yeah. She knows. Im a welder.
Sco see hing.
You aint no welder, she said.
I?
t machinegun for?
Cause ter me.
did you do to em?
I took somet belongs to em and t it back.
t dont sound like o me.
It dont, does it? I guess I t of t.
by tween humb and forefinger.
And ts bag. Aint it?
o say.
Are you a safecracker?
A safecracker?
Yeah.
ever give you t notion?
I dont know. Are you?
No.
ell youre somet you?
Everbodys somethin.
You ever been to California?
Yeao California. I got a brothere.
Does ?
I dont know. here.
You live though, would you?
No.
You ts o go?
retc on te and crossed s and looked out across t tos on t to go?
Yeae you givin me t money.
Youre welcome.
You didnt o do t.
I t you goin to talk.
All rigs a lot of money though.
It aint you t is. Youll see.
I blo in. I need money to get me a place to stay.
Youll be all right.
I hope so.
Best o live in California is to be from someo be from Mars.
I . Cause I aint.
Youll be all right.
Can I ask you somethin?
Yeah. Go ahead.
how old are you?
ty-six.
ts pretty old. I didnt kno old.
I kno kind of took me by surprise my own self.
I got a feelin I ougo be afraid of you but I aint.
ell. I cant advise you on t neit peoplell run from to get to to see him.
I guess ts hink Im doin.
I dont even to know w youre doin.
I you this mornin.
I dont know.
I stuff like t. About meetin people.
ell, I speak too soon.
o bury me out in t?
No. But t of bad luck out t.
I t even be overdue.
Yea.
?
me tell you somettle sister. If t t you dont look like its a bunch of good luck walkin around.
ts a eful to say.
No it aint. I just you to be careful. e get to El Paso Im goin to drop you at tation. You got money. You dont need to be out chhikin.
All right.
All right.
ould you of done if I ook your truck?
s t?
You kno beatin t of me.
No.
I didnt think so.
You to split t beer?
All right.
Run in t a cup. Ill be back in a minute.
All rig changed your mind have you?
About w?
You kno w.
I dont co get it rig time.
arted up tood at tell you sometime, she said.
opped and turned. s t?
t of good salesmen around and you mig.
ell darlin youre just a little late. Cause I done bougick I got.
on up tairs and in.
to a truckstop outside of Balmoro t out and s t it. tter streaked over t-metal and and got quarters from a c t and took do off and got back in and pulled out onto t.
Bell left t seven-ty and took 285 norto Fort Stockton. It a turned ts on. About ten miles of Fort Stockton on terstate t stop but it gave opped at Balmortle and o Van ten ty-five.
kno of a motel ty patrol cars and a state police car all s going. tel ape. s on.
ty didnt knoioning a man sitting in sleeves in t travel fast, t are you doin up here, Sheriff?
s happened, Marvin?
tle s-out. You kno this?
I dont kno any victims?
t out of a wo men and a woman.
t to make it eit.
Do you know whey were?
No. One of tin for a registration on tin over yonder. asnt a one of em ification. On em or in ther one.
does this man say?
arted it. Says of
t t urned and s andin in front of 117, rig em o tness teps and t t see . all to pieces. You can see time. About seven minutes, I t s dead.
No ID.
No ID. truck is got dealer tags on it.
Bell nodded. tness. tness te and it and sat smoking. ty comfortable. in the back of police cruisers before.
t woman, Bell said. as she anglo?
Yea of reddish, maybe.
Did you all find any dope?
Not yet. ere still lookin.
Any money?
e aint found not. to 121. and stuff was all.
Bell looked doel doors. People standing around in small groups talking. the black Barracuda.
t anyto turn tires h?
Id say it urn em pretty good. Its got a four-forty under t.
A blower?
Yep.
I dont see one.
Its one of ts all under the hood.
Bell stood looking at turned and looked at t away from e?
I can. did you have in mind?
I just t I mig you to ride over to th me.
All rig ride h me.
tll be fine. Let me just park my cruiser a little better.
s all rigom.
Let me just pull it up of t always know off someplace.
At to t nurse by name. S Bell.
o make a identification, the sheriff said.
S of er about ty minutes ago. Or maybe you already kne.
Nobody tells me nothe sheriff said.
trail of blood along te floor. t of been o find, hey? Bell said.
t t read Exit. Before t turned and fitted a key to a steel door on t and opened it and sc.
te block, y save for teel macs tables on ic ss.
Sood o t.
a friend of yours is om?
No.
ook a couple of rounds in t to look too good. Not t I aint seen tell trut it.
. Bell able. turned to tly opened. teet out.
Is t him?
Yeas him.
You look like you .
I get to tell his wife.
Im sorry about t.
Bell nodded.
ell, t not it.
No, Bell said. But you alo there is.
ted back tic at table and looked at Bell. Bell shook his head.
ted ter. Just a scrawl.
his name was Moss.
All rig your information do ttle old girl.
Yeah.
reckon o like t part of it neither, he said.
No, I dont expect she will.
t till standing leaning against times was s? he said. Do you know?
No I dont, S . I dont mind and I know s.
ts all rigll be on topsy. Are you ready, Ed tom?
Yeah. I was ready fore I come in here.
in t and stared at the desk.
Finally up and out. ty looked up.
hes gone home, I reckon.
Yessir, ty said. Can I hin, Sheriff?
to El Paso?
Its about a y miles.
You tell omorrow.
Yessir.
opped and ate on to in tcs out on t make sense out of it. c and got in t to tersection and turned east and drove back to tel again.
Co a motel on tbound interstate and across a crucks loomed up in tted on c back to tel.
off up and s to ruck it be.
el parking lot and time. Leaning back in t and cape across ted in trucks droned past out and o t tungun and ty t from ttle bedside table over to tood and took a screo back t of teel cover of t. it on table and reac tepped doo t at t. ook tol from be and opened tepped out and closed it beooped under tape and o ruck and got in.
to turn on tion y cruiser pull into t in front of tel office a a back. to a parking space and ts out. tor. Ced, tol in his lap.
out ook a look around t and to t 117 and tried tape and puscurned on t.
t table. tood tepped to t tain out at t. ood time. Notepped over and picked it up but it in on ttle piece of brass in ilted it into tray on table.
elep t the cradle.
ook ol from ter and flipped open te and ce ol resting on his knee.
You dont kno there, he said.
Yes you do. You kne at taurant. ts why you come back here.
ell o do?
up and c. Five bulletood .
o tudying t. Pickup trucks for t part.
You could al. Just not first enoug so. came on. epped in and pulled t and laid tol on t beside out it in tion and started t of tcs and s of t.
of sigel o took t tral and rolled back doil see tel sign. c seven minute time 1:52. ed. At tel not 1:52 ail eacs blazing. el. Any ve came out of t and ermined to run it off the road.
o tel arted turned on ts and did a U-turn and back doo t and got out.
t do ves and t one back and ood leaning against o ties. Gentlemen, generaled.
tered tols. y o t and the lock cylinder.
s y said, he cylinder in his hand.
Its a long story, Bell said. Im sorry to of got you all out hin.
Not a problem, Sheriff.
You tell the sheriff Ill call him from El Paso.
Yessir, Ill sure do it.
t side of to t to to bed. six as up and closed tains and back to bed but sleep. Finally up and s doo t and read t Moss and t. ress came time t the evening paper.
I dont kno.
I dont blame you. I would if I could.
I quit readin it and I made my readin it.
Is t right?
I dont kno call t stuff news.
No.
time you read somet Jesus C in the newspaper?
Bell s kno would be a while.
I guess it oo, she said. A long while.
of message, it all t neo him.
ain move sligood ttail out looking at ing. ook off and s turned her face away.
Im sorry, mam, he said.
Oaggered back into to tood t.
knoo do. see any sign of t co eacepped into the door.
Carla Jean, he said.
Oh God, she said.
Im just as sorry as I can be.
Oh God.
ood t in his hand. Im sorry, he said.
S and tell me youre sorry? My and t? You say youre sorry one more time and by God if I get my gun and s you.