MARS
THE GENTLE KILLER
WRITTEN
BY
UNUS VOCATE
Please Notice;
This is a Work of Fiction. All of the Characters, Events, and Locations spoken of in this Book are either Fictitious or are used in a Fictitious Manner. Any resemblance to real life Persons, Places, or Events is a Matter of Coincidence.
Copyright (c) 2022 Revised Edition by Unus Vocate. All Rights Reserved. Portions of this Book may be reproduced in keeping with the "Fair Use" provisions of the Copyright Laws of the United States of America. All other reproductions are Prohibited. Violators are subject to Prosecution.
Contents
Chapters/
Pages
A Chance Meeting
1
Fred Jones
7
The Doctor
11
Susan
14
Death Stalk
91
Ryan McKay
97
Breaking Point
104
Beyond Circumstance
117
Mister X
123
Into The Fire
131
Epilogue
142
FINISH
A CHANCE MEETING
It was a cold crisp Autumn day. The Winter was late in coming this year and last night a heavy Fog had set in just as the temperature began to drop, thus causing the woodlands to be a Winter Wonderland of frosted trees and fields. Here and there a tree still wore its proud Autumn Foliage and the Sunlight shinning on the frosted leaves caused reflections of color to sparkle brightly, as if the Forest had been transformed overnight into a living Diamond.
Dressed in a blaze Orange Jumpsuit and carrying a shotgun in his hands, Ted stalked thru the hushed Forest following the hoof prints of a large Deer. As he walked along trying to be as quiet as possible and searching the ground for signs of his Prey, he heard a slight rustling noise off to his left and so he stopped abruptly in mid stride and carefully listened, to try and hear the noise again. While he stood there motionless, with all of his senses straining to detect even the slightest hint of movement -- the Deer made a sudden dash for his life and out from some bushes right beside Ted sprang the regal antlers of a mature male Deer. In the same instant that the Deer broke loose from its hiding place, Ted was bringing his weapon up to his shoulder and turning left to face the Target. 1
No time to aim--
He squeezed the trigger and sent a blast of fire and lead streaking towards the Deer.
The shot brought the animal to its knees but in only a moment it regained its feet and was off running again. Forcing itself thru the under-bush and crashing against the tree branches as it tried to escape from the deadly menace that pursed it.
Running as hard as it could to escape from Ted.
While the Deer ran on, frightened and desperately trying to lose its attacker, Ted was following close behind, tracking the wounded animal by the blood strains it left on the forest floor.
Ted was running thru the wilderness just as countless numbers of his forefathers had done before him. Excited with the chase, with all of his senses on edge and keyed to the urgency of "The Moment" he didn't have to be told to hunt, any more than he had to be told to breathe. The instinct that caused him to hunt, to breathe or even to live, welled up from deep within him of its own accord. For millions of years the Hunters Instinct had been bred into the most basic fabric of Mankind and now, as he ran down his wounded Prey, he was only being true to his heritage. He was satisfying his need, as a man, to hunt and to kill. 2
A man alone in the Forest.
Chasing the fleeing animal, running hard, sweating; the trees rushing by, so close, so dense; the Sunlight forcing itself down in Bolts of Luminescence thru the trees; the air so cool and brisk as it touched upon his skin. The only sounds to be heard were the hurried sounds of his running feet and the quickened pace of his own breath. Losing himself in a spiritual ecstasy, giving up the pretense of higher intellect and descending once more to the depths of Animal Instinct. Letting passion be his guide. Knowing what to do without thinking, simply being as he was without pretense or shame and knowing it was right.
That it was all so exactly right!
Alive Again! Free! Self Fulfilled!
In harmony with his own emotions, in harmony with the old, old Rhythms of the Hunt -- he ran.
He came up to the edge of the Woods and there in a small circular clearing, he found the Deer. Laying in the center of the clearing, with the Sunlight slanting thru the trees and the frosted grass awash in the warm red blood, it raised its head to look back at Ted with hurt and pleading eyes as he approached. 3
Walking over to stand beside the wounded animal, he loosened his grip on the shotgun and let it fall to the ground. Then, kneeling down beside the Deer, he cradled its head in his lap. "It will soon be over," he spoke reassuring, with a tender compassion sounding thru in his voice. "Sleep now," he whispered as he took out a revolver and placed its barrel against its head. "Sleep," he said as he squeezed the trigger.
The gun exploded with a deafening roar as the hollow point bullet slammed against the side of the Deers' head, bring peace to the suffering animal and incidentally spattering blood and gore on Ted and his precious handgun.
For a moment there was only silence; a silence so strong as to stun the ears and reach down to the innermost recesses of his soul; while he sat there stooped in attitude with his head bowed low in submission to the Dictates of Fate. With the dead animal laying before him and the brilliant whiteness of the Sun, crystallizing the air and burning this moment deep in his consciousness, he sat there while the over-powering silence ... lingered.
Then breaking free from the grip of the moment he said, "You're free now ... free." As he reached over to close its eyes. 4
Acting without restraint in what he had assumed was the privacy of the Forest, he was startled to hear a noise in the leaves behind him. Quickly turning around, he was surprised to see a man standing there, watching him, witnessing the Death Scene that had just occurred.
"Be Careful!"
The quiet woods seemed to caution as the two men stared into each others eyes. For the man Ted had happened on in the Northern Woods was in fact a sly and clever Mafia Chieftain and a battle seasoned Veteran of the Crime Wars which have raged in America during the last few Decades. 5
"Be Careful!"
The silence seemed to caution but unfortunately, Ted noticed nothing threatening; there were no signs of danger in the air and nothing unusual in the day to warn him about the troubles that lay ahead. For him, there was only the beauty of the woodlands and the gaiety of the sunlight as it danced among the frosted leaves. Giving off tiny Bursts of Light that hung suspended in the air; like the limitless dimensions of Fantasy; stable and yet ever turning, alive with its own super charged Energy -- just waiting for someone to reach out and touch them, perhaps to capture a few and take them home as playful little Companions, safely tucked away in the private Realm of a Shirt Pocket. Where they might remain Forever More; close to his heart and protected from all harm; living in the Shelter of his Love. 6
Fred Jones
It had rained during the night and the Storm passed thru the housing development like an angry Wall of Wind, Rain, and Lightning that would purify the Air and even the Village itself with its Fury. And now, with the passing of the Storm, the dawn was born all new and clean with a freshness to the air that seemed to give a thrill to the simple act of breathing.
It was the type of morning to make the old feel young again and Fred was almost intoxicated with the freshness of the air as he stepped out from the front door of his Sauk Village home. He had spent yet another restless night, unable to sleep. His mind filled with worry about his excessive gambling debts; the Mob's increasingly urgent demands for payment and yes even their threats against his life -- if he didn't pay up soon! And this morning, with its vibrantly fresh air, was just what he needed to help him make it thru the day.
As he started walking from his house, a young man, dressed all in black and carrying a big black book in his hand, approached him from the street. When he came closer, Fred noticed the white turned-around collar that signified the Priesthood and he also noticed the book the young man carried was an old and obviously much used Bible.
7
"Good morning." The Priest spoke out cheerfully as he came near.
"Good morning to you Father!" Fred replied eagerly. Glad to have someone with a pleasant disposition be the first to greet him on this marvelous morning.
The young Priest smiled warmly as he said, "I'm on an Errand of Mercy and I'm looking for a Mister Fred Jones. Is that you?"
Fred immediately tensed up when asked about his identity and his hand moved unconsciously towards the snub nosed 38 he'd been carrying lately because of the Mob's threats on his life. But there something reassuring about this young man; something intangible in his expression; that made him trust him and even to feel guilty about having been on the defensive.
"Yes Father, I'm Fred Jones." He said as he forced his hand to move away from the hidden gun.
"What can I do for you?"
"I've been sent by a Benefactor of yours, someone who wishes to remain anonymous, and I've been instructed to tell you that as of today ... all of your Gambling Debts are Forgiven!"
Fred couldn't believe his ears!
Did he hear him right? Was it true?
Could it really be that the heavy burden he'd carried these last few months was now, as if by miracle, lifted from him? 8
"Father! What did you say?"
"You're free ... free from all your Debts!" The Priest repeated happily, almost laughing as he spoke.
Fred was so grateful that he fell to his knees and brought his hands up in a gesture of prayer. Then, overcome with relief, he closed his eyes and started to cry.
"There, there now." The Priest spoke reassuringly as he brought the Bible up and opened it; as if to read a few words of comfort and consolation for Freds' soul. However that was not to be for the contents of the Book had been cut out, the Holy Words -- Discarded, and in their place a Bull Dog Revolver was now stored. Picking the gun up he aimed it at Freds' chest and, without even a hint of change in his benevolent attitude, began to fire.
The explosive roar of the pistol instantly shattered and destroyed forever, the peaceful little world Fred had imagined existed since he first greeted the new day. The angry shout of the brutal weapon repudiated all of his fragile dreams with its condemning loudness --
Once! Twice!
The gun spit out its hot lead slugs. And with each shot, Freds' body was slammed backwards as if were being hit by a heavy sledgehammer.
Again! ... Again! ... Again! 9
He continued firing till the gun was empty and Freds' body lay crumpled up, broken and bleeding, against his own front door.
Finished with its lethal business, he returned the pistol to its hiding place within the Bible then he looked down on what he'd done. The man who had been so happy and filled with life only a few short moments ago, was now laying as a wreckage of twisted flesh and spilled blood at his feet. At first glance he was hurt to see the unwelcome change that had occurred in his stature but then ... he happened to notice that Fred was smiling and his face still wore the blissful happiness he'd felt on hearing of his release from Debt. After seeing that look, any doubts he might have had, vanished, and he smiled sweetly to himself.
Feeling reassured he was in the Right and that his actions had been Vindicated -- he turned and casually walked away. Enjoying the fresh morning air as he strolled and feeling pleased with himself for having brought Peace and Contentment to the troubled soul of Freddy Jones. 10
THE DOCTOR
(It had seemed to be just another day.
One filled with the Trivial Details and the Common Place Events that mark the Borders of our Lives. There was nothing that had happened to warn the Doctor about the tragedy that would soon befall him. No thoughts of an Impending Doom to trouble his mind. No Dark Clouds on the Horizon to give cause for an Alarm. Everything was perfectly Normal.
It was just another day.)
The blood red light of the setting Sun was flooding the Parking Lot, washing over the Doctors' Cadillac, making its gold metallic finish sparkle brightly in the half light, as Ted came on the scene.
Wearing green Coveralls, Work Shoes, and a Cubs Baseball Cap, that he had turned around backwards and pulled down tight against his head, he looked, for all the world, like a young Black Janitor who had come to do a little cleaning. Adding further to his humble Workers' look, was the brown paper bag that he carried in his right hand. Keeping a tight hold on the Lunch Bag, feeling the reassuring grip contained within, he started picking up all of the discarded bits of Trash, and Cigarette Butts, that littered the Lot. He had worked for about 10 minutes, picking up most of the litter, and was just bending over to pick up a soggy Cigar stub, when the Doctor came walking out from his Clinic. 11
Strolling over to meet him, Ted held the Lunch Bag up to his chest, and while the Doctors' last few moments in life were spent in wondering why this young Janitor should be so anxious to show him his Lunch? -- Ted fired a single shot into his frail body.
"Oh."
Said the Doctor as the High Speed Bullet stuck him and drilled a neat round, 9 Millimeter hole thru his heart. Most people wince and grab at their wounds when they are shot. Some people seemed to be knocked backwards, and others react as if they have just received an electrical shock. While still others surge forward when shot. The Doctor had merely said, "Oh."
With a blank expression on his face, he collapsed to fall on the ground at Teds' feet. Lowering the pistol, which was still concealed by the Lunch Bag, Ted started to turn away when he noticed that the Doctors' right arm was twitching to the last nervous spasms of Life. He had the greatest respect for most people in the Medical Profession but he had no respect at all for this miserable little Imposter.
"Yeah."
He said as he knelt down beside him and administered the Coup de Grace. "There will be no more needles for you now. No more Gambling Debts to worry about. No more Abortions or Infanticides to perform. No more confinements of Innocent People in Mental Institutions. You have just taken part in your very last Mercy Killing ... you can rest easy now." 12
Slowly rising to his feet, he turned and walked off into the lengthening shadows of the crisp Spring Twilight.
Leaving the Doctor to lie there in a widening pool of his own blood, with the Parking Lot and its stark emptiness, and the now abandoned Cadillac, seeming to be a fit testimonial to the mans' life. Just so much spilled blood and gold plated Emptiness, and nothing more -- 13
SUSAN
He was out for a walk, on a hot Summers' Day, when he first saw her. They were in Lincoln Park and she was sitting on the grass while two teenage boys were standing above her, talking loudly and gesturing wildly with their hands. One of them held a small stick which he was using to poke at her while his partner was circling around her, and coming closer and closer, until finally, he reached down and grabbed ahold of her breast and tried to tear open her blouse. Ted was about to go to her aid when she stood up and slowly walked away. As soon as she started walking away, the one with the stick threw it at her, striking her across the back. She winced in pain but kept walking and the two boys, after yelling at her and insulting her appearance, let her go without causing any more trouble.
Ted had watched the whole incident from afar and now that it was over, he continued to watch her, just to see what she would do next. She didn't go far, only about thirty steps from where she had been sitting before, then found a place under a shade tree to once again sit down and rest. He was surprised by her passive acceptance of the boys
aggression and wondered why she would merely sit under a shade tree if she had decided to visit the Park? Out of curiosity, he approached to get a closer look and to try and guess at her reasons for being here. 14
As he came near it was plain to see why the teenagers had been bold with her and why she had simply moved from one place to another, to sit and rest in the Park.
In what might be described as the Flotsam of our Society there are the people who live on the streets, who take their nourishment from the Garbage Bins stationed behind all of the big Food Stores or from whatever charitable handouts that happen to come their way, and who, by their unkept appearance, can easily be identified as Vagrants. Like most Street People her clothes were dirty and worn thin from constant use. And her face, neck, and hands were Sunburnt while her hair, which was long and thickly textured and could be attractive if neatly cared for, was now lifeless and matted.
In stature she was about 5 feet 5 inches tall; weighing only about 100 pounds, she was very skinny and her cheek bones thrust out on her face, giving testimony to her recent lack of food. Her hair was a deep Raven Black in color and her skin was noticeably darker than Teds. He thought she might be of Italian or Spanish Ancestry. A few years older than him, he guessed her to be about 25 to 30 years old. He felt sorry for her and took pity on her lowly status in life and approached with the intention of lifting her spirits by being polite and giving her some money. 15
As he came close, she nervously began to pull at the grass while she drew her legs up tight under herself in some kind of defensive posture.
"Hi."
He said in a light-hearted tone of voice as he stood there smiling at her. Looking up, she stole a shy glance at him then looked back down again. However, she must have seen something of interest in his face for she immediately looked up again and stared long and deep into his eyes. He felt happy she would return his stare and not wanting to hide his pleasure, smiled brightly back at her. For her part, it was a strange sensation to look at this young mans' face. She had seen so much of harshness and so much of naked sexual desire in the faces of her fellow man that she was actually surprised and somewhat confused as to what his face was saying. She was desperate for the tenderness of caring that can exist between kind and decent people and she had seen far more than her share of the ugly side of Human Nature. So when she saw the kindness and obvious sincerity of his expression she felt a strong sense of Hope rush thru her body.
He felt like he had won a victory of sorts, simply by having her return his glance and being encouraged, he took the liberty of sitting down beside her.
16
"My name's Teddy Garberg and I live here in Chicago.
Won't you please tell me your name?"
"Susan. My name is Susan."
He waited for her to add some more information, such as her last name or where she was from or to offer some excuse as to why she was here, and apparently, living on the streets. But she offered nothing more than her name.
"I live on Foster Street, on the north side of the City, and I sometimes walk down here to Lincoln Park and then back home for the exercise."
He said as he tried to make some polite conversation, then becoming honest and dropping the pretense, he looked down and copied her action of pulling at the grass.
"I saw those guys bothering you ah little while ago. Over there." He turned and pointed to where he had first seen her. Susan made no reply however she did notice his pulling at the grass and so she stopped doing it herself.
"I was about to come over and help, when you got up and walked away."
"Thank you."
He felt sorry for her and wanted to help out but he didn't want to simply give her money and possibly hurt her feelings, so he suggested, "I often walk along the Lake Shore because there's a nice view of the City Skyline there and also because it's just pleasant to walk along the beach... 17
I was going there now. Maybe you'd like to come with? I can show you a place, it's only ah little ways from here, where you can see all the way up the North Shore to North Western University in Evanston."
"No, no. I've gotta be going soon and I really don't have the time."
"Oh come on ... there's even a Hot Dog Stand over there and I'll buy you something to eat if you will just keep me company for a while."
"I'm not hungry."
"Please Susan. I'm not asking much of you. Only walk with me for a little while. Won't you?
Please."
He reached over and gently touched her arm.
She was so desperate, so much in need of a gentle touch upon her soul, it was impossible for her to refuse.
"O.K." She said with a shrug of her shoulders. "I'll walk to the beach anyway."
He quickly stood up, before she had a chance to, then reaching out his hand to help, took her hand in his and held onto it with a tender embrace.
She took his hand as she got up then, after standing, expected him to let go. But he didn't. Instead, he continued holding on, as they turned and started walking away.
18
She knew that the holding of hands was something done only between good friends and usually only between loved ones and since she didn't even know this guy she should have broken contact and pulled her hand away.
But she could not.
She felt he was being a bit forward by holding her hand and feared he might become even bolder later on, but the secret thrill it gave her was too great to permit the breaking of his grasp. For her the Public Intimacy of holding hands conveyed something she needed very badly right now, and that something was respectability. For while she was still the same person she had been only a few minutes ago (before meeting Ted); yes, her clothing was dirty and her hair wasn't combed pretty and she was totally exhausted from the ordeal of living on the streets; but still ... she felt better knowing that there was someone who wanted to be by her side and who wasn't ashamed to tell the whole world how he felt about her, simply by holding her hand.
She felt somehow renewed, as if some inner-most part of her spirit had been washed clean and given new life, just by the touch of his hand.
19
She was very happy indeed as they walked hand in hand, along with the other strolling couples, thru the Lake Shore Park. As the children played noisily in the background, running to and fro, laughing and playfully shouting; as the Working Class Families enjoyed their elaborate Picnic Tables, with their Barbecues giving off the aromatic pleasantness of grilled Steaks and Ribs; and as the Yachts and Sailboats made their leisurely progress across the waters of the Lake; she no longer felt like a hapless Victim of Society.
No longer an "Out Cast" she was now, for this moment at least, close to Ted and a part of his life. She had been given back a small measure of her pride and self-esteem by him and the joy she felt in that gift, that graceful act of Social Charity, was a precious moment for her. She was truly, very grateful to this compassionate man she had now met. He was so friendly and handsome too.
She couldn't help but to steal quick glances at him as they walked along and to daydream about how nice it would be if they really were close friends and everything in her life was just perfectly normal. 20
The Look Out Point Ted had spoken of wasn't just a little ways from where they had first met, but was instead, two miles from there and only about one mile away from his apartment.
She seemed to be waiting for him to show her the place he had spoken of or at least to explain why they were walking so far to get there, but ... she said nothing of it as they walked on together.
They had walked for about 30 minutes till they got to the Montrose Harbor and its long Pier that sticks out far into the Lake.
"There it is!' He exclaimed as they approached the Pier. He turned and looked at her like one who had been doubted and was now proven to be correct. "From there you can see the City Skyline as well as the near North Shore."
Following his own gesturing to look northward he could see the Foster Street Beach right up ahead. "Over there's the Foster Street Beach. It's a nice little Beach, plenty of sand and not too crowded, and my apartment's only a few blocks up the street from there.
Hey there's even a Hot Dog Stand over there!"
He said as if he had only now happened to think of it.
"Would you like to have a little something to eat?"
She looked in that direction and couldn't see any Hot Dog Stand! Anyway, if he had wanted something to eat then why didn't he stop at one of the many Food Stands they had passed in coming to this spot? 21
"No, I'm not hungry."
"Oh come on, don't be so bashful. Let's get something to eat. I'll treat," he said as he gently pulled her along by the hand. "It's not much further, just a little ways more. Please."
She hesitated for a moment, then she nodded her head "Yes" and obligingly followed his lead.
Once at the Food Stand they both ordered Hot Dogs and Cokes and, after getting served, he hastened to lead her away from the Beach and, not even stopping to eat properly, guided her up Foster Street towards his apartment.
"Hey, you know what? My apartments' just a few blocks from here? It's right up there, ' he said as he pointed up the street "Maybe you'd like to stop by to freshen up and see where I live?"
She was tired.
Tired of living on the streets, tired of having no place to go, tired of being looked down upon by those who were better off than she was and yes, she was even tired of being alone.
She looked at him and smiled. "Yes. I'd like to see your place."
He smiled warmly in return as he gently squeezed her hand.
"It's only a little ways up here. It's not a deluxe place or anything like that, but it's O.K."
22
The apartment was only three and a half blocks in from the Beach and was located on the fringes of a slum neighborhood known as the Uptown area.
Uptown.
Streets littered with garbage and smashed cars; with gang names, swear words and just plain random graffiti, spray-painted in a wild abandonment all around; buildings that had been abused and neglected, many of them slowly rotting away to ruin; while here and there a boarded up hulk of a structure, perhaps the shell of a burnt-out building, will be waiting for the Wreckers Ball to come and put an end to its pathetic existence. And when the worst of the buildings are torn down, the empty lots left behind are soon filled up with an assortment of garbage, discarded furniture and abandoned autos.
All of which contributes to making a neighborhood that is not a fit place to live in but is instead more like an open Running Sore upon the Body of our Society.
It was to this place of corruption that he now brought Susan to see his apartment. It was next to an Alley and right across from it was one of the junk filled Vacant Lots that helped to spoil the neighborhood.
"It's up here," he said pointing towards the second floor.
23
She looked up the trash strewn stairway and was surprised that Ted, who seemed to be such a nice person, would live in an evil place like this, his bright and out going personality didn't seem to fit in here.
He opened the door to his apartment and led her into the kitchen. It was a small, cramped room that was furnished with an old refrigerator, a small gas stove, some metal storage cabinets, a sink and a wobbly old wooden table with two mismatched chairs. The decor was very old but it had been painted recently, in a soft yellow and white "Sunshine" combination of colors, and it did seem to be light and cheerful enough.
Next there was the living room. It was the best room in the apartment, a medium sized rectangular room, it had a row of windows that were facing south, a door in the east wall leading to the fire escape, and it was painted a light green in color, except for one wall that was completely covered over with pictures.
There wasn't much furniture in the room; an old couch, some orange crates he was using as end tables, a small radio and an old fashioned floor lamp with an elaborate gold colored shade. However it was the wall with all of the pictures on it that had caught her eye. Going over to look at it, she soon found herself fascinated by the photographic display. 24
The Vietnam War was just ending in all of its bloody intensity and he had one whole wall covered with pictures of its desperate life and death struggles. When you stood back away from the wall it appeared to be nothing more than a maze of contrasting colors and images. It was only when you stood up close before it that its composite harmony became clear and each picture added its own graphic punctuation to the over all story of death and destruction.
Turning away from the pictures and from, what she considered to be, their excessive violence, she looked down at the floor. "Why'd you do that?"
"Do what? Put up all these war pictures you mean? Well, um, I wanted to decorate this room with a lot of pretty pictures glued on the wall, so I went out and bought a few picture magazines. Almost everyone had pictures of the war in them. So I started putting some up and it just grew from there.
While I didn't plan it, I didn't plan on making a statement about the war with these pictures, they do tell a story; about warfare and its destructive waste, and about good intentions and how they can sometimes go astray; and so I'm pleased with it." He noticed she was silent and somewhat withdrawn from him as he spoke, so he paused and looked towards her. 25
"Pretty serious stuff huh? Yeah I can get carried away sometimes. O.K. on to other things! Come on, let me show the rest of this Palace." They walked thru a small hallway to reach the bath room, its plaster was cracked and the tiles around the bathtub were loose and falling off. "The Bath, my Lady." He said, trying to sound like an English Butler.
She peeked in and noticed that the room while clean, was also very old, almost antique in style, and badly in need of refinishing.
"And here's the bedroom." He said as he pointed across the hall.
It was a shabby little room, painted dark red long ago, the paint was now dirty and worn with many years of use. It had a window with a torn shade on the inside, a burglar screen affixed to the outside and it looked out over the alley towards the vacant lot across from them.
In this room he had only a bed, really just a mattress laying on the floor, with two pillows, a sheet and a surplus U.S. Army blanket as its cover. She quickly turned her head away from the bed then walked back to the living room. He followed along behind and once in the front room, he offered her a place on the couch while he went over to the radio and turned in a soft rock station. 26
"So that's it. This is my Castle." He said, sounding almost as if he was apologizing for it.
"It's not so bad!" She quickly replied. She had been living out on the streets for a while now and compared to the Parks, Viaducts, and yes, even the Abandoned Buildings where she had been staying lately -- it was a Mansion!
He walked over and awkwardly sat down on the other end of the couch.
"I've lived in Evanston most of my life but now I have this Flat here in Chicago. Do you live in the City?"
"No."
"Where abouts' do you come from, if you don't mind my asking?"
"Alabama."
"Alabama! Down South? I thought I noticed a southern accent to your voice. Hey, I've been down south ah lot myself, when I was in the Army, plus I went on a ... uh, a business trip to New Orleans, and I stayed there for about a month. So I've lived down south too."
"I haven't been back home for a while now. Lately I've just been ... living here in Chicago."
She stopped.
"Please continue ..."
"Well that's about all there is to it. I've been living in Chicago while I'm trying to find ah job. You know, in the Factories." 27
"Really? Hey I use ta work in a factory myself."
She looked at him with a smile that seemed to say "Ah come on."
"No really! I used to work in a factory out here in Skokie. That's a town to the north of Chicago. Hey if you're lookin' for a factory job then you sure can find one there. There's lots of factories out there and I'm sure we can find one that's hiring. Hey! How about it? That's what we'll do! You'll stay here tonight, gettin' rested up, then in the morning, after you've showered and had breakfast, I'll take you out to Skokie to find a job!"
"No I can't. I can't stay here tonight. It's getting late and I really should be going."
"Going where? You said this place ain't that bad. Heck you can sleep in the bedroom and lock the door if you want. And I'll sleep right here on the couch." He patted the sofa with his hand.
"No ... I thank you for your kindness but really I should be going."
"Susan please, won't you stay. I promise I won't bother you." He crossed his heart and held his hand up in a pledge. "And I've got a car so I can drive you around in the morning. So come on, for your own sake ... won't you please stay."
28
She desperately wanted to stay. She had been living on the streets for so long now that she would do almost anything just to have a decent place of shelter to rest in. Even if it were only for one night, she wanted very much to live like a normal Human Being again. She shyly stole a glance at Ted, then looked down again. He was such a nice boy. He was younger than she was, yes that's true, and he probably wanted her to stay the night so he could go to bed with her but at least he seemed to be a gentle person who wouldn't try to hurt her. She shrugged her shoulders and said, "O.K." so softly he could hardly hear her.
"O.K?" He asked as he leaned over towards her.
"Yeah."
"Alright Susan!" He said excitedly as he reached over and patted her on the shoulder. "Hey, know what we should do?'
He was so excited and his face so innocent and child like that she couldn't help but to share in his excitement as she smiled back at him.
"No, what?"
"We should go down to the store, there's one right here on the corner, and buy some Newspapers to look thru the Want Ads so we can find you a job. And while we're there we can get some ice cream or candy. How about that?"
29
She was a grown up woman and her time of wanting ice cream and candy was long since past. What she really wanted was a pack of cigarettes and some coffee, however, if he wanted her to have some candy and ice cream, then that's what she would have. He noticed her silence when he offered her the treats so he asked,
"Maybe there's something else you wanted? A good steak maybe?"
"I, uh, I'd like a pack of cigarettes, if they don't cost too much."
"Cigarettes? Sure you can have cigarettes. I'll buy you ah whole carton if you like."
He jumped up, grabbed by the hand and pulled her close to him. They stood there looking at each other, eye to eye, for a moment then he said, "Let's go," and with a smile, walked with her down the stairs to the Alley.
At the store, they loaded up on Newspapers, Susan got a carton of cigarettes, she didn't dare to ask for coffee as well, it was just too expensive, and Ted got a good supply of chocolate candy to munch on.
Back at the apartment, they spread the papers out on the kitchen table and began looking thru the Want Ads in search of any jobs she might qualify for.
"I used to work in a Textile Mill in Alabama," she said helpfully.
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"There aren't any Mills in this part of the country."
"I also worked in an electronics company and I know how to solder and do assembly on Printed Circuit Boards."
"Yeah? Well you should be able to find a job around here then 'cause there's lots of electronic companies in this area."
After out-lining the Ads that were of interest to them, they cut them out and stacked them in a neat little pile on the table.
"If you get ah job in Skokie then you could rent an apartment here in the City. You would have to travel further to go back and forth to work but you will find that apartments cost less here, so you would be saving money that way. Plus they don't even bother to check your References in a place like this. All they really care about is your money. If you have some cash in your pocket then you can rent a Flat here."
He finished clearing away the papers then paused for a moment as he looked at her. "Well what do ya think? It's getting kinda late, maybe we should turn in and get some sleep. So we can go around to the factories nice and early tomorrow morning."
She said nothing. 31
Instead she only sat there nervously smoking a cigarette. She knew she would go to bed with him to repay him for all of his help but even if she liked the guy, still it was difficult for her. To use her body like a whore and to exchange sex for money or food or even for shelter. It was a hard thing for her to do.
He was wondering what was the matter with her as she made no reply and only sat at the table, puffing away on her cigarette. Then, putting the cigarette out in the small plastic dish that was serving as her ashtray, she stood up, like one who was about to face a Firing Squad, and solemnly stated, "I'm ready."
He wrinkled his brow in confusion as he turned and walked towards the bedroom. Going into the room, he looked at the door to see if the lock worked. He had always left the door open so he didn't even know if it had a lock. It didn't.
"Maybe we could put a chair up under the door knob so she can feel secure." He thought as he looked at the door. He was still looking at the door when she came walking in, unbuttoning her blouse. 32
She unbuttoned the front of her blouse and then just stood there, stiffly, with her eyes closed, waiting for him to take her. He looked at her and wondered, "Now what the heck is she doing?"
"The door doesn't have a lock. I'll have to get a chair."
Walking out of the room, he left her to stand there, alone, at a half dressed attention.
When he returned she was sitting on the bed with her blouse buttoned up.
"Here. Here's a chair we can put up under the door knob."
He shut the door and showed her how to brace the chairs back under the knob so as to secure the door. "You see? Like that." He said as he looked at her.
"Yeah."
"O.K. here's what we'll do. I'll use the bath room first then, when I'm finished, I'll go in the living room so you can use it in, uh, privacy. O.K.?'
"Kay."
"All right ... see you later."
He went in the bath room and tried to hurry so as not to keep her waiting any longer than was necessary, and in just a few minutes emerged, still a little wet from his shower and with his shirt in hand, dripping water.
"Susan? He called out as he waved his shirt in the bed room. "Are you decent?"
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She had been sitting on the bed looking at the dirty red walls and wondering what kind of person would paint a room dark red.
"Yes, it's alright. You can come in."
He came in wearing only his jeans and a smile.
"I've finished now. I rinsed out my shirt while I was at it." He held it up to show her. "If you want, you can rinse out your clothes too. They should be dry by morning. Well, goodnight Susan. I'm happy I got the chance to meet you, it was fun being with you today and I'm looking forward to tomorrow." As he spoke he looked in her eyes and she returned his glance to study his face.
"Goodnight." He said as he suppressed the urge to walk over and kiss her.
"Goodnight Ted."
She replied softly, in a warm and tender tone of voice.
Slowly turning away from her, he went into the living room to lay, facing towards the back of the couch, to think of her and wonder how she might fit in his life.
After he had gone, she went in the bath room, shut the door, and stripping nude, washed and rinsed out her soiled clothing as best she could.
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Then getting under the shower, she let the soothing hot water run over her tired body and let its freshness cleanse away all the baseness she had felt of late.
After washing thoroughly from head to foot, she stepped out of the shower, wiped the moisture off the mirror, then just stood there looking at her reflection in the glass. "I'm not that bad looking." She told herself as she looked at the weariness that showed on her face. "Ted's a handsome boy and he could probably get plenty of girls but he wouldn't have to be ashamed to be seen with me. I'm a little bit older than he is, yes that's true, but still not that much older."
She combed her hair, hung up her clothes to dry, then wrapping a towel around herself, went across the hallway to her bedroom. She had washed all of her clothes and so she would have to sleep in the nude tonight. Shutting the door, she took the towel off then was about to put the chair under the door knob, as Ted had shown her, when she hesitated ... and placed it against the wall instead. If he should change his mind and come to her during the night, she would not refuse him.
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to be continued
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