Dean Koontz: The Voice of the Night

“Sell many paintings?” Colin asked.

“Surprisingly, we sold quite a few. In fact, it’s the best day on record.”

“That’s great.”

“Of course, it’s just one day. Considering what Paula and I paid for the gallery, we have to have a lot more days like this if we’re going to keep our heads above water.”

Colin couldn’t think of anything more to say.

She sipped her martini. Her throat rippled slightly when she swallowed. She looked so dainty and graceful.

“Skipper, can you make your own supper this evening?”

“Aren’t you eating at home?” he asked.

“The shop’s still very busy. I can’t leave Paula alone this evening. I just came home to freshen up. Much as I dread the thought of it, I’ll be going back to the grind in twenty minutes.”

“You’ve only been home for supper once in the past week,” he said.

“I know, Skipper, and I’m sorry about that. But I’m trying hard to build a future for us, for me and you. You understand that, don’t you?”

“I guess so.”

“It’s a tough world, baby.”

“I’m not hungry anyway,” Colin said. “I can wait until you get home after the gallery closes.”

“Well, baby, I won’t be coming straight home. Mark Thornberg asked me to share a late dinner with him.”

“Who’s Mark Thomberg?”

“An artist,” she said. “We opened a show of his work yesterday. In fact, about a third of what we’re selling is his stuff. I want to persuade him to let us be his sole representatives.”

“Where’s he taking you to dinner?”

“We’re going to Little Italy, I think.”

“Boy, that’s a neat place!” Colin said, leaning forward on the sofa. “Can I come? I won’t be any bother. You wouldn’t even have to stop back here to pick me up. I can ride my bike and meet you there.”

She frowned and avoided his eyes. “Sorry, Skipper. This is strictly for grown-ups. We’ll be talking a lot of business.”

“I won’t mind.”

“Perhaps not, but we would. Listen, why don’t you go to Charlie’s Cafe and have one of those big cheeseburgers you like so much? And one of those extra-thick milkshakes that you have to eat with a spoon.”

He settled back against the sofa as if he were a balloon that had rapidly deflated.

“Don’t pout,” she said. “It doesn’t become you. Pouting’s for little babies.”

“I’m not pouting,” he said. “It’s okay.”

“Charlie’s Cafe?” she prompted.

“I guess so. Sure.”

She finished her martini and picked up her handbag. “I’ll give you some money.”

“I’ve got money.”

“So I’ll give you some more. I’m now a successful businesswoman. I can afford it.”

She brought him a five-dollar bill, and he said, “It’s too much.”

“Blow the rest of it on comic books.”

She bent down, kissed his forehead, and left to freshen up and change clothes.

For several minutes he sat in silence, staring at the five-dollar bill. At last he sighed and stood and took out his wallet and put the money away.

Mr. and Mrs. Borden gave Roy permission to have supper with Colin. The boys ate at the counter at Charlie’s Cafe, basking in the incomparably wonderful aroma of bubbling grease and onions. Colin paid the check.

From the diner they went to the Pinball Pit, an amusement arcade that was one of the chief gathering places for young people in Santa Leona. It was a Friday night, and the Pit was crowded with kids feeding coins to pinball machines and a wide variety of electronic games.

Half the customers knew Roy. They called to him, and he called back. “Ho, Roy!” “Ho, Pete!” “Hi there, Roy!” “What ya say, Walt?” “Roy!” “Roy!” “Here, Roy!” They wanted to challenge him to games or tell him jokes or just talk. He stopped here and there for a minute or two at a time, but he didn’t want to play with anyone but Colin.

They competed in a two-player pinball game that was decorated with paintings of big-breasted, long-legged girls in skimpy bikinis. Roy chose that machine rather than one with pirates, monsters, or spacemen; and Colin tried not to blush.

Colin usually disliked cheap thrill palaces like the Pit and avoided them. The few times he’d ever ventured into one, he’d found the din unbearable. The sounds of computer scorekeepers and robot adversaries — beep — beep — beep, pong-pong-pong, bomp-bompada — bomp, whoop — whoop — whooooooooop-mixed with laughter and girls’ happy screams and half-shouted conversations. Assaulted by continuous, thunderous noise, he became claustrophobic. He always felt like an alien, a being from a distant world, trapped on a primitive planet, caught in a mob of hostile, screeching, gibbering, barbaric, loathsome natives.

But he didn’t feel that way tonight. He was enjoying every minute and he knew why. Because of Roy, he was no longer a frightened visitor from space; he was now one of the natives.

With his thick yellow hair, blue eyes, muscles, and quiet self-confidence, Roy drew the girls. Three of them-Kathy, Laurie, and Janet-gathered around to watch the game. They were all better than average-looking: taut, tan, vital teen-age girls in halter tops and shorts, with shiny hair and California complexions and budding breasts and slender legs.

Roy clearly favored Laurie, while Kathy and Janet showed more than passing interest in Colin. He didn’t think they were attracted to him for himself. In fact, he was certain they were not. He had no illusions. Before girls like them swooned over boys like him, the sun would rise in the west, tiny babies would grow beards, and an honest man would be elected President. They were flirting with him because he was Roy’s friend, or because they were jealous of Laurie and wanted to make Roy jealous of them. Whatever their reasons, they were concentrating on Colin, asking questions, drawing him out, laughing at his jokes, cheering when he won a game. Until now, girls had never wasted time with him. He really didn’t care what their motives were; he just reveled in all the attention and prayed it would never end. He knew he was blushing brightly, but the arcade’s odd orange lighting provided him with cover.

Forty minutes after entering the Pit, they left to a chorus of good-byes: “So long, Roy; take it easy, Roy; see ya around, Roy.” Roy seemed to want to be rid of all of them, including Kathy, Laurie, and Janet. Colin went reluctantly.

Outside, the evening air was mild. A light breeze carried the faint scent of the sea.

Complete darkness had not yet descended. Santa Leona lay in a smoky yellow twilight similar to that which Roy had created earlier in the day for the miniature world in the Borden garage.

Their bicycles were chained to a rack in the parking lot behind the Pit.

As he bent and unlocked his bike, Roy said, “You like the Pit?”

“Yeah.”

“I thought you would.”

“You spend much time there?” Colin asked.

“Nah. Not much.”

“I thought you were a regular.”

Roy stood and pulled his bike from between the pipes. “I hardly ever go.”

“Everybody knew you.”

“I know the kids who are regulars. But not me. I’m not a fan of games. At least not games as easy as the ones in the Pit.”

Colin finished unchaining his bicycle. “If you don’t like it, why’d we come?”

“I knew you’d enjoy it,” Roy said.

Colin frowned. “But I don’t want to do things that bore you.”

“I wasn’t bored,” Roy said. “I didn’t mind playing a game or three. And I sure didn’t mind having a chance to look at Laurie. She has a terrific little body, doesn’t she?”

“I guess so.”

“You guess!”