Chapter 10, Part One

No Honor Ch. 10 Pt. 1: Moving Day

When all was said an' done, I didn't leave The Stable with that much. Cliff didn't know where Jonas was stayin', or for how long, and there was no address ta wire if I missed 'im. Still, the fact that Jonas was in town was somethin', and I woulda reported it right away, 'cept Carter never told me how. I wondered how that slipped by 'im; last time I saw 'im, he found me.

I went back to my house, an' waited awhile. Shadow was gone, so I knew he wasn't there, and I didn't know when he'd show... or if. Damn fool. After an hour I gave up an' left; I was sure I'd run inta 'im, eventually.

It was Sunday, an' I was off, so I figured I'd best get on to Henrietta's, an' get that over an' done with. Now that the day had come, I realized I really, really didn't wanna do it. I had already been a regular at that hotel, years before, so I was no stranger to it.

When I first opened the bar, I slept in one o' the rooms upstairs, but more and more, that got difficult. People needed those rooms, for other business, and I made a good dollar, chargin 'em fer tha rights. I used the hotel a long, long time after that; but eventually, I got enough funds and materials, to make my own home; so, that's what I did... I didn't want to go backwards, but here I was, doin' it.

The hotel is four stories, wit' four rows o' rooms, in each. Inside, everythang just looks... dull. It don't look old, like The Stable does, it just looks uncared for. It all needs a new coat o' paint.

The lobby desk is wide, an' made o' ol' oak. Behind it was this kid; he couldn'ta been more than say, eighteen... No one that age should even be in this town.

I said, "Are you lost?"

I just got this blank stare.

He said, "Single bed rooms is awl that's available. No doubles, no suites."

"Got somethin' by tha windas?"

I agreed to their ridiculous nightly fee, got my keys and headed to the third floor. The room was mis'rable; a bed, a closet by the bed, that was it. I'd have to walk from the third floor, down the steps an' outside to the outhouse, to take a leak. If I wanted hot water to bathe in, I'd have to put in a request, to heat the daily ration, and I'd get a small tub in the mornin'.

Great service, I'm tellin' ya. Go ahead an' order food. It'll be two hours, before you even get an apple. I guess when there's no alternatives, you win by default.

I decided ta kick back and read.  "Frankenstein"... an awesome tale. Read it before as a kid, an' it gave me chills. I was just inta tha first part, with tha letters, when I got interrupted.

See, not only are the rooms small, the walls are thin too. I heard a door close, and then a man and a woman talkin'. They was negotiatin' price, and right away I thought, "Skin deal." Sure enough, two or three minutes later, I'm hearin' moanin' an' jumpin' bed springs, an' "Oh, yes!", and all that other shit.

Fine..  Nothin' wrong with that. I mean, I was just gettin' comf'table an' awl, but have a good time, shit... Why the hell not?

Anyways, it was a hooker an 'er John, not some lovin' couple, so I figured it wouldn't last long. It actually only took fifteen minutes. So I removed the pilla, from around my head, and kept readin'... You know. Whatever.

After another fifteen minutes, they were at it again.

I decided to fuck off to somewhere else. I couldn't hear myself thinkin', but I realized, that I had to use the crapper. I went outside to one o' their outhouses, which was the same as all over The Station... Small, wooden stall, wit' a hollow seat that leads to a pit.

If yer lucky, the roof on 'em is good, and the weather is kept out. If ya ain't... well...  It's a free shower, isn't it?

I spent a good hour in there. I didn't have to go that long, but I was readin', an givin' the John time enough, to get the full service tune up. I was sure they were through, after then though. Behind the seat was a can fulla corncobs, for wipin': I finished up, and then I thought about,  maybe gettin' another book.

Couldn't hurt, and I'd be doubly sure o' quiet, when I got back. So, I took a stroll up to First, and inta tha letter-writer's place. He sells some books there, as well, an' I picked through 'em. I wound up leavin wit' "Three Musketeers."

Then it was off to the butcher shop,  on Second. I had supper there, before returnin' to the hotel, and trust me, that's a smart idea. Back in the room all was quiet, so I dug inta my new book. After nightfall, I heard low moanin', an' then loud moanin', an' then thumpin', louder than ever.

What... the hell? I know this man ain't got that much money. After twenty minutes or so, they were through, but then... one hour later... Round Four, Round-fuckin'-four!

I wasn't leavin' again. I just wrapped that pilla 'round my head, an' closed my eyes. At some point, I got to sleep.

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