Alien Upstairs by Pamela Sargent

young man had guessed the whole sordid episode. Her cheeks were warm. Martin put his hands on the table and stared at his bitten-down nails.
    "Why, I don't know what you mean, Sarah,” he murmured. “I found Raf utterly charming. Quite forceful, too.” She could not look into Martin's eyes. “I don't wish to dwell on details, but it is true that these little encounters add a bit of spice to one's primary relationship.” He got up. “I must go. Thank you both for the coffee."
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    "He was lying,” Gerard said as they hurried to catch their bus. A group of women on bicycles passed them, pedaling their way to work. “I'm sure of it."
    "You don't know that,” Sarah replied. “Maybe it's me, maybe I have a disorder of the brain or something."
    "The car engine was missing."
    "That can be explained. Or maybe we just think that's what we saw. I might be drawing you into my delusions, in a folie à deux or whatever."
    "I don't think so. I know you. You're not crazy. There's only one thing left to do now. We'll have to drive out to that country spot of his. Maybe there's something there."
    "How?"
    "I'll get my car repaired. I have to do that anyway, for the inspection. Bruce Carulli will do the work right away for an extra bribe."
    "But I'm not even sure I can find that place again,” Sarah said.
    "It's worth a try. I'll get some extra gas coupons on the black market if I can. We can go out there on Sunday."
    They stopped at the corner. Others were waiting for the bus, which, as usual, was late. The cool fall wind bore the odors of dead leaves, dirt, and exhaust fumes. The sky was darkening, its billowing clouds threatening rain.
    Sarah moved closer to Gerard. “Maybe we should just call it a mystery, and let it go."
    "I can't do that.” Gerard pointed his chin; his face was very hard. “This is the first interesting thing that's happened for a long time. I'm not going to let it go.” He put his arm around her. “Besides, aren't you curious?"
    "Yeah, I suppose so. I have to find out if I'm crazy or not.” The enterprise seemed a game, a playing at adventure. It occurred to her that the search for Raf could be dangerous. She tried not to think of that.
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    Seven
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    They started at dawn, just after curfew was over. Sarah circled the city, drove to the highway, and turned south. The city, nestled in its valley, was veiled by fog and the haze produced by the burning of wood. The luster of a Russian church's gold onion-shaped domes had been dimmed by soot; near the church, a plume of smoke clung to the chimney of a red brick factory, and coal dust had darkened the bricks. Gerard had filled the Toyota's tank the day before, and had put extra gasoline in the trunk for good measure.
    "It'll take a while to get to Hanover,” Sarah murmured, “and even then, I might have trouble finding the right road.” She swerved to avoid a pothole. “This is a hell of a way to spend Sunday. I was going to wash my hair and borrow the Sunday Times from Kathy."
    "You can wash it tonight. Or tomorrow."
    "I don't have tomorrow off, remember? We have to work on that damned fashion show."
    The highway stretched before them, an asphalt snake among the tree-covered hills. The morning mist was lifting, revealing the red and gold leaves of fall foliage. “At least we'll have good weather,” Gerard said. “The sky's starting to clear."
    "I wonder why he left so suddenly.” Sarah slowed as they approached a stretch of unrepaired highway, and drove carefully along the buckling road.
    "I don't know. Maybe he thought things were getting out of hand. He might have realized that he didn't know as much as he thought he did, or that he was causing people pain. Larry did make a scene at his party. I wasn't exactly friendly to him after—well, you know."
    "But why would he tell people he was an alien? It doesn't make sense, unless he was crazy