Louse by David Grand

fine job of spreading the word, Felonius.”
    Poppy and Dr. Barnum’s eyes briefly engage each other’s and then drift away to different sides of the room. Poppy looks to the two boys standing against the gray wall. Dr. Barnum looks at me but doesn’t seem to see me this time.
    â€œHerbert.”
    â€œYes, Felonius.”
    â€œMr. Sherwood and I were hoping you might explain your sudden change of heart.”
    â€œI have explained. It has been explained.”
    â€œYes, you’re right, of course. But…Mr. Sherwood and I…I mean, consider,” Dr. Barnum says, turning back to Poppy. “We’ve been dedicated! Loyalists from the start! And now…well…in a matter of hours, you’ve managed to take away everything we worked for, everything you’ve promised us.”
    â€œI’ve done what I’ve done for good reason,” Poppy says. “I don’t expect you to understand. But in all fairness, Felonius, I’ve given you a decent chance to regain what’s yours. I suggest you keep at it. To the end.”
    â€œDon’t get me wrong. I appreciate your decision to give us the chance you have. But in the end, what value does our life have without the value of what we earned from G.? Why should we even pursue this if the risk is for absolutely nothing?”
    â€œYour chances are good,” Poppy assures him. “At this point, it is a matter of will and wit. You do what you do. I’ll do as I do. You will see it to the end for the same reason as I. Because the risk
isn’t
for absolutely nothing. You know that as well as Mr. Sherwood.” Poppy pats down the edge of his blanket with his long fingers. “But there must a parting of the ways.”
    â€œI don’t accept this,” Dr. Barnum says, shaking his head angrily. “You’ve done this to disgrace us! Plain and simple. To humiliate us! The least you can do, Herbert, is to allow us the dignity to be worthy opponents.”
    â€œAnd how might I do that?”
    â€œBy providing us with more information!…about the diagrams we retrieved yesterday from 747 Romaine. Without it, you’ve left us crippled.”
    Poppy shakes his head indifferently. “You have what you need. I haven’t done anything to disadvantage you.”
    â€œCome, H. H.,” Dr. Barnum says as he waves to the boys to prepare the diagrams.
    â€œYou don’t understand, Felonius. You’re not going to find what you’re looking for here,” Poppy says resolutely, holding up his hand to the boys. They obediently halt and return to the wall.
    Dr. Barnum smiles with reddened cheeks. “Come, Herbert. For old times’ sake then.”
    â€œNo,” Poppy asserts. “You’ve made a great deal of progress thus far. If you continue your interrogations you’ll find what you’re looking for.”
    Dr. Barnum weighs this for a moment. “Please excuse us,” he says to the boys. The doctor looks across the room to me, and in a defiant tone says, “You too, Mr. Louse!”
    I am deeply confused by this, by the nature of the entire conversation. My body stiffens as Dr. Barnum’s glare flattens me against the wall. I look over to Poppy.
    â€œGo ahead, Herman,” he says.
    â€œYes, sir,” I say, and step out toward the western wing.
    When I step out into the hall, the two boys are already turning the corner into the southern wing. Passing them are Mr. Bender and Mr. Godmeyer. The men’s shadows trail along the museum cases whose planes look as if they are hovering in midflight.
    I take a few short steps into the hall so that I am out of the path of the two men. As they step into the shaft of light coming from the kitchen, they fix their eyes on me until they reach the door to Poppy’s chambers.
    â€œGood evening, Mr. Louse,” Mr. Bender says.
    â€œGood evening, Mr. Bender,” I say, shaken. “Mr.