Danimal and setting it in the cup holder before passing one back to Matt and then finally getting a bottle for himself. “You just go ahead and nurse these suds. We’ll be there in no time.”
***
Luther’s place was on a road that had been cleared, paved, and then forgotten. As they pulled up to the place, Matt felt the air escape his chest between his teeth. Danimal was freaked out for a good reason.
“Here we are,” said Free. “Let’s hope he’s not too fucked up.”
Trying not to think about the last stop, Matt grabbed his bag and got a good look at the place from the van’s still-bright headlights.
Luther’s place had been a Lutheran church, but the
an
had fallen off the sign ages ago, and now the building just said Luther on the front of it. Matt wondered if that was where Luther took his name or if the sign was what had made him pick the building to squat in. The roof looked as though it had suffered some fire damage, had at least partially caved in, and had later been repaired by whatever equipment was at hand, which was not limited to boards, and appeared to include a few tree branches and ratcheting straps.
Free walked to the door as though he were more than comfortable just walking inside, but Matt couldn’t help but feel apprehensive about not only standing in the ramshackle structure, but also catching its resident unawares. Matt followed Free into the church turned home, with Danimal at his heels.
The inside of the building made the outside look like a palace. The smell of animals was omnipresent, and Matt saw several cats diving to safety as they walked through what must have once been the church’s parlor.
After passing through another door, this one heavy and made of oddly well-maintained oak, they entered what would have been the chapel of the former Lutheran church. At the still-standing dais was Luther, looking over them as if he were expecting them to walk in at exactly that moment, and on the podium was a still-smoldering glass pipe.
It took all of Matt’s power to keep walking forward as Free ran to the dais to give Luther a hug. Danimal’s hand on his shoulder stopped him. He turned to look at the fireplug of a man. Danimal was giving him a look that said,
Give it a minute
. Matt obliged and turned his attention back to the front of the church.
If Free’s neck was an indication that he was starting to rot, Luther was a very clear picture of where that was heading. Meth smoke was pouring out of his nose, mouth, empty eye socket, and several holes in his throat. The man looked as if he were falling apart. But only Matt had a true glimpse into this madness. The others couldn’t see it, at least not the way he did.
Luther talked to Free by the podium while Matt waited with Danimal by the back of the church. Matt assumed they were talking about the stranger who had been introduced to this den of insanity, and after a few moments, Luther and Free began to walk toward them. Cats bathing themselves in the row between the pews scattered at their approach, making Matt wonder if the animals could sense what was headed toward them.
“Free says you’re a stand-up dude,” said Luther, “and that’s good enough for me. You understand what you’re going to be up to?” Luther’s mouth was torn on both corners, making his brown-and-black-flecked teeth visible through tattered cheeks, the sight of it reminding Matt of a flag that had been left hanging far too long.
“Yeah, he knows we’re picking up some shit,” said Free, “and then delivering some shit, and that’s about all he needs to know. That right?”
“Yeah,” said Matt, “I’m just looking to kill some time with some down dudes while I wait for my scoot to get well. Soon as I get parts, I’m gone. Unless, of course, financial obligations force my hand to stick around for a bit.” Matt smiled at the last part and even managed to hold the grin as the three men grinned back at him.
“Well,” said Luther,
***
Luther’s place was on a road that had been cleared, paved, and then forgotten. As they pulled up to the place, Matt felt the air escape his chest between his teeth. Danimal was freaked out for a good reason.
“Here we are,” said Free. “Let’s hope he’s not too fucked up.”
Trying not to think about the last stop, Matt grabbed his bag and got a good look at the place from the van’s still-bright headlights.
Luther’s place had been a Lutheran church, but the
an
had fallen off the sign ages ago, and now the building just said Luther on the front of it. Matt wondered if that was where Luther took his name or if the sign was what had made him pick the building to squat in. The roof looked as though it had suffered some fire damage, had at least partially caved in, and had later been repaired by whatever equipment was at hand, which was not limited to boards, and appeared to include a few tree branches and ratcheting straps.
Free walked to the door as though he were more than comfortable just walking inside, but Matt couldn’t help but feel apprehensive about not only standing in the ramshackle structure, but also catching its resident unawares. Matt followed Free into the church turned home, with Danimal at his heels.
The inside of the building made the outside look like a palace. The smell of animals was omnipresent, and Matt saw several cats diving to safety as they walked through what must have once been the church’s parlor.
After passing through another door, this one heavy and made of oddly well-maintained oak, they entered what would have been the chapel of the former Lutheran church. At the still-standing dais was Luther, looking over them as if he were expecting them to walk in at exactly that moment, and on the podium was a still-smoldering glass pipe.
It took all of Matt’s power to keep walking forward as Free ran to the dais to give Luther a hug. Danimal’s hand on his shoulder stopped him. He turned to look at the fireplug of a man. Danimal was giving him a look that said,
Give it a minute
. Matt obliged and turned his attention back to the front of the church.
If Free’s neck was an indication that he was starting to rot, Luther was a very clear picture of where that was heading. Meth smoke was pouring out of his nose, mouth, empty eye socket, and several holes in his throat. The man looked as if he were falling apart. But only Matt had a true glimpse into this madness. The others couldn’t see it, at least not the way he did.
Luther talked to Free by the podium while Matt waited with Danimal by the back of the church. Matt assumed they were talking about the stranger who had been introduced to this den of insanity, and after a few moments, Luther and Free began to walk toward them. Cats bathing themselves in the row between the pews scattered at their approach, making Matt wonder if the animals could sense what was headed toward them.
“Free says you’re a stand-up dude,” said Luther, “and that’s good enough for me. You understand what you’re going to be up to?” Luther’s mouth was torn on both corners, making his brown-and-black-flecked teeth visible through tattered cheeks, the sight of it reminding Matt of a flag that had been left hanging far too long.
“Yeah, he knows we’re picking up some shit,” said Free, “and then delivering some shit, and that’s about all he needs to know. That right?”
“Yeah,” said Matt, “I’m just looking to kill some time with some down dudes while I wait for my scoot to get well. Soon as I get parts, I’m gone. Unless, of course, financial obligations force my hand to stick around for a bit.” Matt smiled at the last part and even managed to hold the grin as the three men grinned back at him.
“Well,” said Luther,
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