He steadied himself and his voice before replying, “I believe you.” He shoved one foot into one shoe and wrestled with the other one. The laces didn’t want to work. He struggled to make them meet and tie.

“I’m not saying that to be mean to you,” she said. “Around here, folks mostly see what the gas does. But I’ve seen what the drug does. So I want you to know: I know what it looks like, when a man is using it, and I know how bad it can get. Take this as a promise: I won’t let it happen to you.”

The other shoe finally cooperated. “Right. I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Before you leave,” she said, suddenly, like she’d meant to say something earlier but she’d forgotten. “I came in here to get you up because Angeline asked me to. She’s waiting for you down in the kitchen area.”

“Thanks.”

“And another thing.”

“Jesus,” he swore. “Really?”

“Yes, one more thing. Get my daddy or Briar Wilkes or someone to set you up with a room of your own. You can’t stay in here. This is the closest thing to a hospital we got, and I only have the one bed. Nobody needs it right this moment, but that could change at any second. I want you out.”

“But—”

“But what? We’ve done established you’re healthy as a horse, and ready to run around the city with your friends. That means you’re healthy enough to have your own space, and get the hell out of mine.”

“Well, ain’t you a sweet thing.”

“I sure as shit am,” she told him as she ushered him out the door, pushing his shoulders.

He dragged his feet. “I still got things in here! Possessions!”

“You can come back and claim ’em anytime.”

The woman had a reach like an octopus.

He fought her just enough to keep one foot in the room, saying, “Let me get my bag, would you?”

She threw her hands in the air and said, “Fine. Get your bag. Just go. I’ve got notes to write up.”

“Notes about me?”

“Notes. And I write slow.”

She slammed the door behind him, which Rector thought was unnecessary. How many people came and went from this hospital room that was so inhospitable? He knew it wouldn’t be his first choice, but then, it probably wasn’t anybody’s first choice. He reckoned it was the only choice.

As he hiked down the halls he wriggled his feet to better fit in the shoes, then stopped by the washroom. Then it was down to the kitchen, where Angeline waited. Zeke and Houjin were already there, chewing on raisins and drinking weak, odd-smelling coffee.

“Good God, boy—you rise and shine slower than any night owl I ever did see.”