"I invite you to leave with me tonight and stay in my home where you can reflect on this with the unbiased consideration it deserves."

"That's very kind of you. Are you sure it's no trouble?"

"Not at all. It is a rare occasion that I have a visitor. I relish the idea of having you stay with me, Evan."

"I'll go with you then," I said, returning his smile. "I can be ready in half an hour."

Chance filled the seat next to Clovis when I walked back into the dining room. I left my bag by the door and took a seat across from them.

"Clovis tells me you're coming with us," said Chance.

"Yes. Do I understand it right, we're going on your plane?"

"That is correct."

"Do you fly it yourself?" I asked.

"Yes," he said puffing even larger with pride. "I got my license last year. You can join me in the cockpit if you like."

"I'd like that, unless you want to," I said to Clovis.

The old man chuckled. "No, I will not be riding up front."

"He'll be asleep," said Chance. "He hasn't gotten used to traveling in aeroplanes yet."

"Nor automobiles."

"Speaking of which, perhaps we should say goodnight before we leave here," Chance said to him.

Clovis nodded. Chance drank the last of the coffee in his beer stein sized cup and I looked on somewhat bewildered as Clovis pulled a plastic syringe and two medical vials out of his small yellow carpet bag.

"I still cannot do this," he said feebly as he handed the assortment to Chance.

"Yes, I know," he said sympathetically. Chance manipulated the vials in his thick fingers as a jeweler handles tiny precious stones. "Let's see here, it's this one." He successfully inserted the needle into the vial on the fourth attempt then turned it toward the old man. "That damned Poppy is never around when you need her," he said as he injected Clovis in the arm. "Count back from one hundred please."

Clovis blinked his tired eyes rapidly. "Ninety-nine, ninety-eight, ninety-seven, devyanosta shest, devyanosta pyat, jewla..., jewla khan, jewla..." His chin dropped to his chest and he remained motionless.

"You forgot to say goodnight," I said smiling.

"Oh shit, you're right." Chance put the syringe away.

"What did you shoot him with?"

"Pentathol, he'll be out for 12 hours or so, or until we wake him with this," he said, holding up another vial. "Are you ready?"

"Yeah."

"I'll carry him if you'll grab his bag."

I took both bags and watched as he hefted Clovis' limp body like a sack of grain. "Does he really dislike flying that much?" I asked.

"Poor chap, it's not his fault really, the worlds passed him by a long time ago," he said, ducking through the doorway into the hall.

"Are you gentlemen off?" asked the tuxedoed caretaker as he unbolted the front door.

"Yes, we are Mr. Diltz. See you again soon," said Chance.