Part 56 (1/2)

Hilda shook her head and put a hand on Perry's good arm to calm him down before he answered Kettlewell. ”That's how we do it over on our side. Their side is all about secrecy. Our side trades the advantage of surprise for the advantage of openness. You watch -- by tonight we'll have by-laws drafted, press-releases, exhaustive doc.u.mentation. You watch.”

On the screen, Lester's face suddenly hove into view, fish-eye distorted by his proximity to the lens. Hilda gave an amused squeak and pulled back.

”So that's Yoko, huh?” Lester said, grinning. ”Cute! Listen guys, don't let these suits talk you out of what you're doing. This is the right thing. I'm on all the message boards and stuff and they're all champing to do something for real.”

”Yoko?” Hilda said. She raised an adorable eyebrow.

”Just a figure of speech,” Lester said. ”I'm Lester. You must be Hilda. Perry's told us practically nothing about you, which is probably a sign of something or other.”

Hilda regarded Perry with mock coolness. ”Oh really?”

”Lester,” Perry said. ”I love you like a brother. Shut the f.u.c.k up already.”

Lester made a little whipping motion. Suddenly he was gone from the picture, and they saw Suzanne pulling him away by one ear. Hilda snorted. ”I like her,” she said. Suzanne gave them a wave and Tjan and Kettlewell came back into frame.

They made their goodbyes and hung up. Now Hilda and Perry were alone, together, in her bedroom, laptops shut, day done -- though it was hardly gone noon -- and the silence stretched.

”Thanks for coming, Perry,” she said.

”I --” He broke off. He didn't know what to say. They had only known each other for a day, only had a one-night stand. She probably thought that he was a giant creep. ”I was worried.” he said. ”Um. You should probably rest up some more, right?”

He got up and headed for the door.

”Where do you think you're going?” she said.

”Figured I'd let you rest,” he said with a half-shrug.

”Get in this bed this instant, young man,” she said, slapping the bed beside her. ”And get those stinky clothes off before you do -- I won't have you getting my sheets all covered in your travel-grime.”

He felt the foolish grin spread across his face and he skinned out of his clothes as fast as he could with his cast on.

They didn't leave the house until suppertime, freshly showered (she'd been a delightful help in scrubbing those spots where the cast impeded access) and changed. Perry took a painkiller after the shower, which kicked in as they went out the door, and the autumn evening was crisp and sharp.

They got as far as the corner before the man approached them. ”Perry Gibbons, isn't it?” He had an English accent, and a little pot-belly, and a big white bubble-jacket and a scarf wound round his throat.

”That's right,” Perry said. He looked at the guy. ”Do I know you?”

”No, I don't think so. But I've followed you in the press. Quite remarkable.”

”Thanks,” Perry said. Being recognized -- how weird was that. Cool that it happened in front of Hilda. ”This is Hilda,” he said. She took the man's hand, and he grinned, showing two long rat-like front teeth.

”Fred,” he said. ”What an absolute delight running into you out here of all places. What are you doing in town?”

”Just visiting with friends,” Perry said.

”Wasn't there some kind of dust-up at your place in Florida? I saw what they did to the ride here, what a b.l.o.o.d.y mess.”

”Yeah,” Perry said. He pointed at his casted arm. ”Seemed like a good time to get out of Dodge.”