No Name Trilogy, Book I: No Name

Chapter 12 - News

We walked. That was all we did for some hours. Not back toward the lively, safe-looking part of the city. No. Farther and farther through tangled streets and shadowy alleyways, where signs of life consisted of strange people sitting on gloomy porch stoops or under piles of rags. Stores with metal frameworks stretched across their windows sold medicine and alcohol and cigarettes and newspapers. Most small businesses were shuttered, "for sale" signs hanging crooked in their windows. There was an occasional diner or bar that looked decent, but Henry wasn't interested in them. The apartments and houses we passed weren't in much better shape than the rest. They were often crumbling and boarded-up, and the inhabited ones felt sad: broken toys littered front steps, chain-link fences held back angry dogs, what people we did see eyed us suspiciously. Booted cars sat abandoned on the sides of the road, voices called in the distance, along with sounds of cars squealing and occasional indecipherable popping noises.

Had I been alone, I would have been petrified. As it was, Henry made me feel that nothing could possibly hurt me. Having him at my side was like walking with a big shield around me. Rationally, I knew that was ridiculous. All it'd take was someone with a weapon to be a threat. The two of us were woefully underprepared for any sort of danger, even if he did have a Swiss army knife. But the warmth that seemed to emanate from him made me feel safe. I contemplated that discrepancy between my reason and my senses, recalling the only moment Henry had touched me--when he'd handed me those flowers. I was sure I'd felt something in that moment, some minute threads of electricity lace my fingers, but I had no idea whether he'd noticed it, or whether it meant anything or would even happen again, and as much as I was dying to take hold of his hand to find out, I dared not. He was far too removed from me, too aloof. I couldn't risk making anything between us awkward.

We were already a little awkward, anyway. Or maybe that was just my perception, as Henry seemed perfectly fine remaining silent and a step ahead of me. He had such determination, and I was fine going wherever he led. He'd keep me safe; I knew that. Whether it was because he genuinely cared about me or because I might hold a key to his memory, I didn't know, but I'd take his protection as long as he offered it.

We eventually reached a part of the city that was better maintained, where more people were moving about and the shops and businesses were actually being patronized. More attempt at beautification had been made as far as planters and lampposts and window treatments. It certainly wasn't a wealthy area, but it was far safer than what we'd come through. I hadn't asked Henry where we'd been going, mostly because he seemed to have a plan, and I didn't want to disturb his thinking. But now, I was curious.

"We're going to the library," he answered upon my asking, and I was sure he'd known that the whole time.

"How do you know where it is?"

"I don't know, really. I almost feel like I've been here before, all over this city. I can't say I recognize anything, but I have a sense about where things are. It's hard to explain."

"Maybe you were here, before you were at Oliphant."

"Mmm," was all he gave me in reply.

I was now having to work to avoid people on the sidewalk, and I was annoyed. Henry's pace kept him a step or two ahead of me, and I was starting to feel like I'd lose him. But I wasn't going to ask him to slow down, and within a few moments, he'd found what he'd been looking for: a public library. By that time, it was late afternoon, and the library's hours said it closed at five on Fridays. We had only about a half hour.

"Everything's online, right?" Henry asked me as we stood outside, looking at the library doors.

I wasn't sure whether his question had been rhetorical. I couldn't recall using the Internet, but I nodded anyway.