Read Online Good King Sauerkraut by Barbara Paul - Free Book Online

But we don’t even have computers in our rooms! Just those three in the office. And look at this.” He went into the bedroom he’d chosen and picked up a bright red Japanese-made mini-television, complete with antenna and four-inch screen. “They really outdid themselves, didn’t they? Not even cable TV. Shit.”
    â€œThere’s cable in the living room.”
    â€œOh wow, aren’t we the lucky ones. I’ll bet you anything you like that the guys from the Defense Department weren’t put up here.”
    King shrugged and went into his own bedroom to unpack. It was a comfortable room; it had everything he needed. The only difference from Dennis’s room was that his mini-TV was black instead of red.
    When they both were squared away, they went back into the living room to find Mimi and Gregory at a window, both of them looking straight down.
    â€œWhat’s going on?” Dennis asked.
    â€œCome take a look,” Gregory said. “Easy—don’t scare her.”
    On the ledge outside was a dull-coated pigeon; a more brightly colored male fluttered anxiously nearby.
    â€œIt’s a pigeon,” Dennis said, his voice implying So?
    â€œShe has only one foot,” Mimi said.
    It was true; the bird still had both legs, but the claw was missing from the end of one of them. As they watched, the pigeon waddled along the edge, her body tipping precariously to the side when she put her weight on her stump. King felt strange watching her.
    â€œMaybe she’s hungry,” Gregory said to Mimi. “Did we eat all the bagels?”
    â€œI think there’s one left.”
    Gregory went to the kitchen to see. Dennis, uninterested in handicapped birdlife, flopped down on the sofa and stared at the silent TV screen, now showing a fantasy film. Gregory came back with the bagel.
    The window was one of the old-fashioned kind that opened from the bottom. King turned the lock at the top; but when he tried to lift the window, he couldn’t. “It’s stuck.”
    â€œThese older buildings all have windows that are hard to open,” Mimi said with a sigh. “Here, let’s both try.”
    They each took a handle and heaved; together they got the window open … with a loud screeeech that startled everybody. Alarmed, the lame pigeon took flight, followed closely by her mate.
    â€œAt least nothing’s wrong with her wings,” King said as he watched the two birds soar out of sight.
    â€œAh, that’s too bad,” Gregory said regretfully. “I’ll put some crumbs out anyway—maybe they’ll come back. Hold the window.”
    Easier said than done. The window was heavy, incredibly heavy; King and Mimi were both straining as Gregory leaned out over the windowsill to scatter bagel crumbs along the ledge. He pulled back in; the other two started to lower the window … but it got away from them and fell into place with a crash.
    â€œChrist!” Dennis yelped.
    â€œI’m surprised the glass didn’t break,” Gregory murmured, unruffled. “Everybody all right?”
    Everybody was all right, and everybody was suddenly famished. Mimi got her purse but then paused. “Do you mind waiting while I make a phone call? I want to leave a message for Michael.” Her husband.
    Of course no one minded. But Mimi’s mention of her husband reminded King of one very important social amenity he’d neglected: always ask about their spouses. He faced Gregory and said, “How’s Sharon?”
    â€œKaren. She’s fine.”
    Whoops . King grinned inanely, unable to think of anything more to say.
    Gregory gave him a superior smile that made King feel like a graceless dolt. Then the smaller man turned his back to King and started talking to Dennis. He was talking at him, King quickly realized, smoothly and energetically, without giving Dennis time to answer. It wasn’t often he saw Dennis Cox playing