Read Online High Hunt by David Eddings - Free Book Online

couch—we might even be able to scrounge up a TV set from someplace.”
    â€œLook, Jack,” I said, “it’s only going to be a month or so. Don’t go to any special trouble.” I didn’t want to owe him too much. Owing people is a bum trip.
    â€œTrouble? Hell, it’s no special trouble. After all, you’re my brother, ain’t you. No brother of mine is going to live in somebroken-down junker. Besides, if you’ve got some tomato lined up, you’ll want to make a favorable impression. That counts for a lot, doesn’t it, Marg?”
    â€œYou really will want some new stuff in there,” she agreed. “Nelsons lived in there before, and Eileen wasn’t the neatest person in the world.” Now that I wasn’t going to move in with them Margaret seemed to think better of me. I could see her point though.
    â€œNeat?” Jack snorted, lighting a cigarette. “She was a slob. Not only was she a boozer, she was the court punchboard besides. Old Nels used to slap her around every night just on general principles—he figured she probably laid three guys a day just to keep in practice, and usually he was guessin’ on the low side.”
    â€œHow would you know about that, Mister Alders?” Margaret demanded.
    â€œJust hearsay, sweetie, just hearsay. You know me.”
    â€œThat’s just it,” she said, “I do know you.”
    â€œNow, sweetie—”
    There was a heavy pounding on the side of the trailer. I jumped. “OK, in there,” a voice bellowed from outside, “this is a raid.”
    â€œHey,” Jack said, “that’s Sloane.” He raised his voice. “You’ll never take us alive, Copper!” It sounded like a game that had been going on for a long time.
    A huge, balding man of about forty came in, laughing in a high-pitched giggle. His face was red, and he wore a slightly rumpled suit. He looked heavy, but it wasn’t really fat. He seemed to fill up the whole trailer. His grin sprawled all over his face and he seemed to be just a little drunk. He had a half-case of beer under one arm.
    â€œHi, Margaret, honey,” he said, putting down the beer and folding her in a bear hug. “How’s my girlfriend?”
    â€œSloane, you drunken son of a bitch,” Jack said, grinning, “quit pawin’ my wife and shake hands with my brother Dan. Dan, Cal Sloane.”
    â€œDan?” Sloane asked, turning to me. “Aren’t you Alders’ college-man brother?”
    â€œHe went in the Army after he got out of college,” Jack said. “He’s out at the separation center now.”
    â€œYou on leave?” Sloane asked, shaking my hand.
    â€œI told you, Cal,” Jack said, “he’s at the separation center .He’s gettin’ out. Why don’t you listen, you dumb shit?” The insults had the ring of an established ritual, so I didn’t butt in.
    â€œHey, that’s a reason for a party, isn’t it?” Sloane said.
    â€œIsn’t everything reason enough for you?” Jack demanded, still grinning.
    â€œNot everything . I didn’t drink more than a case or two at my Old Lady’s funeral.”
    â€œDan here’s been drinkin’ German beer,” Jack boasted. “He can put you under the table without even settlin’ the dust in his throat.”
    â€œDidn’t we meet a couple times a few years back?” Sloane asked me, pulling off his coat and settling down in a chair.
    â€œI think so,” I said.
    â€œSure we did. It was when Alders here was still married to Bonnie.” He loosened his tie.
    â€œYeah,” I said, “I believe it was.”
    We talked for about an hour, kidding back and forth. At first Sloane seemed a little simple—that giggle and all—but after a while I realized that he was really pretty sharp. I began to be very glad that I’d called Jack and come on