Read Online The Mammoth Book of Angels & Demons by Paula Guran - Free Book Online Page B

on a couple and pulled three more on top of me, and they were pretty warm.”
    “If you can sell your ring,” I said, “there’s a Holiday Inn in town. I should warn you that a great many demons stay there, just as you would expect.”
    The kitchen door opened. Following the old man was one of the largest I have ever seen, swag-bellied and broad-hipped; he must have stood at least six foot six.
    “This’s our kitchen,” the old man told him.
    “I know,” the demon boomed. “I stopped off last year. Naturally you don’t remember, Mr Hopsack. But I remembered you and this wonderful place of yours. I’ll scrounge around and make out all right.”
    The old man gave Eira a significant look and jerked his head toward the door, at which she nodded almost imperceptibly. I said, “She’s going to stay with me, Len. There’s plenty of room in the bed. You don’t object, I trust?”
    He did, of course, though he was much too diffident to say so; at last he managed, “Double’s six dollars more.”
    I said, “Certainly,” and handed him the money, at which the demon snickered.
    “Just don’t you let Ma find out.”
    When the old man had gone, the demon fished business cards from his vest pocket; I did not trouble to read the one that he handed me, knowing that nothing on it would be true. Eira read hers aloud, however, with a good simulation of admiration. “J. Gunderson Foulweather, Broker, Commodities Sales.”
    The demon picked up her skillet and tossed her chicken a foot into the air, catching all four pieces with remarkable dexterity. “Soap, dope, rope, or hope. If it’s sold in bulk I’ll buy it, and give you the best price anywhere. If it’s bought in bulk, I sell it cheaper than anybody in the nation. Pleasure to meet you.”
    I introduced myself, pretending not to see his hand, and added, “This is Eira Mumble.”
    “On your way to St Louis? Lovely city! I know it well.”
    I shook my head.
    She said, “But you’re going somewhere – home to some city – in the morning, aren’t you? And you’ve got a car. There are cars parked outside. The black Plymouth?”
    My vehicle is a gray Honda Civic, and I told her so.
    “If I ... you know.”
    “Stay in my room tonight.”
    “Will you give me a ride in the morning? Just a ride? Let me off downtown, that’s all I ask.”
    I do not live in St Louis and had not intended to go there, but I said I would.
    She turned to the demon. “He says this’s close to Hell, and the souls of people going there stop off here sometimes. Is that where you’re going?”
    His booming laugh shook the kitchen. “Not me! Davenport. Going to do a little business in feed corn if I can.”
    Eira looked at me as if to say, There, you see?
    The demon popped the largest piece of chicken into his mouth like a hors d’oeuvre; I have never met one who did not prefer his food smoking hot. “He’s giving you the straight scoop though, Eira. It is.”
    “How’d you do that?”
    “Do what?”
    “Talk around that chicken like that.”
    He grinned, which made him look like a portly crocodile. “Swallowed it, that’s all. I’m hungry. I haven’t eaten since lunch.”
    “Do you mind if I take the others? I was warming them up for myself, and there’s more in the refrigerator.”
    He stood aside with a mock bow.
    “You’re in this together – this thing about Hell. You and him.” Eira indicated me as she took the frying pan from the stove.
    “We met before?” he boomed at me. I said that we had not, to the best of my memory.
    “Devils – demons, are what he calls them. He says there are probably demons sleeping here right now, up on the second floor.”
    I put in, “I implied that, I suppose. I did not state it.”
    “Very likely true,” the demon boomed, adding, “I’m going to make coffee, if anybody wants some.”
    “And the damned, they’re going to Hell, but they stop off here.”
    He gave me a searching glance. “I’ve been wondering about you to tell