Читать книгу Bivouac - Kwame Dawes - Страница 16

SIX

They drove back without stopping. Few words passed between them. Cuthbert drove slowly. He was not sure how he would explain the body to the police if they were stopped. Ferron had somehow not gotten a receipt or whatever was needed from the orderly. Ferron kept looking into the back of the car. A year ago, he had dreamed of his father’s death. They were riding in a taxi, a black cab. His father sat beside him staring out of the window. He was dead.

“He will alright,” Cuthbert said.

“I know. It’s just strange. It feel strange,” Ferron said. He looked back again. This is when he noticed the Toyota—the cream-colored one with the two men. The car was behind a truck, but Ferron recognized it from the headlights. They were on in the broad daylight. He kept looking back. The Toyota stayed with them.

After about an hour he asked Cuthbert to stop at a roadside kiosk. Cuthbert nodded and stopped in front of one of the vendors. Ferron did not move. He looked through the rearview mirror, watching for the Toyota. The Toyota slowed and parked at another kiosk a few yards behind. Ferron stepped out and walked to the vendor, still watching the Toyota. The men were not buying anything. Four boys were shoving plastic bags full of oranges into the windows of the car.

“Buy me a bag too, eh?” Cuthbert said.

Ferron bought two bags of oranges and came back to the car. Cuthbert started the engine.

“Wait,” Ferron said. He was staring in front.

Cuthbert looked over at his cousin. Ferron peered into the rearview mirror. Cuthbert turned around and then looked in front.

“You feel they following, eh?”

“What you think?” Ferron asked.

“Maybe. But is a free country, man.” Cuthbert started the car and swung onto the road. The Toyota followed.

In Kingston, Cuthbert lost them. He drove into Beverly Hills at breakneck speed, took a secluded side road, and then doubled back down onto Hope Road. By the time they were in Cross Roads, there was no sign of the Toyota. Cuthbert smiled. “Bitch!” he said. They continued downtown to the funeral home. It was still light when they reached.