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himselfagainst the door jamb and kicked the wadded sweater out of sight beneaththe dresser. He went into the bathroom and turned on the water. He ranhis hands over his face and thought about shaving, but he couldn't facethe work involved. He managed to run a comb through his hair and rinseout his mouth.
He came back into the room. It was 6:30. Maybe Freddie's was open. IfFreddie wasn't, then maybe the Grill. He'd have to take his chances, hecouldn't stand it here any longer. He put on his coat and stumbled out.
* * * * *
At eight o'clock the watch was changed; Matesic replaced King.
"Anything?" asked Matesic.
"Just this one, Chuck," said King. "I may be a fool, but this onebothers me." King was a diplomat where Blaney was not.
King showed him the entry. The dial now stood at 72.8. "It's been onthere all night, since before I had the watch. And it's been climbing,just slow and steady, but all the time climbing. I locked a circuit onhim, but I'll take it off if you want me to."
"No," said Matesic, "leave it on. That don't smell right to me neither."
* * * * *
The old man was feeling better. He'd been in the bar two hours, and he'dhad two pickled eggs, and the bartender didn't bother him. Beer was allright, but a man needed whiskey when he was sick. He'd have one, maybetwo more, and then he'd eat some breakfast. He didn't know why, but heknew he mustn't get drunk.
* * * * *
At nine o'clock the needle on the dial climbed past seventy-five.Matesic asked for coverage. That meant that two patrolmen would be tiedup, doing nothing but searching for an echo. And it might be a wildgoose chase. He was explaining to the Captain, but the Captain wasn'tlistening. He was looking at the photographs in the deAngelis file.
"You don't like this?" the Captain asked.
Matesic said he didn't like it.
"And King said he didn't like it?"
"King thinks the same way I do, he's been on there too damn long and toodamn consistent."
"Pick him up," the Captain turned and ordered the audio controller. "Ifwe can't hold him, we can at least get a look at him."
"It's not too clear yet," said Matesic, "it'll take a spread."
"I know what it'll take," the Captain roared. "Don't tell me my job! Putevery available man on this, I want that guy brought in."
* * * * *
The old man walked back to his room. He was carrying a dozen cans ofbeer, but the load was light and he walked upright. He felt fine, like amillion dollars. And he was beginning to remember.
When he entered the room he saw the knife and when he saw the knife hesmiled. A man had to be smart and a man had to be prepared. They weresmart ... wicked and smart ... but he was smarter. He'd bought theknife a long, long time ago, in a different world--they couldn't foolhim that way. They were clever all right, they fooled the whole world.
He put his beer on the bureau, then walked into the bathroom and turnedon the water in the tub. He came back out and started to undress. He washumming to himself. When he finished undressing he went over to thebureau and opened a can of beer. He carried it into the bathroom, put itbeside the tub, and lowered himself into the water.
Ah ... that was the ticket. Water and being clean. Clean and beingwater. Being water and being candy and being smart. They fooled thewhole world, but not him. The whole, wide world, but they couldn't foolhim. He was going to fool them. All pretty and innocent. Hah! Innocent!He knew. They were rotten, they were rotten all the way through. Theyfooled the whole world but they were rotten ... rotten ... and he wasthe only one who knew.
He finished the beer and stood up in the tub. The water ran off his bodyin greasy runlets. He didn't pull the plug. He stepped out of the tuband over to the bathroom mirror. His face looked fine, not puffy at all.He'd fool them. He sprinkled himself with lilac water, put the bottle tohis lips, and swished some of it in his mouth. Oh yes, he'd fool them. Aman couldn't be too clever, they were clever, so he had to be clever. Hebegan to shave.
* * * * *
The Captain was on an audio circuit, talking to an AssistantCommissioner. "Yes, Sir, I know that--Yes, Sir, it could be, but itmight be something else--Yes, Sir, I know Squirrel Hill has problems,but we need help--Yes, Commissioner, it's over ninety now (The Captainsignaled wildly to Matesic; Matesic held up four fingers, then two) 94.2and still going up--No, Sir, we don't know. Some guy gonna quit his job... or kill his boss. Maybe he found out his wife is cheating on him. Wecan't tell until we pick him up--Yes, Sir--Yes, Sir--Thank you, Sir."
The Captain hung up. "I hate politicians," he snarled.
"Watch it, Captain," said Matesic, "I'll get you on my board."
"Get me on it, Hell," the Captain said, "I've never been off."
* * * * *
The old man finished dressing. He knotted his tie and brushed off thefront of his suit with his hand. He looked fine. He'd fool them, helooked just like anybody else. He crossed to the bureau and picked upthe knife. It was still in the scabbard. He didn't take it out, he justput it in his pocket. Good. It didn't show.
He walked out on the street. The sun was shining brightly and heat waveswere coming up from the sidewalk. Good. Good. This was the best time.People, the real people, would be working or lying down asleep. Butthey'd be out. They were always out. Out all sweet and innocent in thehot sun.
He turned down the street and ambled toward the drug store. He didn'twant to hurry. He had lots of time. He had to get some candy first. Thatwas the ticket, candy. Candy worked, candy always worked. Candy was goodbut candy was wicked. He was good but they were wicked. Oh, you had tobe smart.
* * * * *
"That has to be him," Matesic said. The screen was blotched and milky,but a large splash of light in the lower left hand corner outshoneeverything else. "He's somewhere around Negley Avenue." He turned to theCaptain. "Where do you have your men placed?"
"In a box," the Captain said. "Fifth and Negley, Aiken and Negley,Center and Aiken, and Center and Negley. And three scout cars overhead."
* * * * *
The old man walked up Ellsworth to the Liberty School. There were alwayslots of young ones around Liberty School. The young ones were the worst.
* * * * *
"I'm losing him."
"Where are you?"
"Center and Aiken."
"Anybody getting him stronger?"
"Yeah. Me. Negley and Fifth."
"Never mind. Never mind, we got him. We see him now."
"Where?"
"Bellefonte and Ivy. Liberty School."
* * * * *
She was a friendly little thing, and pretty. Maybe five, maybe six, andher Mommy had told her not to talk to strangers. But the funny old manwasn't talking, he was sitting on the curb, and he was eating candy, andhe was offering some to her. He smiled at the little girl and she smiledback.
* * * * *
The scout car settled to earth on automatic. Two officers climbed out ofthe car and walked quietly over to the old man, one on either side. Theyeach took an arm and lifted him gently to his feet.
"Hello there, Old Timer."
"Hi, little girl."
The old man looked around bewildered. He dropped his candy and tried toreach his knife. They mustn't interfere. It was no use. The officerswere very kind and gentle, and they were very, very firm. They led himoff as though he were an old, old friend.
One of the officers called back over his shoulder, "Bye, bye, littlegirl."
The little girl dutifully waved 'bye.
She looked at the paper sack on the sidewalk. She didn't know what todo, but the nice old man was gone. She looked around, but no one waspaying any attention, they were all watching the softball game. Suddenly
she made a grab and clutched the paper bag to her body. Then she turnedand ran back up the street to tell her Mommy how wonderful, wonderfullucky she was.
Transcriber's Note:
This etext was produced from _Analog_ April 1962. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed. Minor spelling and typographical errors have been corrected without note.
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He came back into the room. It was 6:30. Maybe Freddie's was open. IfFreddie wasn't, then maybe the Grill. He'd have to take his chances, hecouldn't stand it here any longer. He put on his coat and stumbled out.
* * * * *
At eight o'clock the watch was changed; Matesic replaced King.
"Anything?" asked Matesic.
"Just this one, Chuck," said King. "I may be a fool, but this onebothers me." King was a diplomat where Blaney was not.
King showed him the entry. The dial now stood at 72.8. "It's been onthere all night, since before I had the watch. And it's been climbing,just slow and steady, but all the time climbing. I locked a circuit onhim, but I'll take it off if you want me to."
"No," said Matesic, "leave it on. That don't smell right to me neither."
* * * * *
The old man was feeling better. He'd been in the bar two hours, and he'dhad two pickled eggs, and the bartender didn't bother him. Beer was allright, but a man needed whiskey when he was sick. He'd have one, maybetwo more, and then he'd eat some breakfast. He didn't know why, but heknew he mustn't get drunk.
* * * * *
At nine o'clock the needle on the dial climbed past seventy-five.Matesic asked for coverage. That meant that two patrolmen would be tiedup, doing nothing but searching for an echo. And it might be a wildgoose chase. He was explaining to the Captain, but the Captain wasn'tlistening. He was looking at the photographs in the deAngelis file.
"You don't like this?" the Captain asked.
Matesic said he didn't like it.
"And King said he didn't like it?"
"King thinks the same way I do, he's been on there too damn long and toodamn consistent."
"Pick him up," the Captain turned and ordered the audio controller. "Ifwe can't hold him, we can at least get a look at him."
"It's not too clear yet," said Matesic, "it'll take a spread."
"I know what it'll take," the Captain roared. "Don't tell me my job! Putevery available man on this, I want that guy brought in."
* * * * *
The old man walked back to his room. He was carrying a dozen cans ofbeer, but the load was light and he walked upright. He felt fine, like amillion dollars. And he was beginning to remember.
When he entered the room he saw the knife and when he saw the knife hesmiled. A man had to be smart and a man had to be prepared. They weresmart ... wicked and smart ... but he was smarter. He'd bought theknife a long, long time ago, in a different world--they couldn't foolhim that way. They were clever all right, they fooled the whole world.
He put his beer on the bureau, then walked into the bathroom and turnedon the water in the tub. He came back out and started to undress. He washumming to himself. When he finished undressing he went over to thebureau and opened a can of beer. He carried it into the bathroom, put itbeside the tub, and lowered himself into the water.
Ah ... that was the ticket. Water and being clean. Clean and beingwater. Being water and being candy and being smart. They fooled thewhole world, but not him. The whole, wide world, but they couldn't foolhim. He was going to fool them. All pretty and innocent. Hah! Innocent!He knew. They were rotten, they were rotten all the way through. Theyfooled the whole world but they were rotten ... rotten ... and he wasthe only one who knew.
He finished the beer and stood up in the tub. The water ran off his bodyin greasy runlets. He didn't pull the plug. He stepped out of the tuband over to the bathroom mirror. His face looked fine, not puffy at all.He'd fool them. He sprinkled himself with lilac water, put the bottle tohis lips, and swished some of it in his mouth. Oh yes, he'd fool them. Aman couldn't be too clever, they were clever, so he had to be clever. Hebegan to shave.
* * * * *
The Captain was on an audio circuit, talking to an AssistantCommissioner. "Yes, Sir, I know that--Yes, Sir, it could be, but itmight be something else--Yes, Sir, I know Squirrel Hill has problems,but we need help--Yes, Commissioner, it's over ninety now (The Captainsignaled wildly to Matesic; Matesic held up four fingers, then two) 94.2and still going up--No, Sir, we don't know. Some guy gonna quit his job... or kill his boss. Maybe he found out his wife is cheating on him. Wecan't tell until we pick him up--Yes, Sir--Yes, Sir--Thank you, Sir."
The Captain hung up. "I hate politicians," he snarled.
"Watch it, Captain," said Matesic, "I'll get you on my board."
"Get me on it, Hell," the Captain said, "I've never been off."
* * * * *
The old man finished dressing. He knotted his tie and brushed off thefront of his suit with his hand. He looked fine. He'd fool them, helooked just like anybody else. He crossed to the bureau and picked upthe knife. It was still in the scabbard. He didn't take it out, he justput it in his pocket. Good. It didn't show.
He walked out on the street. The sun was shining brightly and heat waveswere coming up from the sidewalk. Good. Good. This was the best time.People, the real people, would be working or lying down asleep. Butthey'd be out. They were always out. Out all sweet and innocent in thehot sun.
He turned down the street and ambled toward the drug store. He didn'twant to hurry. He had lots of time. He had to get some candy first. Thatwas the ticket, candy. Candy worked, candy always worked. Candy was goodbut candy was wicked. He was good but they were wicked. Oh, you had tobe smart.
* * * * *
"That has to be him," Matesic said. The screen was blotched and milky,but a large splash of light in the lower left hand corner outshoneeverything else. "He's somewhere around Negley Avenue." He turned to theCaptain. "Where do you have your men placed?"
"In a box," the Captain said. "Fifth and Negley, Aiken and Negley,Center and Aiken, and Center and Negley. And three scout cars overhead."
* * * * *
The old man walked up Ellsworth to the Liberty School. There were alwayslots of young ones around Liberty School. The young ones were the worst.
* * * * *
"I'm losing him."
"Where are you?"
"Center and Aiken."
"Anybody getting him stronger?"
"Yeah. Me. Negley and Fifth."
"Never mind. Never mind, we got him. We see him now."
"Where?"
"Bellefonte and Ivy. Liberty School."
* * * * *
She was a friendly little thing, and pretty. Maybe five, maybe six, andher Mommy had told her not to talk to strangers. But the funny old manwasn't talking, he was sitting on the curb, and he was eating candy, andhe was offering some to her. He smiled at the little girl and she smiledback.
* * * * *
The scout car settled to earth on automatic. Two officers climbed out ofthe car and walked quietly over to the old man, one on either side. Theyeach took an arm and lifted him gently to his feet.
"Hello there, Old Timer."
"Hi, little girl."
The old man looked around bewildered. He dropped his candy and tried toreach his knife. They mustn't interfere. It was no use. The officerswere very kind and gentle, and they were very, very firm. They led himoff as though he were an old, old friend.
One of the officers called back over his shoulder, "Bye, bye, littlegirl."
The little girl dutifully waved 'bye.
She looked at the paper sack on the sidewalk. She didn't know what todo, but the nice old man was gone. She looked around, but no one waspaying any attention, they were all watching the softball game. Suddenly
she made a grab and clutched the paper bag to her body. Then she turnedand ran back up the street to tell her Mommy how wonderful, wonderfullucky she was.
Transcriber's Note:
This etext was produced from _Analog_ April 1962. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed. Minor spelling and typographical errors have been corrected without note.
Thank you for reading books on Archive.BookFrom.Net
Share this book with friends
The Circuit Riders