the night was dark, and cold.
eddie and sal walked down the street, away from downtown.
where did you say this guy hangs out? sal asked eddie.
i don’t know if he hangs out anywhere yet. he’s been seen down at ruby’s.
ruby’s?
the little diner down by the train station.
that place. i didn’t know it had a name.
and sometimes he just sits in the park.
at this time of night? and it’s cold.
we’ll check it out first. then try ruby’s.
all right.
there were a couple of bums in the park, sitting on a bench, a man and a woman, but no sign of the stranger.
the two bums stiffened when eddie and sal approached them but eddie and sal walked past them.
they came out of the park on the other side.
they could see the lights of the train station, and of the little diner across the street from it. they headed toward them.
what did you say about this guy again? sal asked eddie.
there was just something about him.
oh, yeah, i remember now.
they followed the winding path through the park and came out of the other end of it, on third street, where the railway station was.
there was another park bench at the end of the path.
the stranger was sitting on it. he had his legs stretched out straight in front of him and seemed to be staring at his shoes.
eddie nodded to sal, and sat down beside the stranger. sal took up a position in front of the stranger, but not too close to him.
hello, eddie said to the stranger.
hello yourself, the stranger replied, without looking directly at eddie.
i have seen you around, eddie said.
so?
i was wondering if you were looking for something. or somebody.
the stranger looked at eddie.
do you have some kind of official position? the stranger asked.
you could say that.
but what is that official position?
i work for the guy who owns the town.
oh. well, that is pretty official.
so, are you looking for somebody? or maybe you have some other business.
i am just passing through.
just passing through. so, what do you think? about the town, i mean?
looks like a nice place.
nice how?
a nice place to settle down.
but you are not settling down. you are just passing through, right?
that is what i said.
that is what i thought you said. eddie stood up. i will keep it in mind. if i see you around again. that you were just passing through.
the stranger just nodded.
you might check out frank’s place before you go, sal said. on the other side of the park. it’s got fine food and drink. and six big screens.
there’s a big game tonight, eddie added. the tigers against the wildcats. if you like to bet, you might find somebody to oblige you.
i am not a sports fan, the stranger said. or a gambler.
eddie laughed. neither am i.
eddie and sal left the park, and continued down third street toward the train station and the diner.
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