The Value of Life
Page 16
Chapter 16: K
When K woke up he had neck ache. The sofa was lovely and plush and comfortable, perfect for sleeping on, but the cushions were too hard and you really needed a pillow. He checked the clock on the DVD, it was a little after eleven. K had nothing special to do today so he showered and dressed at leisure, enjoying the time.
K pottered round emptying the rubbish and tidying up but was soon bored. He decided to have lunch out, and as he'd missed having the pizza in the restaurant he thought a good sit down meal was in order. He collected his things together and drove the Jaguar out of the garage.
While he drove idly round thinking of a good place to eat he found himself passing the Collridges' house. A couple were leaving the house and crossing the road. The woman stopped the man from walking out into the road, they let K pass in front of them before crossing. He managed a look at both of them, they seemed to be engrossed in each other, the man angry about something and looking back at the house. K wondered if they were police. He thought they probably were although they appeared to him to be on the young side. He drove on and headed for the High Street.
K opted for an Indian meal, something he hadn't done in a long time. He ordered far too much but ate some of everything, each different taste bringing back memories for him. By the time he was finished he was so full of both food and emotion that he felt exhausted. He drove the short way home with the window of the Jaguar down. When he was back inside the house he slipped a CD into the player. The music echoed round the empty house and K sat back in the sofa and let the sounds of REM flood over him.
'Oh life, is bigger, it's bigger than you,
You are not me, the lengths that I would go to,
The distance in your eyes, oh no I've said too much,
I set it up.
As the song burst into the chorus K allowed his mind to wander and in the mess of thoughts that filled his head he fell asleep.