by Alan Cook
Alfred wanted to dive on top of the tent and bring it crashing down on them, then beat them with a fallen tree branch until they stopped. Stopped the whispers. And the giggles. The grunts and the cries. He would silence them. Forever.
No. He couldn’t do that. He couldn’t kill Penny. Gary, yes. He could kill Gary in the blink of an eye. Easily. Without remorse. But Penny might still be his. She might see the light. Recognize that he was the only one who truly loved her. For months he had watched her from a distance. He had been afraid to approach her, afraid that she would reject him. Just like the one other girl he had been brave enough to approach had rejected him. But now he was ready to act. He had to act—before it was too late.
He silently backed away from the tent until he couldn’t hear the noises inside. Slowly his insides cooled. His skin cooled off more rapidly, matching the temperature of the night air. He shivered. He forced himself to start walking back toward his car. He needed to get some sleep. If he could.
CHAPTER 5
Penny laughed as she put a dime into the slot that turned on the water for the shower. A shower with class—cobwebs, peeling paint, and aromatic canvas curtains. What a way to start her wedding day. A nontraditional wedding day if there ever were one. Their conformity scores had been correct.
She and Gary had met through a computer matching service called Human Inventory. Although as Gary, the IBMer, had pointed out, the probability that the service actually used a computer in 1964 was not high. Computers were just barely up to that kind of challenge, and the programmers who could make them work were still too scarce for a startup company to employ.
The concept sounded good. Even if they’d only used a punched card sorter, it had worked for her and Gary. All applicants had taken a series of tests for interests and attitudes. Interests of matched couples didn’t have to coincide exactly; some diversity was good, but the scores should be close on several attitudes. And they were. They had both scored very low on conformity. Thus her easy acceptance of the current situation. And they had both scored high on—she peeked through the curtains to make sure nobody else was about, afraid that somebody might read her thoughts—attitude toward sex. Those scores had also been correct.
***
Gary fired up the Coleman stove he and Penny had purchased by pooling their Blue Chip Stamps and pondered how his life had changed so much in four short months. Well, okay, six months. Although it was just four months since Penny and he had met each other face to face. But for two months before that they had corresponded anonymously, through Human Inventory. He was Adam plus a number, and she was Eve.
Their letters covered a lot of territory, and by the time they went on their first date to the San Diego Zoo, they knew each other better than many couples do after months—or years—or forever. Gary wondered what would have happened if one or both of them hadn’t been truthful in the letters. They would certainly have found out on that marathon first date which had lasted twelve hours. It would have been two months down the drain, but then, life was a risky business.
Fortunately, they had been truthful, and they were still being truthful with each other. Although, Penny hadn’t told him about the notes and phone calls she had received until the night before last. However, he trusted her, and she trusted him.
Since their families were both on the east coast, if they were going to get married at all it was easier to do it this way than try to coordinate from long distance. He had mentioned the possibility of marriage to his mother on the phone a few weeks ago. She had immediately started naming the dates they weren’t available, including right now. They were in Europe on an extended vacation.
He put a pot of water on the stove to heat for cocoa, and a frying pan for eggs. He was happier than he’d ever been.
***
Alfred didn’t know whether it was the sunlight or the cold or the noises of other campers that woke him, but as soon as he opened his eyes, he was startled enough to take a quick look at his watch. Almost nine o’clock. Panic. What if the birds had flown?
Actually, he didn’t notice the cold until he moved, but when he tried to get up, he realized just how stiff his body was. Frozen stiff. Last night, after he had returned to the car, he had run the engine with the heater on high until the interior heated up, not caring how the noise affected the people in the adjoining campsites.
That warmth had allowed him to go to sleep. It had long since dissipated. When he made it to a sitting position, he considered what to do first. Based on yesterday’s experience, that was obvious. He walked to the nearby restroom, trying to ignore tempting odors of food and drink wafting from nearby campsites. He had nothing to eat with him, except the remains of a bag of peanuts.
Since Penny’s campsite was on the other side of the campground, there was no chance of running into her or Gary. He washed his hands and face in the icy tap water, wet his hair, and ran his fingers through it. He took handfuls of water and reached up under his clothes to wash his armpits, in lieu of using deodorant. The cold shocked his body into full wakefulness.
Then, ignoring the inquisitive looks of a couple of other men who had the unkempt and slightly soiled appearance that campers always had, he placed his mouth under a faucet and drank as much water as he could consume. He could picture all manner of stuff dissolved in the metallic-tasting liquid, but it might be the only breakfast he would get.
Alfred returned to his car, walking among the tall pine trees and inhaling their fragrance. It reminded him of a trip his family had taken to the White Mountains of New Hampshire when he was a boy. Some of the sun’s rays found their way through the foliage, descending to the earth in parallel lines. They were heating up the air. The campground was alive with activity. Children ran about, and adults drank coffee at their picnic tables. His hunger pangs returned. He must stop thinking about eating.
He was faced with immediate decisions. Should he drive to their campsite and risk having them notice his car, or should he walk? He was quite sure he could walk the distance in five minutes by daylight, now that he could see where he was going. That also meant five minutes getting back to his car when they left.
Neither alternative was appealing. He drove to the entrance, instead. Once there, he parked his car near the office where several other vehicles sat, keeping his eyes glued to the rearview mirror. After a few minutes he remembered that he had seen some snack food for sale in the office last night.
He got out of the car and covered the few feet to the door of the office at a trot. Once inside, he glanced out of the window every few seconds as he picked out several bags of chips and nuts and paid for them. Back in the car, he opened a bag of chips and started to munch on them. With his other hand, he opened the glove compartment and pulled out a map.
Alternately looking at the mirror and the map, he ate with one hand and used the other hand to hold the map as he tried to figure out where they might be headed. The minutes dragged by, and no VW appeared. Why was he so sure they were still in the campground? A map of the campsites was posted in front of the office. He had at least been smart enough to note the number of their campsite last night. He got out of the car and found the number on the map. It was close to the entrance.
He walked along the side of the narrow campground road, keeping out of the way of the vehicles of families who were departing to explore exotic Lake Tahoe, or gamble in the Nevada casinos. He spotted the green car through the trees. No need to go any closer. He saw Penny as she walked around the car, and his heart gave a bound. She was dressed in shorts and a sweatshirt. She and Gary were packing up. Their tent had disappeared. Only a stove remained on the table. They were about to leave.
Alfred scurried back to his car. Within five minutes the VW appeared in his rearview mirror. He started his car as the other one rolled by. It paused at the campground entrance and then turned onto Route 50.
Route 50 went north along the east side of Lake Tahoe, into Nevada, and east through a mountain pass to 395. If they continued nor
th on 395, they would come to—Reno. An awful thought occurred to Alfred, not for the first time. They might be going to get married. But all he could do right now was to keep them in sight.
***
“Well, here we are in Reno.” Gary drove the car slowly along Virginia Street. “What do we do now?”
“Uh, find a place to get married.”
“Shall we stop at a phone booth and look in the yellow pages?”
“That won’t be necessary. Look.”
Gary followed Penny’s pointing finger and saw the freshly painted white building to their right. A sign on it read “Park Wedding Chapel.” A red neon sign that said “Weddings” emphasized its purpose. A fake spire at the top of the building enclosed another neon sign with the outline of a bell.
Gary parked on a short street in front of the chapel. Penny remembered to take her sweatshirt off before she got out of the car. Gary put a few coins in the parking meter, and they walked hand in hand up four steps and through the front door of the chapel. They entered a small room with red, patterned wallpaper on the lower part of the walls. The carpet was also red. The rest of the room was painted white, including a number of doors.
The smiling receptionist sat behind a counter. Her hair and clothes were as immaculate as her surroundings. She told them that they could get married as soon as they obtained a marriage license.
“The courthouse is closed for lunch. It opens again at one o’clock. It’s right across the street. I suggest that you wait by the entrance so that you’ll be able to get your license when it reopens. Then you can come back here and get married.”
“Just like that,” Gary said. Events were moving very rapidly.
“Just like that.” Her sympathetic look said that being a little nervous was par for the course.
“Where can we change our clothes?” Penny asked.
“Right here in our dressing rooms. I suggest you change right now before you go to the courthouse.”
“They’ve thought of everything,” Gary said, as he and Penny walked back to the car. Even to locating the chapel across the street from the Washoe County Courthouse, an impressive building, complete with Greek columns and a dome.
“This is exciting.” Penny carefully removed her dress and Gary’s suit from where they were hung up inside the car.
Gary took his suit from her. “Look out, world. Here we come, ready or not.”
***
Alfred was frozen. This time it wasn’t cold air; it was the events that were happening right before his eyes. He sat in his car, parked on the street to the side of the chapel, and kept his eyes on the front door. In a few minutes, Penny and Gary would come through that entrance, and when they did they would be married.
He’d watched as they’d made their initial foray into the chapel, his car partially shielded by another car parked on the other side of the street. Shortly after, he saw them come out, get their wedding clothes out of the car, and return to its hallowed depths. There could be no doubt as to what was happening. Why couldn’t he do something? Many times he had pictured himself getting married to Penny. Standing at the altar, watching her walk down the aisle bathed in light, beautiful in white. Now it was happening, and he wasn’t the one at the altar. He was watching from the window of a car.
What could he do? Should he go running into the chapel and break up the wedding? Carry the bride off in his arms and escape with her the way young Lochinvar did in the poem by Sir Walter Scott? His car would be his steed. She wouldn’t resist; she would understand that they were meant for each other.
If that were true, why hadn’t he had the courage to speak to her since he’d been in California?
It was too late for regrets. It was time for action. He got out of the car, leaving it unlocked for a fast getaway. As he shut the door, he glanced at the sleeve of his grungy sweatshirt. That would never do. He impatiently took off the offending garment and threw it into the backseat. The T-shirt he wore underneath wasn’t quite as grungy. Penny would understand. When they got married, he would look elegant.
He forced himself to stride briskly to the chapel and up the four concrete steps before he lost his nerve. He opened the glass door and walked inside. Then he stopped short. The reception area was small, but a number of closed doors ranged along the walls. It was a rabbit warren.
He turned to the receptionist, sitting behind the counter, who anticipated him and asked, “May I help you?”
“I hope I’m not too late. I got here as soon as I could.”
“I’m sorry. Are you here to attend a wedding?”
“Yes.” Wasn’t it obvious?
“Which one?”
“Penny and….” He couldn’t remember his name. “…Gary.”
“You’re in luck. They’re changing their clothes. Then they have to get their license across the street at one o’clock. They’ll be getting married after that.”
Alfred felt momentary relief. Then a letdown. Then panic. He had to get out of there before they saw him. He turned and opened the door, calling over his shoulder, “I’ve got to get something to eat. I’ll be back at one.”
***
Penny looked at herself in the mirror. She liked what she saw. The knee-length white dress with the fringe was a size eight, something she had never been before as an adult. She wouldn’t put the hat on yet. She wanted to save it for the actual wedding. Something should be a surprise for him.
She walked out of the dressing room just as Gary walked out of an adjoining one. He looked very handsome in his blue suit and tie and short, sandy hair. If she weren’t convinced before that they were doing the right thing, watching him look fondly at her and feeling his firm grip as he took her hand did it.
“What a good looking couple you are,” the receptionist said.
She probably said that to all the hundreds of couples who passed through this wedding mill, but nevertheless, it was nice to hear.
“Your friend was just here,” that woman continued. “He said he’ll be back at one for the wedding.”
“Friend?” Penny said, confused. Nobody even knew that they were getting married today, let alone where. She glanced at Gary. He looked equally baffled.
“He said he just got here. He was dressed a little…informally. Maybe he’s got some other clothes in his car.”
“Are you sure he’s not here for another wedding?” Penny giggled. “Nobody knows we’re getting married today.”
“He said the wedding of Penny and Gary.”
They exchanged bewildered looks.
“Did he tell you his name?” Penny asked.
“No.”
“Can you describe him?” Gary asked.
“Well, he’s about your age but quite a bit shorter. He has longish brown hair and a beard. He was wearing a T-shirt and sneakers. And he has a potbelly.”
“That doesn’t ring a bell,” Penny said.
Gary shook his head. “I don’t have any friends with beards. Well, if he shows up at one o’clock, I guess we’ll find out. Let’s go get our license.”
He took her hand, again, and they walked across the street to the courthouse.
CHAPTER 6
Alfred could see Penny and Gary standing at the top of the courthouse steps across the street, talking to another couple. A couple probably also waiting for a marriage license. The four were partially hidden by one of the marble columns in front of the building. They weren’t looking in his direction.
He carefully got out of his car and walked back to the chapel, keeping an eye on the foursome. When he entered through the glass door, the same receptionist looked at him. This time she wasn’t smiling. She must have told them about him, and they drew a blank. He needed to regain her confidence.
He gave her a big grin and said, “Penny and Gary are going to be so surprised to see me. They aren’t expecting me here at all.”
“What did you say your name was?” The woman looked skeptical.
“Jack. Jack London.” It was the first n
ame he came up with. He hoped it didn’t sound too fake.
“They’re certainly going to be surprised to see you. Maybe you should go across the street and tell them you’re here.”
“Good idea. I will in a minute. But first, I just want to say what a nice thing you’re doing.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t understand.”
“By marrying them. After all, Gary is trying to start over. This will give him the opportunity.”
She looked puzzled.
“I guess you don’t know the story. There’s no reason why he would tell you. And after all, what else could he do?”
“I’m not following you.”
“He killed his parents. Back in Kentucky. They deserved it. They had been beating him for years. He got out of there and came west to start a new life. In California and Nevada, nobody cares about your past. But, of course, they don’t see it that way in Kentucky. They’re still looking for him back there.”
The woman was staring at him with her mouth open, glancing at the telephone on the counter in front of her. Had he said enough to impel her to action?
“I don’t want to alarm you. I don’t think he’s dangerous. But, of course, you never know. Once you’ve killed someone, it’s easier the next time.”
“Where in Kentucky did this happen?”
“Er…Berea.” It was the only place Alfred could think of in Kentucky—the place where his father had been born. “Please don’t tell Penny. She doesn’t know any of this. And as I said, I don’t think she’s in danger. Maybe I’ve said too much. I’m going across the street to let them know I’m here.”
He turned toward the door and looked at her one more time before he stepped outside. She had picked up the receiver of the phone and was already dialing. Good.
***
The sun was shining as only a high desert sun can shine, and the day had warmed up nicely. Gary took off his suit coat so he wouldn’t get too sweaty. He glanced at his watch. It wouldn’t be long now.
