Read The The Wasteland Saga: Three Novels: Old Man and the Wasteland, The Savage Boy, The Road is a River for Free Online Page B

had survived the apocalypse under neon tubes humming and buzzing, manufactured before the world was the way it would be.
    “Built it the year before the war. I did. I built it.” Mirrored Sunglasses never looked straight on at the Old Man. Always to the side or over his shoulder.
    The moon would be full tonight. The last curled bits of snake were scooped up in a red sauce that might have been either peppers or ketchup, as the Old Man remembered ketchup to taste. Finally, the bent spoon clanged loudly against the silence that stood between them.
    “Finished?” Mirrored Sunglasses held out a gnarled hand to take the bowl and spoon. The Old Man moved the bowl toward the hand noticing it didn’t move farther than initially extended. Another hand would always reach to meet what was offered. This one didn’t. When the bowl touched the fingertips of Mirrored Sunglasses, the tips curled instantly and the bowl was jerked away.
    “Good huh? Made it myself.”
    It was, nodded the Old Man.
    Mirrored Sunglasses didn’t say anything and for a brief moment confusion crossed the craggy face beneath the sunglasses.
    Mirrored Sunglasses is blind.
    “Sure is. The best. Always got lots of snake. Always snake. Not much else but there is always snake.”
    Blind, thought the Old Man. Blind for how long? Alone. No village. How had he survived? Who knew.
    “Like a dip in the pool now? Then we can get you fixed up for the night. A real hotel room. Betcha never thought you’d have that again. I’ve kept ready since the bombs. Sometimes folk stay awhile. Like to stay for awhile?”
    The Old Man considered the moon and the desert. It would be a good night for putting some distance toward the old town. But the chance of finding salvage after the moon went down was poor. He needed good light.
    But wasn’t this place salvage? Was a motel beyond the wasteland with power salvage?
    “That would be kind of you to put me up for the night.”
    “A dip in the pool first? A good swim and you’ll sleep like a dead sailor.”
    “Maybe in the morning. I think I need to lie down. It’s been a long few days.”
    Mirrored Sunglasses turned to the office, muttering that the Old Man should follow along. Moments later he handed the Old Man a card.
    “Room five. Card unlocks it like one of them fancy hotels before the war, ’member ’em?”
    The Old Man looked at it. Had he ever stayed in a hotel with a card as a key? He had a vague memory of once having done so. A laughing girl at his shoulder as he ran the card through a slot and red became green and there was some meaning to him at that moment. Young. It must have meant something to a young man. The meaning of it now was lost among the blown sand and dying heat of a world where cards did not open locks. That was the work of crowbars.
    “I’ll knock on your door before dawn. Then you can have a swim while the water’s still cold.”
    The Old Man said that would be fine and left the office. Five was on the bottom floor, halfway down the long end of the capital L that was the shape of the place.
    Inside the room it was quiet. It was not his shed where light came through at all angles and where the wind brought the unwanted gift of sand. Or where the business of the village could always be listened to. Comforted by. This room was too quiet. A quiet he had not experienced for many years.
    He flicked a switch on the wall and one lamp cast a thin cone of light against the gloom. He lay on the bedspread. It was thick and stiff. It smelled of heavy dust.
    Already his eyes were closing. For a moment he awoke and realized he had been sleeping. He needed to turn off the light. But he was too tired. More tired than he had ever been.
    I feel as if I am made of grease. I must turn off the light. I would be a bad guest if I didn’t turn off the light and used up all the power. He flailed and heard the lamp fall.
    He was asleep.

Chapter 10
    In the dream he was awake in the hotel room, knowing he must turn off the