Chapter 2

 

Although it hadn’t been a full moon—which was the usual time when he slept—Charon had returned to his room and had dozed off out of boredom. When sunlight trickled in through the curtains, he was brought from his dreams sooner than he’d wished. He’d been holding the bartender Matilda in his arms and comforting her.

He climbed from the bed, still wearing his shirt and trousers, to find his clothes wrinkled. He put on his hat and boots and headed out to the street to shop for new ones.

The delicious smells on the corner led him to a bakery, where he had a roll and coffee before continuing his journey. He felt better than he had in centuries. The cool morning air was crisp and invigorating, and the smog no longer bothered him.

As he passed a store window, he was surprised to see Matilda inside the shop. Instead of her black trousers, black blouse, and white apron from last night, she wore a pretty sweater, short skirt, and tall boots. Her long curly hair was pinned back on each side, showing off her nice cheek bones, as it had the night before. She was standing in front of a row of greeting cards and was picking through them.

He entered the shop and watched her as she opened one card, read it, laughed, and replaced it. Then she opened another and did the same. Her laughter, her bright face, and her sweet smile made him smile, too.

He felt frumpy and embarrassed by his wrinkled clothes, so he didn’t try to speak with her. He turned and headed back out to the street.

He walked the streets for another hour, peering into shop windows but never venturing into them. Once, he stopped to speak to a shopkeeper on the sidewalk about the price of trousers; otherwise, he kept to himself. How was he supposed to find a companion to sail along a river with him in this crowded city? He had nothing to offer a friend and nothing to talk about. These people scurrying in and out of shops had nothing in common with him. In fact, he was all but invisible to them.

Maybe he’d have to forget the idea of boating on a river. Maybe he’d have to find adventures among the masses. But what? What was there to do other than shop and eat and tour theme parks? He had no interest in museums. He knew enough about human history and its art and culture from the memories of the souls in Hades. Was there anything worthwhile to occupy his time?

He was thinking of Matilda when he saw her again as she entered the double glass doors of an enormous corner building. It was a hospital.

Charon decided to follow her. Was she ill? Or was she going to pay her respects to her friend who’d passed the day before?

He followed her from a safe distance up a stairwell to the second floor. When she turned a corner, he nearly lost her, until he heard someone greet her. He continued down the hall toward the sound of her voice and flattened against the wall, out of sight, when he saw her standing at what must be a nurses’ station, where a woman was handing Matilda a garment—what Charon believed was called “scrubs.”

“Johnny’s been asking for you,” the woman said to Matilda. “He’ll be glad to see you again.”

“Why?” Matilda’s face darkened. “Is it almost time?”

The woman behind the desk shrugged. “It’s hard to tell. You know how it is. Could be hours, could be months.”

Matilda slipped the green garment over her head and pushed her arms through its sleeves before saying, “I don’t know how the families can take it.”

“It’s hard for the doctors, too,” the other woman said. “You’ll find out soon enough.”

“Not that soon. I’ve got two more years before I can even begin my residency.” Matilda continued down the hall. She looked cute with her short skirt jetting out from beneath the green top.

The other woman called out, “It goes by faster than you think.”

Charon followed Matilda through a set of double doors, over which a sign read “Children’s Ward.”

When she entered a room, he waited outside the door to eavesdrop.

“Hey, Johnny,” Matilda said.

Charon was expecting to hear a child’s voice, but it was the low voice of a young man that answered. “There you are, Beautiful.”

Matilda laughed.

Was this a boyfriend?

“I brought you a card,” she said. “Open it.”

Charon heard the slight tear of paper. Then there was nothing but the sound of the mortals breathing, until the young man burst into laughter.

“That’s the best one yet,” Johnny said. “Thanks.”

“I love to see you laugh,” Matilda said. “You’re pretty darn handsome when you do.”

There was an awkward silence, until Johnny said, “How’s school?”

“It’s killing me.”

Johnny laughed.

“I’m sorry,” Matilda said. “That was insensitive.”

“Oh, stop,” Johnny protested. “You don’t have to walk on egg shells around me.”

“School wouldn’t be so bad if I didn’t have to work late, standing on my feet all night,” Matilda added. “I need more sleep.”

“You can sleep when you’re dead,” Johnny said.

“Stop it.”

“What? You started it.”

“True.” Then she said. “Well, your vitals look great. And your coloring looks better than it did last week. How do you feel?”

“Better now that you’re here.”

She laughed. “So much cheese! Ugh!”

“What? Are you vegan or something?”

Matilda laughed again. “You’re cray-cray.”

“What are you? Ancient? No one says that anymore.”

“Oh, stop teasing me.”

“But it’s so much fun.” Then, Johnny added, “Will you come back by after your rounds?”

“Of course, I will,” Matilda said. “I told you. You’re my favorite.”

“I bet you say that to everyone,” Johnny teased.

Charon heard the sound of a kiss. Was it on the cheek? The forehead? The lips?

“Maybe I do,” Matilda teased. “See you later.”

Charon realized Matilda was on her way out of the room, but not in time to react. She saw him, standing there in the hallway.

“Oh, hello,” she said, recognizing him. “Wow.”

He wasn’t sure how to take her comment. “Wow?”

“The light in the hotel does not do you justice, sir,” Matilda said. “Beneath these florescent lights, you look much younger.”

“I was tired last night.”

“And I see you’re without your cane.”

“A temporary injury,” he quickly explained. “It seems I’m healed.”

“Are you here visiting someone?” she asked.

“No,” he said, before realizing his mistake. “I mean, yes.”

“Oh? Which patient? I know them all.”

Charon swore to himself. “Um, not in this ward. In another. I thought I recognized you, so…”

Her smile left her face, and her eyes widened. “You followed me?”

He was at a loss. Why did she seem upset that he would follow her? “I mean you no harm.”

“Is there something I can do for you?” The friendliness had left her voice, and now she was nothing but business-like. Her unwitting prayer to him was this: I should have known your generous gift would come at a price.

Charon tried to think quickly for some excuse that might be acceptable to this mortal woman. “I, I’m new to town, you see. Visiting a sick relative. And, when I saw you, I thought maybe you…”

“Yes?” She frowned.

“I thought maybe you might recommend a good restaurant for dinner,” he finally said.

She seemed relieved. “What kind of food do you like?”

“Greek,” he said.

“George’s on South Figueroa,” she said. “It’s not far from the hotel.”

He tipped his hat. “Thank you, Matilda.”

“You’re welcome, sir.”

He turned and left, feeling relieved that things hadn’t gone worse than they had. Nonetheless, the encounter had been somewhat of a disaster, and he realized more than ever how impossible Thanatos’s task of finding a companion would be.

He left the hospital and headed in the direction of his hotel. On the corner of the next block, a black dog greeted him. The animal reminded Charon of Cerberus when he was a pup—except, of course, this animal had only one head. Charon stroked the dog behind its pointed ears.

“Hello, there,” Charon said as he petted the dog. “What are you doing here in the big city?”

“Starving,” the dog replied with a bark.

“I have no food,” Charon said. “But I can get you some.”

Charon looked down one side of the street and then the other, realizing he was hungry, too. Noticing a sign in Greek, he headed that way. The dog followed him. It wasn’t George’s, but it would have to do.

“Your dog isn’t allowed in here,” a worker inside the restaurant complained.

“He’s not my animal,” Charon said. Then to the dog he said, “Wait outside.”

A few minutes later, Charon returned to the street with a chicken kabob. He fed half of it to the dog and ate half of it himself.

“You’re very generous,” the dog said. “No one’s ever been this kind to me.”

Standing there on the curb, Charon asked, “Where do you live? Alone here on the streets? Or do you have a family?”

“I live with a cruel master who beats and starves me,” the dog said. “Last night, I barely escaped with my life.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Charon said.

“You’re the first person to understand me,” the dog said.

Charon laughed. “That’s because I’m a god, but don’t let on you know.”

“Why are you here, in this city?” the dog asked. “I thought gods lived in heaven.”

Two men in business suits walked passed, so Charon waited until they were out of earshot to continue speaking with the dog.

“My master, Hades, sent me here for adventures,” Charon said in a low voice as he squatted near the ground to pet the dog. “So, I best be off. Good luck, my friend.”

Charon turned away from the dog and continued down the street.

“Wait,” the dog barked, following behind.

Charon turned.

“Take me with you,” the dog said.

“I’m afraid that’s not possible. Go on, now.”

“Please!” the dog barked.

Charon rolled his eyes and turned to face the dog. What had he gotten himself into? Was this his reward for being nice? “Look, you need to go your way, and I’ll go mine. You’re free now. You can do anything.”

“I want to go with you,” the dog insisted.

“You don’t know what you’re asking,” Charon said. “I’m leaving the city—for a while anyway. A boat is no place for an animal.”

Charon turned and continued down the street, but he could sense the dog following him. He sighed and tried to ignore him.

He went a few more blocks, searching for a pub, where he might have a chance at striking up a conversation. When he turned a corner, he caught a glimpse of the dog still following a few yards behind him.

Charon stopped, turned, and frowned at the dog, who was now a few feet away. “What do you want from me?”

“A friend,” the dog said. “I have none.”

Charon paused and wiped his brow. He understood how it felt to be alone in the world. Maybe he should give the dog a chance to be a friend to him. The animal was certainly an improvement on the human race. “I can’t promise you won’t be sorry.”

“I’ll take my chances, if it’s alright with you,” the dog replied.

“Follow me,” Charon said, hoping he wouldn’t regret it.

The dog wagged his tail and trotted happily beside him as Charon made his way down the street, looking for a private place to summon Thanatos. Charon turned down an alleyway and prayed to the god of Death.

Moments later, Thanatos appeared.

“I’ve found my companion,” Charon said.

Than looked at the animal.

“I want to go on adventures, too,” the dog barked.

Than crossed his arms and cocked his head to one side. “This wasn’t what I had in mind.”

“You said to make a friend, and I did,” the ferryman argued.

The dog licked Charon’s hand.

“What’s your name?” Than asked the dog.

“Bill,” the animal replied.

Thanatos turned to Charon. “You’re already anxious to abandon the city for your boat on a river?”

Charon thought of Matilda, but quickly realized he couldn’t attract her attention in his current condition. To her, he was an old man.

“Yes,” Charon said. “Put us on a river not far from here, where we can enjoy what this world has to offer without having to bother with people.”

Than arched a brow. “Not far from here? Why?”

“No reason,” Charon lied. He didn’t want to go too far away from Matilda. But why? He barely knew her. “For the sake of convenience.”

“Fine,” Than agreed. “You’ll need different clothes—blue jeans and work boots, and a jacket, too, I suppose.”

Charon was pleased to get out of shopping when his pants and shirt were soon replaced with proper work clothes.

Bill barked his approval. “When do we go?”

Before Charon could reply, he found himself standing on a skiff—only slightly larger than his own—on a wide river. Bill stood in front of him at the bow, glancing around in surprise.

“What the what?” Bill barked. “How did we get here?”

“Thank Death,” Charon replied.