ERIKA FIVE LOADED a stainless-steel cart with everything Jocko needed, and took it to the second floor in the service elevator.
After Victor had joined the original two residences, there were three hallways. At the south end of the house, the south-wing hall ran east-west. At the north end, the hall also ran east-west. Each measured eighty feet. Those corridors were connected by the main hall, which extended 182 feet.
In the south wing, the service elevator was not far from the kitchen. Once upstairs, Erika had to push the cart the length of the main hall to the north wing, where the troll waited in his new quarters toward the back of the house.
The double doors to the master suite were at the midpoint of the main hall, on the left, opposite the head of the grand staircase. She thought Victor remained in the suite, but she couldn’t be sure. If by chance he stepped into the hall and saw her pushing the cart stacked with bedding, towels, toiletries, and food, he would want to know where she was going and to what purpose.
The nine-foot-wide hallway featured a series of Persian rugs, as in the north and the south halls, and the cart rolled silently across them. Where mahogany flooring lay exposed between rugs, the rubber wheels made only a faint noise.
When, with relief, Erika entered the unfurnished north-wing suite, the troll was standing on the points of his toes, pirouetting.
She rolled the cart into the living room. Closing the door to the hall, she said, “Where did you learn to dance?”
“Is Jocko dancing?” he asked, continuing to spin.
“That’s ballet.”
“It’s just … a thing … Jocko does,” he said, and pirouetted into the bedroom.
Following with the cart, Erika said, “Don’t you get very dizzy?”
“Sometimes … Jocko vomits.”
“Well then, you better stop.”
“No control.”
Putting the bedding on the floor, in a corner, Erika said, “You mean you’re compelled to pirouette?”
The troll spun to a stop, came off pointe, and weaved a few steps before regaining his equilibrium. “Not so bad that time.”
“You poor thing.”
He shrugged. “Everybody’s got problems.”
“That’s very philosophical.”
“Most worse than mine.”
Erika was pretty sure there weren’t many fates worse than being a grotesque troll with three hairs on your tongue, penniless, living mostly in storm drains, with a compulsion to spin until you threw up. But she admired the little guy’s positive attitude.
In the bathroom, Jocko helped her unload the cart and distribute the items to cabinets and drawers. He was delighted with the supply of snack foods that she had brought.
“Jocko likes salty, Jocko likes sweet, but never bring Jocko any hot sauce, like with jalapeños, because it makes Jocko squirt funny-smelling stuff out his ears.”
“I’ll be sure to remember that,” Erika said. “Of course, I’ll bring you healthy meals whenever I can, not just snack foods. Is there anything you don’t like besides hot sauce?”
“Jocko’s been living mostly in storm drains, eating bugs and rats. And hot sauce on corn chips that one time. Anything you bring is delicious enough for Jocko.”
“This is very exciting, isn’t it?” Erika said.
“What is?”
“Having a secret friend.”
“Who does?”
“I do.”
“What friend?”
“You.”
Putting away the last of the towels, she said, “I’ll be back in the morning, in just a few hours, after Victor has gone to the Hands of Mercy, and then you can read to me.”
Sitting on the edge of the tub, Jocko asked, “Is this good to eat?”
“No, that’s bath soap.”
“Oh. Is this good to eat?”
“That’s another bath soap.”
“So it’s good to eat?”
“No. Soap is never good to eat.”
“Is this good to eat?”
“That’s also bath soap. It’s a four-pack.”
“Why soap, soap, soap, soap?”
“I brought extras of several things. You’re going to be here awhile…. Aren’t you?”
“As long as you say Jocko can.”
“Good. That’s very good.”
“Now go away,” said Jocko.
“Oh, of course, you must be tired.”
“Must be,” he agreed, following her into the living room. “Go away.”
Erika left the stainless-steel cart, intending to return it to the kitchen in the morning, after Victor went to the lab.
Cracking the door, she scoped the hallway, which was deserted and quiet. Glancing back at the troll, she said, “Don’t be afraid.”
“You either.”
“You too.”
“Just lie low.”
“Go away.”
Stepping into the hall, Erika quietly pulled the door shut behind her.