The Fiend Read Online Free PDF Page B

felt larger and stronger.
    He was only vaguely aware that it was getting late and people were leaving the library.
    Louise came from behind the desk and approached the table where he was sitting. “I hate to disturb you, Mr. Gowen, but we’re getting ready to lock up.”
    Charlie rose awkwardly to his feet. “I’m terribly sorry, I didn’t notice. I—I was absorbed.”
    â€œYou must have great powers of concentration to study in a noisy place like this.”
    â€œNo. No, I really haven’t.”
    â€œI wish I could let you take this book home but it’s from the reference shelves and isn’t allowed out. Unless, of course, there are special circumstances—”
    â€œNo. No, there aren’t.” Charlie hung his head and stared down at the floor. He could almost feel Ben behind him, telling him to square his shoulders and keep his head up and look proud. “I mean, I’m not an architect or anything. I don’t know anything about architecture.”
    He hadn’t planned on telling her this, or, in fact, talking to her at all. He’d intended to let her think he was a man of some background and education, a man to be respected. Now he could hear his own voice ruining everything, and he was powerless to stop it.
    â€œNot a thing,” he added.
    â€œNeither do I,” Louise said cheerfully. “Except about this building, and here I qualify as an expert. I can predict just where the roof will be leaking, come next January.”
    â€œYou can? Where?”
    â€œThe art and music department. You see, last year it was the children’s wing, they patched that up. And the year before, it was here, practically above my desk. So next time it’s art and music’s turn.”
    â€œI’ll have to come back in January and find out if you were right.”
    There was a brief silence; then Louise said quietly, “That sounds as if you’re going away some place. Will you be gone long, Mr. Gowen?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œWe’ll miss you.”
    â€œNo. I mean, I must have given you the wrong impression. I’m not going anywhere.”
    â€œYou didn’t give me the wrong impression, Mr. Gowen. I simply jumped to a wrong conclusion. My dad says I’m always doing it. I’m sorry.”
    â€œEven if I wanted to, I couldn’t go anywhere.”
    Charlie could feel Ben behind him again: Stop downgrading yourself, Charlie. Give people a chance to see your good side before you start blabbing. You’ve got to put up a front, develop a sense of self-preservation.
    â€œIn fact,” Charlie said, “I can’t even leave the county without special permission.”
    Louise smiled, thinking it was a joke. “From whom?”
    â€œFrom my parole officer.”
    He didn’t wait to see her reaction. He just turned and walked away, stumbling a little over his own feet like an adolescent not accustomed to his new growth.
    For the next three nights he stayed home, reading, watching television, playing cards with Ben. He knew Ben was suspicious and Charlie tried to allay the suspicion by talking a lot, reminis­cing about their childhood, repeating jokes and stories he heard at work.
    Ben wasn’t fooled. “How come you don’t go to the library any more, Charlie?”
    â€œI’ve been a little tired this week.”
    â€œYou don’t act tired.”
    â€œA man needs a change now and then. I’ve been getting into a rut spending every night at the library.”
    â€œYou call this a nonrut?” Ben gestured around the room. Since their mother’s death nothing in the house had been moved. It was as if the chairs and tables and lamps were permanently riveted in place. “Listen, Charlie, if anything happened, I have a right to know what it was.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œBecause I’m your older brother and I’m responsible for you.”
    â€œNo. No,