William Faulkner, SANCTUARY – WordPress.com - literature save 2

As the train neared Memphis Virgil Snopes ceased talking and began to grow quieter and
quieter, while on the contrary his companion, eating from a paraffin-paper package of
popcorn and molasses, grew livelier and livelier with a quality something like
intoxication, seeming not to notice the inverse state of his friend. He was still talking
away when, carrying their new, imitation leather suit cases, their new hats slanted above
their shaven necks, they descended at the station. In the waiting room Fonzo said:
"Well, what're we going to do first?"
Virgil said nothing. Someone jostled them. Fonzo caught at his hat. "What we
going to do?" he said.
Then he looked at Virgil, at his face. "What's the matter?"
"Aint nothing the matter," Virgil said.
"Well, what're we going to do? You been here before. I aint."
"I reckon we better kind of look around," Virgil said.
Fonzo was watching him, his blue eyes like china. "What's the matter with you?
All the time on the train you was talking about how many times you been to Memphis. I
bet you aint never bu--" Someone jostled them, thrust them apart; a stream of people
began to flow between them. Clutching his suit case and hat Fonzo fought his way back
to his friend.
"I have, too," Virgil said, looking glassily about.
"Well, what we going to do then? It wont be open till eight o'clock in the
morning."
"What you in such a rush for, then?"
"Well, I dont aim to stay here all night.... What did you do when you was here
before?"
"Went to the hotel," Virgil said.
"Which one? They got more than one here. You reckon all these folks could stay
in one hotel? Which one was it?"
Virgil's eyes were also a pale, false blue. He looked glassily about. "The Gayoso
hotel," he said.
"Well, let's go to it," Fonzo said. They moved toward the exit. A man shouted
"taxi" at them; a redcap tried to take Fonzo's bag. "Look out," he said, drawing it back.
On the street more cabmen barked at them.
"So this is Memphis," Fonzo said. "Which way is it, now?" He had no answer. He
looked around and saw Virgil in the act of turning away from a cabman. "What you--"
"Up this way," Virgil said. "It aint far."
It was a mile and a half. From time to time they swapped hands with the bags. "So
this is Memphis," Fonzo said. "Where have I been all my life?"
When they entered the Gayoso a porter offered to take the bags. They brushed
past him and entered, walking gingerly on the tile floor. Virgil stopped.
"Come on," Fonzo said.
"Wait," Virgil said.
"Thought you was here before," Fonzo said.
"I was. This hyer place is too high. They'll want a dollar a day here."
"What are we going to do, then?"