wizard-of-the-pigeons

they could have cleared it up for you here. But as it is, you’ve got them all
stirred up and they aren’t going to do a thing for you. So you got to go through
the Seattle office. You just tough it out and I’m sure you’ll be all right.”
“Yeah. Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
“I know I am. Now Mitch, I’m not going to tell Mother you called. This thing
with Mary has her flying around the ceiling as it is, and she’d just get all upset
all over again. So I want you to sit down and write her a nice note tonight and
mail it off to her. She’s been upset enough about Mary taking little Benjy away,
and her stomach is acting up, so don’t write anything that will get her worked up.
Okay?”
“Is she going to be all right?”
“Yes, she’s going to be fine, as long as she stays calm. Don’t you give her any
more reasons to be crying over you. Now, you do like I told you, and get better,
and then you give me a call and let me know when you’re coming home. I know
things look pretty dark right now, but you’ve got to untangle them one knot at a
time. Take care of the VA mess, get the help you need, and when you get
finished with that, we can worry about what’s next.”
“Yeah. Dad? Dad, I’ve got to talk to you. When I called Mary—”
“Son, I’d love to talk with you about that, but I can’t. Phone bill has been
crazy with you always calling collect. I shouldn’t have accepted this one. So I’ve
got to hang up now. Remember what I said. Take the problems one at a time. Get
straight with the VA and get some help. Then we can worry about Mary and the
rest of it. I got to go now. You write your mom a nice note tonight, okay?”
“Yeah. Dad?”
“Good-bye, Son.”
The bright sunlight through the window woke Wizard. Even in his sleep, it
had been making his eyes water. He rolled silently from his bed, cursing the
hangover and the weariness that had made him sleep in. He surveyed the
damage. The den was a wreck. He dressed slowly, in silence, trying to move his
head as little as possible. He wanted to lie down again, but forced himself to set
his room to rights. He walked very carefully, setting his feet where the
floorboards creaked the least.
Black Thomas watched him as he shook and smoothed the blankets. They