Xude’s Complication Named Gary Continues
Gary continued looking at the sky.
“Hope they know how to find the place.”
XUDE did not respond.
Marbles issued a low, miserable sound from the carrier.
Gary looked down.
“I think your friend there might need some help.”
“He has urinated on himself.”
“Yeah. I was trying not to mention that.”
XUDE crouched beside the carrier.
Marbles had pressed himself into the furthest possible corner, which was not particularly far, and was regarding XUDE with an expression of profound betrayal.
“I apologize,” XUDE told him. “This transportation method is taking longer than anticipated.”
Gary scratched his chin.
“Transportation.”
“Yes.”
“Right.”
He looked back toward the road.
“You get dropped off out here?”
“No.”
“Car break down?”
“No.”
“You walk?”
“Yes.”
“With the cat?”
“Yes.”
Gary considered this.
“All right.”
XUDE was beginning to notice that Gary said all right frequently when circumstances were very clearly not all right.
“Look, Jude—”
“XUDE.”
“Jude.”
XUDE decided this was not presently important.
Gary pointed toward the trailer.
“You can have the extra bedroom. I have a guest room. Your friend there could probably use some fresh air. Maybe some water. You’re welcome to stay the night, and maybe your ride’ll show up soon.”
XUDE looked toward the sky.
This was possible.
The field remained suitable for observation.
“You would allow me to remain here?”
“Sure.”
“Why?”
Gary looked at them.
“Well, because you’re standing in my field in the middle of the night with a cat soaked in piss waiting for somebody who apparently doesn’t own a watch.”
XUDE considered this explanation.
It was considerably more compassionate than most communications they had recently received from Headquarters.
Gary started toward the trailer.
“You can use my phone if you need to call somebody.”
“That will not be useful.”
“Okay.”
“I require communication over a considerably greater distance.”
Gary stopped.
“How much greater?”
XUDE looked upward.
Gary followed their gaze again.
After several seconds, he nodded.
“All right.”
He resumed walking.
“Sorry I don’t have a computer. Internet’s pretty bad out here anyway. Cell service is hit or miss. I generally go into town if I need to do business.”
XUDE picked up Marbles.
“I do not require the internet.”
“Even better.”
Gary opened the trailer door and held it for them.
“I work in town. Do odd jobs too. Fix things mostly. Plumbing, engines, appliances. Little electrical if it isn’t too stupid. I’m kind of a Gary of all trades.”
XUDE stopped.
“A Gary of all trades?”
“Jack of all trades.”
“But your name is Gary.”
“Yeah. That’s the joke.”
“I see.”
XUDE did not see.
Marbles made another terrible sound.
“Bathroom’s down the hall,” Gary said. “Let’s get that poor bastard cleaned up.”
XUDE followed him inside.
There were books.
Many books.
Records.
Stacks of magazines.
Glass jars filled with preserved vegetables.
Coins arranged in small cases.
An old radio with its back removed.
A basket containing several eggs.
Nothing matched.
Very little appeared new.
Almost everything appeared to have been kept deliberately.
XUDE stood in the center of the room holding Marbles and looked around.
Gary noticed.
“I collect stuff.”
“Why?”
He shrugged.
“I like old things.”
“They are no longer useful?”
“Some are.”
“And the others?”
“I just like having them.”
XUDE looked at a shelf containing objects whose purposes were not immediately apparent.
Gary opened a cupboard and began looking for something.
“People throw away too much.”
XUDE became very still.
Gary did not notice.
“Hey Jude,” he said, examining two bowls. “Don't let them get you down.”
XUDE looked at him sharply.
“Who?”
Gary laughed.
“The Beatles.”
XUDE looked toward the ceiling.
They had been on Earth long enough to know that Beatles were not always insects.
Gary handed them a bowl of water.
“For Marbles.”
XUDE accepted it.
“Thank you.”
“No problem.”
Gary pointed down the hallway.
“Second door. Towels are under the sink. Guest room’s across from it. Stay as long as you need tonight.”
XUDE looked at the bowl.
Then at Gary.
Then at Marbles.
They had gone into the field intending to leave Earth.
Forty-three minutes later, they had acquired a guest room.
Xude’s feet itched. They had stood in something irritant.
Xude sighed. Xude remembered the new Earth name: Jude. Hey Jude.
Marbles was curled up on the twin bed, purring emphatically.
If only everything could be as resolved as Marbles.
