He untied the tarp and folded it back and rummaged through the canned goods and came up with a tin of fruit cocktail and took the can opener from his pocket and opened the tin and folded back the lid and walked over and squatted and handed it to the boy.
What about a spoon?
He's not getting a spoon.
The boy took the tin and handed it to the old man. Take it, he whispered. Here.
The old man raised his eyes and looked at the boy. The boy gestured at him with the tin. He looked like someone trying to feed a vulture broken in the road. It's okay, he said.
The old man lowered his hand from his head. He blinked. Grayblue eyes half buried in the thin and sooty creases of his skin.
Take it, the boy said.
He reached with his scrawny claws and took it and held it to his chest.
Eat it, the boy said. It's good. He made tipping motions with his hands. The old man looked down at the tin. He took a fresh grip and lifted it, his nose wrinkling. His long and yellowed claws scrabbled at the metal. Then he tipped it and drank. The juice ran down his filthy beard. He lowered the can, chewing with difficulty. He jerked his head when he swallowed. Look, Papa, the boy whispered.
I see, the man said.
The boy turned and looked at him.
I know what the question is, the man said. The answer is no.
What's the question?
Can we keep him. We cant.
I know.
You know.
Yeah.
All right.
Can we give him something else?
Let's see how he does with this.
They watched him eat. When he was done he sat holding the empty tin and looking down into it as if more might appear.
What do you want to give him?
What do you think he should have?
I dont think he should have anything. What do you want to give him?
We could cook something on the stove. He could eat with us.
You're talking about stopping. For the night.
Yeah.
He looked down at the old man and he looked at the road. All right, he said. But then tomorrow we go on.
The boy didnt answer.
That's the best deal you're going to get.
Okay.
Okay means okay. It doesnt mean we negotiate another deal tomorrow.
What's negotiate?
It means talk about it some more and come up with some other deal. There is no other deal. This is it.
Okay.
Okay.
They helped the old man to his feet and handed him his cane. He didnt weigh a hundred pounds. He stood looking about uncertainly. The man took the tin from him and slung it into the woods. The old man tried to hand him the cane but he pushed it away. When did you eat last? he said.
I dont know.
You dont remember.
I ate just now.
Do you want to eat with us?
I dont know.
You dont know?
Eat what?
Maybe some beef stew. With crackers. And coffee.
What do I have to do?
Tell us where the world went.
What?
You dont have to do anything. Can you walk okay?
I can walk.
He looked down at the boy. Are you a little boy? he said.
The boy looked at his father.
What does he look like? his father said.
I dont know. I cant see good.
Can you see me?
I can tell someone's there.
Good. We need to get going. He looked at the boy. Dont hold his hand, he said.
He cant see.
Dont hold his hand. Let's go.
Where are we going? the old man said.
We're going to eat.
He nodded and reached out with his cane and tapped tentatively at the road.
How old are you?
I'm ninety.
No you're not.
Okay.
Is that what you tell people?
What people?
Any people.
I guess so.
So they wont hurt you?
Yes.
Does that work?
No.
What's in your pack?
Nothing. You can look.
I know I can look. What's in there?
Nothing. Just some stuff.
Nothing to eat.
No.
What's your name?
Ely.
Ely what?
What's wrong with Ely?
Nothing. Let's go.
