Station, стр. 35
"My name's Lilly. Lilly Sistine."
"Pretty name."
"Thanks, but it's not my real name. I mean not theone I had in the Before. That takes some of the shine off it, Ithink."
"I'm Marlin. Marlin Hadder."
"Interesting name. You come up with thatyourself?"
"Real name, no gimmick."
Still staring ahead, Lilly placed her hand onHadder's leg, an action of comfort and friendship rather thansexual strategy. "It's nice to meet you, Marlin Hadder, no gimmick.You're gonna be ok. I like you already, and I'm going to helpyou."
Hadder's face split in two from the goofy smile thatcrash-landed there, and he was thankful that they were both stilllooking towards the Lethe. "I would like that."
"Me too. But let's enjoy the Lethe for a bit longer.Lost people come here to forget. Found people come here toremember."
Hadder liked that.
Hadder and Lilly sat for a while, enjoying thesounds of the Lethe and each other's quiet company. Suddenly, Lillyslapped Hadder on the thigh and stood up, motioning him to do thesame. "It's getting late, Marlin. And you look like you've beenthrough a shit storm recently. Let's get some sleep."
"You don't sleep during the Solay like everyoneelse?"
"Everyone else isn't the Celebration Cluster, youknow. There's a lot of us who try to live more normal, fulfillinglives here. You want to give it a shot?"
Hadder was unable to deny that although he had wokenfrom a long slumber a few short hours ago, he was alreadyexhausted, weighed down heavily with thought and worry. He rose andfollowed Lilly away from the Lethe, silently thanking it for notonly its cathartic effects but for bringing him together with thislovely woman. Lilly wore faded blue jeans that hugged her long, fitlegs, a tight gray tank top, and weathered black boots. Her outfitwas a far cry from the varied material, multimedia, stream ofconsciousness ensembles that those in the Celebration Clusterworked so hard to create. And Hadder loved it.
As they walked, Lilly spoke. "I usually stay atThe Royal Jelly and have permanent living quarters there.But I'm tired, and you look like the living dead. Or at leastsomeone who works with the dead." Hadder looked down at his blackon black clothing and shrugged shyly. "Anyways, you mind if we justcrash at Cranesman? It's the closest bar, and I'm friendswith the proprietor."
"Yeah, I know it. I ended up there last Haela. Ormaybe it was Solay. Anyways, I met Glen already. Happy to go backthere."
"Good, then it's settled."
They came upon Cranesman a few minutes laterand entered the modest building. Now late into Haela, Glen wasgone, and only one resident remained at the counter, fast asleep onthe hardwood. Lilly kicked the small man's bar stool as they walkedpast, and he lifted his head. "Get to the living quarters, Squeak.The ghosts won't follow you to your bed."
"Ok, Lilly," was all that the small man weaklyoffered.
Hadder trailed as Lilly led him back down to theBar's sub-level and its living quarters. Walking down severalhalls, she finally stopped at a door and pressed her hand to theglowing white mark on the wall to the right. The door slid open,unveiling a room identical to the one in which Hadder had awoken.For all he knew, it may have been the very same room. Lilly gentlypushed Hadder inside. He walked forward to the room's center andturned around, confused when Lilly remained at the doorway. "Whenwe sleep isn't the only difference here compared to the CelebrationCluster."
Hadder's stomach clinched in embarrassment. "Oh, Ididn't mean to…"
Lilly chuckled, holding up her palm to shush thestammering Hadder. "It's quite alright. I get it. But let's justget to know each other first. We have nothing but time here."Hadder offered a grateful nod. "I'm gonna stay next door. Buzz meif you need anything. I usually get up within the first hour or soof Solay. You want me to come to wake you?"
"I barely remember what early Solay looks like. Yes,please wake me."
"Dreams are rarely sweet in Station, so I alwayssay, ‘have a restful time.' So, have a restful time, MarlinHadder."
"You, too, Lilly Sistine."
With that, the door slid shut, leaving Hadder alonewith his thoughts. These thoughts, however, were much brighter thanthose he started his shortened day with. Images of Jackie Crone andtwisted killing machines were replaced by visions of LillySistine's cognac eyes staring at him from the pillow next to hisand her silver-blonde hair tickling his face as they danced closelyto Motown music.
Hadder sat down slowly on the bed and laughed tohimself. In his months at Station, this was the first instance whenhe had spent time with a woman only to end up alone. But Hadderdidn't mind. For the first time in a while, warm anxiousness hadappeared in his stomach, promising something special in the Solayto come.
Hadder laid down and closed his eyes. Jackie Cronedidn't caress him in the darkness, and no scythe arms swung his wayin the pitch black. Hadder didn't have sweet dreams. But herested.
CHAPTER 11
Hadder was ripped from a deep, restful slumber by aknock at his door. Looking over at the Moon Clock through blearyeyes, Hadder saw that Lilly had kept her word, coming to get him acouple of hours into Solay. Despite being in deep REM sleep momentsearlier, Hadder quickly shook off his tiredness, the possibility ofan entire Solay spent with Lilly Sistine sweeping away allcobwebs.
Opening the door, Hadder's breath caught as he sawLilly again for the first time. He exhaled in relief as the fearthat last Haela was a construct - that his sadness, worry,exhaustion, and confusion had made him build this woman into morethan she was - dissipated into nothing. Lilly was all that heremembered and more. She now wore worn gray jeans, a white tubetop, and a weathered jean jacket. Her hair fell past her shoulderslike a blonde-silver waterfall, and she displayed a silver chokercrafted in the shape of a snake eating its own tail. The snakeslowly consumed more of its tail, which continued to grow from theback of its head, giving the piece an entrancing quality. BlackConverse sneakers