Spirits in the Wires Read Online Free Page A

spirits, some kind of otherness. It’s left a shine on you that most people aren’t going to see, but they’ll feel it and it’s going to make them feel edgy and weird. It’s like the world’s shifting under their feet and no one likes that feeling.”
    â€œAnd it doesn’t bother you?”
    He shrugged. “I know what it is. I also know it’s not going to hurt me. So why would I be bothered?”
    â€œHow do you know all this?” I asked.
    â€œHey,” he said. “I wasn’t always a bum, you know. I used to run a New Age head shop and while we sold a lot of let’s pretend, some of our customers were the real thing and I learned a thing or two from them. Reading auras is pretty basic stuff.”
    â€œWhat happened?”
    â€œI wasn’t paying attention. That’s the big lesson life teaches you: You always have to pay attention. Your marriage broke up? You weren’t paying attention. Your partner cleans out your bank account and sells all your store’s assets, leaving you bankrupt?”
    He gave me an expectant look.
    â€œYou weren’t paying attention,” I said.
    He nodded approvingly. “Exactly. I lost everything when the creditors came calling.”
    I crouched down, sitting on my haunches, so that our heads were level with each other.
    â€œI’m sorry,” I said.
    â€œYeah, me, too. But it’s all water under the bridge now. Life goes on and most of us, we’re just along for the ride.”
    A bus came by, making conversation impossible for a moment.
    â€œSo how do I turn down this … shine thing?” I asked when it was gone.
    â€œBeats me. But the good news is, the longer you’re away from the source of whatever put it on you, the weaker it’ll get.”
    â€œAnd if it doesn’t go away?”
    â€œThen you’ll only be comfortable with people like me who already believe. Who accept that there’s something else out there and it’s just as much a part of this world as you or me. The only difference is, it’s in some hidden part that most people don’t get to see. Hell, that most people don’t want to see.”
    â€œWhich is why I make them uncomfortable.”
    He nodded. “What was it that you experienced?”
    â€œI have no idea,” I told him.
    I didn’t really want to get into how weird my life had become in the past two days—not with a complete stranger, no matter how helpful he might be.
    â€œCan I do anything for you?” I asked instead.
    â€œHey,” he said. “You gave me a dollar and treated me like a human being—that’s more that ninety-nine percent of the people I run into would do. So no. I’m good.”
    â€œBut—”
    â€œJust say hello the next time you see me,” he said. “Let me know how you’re doing.”
    â€œI will. What’s your name?”
    â€œMarc—with a ‘C.’ “
    â€œI’m Saskia,” I said, offering him my hand.
    He cocked his head as he shook.
    â€œSaskia Madding?” he asked.
    I nodded. “How would you know that?”
    â€œI’ve read some of your pieces in
Street Times.
No wonder you took the time to talk to me.”
    â€œWhy—” I started, then stopped myself.
    He’d already told me how he’d ended up on the street. It was none of my business what kept him there.
    â€œWhy do I live like I do?” he finished for me.
    I shrugged. “I know it’s not like you’d be doing it by choice.”
    â€œI suppose. But the truth is, I’m damned if I know. I guess I just gave up. Got tired of trying to find a job. I’m forty-eight and my back’s shot. So I can’t do heavy work, and nobody wants to hire an old man when he can get some bright-eyed kid with twice the energy and all the office smarts.”
    â€œForty-eight’s not old.”
    â€œIt is in the work force.