The Peacock 1556

What did Chuck have to say?" "That he's prepared to hire all of us. He wants the whole kit and kaboodle and was also asking about our providing housing and shelter for some of the homeless." "That would be a huge step. Do you reckon he's thinking of the house you just bought?" "We could buy another one. But we already have an ace up our sleeve." "Being..." "The mansion." "You don't say."

1555

"Tell me all about your day today, Carl." "That was my first visit to St Jude's." "Really?" "For some reason, with all our involvement with Father Griffin, it would be easy to assume that we had been there to visit a good number of times, I guess." "How did you like it." "It was sublime. The high mass is fascinating, and beautiful, and deeply, deeply spiritusl." "More's the pity that no one there seems interested in living the same reality." "Oh, I imagine there might be one or two..."

The Peacock 1554

"He should have been out of there days ago." "Why didn't you tell me days ago." "I only found out just a few minutes ago." "Me too", i reply. "What do you think must have happened?" "I can't imagine this kind of balls up without help." "You mean from Lindstrom and company." "Precisely. Does Erik know you're on your way?" "Yeah, I just told him on Skype. It's going to be crowded with Erik tonight." Carl starts marking on his phone. "Hey, George. yeah. We're bringing Chris' friend Erik back with us tonight. Would it be an imposition to ask you and jeffrey to move into the condo downtown this same evening? Thanks, really appreciate it. Thanks for understanding."

1553

"There he is", announces Carl heartily as I try to run past everyone to the front door. "Hey, where you going?" "I'm getting Erik out of the hotel." "I'll come with you." Before I can refuse, he has already beat me to the front door and now stands waiting for me by the passenger door of my car. "What about the others" "They're all in good hands", he says, climbing in and slamming the door...

The Peacock 1552

I am searching on my phone for more specific information about the covid quarantines. For some reason fourteen days in a hotel room has seemed to me to be excessive and unrealistic. And here it is. Three days. No more. And my friend has been there since Tuesday, or five days. Something is horribly wrong here. "Erik, I just pulled this information from the internet. you were supposed to leave your hotel two days ago. Why are you still there? "I was told it was for fourteen days." "By whom?" He gives me a blank and very troubled stare. "I don't know. I don't know what happened." "Never mind. I'm driving out right now to get you. Make sure you're all packed..."

The Peacock 1551

It must get very claustrophobic." "It's the security guards. They're posted here all day and all night. I'm not even allowed to open my door. They might as well have put me in jail." "What's the food like?" "About that I have no complaints. Three squares a day, plus morning and afternoon snacks which I save for bedtime. I'm going to get fat here." "How's the TV" "I've been watching movies on Netflix. I came across some vintage Marx Brothers. It's hard to believe they were made ninety years ago Those guys were insane....

The Peacock 1550

"How's it going?" "He doesn't answer at first. I decided to cold call him on Skype. He doesn't seem too bad, kind of po faced, which is unusual because, Nordic Swede that he is Erik must have one of the most totally expressive faces I have ever known. "I just spent the last half hour sitting quietly in my room, staring out the window at the sky. it hasnt been so bad this time." "Are you still reading a lot." "I don't have the attention span today. I can't even watch TV or look at my phone or laptop. I just want to sit and be quiet. It is an unusually quiet hotel. From time to time I hear people in the hall. There are i think two other covid prisoners on my floor, but I can't be sure. Of course, we are not permitted to leave our rooms to mingle...