Black Static #48 (September-October 2015) by 2015 Sep-Oct (retail) (epub)

Author:2015 Sep-Oct (retail) (epub)
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Horror Fiction
Publisher: TTA Press
Published: 2015-09-24T00:00:00+00:00

FIVE

“You’re late,” Olive said, when the Moon Man knocked at her door at nine-thirty.

Without asking the man’s business – in theory he could be a cold caller trying to flog cable or satellite television – she knew he was the Moon Man. A crescent moon decorated his left bicep. It also featured on both elaborately decorated tie and left earring. Yes, she had no doubt, this impossibly tall man with lank dark hair and loon-infected smile would be the Moon Man. He held out his hand for her to shake. Olive looked at it for a moment and shook her head.

“I had cucumber sandwiches and lemon tea all laid out and you didn’t come,” she said, hoping to disarm him before he could think to take battle against her.

“I’m on time,” he said, without looking at watch or mobile phone, “and you did no such thing. If anything, I suspect burnt toast and a pot of jam that’s been in the fridge longer than your relationship. May I come in?”

“No,” she said.

At her refusal – and as if this were a normal reaction – he removed a fold-up chair from his rucksack and perched on it. She should close the door and see how long he waited, but she suspected the answer would be a long time. Instead, she folded her arms and held a staring contest. He won that too.

“What do you want?” she asked. “I have no money. Ben didn’t have a life insurance policy – we thought we had years before we needed to consider one of those. The house is rented and damp.”

The Moon Man held up his hand, the palm dark with swirls of ink. “Hector Wynter, and I have plenty of money of my own. My wife did expect to die and she did have a life insurance policy and we own our house.”

Not quite done, Olive said, “And we owe more than we own.”

“At least you didn’t put your hands on your hips and pull tongues at me.”

Was he calling her immature? She almost closed the door at that.

He continued: “I promise, I’m not here to swindle you and I have nothing to gain from this – except maybe a moment’s peace. You must have questions for me. Everyone does, even if they’re just to prove I’m a charlatan.”

“I’m giving you nothing you can work with.”

She knew how this went. They engaged you in conversation ensuring you gave away truths. What you didn’t give away, they generalised. So easy to make things seem to relate to you. Read the daily horoscope, you’ll find something you want to hear.

“Apart from the fact that Ben, possibly because of his youth, expected to live for many more years, or that you’d made the commitment to move in together without getting married, although you are engaged, and despite the fact you’re not yet able to afford a mortgage.” He smiled.

Olive closed the door against him. She paused in the hallway a moment, pacing back and forth, half expecting the letterbox to lift and for him to peer through.

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