The Unfinished by Jay B. Laws

Author:Jay B. Laws [Laws, Jay B.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Horror, Supernatural, Gay Men, San Francisco (Calif.)
Publisher: ReQueered Tales
Published: 1993-06-15T00:00:00+00:00

Part Three

A SLIP OF THE TONGUE

1

“WHY IS IT SO DARK OVER HERE?”

Brent shrugged at his boss. “The fluorescent lights are bothering my eyes.”

“Come’ere a second.”

Captain Kirk pulled Brent into a corner by the computer printouts. His face was glazed, as sweet-looking as a doughnut. Little beads of sweat clung to his receding hairline.

“I’ve got to talk to you,” he whispered. He clutched Brent in his agitation, his hand like the pincers of some frantic sea creature, grasping and ungrasping at his arm.

“Let go of me,” Brent said coolly. His boss obediently removed his hand from his arm, but his eyes swiveled in their sockets as though unable to focus on one thing. He had never seen him in such a lather.

“This drug you’re taking,” Captain Kirk said. “You’ve got to tell me where I can get it.”

Brent relaxed a little. At least he wasn’t getting fired for the second time. The lie came easily to his lips. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Don’t play games with me, man. I’m desperate. Your miracle drug.”

“If there were a miracle drug, believe me, nobody would keep it a secret. It’s what everyone is waiting for, for god’s sake.”

“I know you’re taking something different,” Captain Kirk snapped. His eyes burrowed into Brent. “I know how you were. I know how you looked. And, I know how it’s changed you.”

Brent said nothing, but a blush of heat rose up his neck and cheeks. Changed him?

“That smell. It’s a side effect, isn’t it’” His boss waved a hand dismissively. “I don’t care about that. Look at me: it’s not like I have dozens of dates lined up or anything. I can deal with a little smell. You have. And I’ve kept you working, given you a job even when some of the other employees wanted me to fire you. You owe me.” He was breathless.

Brent shook his head. “There is no miracle drug. I’m taking AZT just like everybody else. Combining it with ddC. That’s it.”

“Bullshit.”

Brent glanced around as if for the first time. The two of them, standing off by the computers, were the only ones left in the office. Everyone else had quietly slunk out of the office and headed for home.

“Now, Captain, why don’t you calm down—”

“I’m getting sick,” his boss suddenly blurted with a miserable cry.

“What?”

“I was at the doctor’s two days ago. My lab work is shit. Shit. I’ve been HIV-positive for several years. But now it’s getting serious.”

“You never told anyone.”

“Yeah. Well. Some things you keep private for as long as you can, know what I mean?” He backhanded the beads of sweat off his forehead. “I’m picking up speed on that long slide downhill. One lousy cold right about now would put me into the hospital. This is it, Brent. It’s do or die time. Nobody ever gets better.” He jabbed Brent in the chest. “Except you.”

“I’m just lucky—”

“Luck has nothing to do with it. You’re on to something. More to the point, you’re on something, and it’s turned you into a fucking god, for Christ’s sake.

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