Kilney does not know what to expect when the door opens but he’s glad when Ramshackle isn’t behind it. He steps into the house and the door closes behind him. To his delight, the house does not change to soothe him. Though the house doesn’t use words, he gets the impression it is waiting for him to ask for something.
So, he thinks up a room, a change of clothes and a blanket and pillows. Within a few minutes, everything is ready. He chuckles as he enters his tailor-made room. He falls asleep instantly.
He’s here. He’s asleep.
Ramshackle, who has been patiently waiting for the house to report back, closes the book it has been using as a prop to appear nonchalant. “House, we have to make a decision.”
You’re abandoning us?
“How can you be abandoned if Kilney will take over?”
You know, you keep asking us for approval but you haven’t explained your needs.
It has become its own worst client, hasn’t it?
“I no longer think I’m serving my purpose. I’m sick of thinking that the reason I have not made progress with humanity is I need them as much as they need me. I feed on them, much like their abandoned desires haunt them. Is this the best way to serve them, house? Can’t we do better? Must we continue to do what has been done for a millennium simply because nothing else has been tried?”
Can a house sigh? Because that’s what it feels like. We will think about this and give you our answer tomorrow.
It is the smell of tea that wakes Kilney several hours later. Out of habit, he checks his phone, expecting it to be dead. But it’s been hooked to a charger that he decidedly did not ask for. With a rueful smile, he unlocks his phone and sees two missed calls from Lunar and one message from Nalin asking if he had reached home safely. He ignores Nalin but shoots a message to Lunar.
He sees his clothes have been laundered and kept on a chair. It barely registers that the house he’s in is alive, like an animal, and in a way, he’s inside this animal’s gut. He dresses himself, combs his hair and straightens his collar.
His nose leads him to the tea. It’s not Ramshackle’s office but the kitchen that also has a table and two chairs. Ramshackle sits on one. He’s in a suit again, this time it is electric blue. Kilney is sure if he wore it, he’d look like a smarmy salesperson. But Ramshackle just makes it work.
He settles on the other chair and tucks in the breakfast and tea. The kitchen is so cheerful, it feels like they have been doing this for a long time.
After he has scarfed down the sausages and eggs, he dabs his lips and says, “I think I know what this is all about. Why Gimby did what she did. Why she didn’t tell me.”
Ramshackle puts his newspaper down. He does not need to keep abreast with the news but it’s a good way of knowing how the people feel about him. This century has been rather forgiving of his ways. Maybe because there are so many people that no one blinks when people go missing.
The house has been curiously silent since Kilney woke up. It had said it would answer tomorrow but he doesn’t know if tomorrow means twenty-four hours from the time of promise made or any time today. He decides to focus on Kilney instead.
“And what is that?”
“She had forgotten who she was. She didn’t think she could rely on any of us to remind her of that so she came to you. Six months ago, before I met you, I probably would have done the same thing. But I have changed. Our acquaintance has changed me.”
Ramshackle gives him a relieved smile. “You had asked me what I am. That’s what I am. I am the embodiment of lost human potential.”
Kilney finishes his breakfast and keeps his plates in the sink. He makes himself another cup of tea and settles beside Ramshackle again. He finally asks, “Why must you kill them and feed on them? Why can’t you just guide them like you guided me?”
Ramshackle laughs. “It was so easy with you, wasn’t it?”
“I didn’t know you could do sarcasm.”
He raises his hand in apology. “You’re right. I could. But not everyone wants to put in the work. The twenty-four-hour equation works better for them.”
Kilney nods his head, feeling sheepish. “Nobody likes to be reminded that they aren’t good enough.”
Ask him, we acquiesce. But you have to promise to treat him as an equal. If he asks for something, you have to consider it.
Ramshackle straightens, which Kilney notices.
“What is it?”
“I need something from you. We need something from you. Your acquaintance has changed me too. I no longer want to be a devourer of souls. So, I want you to take over from me. I want you to become the third Ramshackle.”
20 of 26 of an ongoing series The Dream Maker. You can read all posts here. Written as part of #BlogchatterA2Z.
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