“And dust and sing songs, too. All the menial things humans are so good at. Isn’t that right, Mr. Kelly?”
Kelly nods.
“Give me the keys,” I tell Mammon.
He opens a drawer, takes them out, and tosses them thtosses on the desk. I hand them to Kelly.
“You’re the wheelman, Kelly. I’m riding shotgun and Dr. Strangelove here can sit in the back and navigate. Got it?”
Kelly just stares.
I look at Mammon.
“Does he speak English?”
Mammon nods.
“Quite well. He needs my permission before speaking to you.”
“Give it so we can get moving.”
“You may talk to him, Mr. Kelly, but be careful not to get too friendly. He’s a monster. Isn’t that right, Sandman Slim?”
I look at Kelly.
“You really can drive, right?”
Kelly nods. His gaze flickers from the floor and back to me.
“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir. I never operated an automobile when I was alive, but I’ve been well instructed since then.”
He sounds English. Cockney maybe. Michael Caine playing Harry Palmer. A working-class guy.
“Good enough. And don’t call me ‘sir.’ ”
“What should I call you, sir?” He cringes when he says it like he thinks I’m going to hit him. “My apologies.”
“Stark’s fine.”
“Why not Wild Bill?” says Mammon brightly. “I hear he likes that even less than Sandman Slim.”
Mammon turns to me.
“He’s here, by the way. Your great-great-great-granddaddy, Mr. Hickok. I could arrange a tête-à-tête.”
There’s no wheelchair in the room and there’s no way I’m carrying this charred creep to the car, so I push Mammon into his office chair.
“Introduce me, and when this is all over, I might let you keep the other arm.”
Mammon brightens.
“You see what I mean, Mr. Kelly? He wants us to see him as human, but what’s the first thing he does when he gets in here? He takes my legs. And I didn’t even attack him. Then he takes my arm and threatens me with further mutillefurther ation. That sounds much more Hellion than human, doesn’t it? I don’t think you’ll be wanting to turn your back on this one. Not for one minute.”
“Where’s the garage?” I ask Kelly.
“Directly below, Mr. Stark.”
“Mister.” It’s better than “sir.”