JACK SAT DOWN HEAVILY ON THE BED SAM HAD MADE for him in a corner of his room.
"So, how did you get the gift, then?" he asked.
"I've always been able to see Them," replied Sam. "Father used to think I was talking to myself, but it was always Them."
"She'd heard of you, that one in the kitchen. You don't want to be getting a reputation as a Talker. They all got things they want said to people, don't they? You wanna spend your life running errands for dead'uns?"
Sam shrugged.
"Then why 'elp her? Because she's got a pretty face? You won't get satisfaction from a dead woman." Jack laughed crudely.
"It's not like that," snapped Sam, more angrily than he had intended. "She asked sweetly. She didn't try to scare me or anything like that. I'll help her this once."
"The dead can't be 'elped," replied Jack. "You want some female company, you'd be better off doing what your old man did and preying on grieving widows."
"Father met my mother when she came to bury her own father," said Sam.
"That right, is it?" sneered Jack. "Then I guess I stand corrected."
Sam didn't want to talk about his mother. "Have you always been able to see Them?" he asked.
"No." Jack unlaced his boots and pulled them off, releasing a terrible stench from within. "My first was a lad by the name of Brownin'. We were outside a pub uptown. There was a drunken quarrel over somethin'. I forget what. A girl? A bet? Somethin'. Anyway, Brownin' started saying things 'e shouldn't. Speaking out of turn. So I silenced 'im with my blade."
Jack pulled out a knife. The handle looked grubby, but the blade was as sharp and clean as Sam's best bread knife. Jack held it up admiringly. Tenderly, even.
"You killed him?" asked Sam.
"We're all on paths toward our graves," said Jack, shrugging. "Some of us are goin' faster than others, is the only difference. Brownin' was always headin' fast. My little incision just pushed him on a little. I held 'im while the life drained out of 'im to keep 'im from hollerin'. They say it's them that have been up close to death that get the gift, don't they? I suppose it's being surrounded by all these stiffs that did it for you."
"I suppose."
Jack snorted. "Anyway, so I let Brownin' fall into the gutter. Only when I look, 'e's still standin' there. He's back on his feet. I go at 'im again, but this time the knife just passes through 'im like he's nothing but air." Jack chuckled, but Sam could tell there was dread within his laughter.
"I don't know which of us looked more surprised, me or 'im. He just kept saying, 'You've done me in, Jack. You've done me in,' over and over again. Eventually I told 'im that if I had done him in, he might as well shut up about it. Then I heard that Knockin' they all hear. That was the last I ever saw of 'im, but since then I see Them everywhere. Just with my right eye. At first I thought, maybe I could use Them in some way. After all, a man who can pass through a wall has gotta be useful, even if 'e can't unlock the door or make off with nothin'. But the thing about ghosts is, they're selfish. They don't wanna help people like us. They just want us to help Them with their petty needs."
"I'm going out," said Sam. He didn't want to listen to any more.
Jack reached into his pocket and pulled out a few coins, which he pushed into Sam's hand. "Bring your uncle a little something back, will you?" he asked.
"Like what?"
"Beer, whiskey, wine … I don't care. Anything to numb the boredom of this miserable place."
Sam pocketed the money and went downstairs. He asked Mr. Constable whether he could be allowed to take a short stroll.
"Of course," said Mr. Constable, winking. He always seemed to know when Sam was heading out on one of his errands.
Outside, the streets were wet underfoot, but the air was crisp and the sky was clear blue. Sam crossed the railway bridge and met the ghost in the nightdress at the bottom of the steps leading up to the church, a spot he often chose. It was secluded enough to speak without attracting attention.
"My name's Viola," she said. "Viola Trump. Thank you for helping me."
"If I do, you must never tell any of the others," said Sam. "I will not speak to you if there is any chance we can be seen by anyone else, alive or dead. So you should not speak to me either."
"I just want you to remind my Tom of what he said. That's all. He said he'd love me forever, and now he's marrying my sister."
"You want him to live his life in mourning?" asked Sam.
Viola pouted and tilted her head to one side. "Not his whole life," she said slowly. "But I've only been dead a month, and he's already engaged to her. I want him to know how that makes me feel."
Sam followed the ghost up the hill. His role as messenger for the dead had often brought him into closer contact with matters that should not have troubled a boy of fourteen. It was yet another thing that distanced him from those his own age. Sometimes he wondered whether he had more in common with the lost souls he could see with his right eye than the living ones he could see with his left.
At the top of the hill he paused to look at the rising smoke of the city in the distance. London was home to so many embittered souls. Viola led him down toward Peckham Rye. Carts and carriages rattled past them, heading in the direction of the market. Sam and Viola turned into a side road lined with newly built terraced houses. They walked in silence. Eventually Viola pointed to one and said with a huge sob, "Here. My Tom lives here."
Sam waited for her to stop crying.
When she had pulled herself together, he knocked on the door. A somber-looking man opened it. He was tall with red hair and a pale, freckled face. He wore a suit, although neither the material nor the cut suggested a wealthy man. He looked uncomfortable enough in it to lead Sam to the conclusion that it was new—to him, at least. From the wailing, moaning noise that Viola was making, Sam knew this was Tom.
"My name is Sam Toop," said Sam. "I have business with a Tom Melia?"
"That's my name. Do I know you?" said the young man.
"No. I live on the other side of the hill."
"Then you wish to sell me something?"
"I simply ask for a few minutes of your time."
"I'm afraid time is one thing I am short on right now. I'm already late." He stepped out and closed the door behind him.
"Perhaps we can talk as we walk," suggested Sam.
Tom seemed more amused than annoyed by Sam's insistence. "This business you have with me cannot wait?"
"You must tell him now," urged Viola.
"I'd be grateful to get it over and done with," said Sam.
"Very well. Although I am only walking to the church, and it isn't far."
"The church?" said Sam.
"I am getting married today."
"Today?" he exclaimed, looking over his shoulder to glare at Viola.
"That's why it couldn't wait," she said. "We have to stop it."
"You seem surprised," said Tom. "People get married all the time, you know."
"It's just … I wouldn't want to upset someone on his wedding day," he said, speaking to both Viola and Tom.
"I didn't realize upsetting me was your intention," said Tom, with a smile. "It makes me think twice about allowing you to accompany me."
"He promised to love me," moaned Viola.
"I'm sorry," said Sam. "You must think me most peculiar."
"Yes," replied Tom. "I do, rather."
Last night's downpour meant Tom and Sam had to jump over muddy puddles on the way to the church, which Viola walked straight through without disturbance or reflection.
"It's a lovely day to get married," said Sam. "May I ask the name of the girl you are to wed?"
"Her name is Perdita," replied Tom. "A more beautiful, honest, and kind girl you could never imagine."
"That harlot … That double-crossing witch!" Viola muttered.
"Then you're a lucky man," said Sam, ignoring her. "How did you find her?"
"I have known her family all my life," admitted Tom.
"What about me?" demanded Viola.
"You've been sweethearts since childhood?" asked Sam.
"I …" Tom faltered. "I have never wanted to marry any other girl."
"Liar," screamed the ghost. "Liar!"
"There was never any other for you?" inquired Sam.
Tom stopped walking. They were standing at a corner where they could see the steeple of the church only a couple of streets away. "Is this your urgent business with me?" he asked, the smile having fallen from his face.
"I don't mean to interrogate you," said Sam. "But I suppose when I grow up, I would like to find a love of my own. I'm intrigued to know how such unions come about."
"I was engaged to her sister," admitted Tom.
Whether it was due to Sam's youth or his disarming manner, this was not the first time he had persuaded a total stranger to open up his heart to him in such a way.
"Ha!" proclaimed Viola triumphantly. "The truth. Finally."
"But I thought you said you always wanted to marry Perdita," said Sam. "How did you find yourself engaged to her sister?"
"It was a kindness," said Tom. "But it doesn't always seem so."
"A cruelty, more like," said Viola.
"I don't understand," said Sam.
"I proposed to Perdita three years ago to this day," said Tom. "I knew she felt the same way, but she would not marry me. She told me that her sister had confided in her that she had feelings for me also. I swear I did nothing to encourage them." Tom paused, as though awaiting further questioning. Sam said nothing, so he continued. "Her sister was never long for this world. All her childhood she was plagued by illness, and Perdita knew she had precious few years left with us. She told me that if I truly loved her, I would put her out of mind and make her sister happy in whatever time she had remaining."
"She ordered you to love her sister?" said Sam.
Tom nodded solemnly. "And so I did. For Perdita. I told Viola I loved her. I told her we would marry. I wrapped up my feelings and became an actor, playing the part of Viola's lover. Every day it broke my heart afresh, but Perdita was right. I made her sister happy. Was it right? I don't know."
Sam's eyes flickered over to Viola. She said nothing, but her eyes revealed she knew this to be true.
"If my opinion counts for anything," said Sam, "then I'd say it does sound like a kindness. You gave hope to one who had none."
"Thank you," said Tom. "A strange young man you are that you should appear like this to tell me so, and on my wedding day of all days, but for some reason, I do appreciate your opinion. It has not been easy keeping this secret. The gossips have me as a fickle, cruel, shallow man. Perdita and I will move away once we are wed. We'll start anew."
The three of them continued the slow trudge to the church. Neither Tom nor Sam spoke a word as they walked side by side. Viola walked behind them silently.
They arrived at the gate that led up to the church. "We're here," said Tom. "And you have not told me of this business of yours."
"It hardly seems important now," said Sam. "Please let me wish you the best with your marriage."
"And good luck finding your own love," said Tom.
"That is some way off yet," said Sam.
"Well, when it happens, I only hope your journey to love is less strange and heartbreaking than mine has been."
They parted with a handshake, and Tom took the path to the church door. An icy breeze picked up and rustled the leafless branches of the trees in the graveyard.
There came a knocking sound, unlike any earthly noise but one Sam had heard many times before. It was the sound ghosts heard before they stepped through the Unseen Door.
"That's for me, isn't it?" said Viola.
Sam nodded.
"I'm scared."
"Yes," said Sam.
He had no words of comfort for Viola Trump. She was about to step through a door that led somewhere beyond Sam's imagination. He expected no thank-you and received none.
The dead were rarely grateful for his help.
