"We know each other," the man answered.
Harry glanced at the man and nodded. "Yes," he said, "I think we do." But he couldn't imagine from where or when.
"I like your getup," the man said.
"My getup?" Harry repeated.
"Yeah. Your detective getup. I like it."
"Thanks," Harry said.
As they drove through the nodding sunflowers, under the blue-green sky, another hitchhiker appeared. He was fat and he wore a black suit and a wide silver tie.
"Look at him!" Harry proclaimed. "My God, he looks just like Sydney Greenstreet."
"Pass him by," the red-haired man said.
"I can't do that. It's hot out there."
"Trust me on this."
Harry glanced at the red-haired man, saw how earnest he was and kept going. Strangely, Harry did trust him.
Eventually, another hitchhiker appeared. He was tall, clean-shaven, tired-looking and he had a big cigar hanging from his mouth.
"Him too," said the red-haired man.
"He looks like a cop," Harry said.
"That's because he is a cop," said the red-haired man. "And my guess is he's pretty upset."
"How would you know that?"
"I know some things that you don't, my friend. Or maybe they're things you've simply forgotten."
Again, Harry saw how earnest the red-haired man was, so he nodded and kept going. "I suppose I've forgotten as much in this life as anyone has," he said, smiling.
"It will all come back to you in time," said the red-haired man.
A few minutes later, Harry took out the photograph he'd been showing around and handed it to his companion. "I'm looking for this woman. Maybe you can help me. Her name is…" He faltered. "Her name is . . ." He stopped.
"Yes?" coaxed the red-haired man. "What's her name?"
"Amelia," Harry answered. "Her name's Amelia," he said resolutely. Another smile, broad and bright, as if he had stumbled upon some truth that had long eluded him. "Her name's Amelia." He glanced at the red-haired man. "Have you seen her?"
"You've been looking for her for a long time?" asked the red-haired man.
"It seems like centuries," Harry answered.
"Then we'll look for her together, my friend."
Harry glanced at him, then back at the road, the nodding sunflowers, the clear, blue-green sky. This was such a vast and lonely and unpredictable place. It would be good to have company.
"Yes," he said. "Together. I think I'd like that."
Sleepeasy Page 20