Biddy and the silver man

by Harlan Ellison

"And he said hello. We got to talking—"

"What about?"

"Oh, just this and that. It was getting almighty hot and I asked him if he could give a poor blind man a little something to drink."

"That was when he took you to the cave."

"Uh-huh. It was only about fifty feet from where I was. He took me inside and gave me a swig of the damndest stuff you ever drank. Had a kick to it, but not like any whiskey you ever drank."

Cecil pushed the bottle into his hand. "Try another belt of this."

Art was highly agreeable. He wiped the neck with a filthy hand and said, "Thank you, Ceec. You're mighty good to a poor helpless blind man."

Bates let him take a fairly long one, then retrieved the bottle. "And you say you can show me the exact spot where this guy's cave is?"

"Sure can. Only—"

"Only what?" Bates scowled and pulled the bottle back as though to keep from wasting any more good liquor.