Excerpt: DOG STAR

Chapter One

He had been looking for her at the hostel that evening. He was thinking maybe she was staying there or maybe somebody just knew her? Knew where to find her. I would later come to learn that he believed very strongly in fate; he was a religious man. But instead of finding her - he found me. Read into that what you will.

I didn’t notice him immediately. I was standing in the narrow foyer of the ‘Lite-Nite Budget Hotel’. It was the cheapest hole in the city that I‘d had the misfortune to find. And now I couldn’t even afford to pay for a single extra night. Sure the rooms were small, dirty and cold. But I wasn’t so arrogant as to assume sleeping rough would be any better.
Behind the small reception window (which, worryingly, was reinforced with cast-iron bars) sat the manager. A tired lump of a man in a string vest and thick glasses.

“No money, no room,” he repeated.
“I have money,” I lied, “Just not on me. I’m not from here sir, all I’ve got is travellers cheques but if I can get to a bank tomorrow-”
“OK. I’ll take your travellers cheque,”

Fuck. My eyes darted back to the poster taped to the wall behind him.

“Really? The, er, sign says you don’t? Only cash,” I pointed weakly.
He shrugged.
“The sign says a lot of things. But I can’t afford to be choosy. I’ll take your travellers cheque,”
“Right … see, the thing is I don’t actually have any travellers cheques - left! But I can get more. Just one more night and I can-”
He shook his head and started to light a cigarette.
“No, no, no. I know what you kids today are like. I’ve run this place for thirty goddamn years. I’ve been knifed twice! That’s why I have this,” he tapped a greasy finger against the barred window, “And I know not to let people stay without paying first. Because you know what happens? Gone the next day - without paying! - and they shit all over the bed!”

Given the circumstances, there wasn’t much I felt I could say back to an argument that. However I did still have my dignity, and a reputation of sorts - even if I didn’t have any money.

“Sir, I assure you I wouldn’t dream of doing … that to the bed,”

It was then that I noticed him. He had been keeping a polite distance a few feet behind me. I suddenly felt flush with embarrassment. The only thing worse than being accused of being somebody who would defecate a hotel bedroom and then leave without paying, is being accused of it in front of an audience.
It was at that point I decided to give up and step away. I shook my head and picked up my stuff. A light, blue gym-bag that I was now resigned to having to use as a pillow.
I saw him eye me up as I stepped aside. Not in a gay way, more the way a bouncer or security guard looks at you. A quick evaluation.
He stepped up the window and started asking the manager a few questions. They seemed to know each other.

“Like I told you before, it would help if you gave me a name,” the hotel manager said.
“You do not need a name. She won’t give it you anyway. You have her picture, that is all you require,”

It was the sort of conversation you can’t help but listen in on. Unfortunately I wasn’t too subtle in doing so and I received a dark sideways look from him. He leaned closer to the glass and started speaking more softly.
It was a seedy hotel and in the four days I had stayed there I had already seen my fair share of dodgy characters. I also knew to keep my distance, so I walked towards the front door. It had started to rain. I guess I could try another hotel but I wasn’t stupid enough to assume I’d have any better luck. I’d been hoping that in my short stay I’d have charmed the manager enough to cut me a break - but it was already becoming too evident that goodwill was in short supply in this city. I pulled my jacket on, folded the collar up and zipped it all the way. Since getting here I’d been waiting for things to get difficult. As difficult as you worry real-life might get. Now it was happening.
Just as I swung my bag over my shoulder and went to push the door open however, my luck changed.
I turned to see the hand on my shoulder belonged to the same shady guy.

“You need somewhere to stay but you don‘t have any money?” he asked bluntly.
“So it seems,” I answered.
He arched an eyebrow. I think he maybe thought I was being cocky.
“I can maybe help you,” he replied, “My name is Ghett.”

So like I said, my luck definitely changed at that moment. But I don’t know if it was for the better or worse.