I killed him. It was years ago, back in ’72. Behind a cabin on a cliff. He got mouthy, so I killed him, he said. Lotta people wouldn’t understand that, he took a drink from a paper cup. Why you’d kill anyone? He wasn’t the first, the old man smiled. There were many others. They had it coming to them. Disrespectful mostly. Would pass me by in tight quarters and not say excuse me, pulled a cigarette and offered his friend one. A nurse lit the cancer sticks and laughed.

You sure tell some funny stories, the kid said.

True stories. You think I make these up? Some hippie in the late ’60s and some businessmen earlier that decade. A kid. About your age in the ’50s And others. For a while there, I was on a roll. I just don’t like arrogance.

They were cocky?

Yep. Terrible human beings, he took another sip of coffee. I like you. We’re going to get along just fine.