—They don’t use it no more.
—Why?
—Things get used and then they don’t, said Ulysses in his impatient way.
A few minutes later, Emmett could finally see where they were headed. On a siding that abutted the abandoned tracks was a makeshift encampment with a scattering of tents and lean-tos. As they drew closer, he could see the smoke rising from two separate fires and the rangy silhouettes of men in motion.
Ulysses led them to the closer of the two fires, where two white tramps sat on a railroad tie eating from tin plates and a clean-shaven black man stirred the contents of a cast-iron pot. When the black man saw Ulysses, he smiled.
—Well, look who we have here.
—Hey, Stew, said Ulysses.
But the cook’s expression of welcome transitioned to one of surprise when Emmett and Billy emerged from behind.
—They’re with me, explained Ulysses.
—Traveling with you? asked Stew.
—Didn’t I just say so?
—I guess you did. . . .
—There space over by your hut?
—I believe there is.
—I’ll go see. In the meantime, why don’t you fix us something to eat.
—The boys too?
—The boys too.
It seemed to Emmett that Stew was about to express surprise again, then thought better of it. The tramps who had stopped eating looked on with interest when Ulysses drew open a pouch that had been in his pocket. It took a moment for Emmett to realize that Ulysses intended to pay for his and his brother’s meal.
—Wait, Emmett said. Let us pay for you, Ulysses.
Removing the five-dollar bill that Parker had stuffed in his shirt pocket, Emmett took a few steps forward and held it out to Stew. As he did so, he realized it wasn’t a five-dollar bill. It was a fifty.
Stew and Ulysses both stared at the bill for a moment, then Stew looked to Ulysses, who in turn looked to Emmett.
—Put that away, he said sternly.
Feeling the color rising to his face again, Emmett returned the money to his pocket. Only once he had done so did Ulysses turn back to Stew and pay for the three meals. Then he addressed Billy and Emmett together in his presumptive fashion.
—I’m going to claim us some ground. You two sit and have something to eat. I’ll be back in a minute.
As Emmett watched Ulysses walk off, he was disinclined to sit or to eat. But Billy already had a plate of chili and cornbread in his lap and Stew was fixing another.
—It’s as good as Sally’s, Billy said.
Telling himself it was the polite thing to do, Emmett accepted the plate.
With the first bite he realized how hungry he was. It had been some hours since they had eaten the last of the food from the Pullman car. And Billy was right. The chili was as good as Sally’s. Maybe better. From the smokiness, you could tell that Stew used a good deal of bacon, and the beef seemed of surprisingly good quality. When Stew offered to bring a second helping, Emmett didn’t object.
As Emmett waited for the return of his plate, he cautiously studied the two tramps who were sitting on the other side of the fire. Given their worn clothing and unshaven faces, it was hard to tell how old they were, though Emmett suspected they were younger than they appeared.
The tall, thin one on the left was not paying Emmett or his brother any heed, almost purposefully. But the one on the right, who was smiling in their direction, suddenly waved.
Billy waved back.
—Welcome, weary travelers, he called across the fire. From where do you hail?
—Nebraska, Billy called back.
—Nebraskee! replied the tramp. Plenty’s the time I’ve been to Nebraskee. What brings you to the Big Apple?
—We’ve come to get Emmett’s car, said Billy. So we can drive to California.
At the mention of the car, the tall tramp who’d been ignoring them looked up with sudden interest.
Emmett put a hand on his brother’s knee.
—We’re just passing through, he said.
—Then you’ve come to the right spot, said the smiling one. There’s no better place in the world for passing through.
—Then why can’t you seem to pass through it, said the tall one.
The smiling man turned to his neighbor with a frown, but before he could respond, the tall one looked at Billy.
—You’ve come for your car, you say?
Emmett was about to interject, but Ulysses was suddenly standing at the edge of the fire, looking down at the tall man’s plate.
—Looks like you’re done with your supper, he said.
The two tramps both looked up at Ulysses.
—I’m done when I say I’m done, said the tall one.