There was a distinct absence of traffic. Of course, it was well after midnight. And what did he know of traffic patterns in and out of Las Vegas? They were used to flying in, not driving. Probably most drivers were already busy pumping their hard-earned quarters into hungry slots, or groaning over craps tables.
They could see the city now, coming into view off to the left. Alicia stared and sounded mildly disappointed.
“Won’t we drive in down the Strip?”
“If it’s lights you want to see we can take a cab and do it tomorrow night. Right now I just wanna get rid of this tank and find us a hotel.”
Mouse had come forward to join them in gazing at the distant, glowing towers. “Is something the matter? I heard you talking.”
Funny, he thought. Your ears don’t look as big as your eyes. “Main road into town’s all torn up. We’re on a detour.” As they began curving toward the city, the lights of the Strip receded, their place taken by the silhouettes of dark, squat structures from which few lights gleamed.
“Looks like we’re coming in the back way. Vegas isn’t all gambling.”
“Industrial park, maybe,” said Alicia thoughtfully.
They were alone on the road. As they moved among the buildings, Frank found himself wishing they’d spent more time driving around the city on previous visits. He had no idea where he was. In this dark, dingy part of town it would be easy to miss a road sign. Detours didn’t always provide adequate directions, especially for strangers.
Fortunately they couldn’t get completely lost. The lights from the distant Strip were a constant glow against the sky. All they had to do was keep going in that direction.
As he was consoling himself with that thought, the road abruptly came to a dead end. He braked, angry at himself for obviously having missed the right turn. Ahead, the roadway became a driveway leading into a large factory lot.
Not quite a dead end, he told himself. Narrower but perfectly passable roads split off to right and left, paralleling the factory. But which way? The lights of the city illuminated the air directly ahead, and that way was denied them.
“Damn! Don’t know how I missed the turnoff. If they’re going to detour you off the highway, you’d think they’d put up more signs.”
“What’s going on?” A glance in the center rearview mirror showed Steven sitting up and rubbing at his eyes. After hours of steady highway cruising, their coming to a halt had awakened both children.
“We’re here,” said his sister tiredly. “Isn’t that obvious?”
“That’s right.” Alicia tried to see past the dark bulk of the factory. “But your father seems to have missed a turn somewhere.”
In his frustration he spoke more sharply than he intended. “I did not miss a turn!” Then, more gently, “All right. So maybe I did. Any suggestions?”
“Go left, I think. The lights look brighter over that way.”
He shrugged. “Good enough.” He backed up slightly to make sure the motor home would have enough space to clear the curb, then tugged the wheel to port.
Several blocks on, they found themselves driving slowly past a dark park. Strangely thin trees sprouted from among blades of thick blue-green grass.
Walking on the edge of the grass was an elderly gentleman clad in a thin coat of some shiny, silvery material. It would have to be thin, Frank knew. This time of year Vegas was warm even late at night. His shoes matched his coat and he carried a cane, which he was giving a jaunty twirl. Golden tassels trailed from the back and one side of a gray beret.
The outfit would have drawn laughs in south Los Angeles, but this was Las Vegas. He might be a visitor out for an evening’s stroll, or a casino employee enjoying his midmorning break. Many of the bigger hotels required the wearing of special uniforms by their employees, the flashier the better.
“Let’s ask him,” Alicia said.
The same thought had already occurred to Frank. He slowed and pulled toward the curb. Alicia lowered her window.
The old man stopped to look up at them. There was no concern in his expression, only curiosity. If he lived or worked in this neighborhood he was probably used to encountering lost tourists.
Alicia leaned out. “Excuse us, but is this the right way to downtown?”
He nodded. With his full mustache and beard he resembled a slightly anorexic version of that old character actor, Monty Woolley.
“Sure is.” Funny accent, Frank thought. European of some kind. The man was pointing up the street with his cane. “Just keep on the way you’re headed. The road will curve to the right, then fork. Take the left-hand fork. That’ll put you right back on the main road.” Now he turned his attention to the motor home.
“Interesting contraption you got there. Internal combustion, is it?”
Frank could take a joke as well as any man. “Naw. Nuclear-powered.”
The riposte didn’t faze the nightwalker. He sniffed. “Don’t smell nuclear. Can’t tell much anymore.” He touched the side of his nose. “Sinuses. You know what desert pollen can do to you when it’s in season.”
“Tell me about it,” Frank replied. “We’ve been to Vegas every year about this time for the past five years.”
The oldster’s eyebrows drew together and the mustache twitched. “Vegas?”
“Las Vegas,” said Alicia encouragingly.
Suddenly Frank saw the light. No wonder the old guy was out walking by himself in the middle of the night. He was slightly off.
“We had to take a detour,” his wife was saying.
“Must’ve been some detour.” The oldster scratched at his nose, sniffed again. “Never heard of this ‘Las Vegas.’” He gestured with his cane once more. “This is Pass Regulus.”
“Maybe in your language,” Frank told him, positive now of the man’s foreign origins, “but it’ll always be Vegas to us.”
The old man thought about it for a moment, then shrugged. “Like you say, it’s that kind of town. Guess there are lots of names for it, depending on where you hail from.”
“Exactly,” said Frank with satisfaction. “Depending on where you’re from. That was straight on, curve right, take the left-hand fork?”
Their guide nodded. “You got it.”
“Can we give you a lift?” asked Alicia. Frank growled and she pretended not to hear him. It didn’t matter.
“No, thanks. I’m on duty.”
That at least explained what he was doing out here all by himself in the middle of the night. “What kind of duty?” Frank inquired.
“Night watchman. You folks have a nice time, now. Try not to lose too much money.”
“We’ll do our best. We’re not big gamblers anyway. I’d rather sit by the pool and people-watch.”
“That’s the way to do it.” The old man nodded approvingly. “Take care now, and remember: left-hand fork.”
“Thank you.” Alicia sent the window up as Frank pulled back out into the middle of the street. “Didn’t you think he was kind of old to be working as a night watchman, dear?”
“Naw. Some of those old guys might not be able to run down purse snatchers, but that doesn’t mean they still can’t shoot straight.”
She nodded, then said thoughtfully, “I wonder what language Pass Regulus means Las Vegas in?”
