by Alia Hess
“What is part called? Maybe I know it.”
She wiggled on his lap, digging through her pockets, and Sasha squeezed his eyes shut, trying to think about calculus, his grandma’s face, cockroaches, and anything else that might calm down his excitement a little bit.
Dusty pulled out a scrap of paper. “A diamond-jointed pin regulator. Do you know what that is?”
Sasha tugged at his hair, his eyes following the curve of Dusty’s neck. “No.”
“I have a diagram, too.” She turned the paper over.
He frowned at the bizarre blueprint. “Is it made of diamond? Or just has diamond-shape?”
“I have no idea. The engineers in Hammerlink said they can’t manufacture it, so they need someone to find one. It’s worth a lot of money. You sure your drone doesn’t have one?”
“I’m sure.”
Dusty climbed out of his lap, looking disappointed. Sasha let out a breath. “You know, I am going to go to Hammerlink. Their technology is different than mine. That part you’re looking for is probably from Eastern origin, not Old World part. And mine is not either. Russian technology.”
“Russian technology.” She kicked away a dented metal barrel and sat in the grass.
“Yes, I am from Russia.”
“Is that why you have an accent?”
“You aren’t surprised I’m from other country?”
Dusty shrugged. “Not the weirdest thing I’ve ever seen or heard.”
“Oh no?” Sasha leaned against the tree. “I came here on airplane.”
“That supposed to impress me? I’ve seen so many machines in the East, and I don’t even know what most of them do. I’m never going to find that part out here. No wonder no one else wanted the job. I’m wasting my time.” She cocked her her head, regarding him with calculating eyes. “So, mighty kitten-slayer, how are you going to get around without passing out? Is it only when you walk?”
“Walk for long time, run a little bit, that sort of thing. I can do things like work in garden, cooking, easy chores. But traveling is not good for me.”
She squinted at him. “So it’s a good thing that we aren’t going to trade. Sex would probably kill you.”
Sasha laughed. “No. Trust me, I do not have problem with that. If that killed me, I would be dead long time ago. But you want to see for yourself, I’m ready. Come sit in my lap again.”
Dusty grinned and pushed herself up. “You’re a funny guy. Listen, I saw something up the road that gives me an idea of how you can get around, but I doubt you’re going to like it. Stay here.”
“Hang on.”
She stopped, rubbing her head.
“Why you want to help me? You still hoping I will give you my drone?”
“Maybe I like you.”
Sasha smiled.
“Look, you shot a Boss, which is a big thing in my book. Nobody does that. And you’re sort of funny. And naïve. That’s funny too. I don’t want you to be stuck out here in the middle of nowhere.”
Sasha chuckled, watching Dusty turn on her heel and jog down the road. “Don’t go anywhere!”
He shut his eyes and rested his arms behind his head, thinking of Dusty’s kisses and trying to imagine what she would look like with flowing auburn hair, a tight black dress, and maybe some pink lipstick.
Before long, a strange clattering drifted from down the road. He stood up. Dusty jogged, a grin on her face, with a shopping cart in front of her. Sasha covered his eyes with his hand and shook his head.
She panted. “What do you think?”
“You want me to sit in that thing?” He dropped his hand and frowned at the rusty metal cart. “You going to push me like baby?”
“Yeah!”
Sasha doubled over with laughter. “That is ridiculous! I do not think I would even fit. But is good idea. Wheels are good. Maybe we can change it somehow.”
Dusty sucked in a breath, wiping sweat from her face and smearing her eyeblack. “You need other parts?”
“I don’t know. Let me think about it for minute.” He pointed to her temple. “You messed up your makeup.”
“Eyeblack. Not makeup. Fix it for me.” She tilted her face toward him.
Sasha reached out and wiped the smear away with his thumb.
She turned for her bag. “Speaking of. You can’t be out here without some too. What kind of an adventurer are you?”
“A really bad one.”
“Well, it’s bad luck not to wear any.” Dusty produced a large tin of eyeblack. She unscrewed the lid and scooped out a small blob of the greasy pigment. “Shut your eyes.”
“Make me look tough.”
“I’ll be honest”—Dusty rubbed the paste onto his lids and into his brows— “that’s going to be hard to do.”
Sasha chuckled and she took his jaw in her other hand. “Quit moving… Okay, all done.”
He blinked, his lids cold and slippery. Dusty still had her soft hand on his face, and was looking back at him with a half-smile. “Not bad, actually.”
He swallowed, heartbeat feeling anything but weak at the moment. “Hey, maybe I have different deal for you.”
“What’s that?”
“What if I help you find this diamond part thing?”
Dusty raised her eyebrows and dropped her hand from his cheek. “It’s going to be really hard to find. That’s a lot of effort just to get laid.”
“No, no. Deal is not for that. Just… let me walk with you for while, yeah? Don’t get bored of me and dump me somewhere in this cart? Kind of nice to have lady to talk to who doesn’t hate my guts.”
One side of Dusty’s face pulled up in a smirk. “I wasn’t going to say this, but that’s sort of what I had in mind for you, anyway. You could help me find some good electronics. I’m sure you know which parts are valuable and which ones are worthless.”
“So you are using me again?”
“Yeah. That a problem?”
“Hey, use me all you want, baby. I am here for you.”
“Anyone ever tell you that you try too hard?”
“All the time.”
“Well, at least you’re aware you’re doing it.” Her honey eyes drifted over him. “Finding good electronics might take us into some seedy territory. You know, if you shaved your head, you might look tougher. Or a mohawk even.”
“I used to have bald head, like you. But I’m pretty sure it did not make me look tough. Is that why you shave your head?”
Dusty’s smile fell away. “Yeah. Back when I was owned, I had really long hair and wore dresses with frills, white tights, those shiny shoes with buckles on them. Stuff that Bosses like.” She pursed her lips. “After I killed mine, I left and had to fend for myself.”
His gaze ran over her full lips. “Your haircut confused me. I’m sorry I thought you were guy. You are pretty. I like. How old are you?”
“Eighteen.”
Sasha took a step back. “Oh, you are younger than I thought.”
Why is she out here wandering around alone and trying to seduce men?
Under her suntan, layer of grime, and thick adornment of eyeblack, her face looked soft and delicate. Her attitude was tough and gritty too. Was that an illusion as well? Was she weak and fragile?
I’m not exactly the best company for a young and vulnerable girl.
Dusty shrugged. “I’m almost nineteen. It’s my birthday next week. How old are you?”
“Twenty-six. How come you want me to travel with you? I am sure you could find some other person to help you look for electronics.”
Dusty stared at the asphalt. “Doubt it. I don’t see a lot of people out here walking around, and you just seemed like… like you needed help. Plus, most guys I meet just want to trade and leave, y’know? Most of them are assholes. They don’t want to have a conversation. They don’t care about using me. I just thought some company would be nice from a guy that, well, no offense, but from a guy that doesn’t look imposing.”
“What’s that mean? ‘Imposi
ng?’”
“Tough. Intimidating.”
She looks tough and intimidating. But she isn’t. She wants to travel with a guy that doesn’t scare her. Has she been afraid of guys in the past that she traveled with? Did they take advantage of her?
Sasha walked to the shopping cart. After pulling a multitool from his waistband and flipping out a screwdriver, he disassembled the front wall of the cart. It dropped to the ground, and he did the same thing to the small basket near the handlebar.
“I can fit now.” He pushed the cart to the road, then collected their bags and dumped them inside. “I will let you know when I need to sit down.”
Dusty smiled. She walked to the front of the cart, then turned. “ Good deal. Do you think—” There was a loud rip as her shirt caught on a jagged edge of the cart. She looked at the large swath of shredded fabric. “Oh, damn.”
“Did you do that on purpose?”
She laughed. “Get over yourself.” She pulled off her shirt, revealing a curvy torso and a lacy black bra. A tattoo of a snake meandered over one shoulder.
Sasha looked away, a lump in his throat. “I, uh, have shirts in my bag. Pick whatever you want.”
“Yeah?”
He shut his eyes, but Dusty’s black bra was the only thing in his mind. He looked at the fat, white clouds instead.
“I like your shirts. Neat colors. And no holes.” She inhaled. “They smell nice too…”
Sasha glanced at her as she pulled on a shirt. The hot pink and teal striped tee fit her rather well. She pulled up on the collar and inhaled again. “I can’t get over how good this smells. Thanks, man.”
“You’re welcome.” He gripped the handle of the cart. “So, you ready to go look for parts?”
“Sure. But… I don’t want to use you. We could make it a trade, if that’s something you’d still want.”
“No.” He shook his head emphatically. “You should have more… what is word? Respect. For yourself. Maybe I should too.”
She huffed. “I do what I have to.”
Sasha gave her a weak smile. “Hey, maybe we will find part you are looking for. What’s it do, anyway?”
“I don’t know. As long as I get paid for it, I don’t care.” Dusty trotted a little farther down the road, then turned and stood before the cornfields. “Watch this. And do not tell that drone to shoot.”
She parted the stalks, leaning in and yelling. “Here, kitty, kitty!”
Sasha stopped the cart. “Hey, wait. What you doing?” A vibrating purr filled his head. “No, stop.”
“Do not shoot it. Okay?” Dusty backed up, the sound growing louder.
Sasha gripped the handlebar of the shopping cart. “You are crazy girl! I don’t want to watch you become cat food.”
Dusty rolled her eyes. “Relax. I know what I’m doing.” Cornstalks flattened, then a huge blonde blur sprung on top of her, knocking her into the dirt. The corn kitten was slightly smaller than the one that had jumped on Sasha, but it frightened him all the same. Folds of skin hung in loose bunches as it peered into Dusty’s laughing face.
If it bites her, it’ll be too late for me to help. He chewed his lip and looked at the drone.
Dusty cried out and Sasha opened his mouth, ready to shout a command.
“That tickles!” The corn kitten’s huge tongue slid up her cheek. It kneaded a gigantic paw into her stomach, purring loudly. “Ow!” She laughed.
Sasha left the cart, walking uncertainly toward them, breath shallow. Both the cat and Dusty looked up. The animal backed away, and Sasha helped her up. Five small punctures pierced her new shirt. She pulled it up, looking at the red welts on her stomach.
“Now I know why your shirt had so many hole.”
The corn kitten pressed its muzzle against the top of Sasha’s head and inhaled. He thought his brain might rattle loose from the animal’s throaty rumble. It licked his ear with its coarse tongue, coating the side of his head in stinky-sweet drool.
The saliva came away in thick, drippy bands as Sasha wiped his face. “Hey, baby, you got to buy me drink first.”
The corn kitten butted its fuzzy head against his chest, quivering purrs filling his body.
“Oh, she likes you.” Dusty grinned.
“Of course. I am charming guy.” Sasha pushed the cat’s head away. “But I’m not looking for relationship, kitty.”
“Let’s give her some food.”
“No way. I need both arms.”
“They don’t eat meat, dummy.” Dusty jogged to her bag and pulled out an apple. She brought it back and held it out to the cat. It coiled its tongue around the fruit and swallowed it.
“Why’s it got such pointy teeth if it don’t eat meat?”
“Their teeth aren’t that pointy. Just these front ones. It’s for playing. See all this saggy skin?” Dusty pushed up on the cat’s jowls, momentarily giving it a horrific smile. “They can roll around and bite each other and it doesn’t hurt them because of all the skin. If you try to play with them too much, they’ll do the same to you, though.”
“Well, I’m not going to roll around in corn with giant kitty. You ready to go?”
“Sure.” Dusty ran back to the cart and pushed it forward.
Sasha reached up and rubbed the corn kitten’s soft, pointed ear. “I am sorry I killed your brother, kitty. I didn’t know.”
“There aren’t corn kittens in Russia?”
Sasha laughed. “No. America have many things Russia don’t have. Boofalope, trashdogs, uh, all those things in The South.”
Dusty grimaced. “I don’t like those things. I went down there once. It was hot and horrible. Those animals look like—like—well, I don’t know.”
The corn kitten was sniffing the ground. Dusty took another apple from her bag and threw it into the cornfield. The cat bounded after it.
Sasha nudged Dusty with his elbow. “You don’t like animals in The South? Tough little girl is afraid of something?”
She gave Sasha a well-honed scowl—it was kind of cute. “I’m not afraid. And I’m not a little girl.”
He shrugged, smiling. “You are shorter than me. And girl.”
“And you’re a smartass.”
“Never said I wasn’t.”
5 ~ Trade ~
“So you came from the West Coast? I’ve been to some towns there.” Dusty took a bite out of a raw ear of corn.
Sasha sucked at a kernel stuck between his teeth. He chucked his corn cob onto the road. “Yeah, about seventy miles from coast.”
“Those towns are cute. Sweet little farming villages, and animals all over the place. Caravans. The East isn’t like that at all. There’re bigger cities, a lot more people, and they will try to swindle you. You let them know you’re from the West, and they’ll think you’re some shit-kicking hayseed and try to take you for everything you’ve got. Don’t tell them you’re from the West. Just say you travel all over. Or tell them you’re from The South. That’ll scare ‘em.”
Sasha laughed. “I have say that. Or so they tell me. I was drunk, so I don’t remember, but I can see me doing that. I flew drone down there one time. I know what it looks like. Seen those animals.”
“Oh, man. Getting drunk and telling tall tales is one of my favorite things to do too.” She bit into her corn.
“Drinking when you are eighteen is illegal in Russia. That never stopped me, though. I don’t like rules that much.”
“Me either. But this is America. There is no ‘legal’ age. There’s no ‘legal’ anything, unless you’re in a big city.”
Sasha squeezed his eyes shut and staggered. His head felt detached and uninhibited by gravity. Dusty tugged on his sleeve. “Sit down again.”
He collapsed into the shopping cart, and she poked his forehead. “You okay?”
“Yeah.”
She pushed the cart, grunting. “You’re heavy for a skinny guy.”
Sasha put a hand to his head, wiping sweat away. The cart’s rattle jarred his bones and kept him fro
m losing consciousness. “Need a wheelchair.”
“That’s another thing.” Dusty picked up speed. “Don’t tell people about your bad heart. They’ll take advantage of that too. I wonder if there’s technology in the East that can fix weak hearts?”
“You give me strong heart, baby.”
“The flirting is never-ending with you, huh?”
“I love to flirt. And it don’t have to mean nothing. Just a bit of fun. Uh, but listen, if it make you uncomfortable, I will stop. Don’t want you to think I am asshole and going to take advantage of you. Too many women think that already.”
She leaned to his ear. “You seem like a fun guy. I don’t mind.”
Sasha grinned. “Then get ready for lot of obnoxious jokes.”
“I can handle obnoxious. There’s not much I can’t handle.”
“Dream girl.”
Dusty laughed, pushing the cart faster. She kicked off and put both feet on the bottom rung of the cart, coasting down the road. “Now we’re getting somewhere!”
Sasha gripped the cart’s sides as it rumbled across the asphalt. Farmhouses flew by on either side of the road. When the shopping cart started to slow, Dusty pushed off again.
“Okay, I am awake now. We can walk.” Sasha squeezed the railing as the cart lurched over a crack.
“But this is faster.”
“I would rather not die today.”
They descended a long, sloping hill, snarled and rusty guard rails on either side. Ahead lay a freeway bridge. It cut flat across a river of turbid green water with thick red vegetation clinging to the banks and railings.
Dusty took her feet off the cart, slowing it to a stop.
Sasha climbed out awkwardly, his nerves still vibrating. “Hey, I got idea. You let me push you now.”
She rubbed her head, looking at the bridge.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Nothing. Just… maybe we shouldn’t have come this way.”
“Why? There something dangerous?”
“No.” She squeezed the cart handle. “I, uh, I don’t like bridges. Or walking over water. I can’t swim.”
“Oh.” He looked to either side, taking in the sluggish water and weedy embankment. There wasn’t another way across. “Well, we won’t be swimming. Bridge doesn’t look that bad. You want me to go jump up and down on it? Test it?”