by Alia Hess
Sasha cocked an eyebrow and stifled a chuckle.
“Never did figure out what exactly happened to Winter’s army…”
Now Sasha did laugh. “That was me. I killed him.”
“I’m sorry. What?”
Sasha pulled out his tablet and hit play on his Winter assassination video, then slid the tablet across the table. Corvin’s eyes grew wide as the video rolled. “Sasha, you stopped him? You’re a madman! I love it! I’m definitely in good hands with you guys.” He grinned and pushed the tablet back to Sasha.
“Some people started shrine for me after, too. Cult of Sasha.” He laughed. “I am big hero, yeah?”
“I’d join that cult.” Dusty gave Sasha a coy smile and poked him in the ribs. She looked at Corvin. “But you still didn’t answer my question. Are your parents upset that you’re leaving?”
“Oh, sorry, dear. Sidetracked. Happens to me sometimes. My mom is upset, yeah. I told them that they could come with me, but they’re not too keen on being surrounded by Islanders.” He leaned past Dewbell to give Gentlewave an apologetic shrug. Gentlewave sighed. “I’m going to give my mom my tablet before I leave. Then she can call Owl’s drone and still be in contact with us.”
“That is good idea,” Sasha said.
“And my dad…” A bolt of pain pierced through Corvin’s chipper mask. “He used to call me a lazy degenerate when I worked on his farm. Then I came here, made something out of myself, and he called me a fruitcake. Now that I’m heading to Nis, he says I’m a”—he glanced at Gentlewave again—“‘coconut-loving vagrant’ just like my sister. So… good riddance.”
Dewbell gave Corvin a sad smile and squeezed him around the shoulders. He relaxed a little, the hurt in his face diminishing.
Don’t like the way Dewbell was looking at Corvin before—the same way she looked at me on the night we slept together. Gives me the willies. What if he hurt her? But I have to hand it to her, she is certainly amazing at making people feel better. Good at taking care of people.
Corvin clapped his hands together, his cheery smile still not quite at its fullest. “So, who’s ready for dessert?”
“Do you think Corvin is sexy?” Sasha asked.
Dusty’s face twisted with revulsion as she cleared plates from their rickety kitchen table. “Ugh. What? Why would you even ask me that? Are you worried about me and him? Because I guarantee that I would never sleep with him. Not for all the tins in the world.”
Sasha shook his head. “I know that. I just mean, is he good-looking guy?”
She paused, a bowl of salad in her hands. “Well, yes. Very good-looking. He’s got those big, dark eyes, and high cheekbones, pouty lips, and—” She shuddered. “Why are you asking me this? I feel all icky now.”
“Because I think Dewbell like him.”
“Dewbell is nice to everyone. Makes sense that she would be sweet even to someone like Corvin. I’m still a bit unsure about this whole escort thing, by the way. I can’t decide if Corvin set all the orphans up in a boarding school because he’s trying to be a better person, or just because he’s moving to Nis and doesn’t need them anymore. If not for all the money, there’s no way I would put up with him.” She took the salad bowl to the kitchen.
Sasha stood, grabbing utensils and carrying them to the sink. He filled the basin with a jug of water and dumped dishes inside. “You don’t see look Dewbell give Corvin?”
“What look?”
Sasha rubbed his face, then poured powdered soap into the water. “Nevermind. Maybe is only my imagination. I think Corvin can be good guy, but I’m still worried he got mental problem.”
“I agree with the mental problem part. This is going to be interesting, for sure. I’m glad Gentlewave will be with us.”
Sasha scrubbed at the dishes, then paused, his hands submerged in the soapy water. The little shelf above the sink hung crookedly, laden with chipped glasses and tarnished forks. In the dim living room beyond the dinner table, evening light struggled through the bed sheet window curtains.
“We aren’t going to come back here, are we? After we leave.”
Dusty plunged her hands into the dishwater and scrubbed a plate. “Do you want to?”
“I don’t know. Don’t really like Hammerlink. And walking back here would take long time. But… You know, it’s funny. This is worst house I’ve ever lived in—holes in walls, no electricity, no plumbing. But I take care of it better than any other place I have lived. I think because you’re here. It’s our house. Not just some gross, smelly apartment where I spend all day on computer.”
“Well, with all that money we’re going to get, we could get any kind of house we want. And live wherever we want. And it would still be our home. Hell, with twenty-five thousand tins, we could buy our own island. ‘Sasha Island.’ How does that sound?”
Sasha dried off a plate and wrapped his arms around Dusty’s waist. “That sounds pretty good. But I think ‘Dusty Island’ sounds better. I would live on that island, for sure. I think it don’t got a lot of trees.” He ruffled her hair. “But it got real nice mountains.”
Dusty followed Sasha’s line of sight to her chest, then laughed. “Mountains, my ass. More like tiny hills.”
“That’s okay. Easier to climb. I like.”
“You’re such a dork.”
He furrowed his brows and gave her a pretend frown. “I am what? I give you compliment and you call me name? You better watch it, ornery girl. Better be nice.”
Dusty put her hands on her hips. “Or what?”
Sasha dipped his hand into the dishwater, then flicked it in Dusty’s direction, propelling droplets onto her shirt and hair.
“Hey! Ah, you got soap in my eye.” Dusty turned away, a hand over her face.
“Oh, shit. Sorry.” He picked up a towel and offered it to her. She dropped her hand with a grin, slapping water at him and soaking his shirt.
His mouth fell open. “Oh, you fight dirty!”
After a few minutes, the majority of the dishwater was on the floor and dripping from their clothes.
“We made big mess.” Sasha peeled off his drenched shirt; it hit the floor with a smack. “You need help cleaning yourself up?”
“Is that just an excuse to climb my ‘mountains?’”
“Maybe…”
Dusty gave him a half-smile and pulled off her wet shirt.
Audio File 18|October 09, 2172|Length: 00:51
Tomorrow we are leaving for Nis. Last night, we had party at Lucky’s house. Dewbell likes to complain about Lucky sometimes, but she looked real sad. She’s going to miss him. But I think she would miss Gentlewave more. Lucky said he’ll miss all of us too, but said he have new lady friend, so I think he’s going to be okay.
Gentlewave has map of all of America. I tried to show him drone map photos, but I think he likes his paper map better. I tell him I drove Owl and Trav to Lindsey, and they went to trade town called Tassi, but he say that is too far south, and is faster if we get on ship in North Coast town called Conch. This way will take us through Burr. I wonder if Irina would be mad if I stop to say hello to her…
Sasha stood outside their house, his backpack crammed with items. Dusty stood nearby, and Irina the drone floated between them, early morning light glazing the black casing like a halo. The drone was loaded with ammunition, and several additional boxes were tucked away in the backpack.
Three figures appeared on the dirt road ahead: a large form draped in scarves and a raggedy cloak, a curvy woman with sunlit blonde hair, and a tall, svelte man in drab farmhand clothes.
As they reached the house, Sasha said, “Hey, guys. Corvin, what the hell are you wearing?”
Corvin grinned and opened his arms wide. “Traveling clothes! No need to get my own designs ruined. Can you believe these things still fit me after fifteen years? I’ve got a great metabolism.”
“I can’t believe you still have clothes from when you were sixteen.”
“Same backpack too!” Corvin turned arou
nd.
Dusty wrinkled her face. “Why are there blood stains on it?”
“Oh.” He faced them, mouth pulled to one side. “That’s my blood. Long story. Oh! What a cool drone!” Corvin bent to the hovering machine.
“That’s Irina.” Sasha tried to ignore the unsettling maroon blotches on Corvin’s backpack as he patted the top of the drone. “She can do all kinds of things; I programmed her special. Want to see something cool?”
“Yes!”
“Irina, stealth mode,” Sasha commanded in Russian.
The drone dissolved, becoming invisible, and Corvin fell back into the dirt in surprise. “Wow! That’s great.”
Sasha offered him a hand and pulled him up. “You need some eyeblack. Can’t be adventurer without it.”
Corvin pointed a finger at Sasha. “I knew I was forgetting something. You guys have some?”
“Dusty do.”
She dropped her backpack with an irritated sigh and fished out a large tin, handing it to Corvin.
“Thanks.” He unscrewed the lid, gaze jumping from Gentlewave to Dewbell. “How come you don’t have any on, dear?”
Dewbell shrugged.
“Don’t believe in superstition? I don’t either. This stuff won’t really scare ne’er-do-wells away—trust me. But it’s kind of fun, anyway.” Corvin pulled a mirror from his backpack and smeared a large glob of eyeblack over one eye, across the bridge of his nose, and onto his other eye.
Maybe I shouldn’t have mentioned the eyeblack. Corvin is frightening enough without it.
Corvin turned to Dewbell. “Sure you don’t want some?”
Dewbell looked at the tin, then leaned forward and shut her eyes.
“Oh. You want me to…?” He hesitated, then lightly smeared the black paste over Dewbell’s lids. She opened her eyes and smiled.
“Look at us. Now we’re ready. Thanks, Dusty.”
They headed west from Hammerlink as the sun climbed higher into the sky. Gentlewave took the lead, occasionally scouting out further ahead or investigating abandoned buildings with his gun drawn. Corvin walked next to Dewbell, chattering on about different things and gesturing animatedly. Sasha brought up the rear with Dusty, holding her hand and enjoying that there was no need for a shopping cart.
Was Dusty right, and Dewbell was just being sweet to Corvin because she was that way to everyone? Well, sweet to everyone but Cal. Sasha was pretty sure he would take Corvin over that rotten cowboy any day of the week, too.
Brittle yellowed cornstalks ran along the sides of the road, and ravens stood out against the pale sky like drops of ink. Occasional bands of other travelers passed by, heading toward Hammerlink.
Sasha inhaled deeply. “You smell that?”
Dusty sniffed. “Smell what?”
“Exactly. No more plastic smell.”
Corvin turned around. “Oh, isn’t that horrid? Sometimes the smell would wake me up, it was so bad. I’ve heard the ocean smells much more pleasant.”
“Mm. Yes,” Gentlewave agreed.
“Owl sent me so many pictures of Nis. I can’t wait to see it in person. We really didn’t live that far from the coast, but never went there. My parents had the farm to run, and Owl and I were in school. I got so sick of my father, though, and that was largely why I decided to leave. Not so sure why I decided to go east. But who really knows why they do anything at sixteen?”
Dewbell’s foot hit a rock and she tripped, landing on one knee on the asphalt.
“Oh my goodness, dear!” Corvin knelt to Dewbell, helping her up. “I do believe you were concentrating so hard on my lips that you weren’t watching where you were going.”
Is that Corvin’s way of flirting or is he serious? “You okay, baby?”
Dewbell grimaced and touched her knee.
“You’re bleeding. I’m so sorry for being a distraction. Come, sit down.” Corvin helped Dewbell onto a cinder block by the side of the road, then dropped his pack, rummaging through it.
Gentlewave signed to Dewbell, and she signed back. “Corvin, why don’t you let me have a look and dress the wound.”
“Hey now, I might be a big city snob, but I know how to dress a wound too.” He winked at Dewbell. “I mean, unless you want someone else to do it.”
Dewbell shook her head and pointed to Corvin, then carefully rolled up the leg of her jeans. He pulled out a plastic box and opened it, pushing through the contents.
Sasha pursed his lips and leaned in toward Dusty. “Told you she likes him.”
Dusty looked sick and whispered into Sasha’s ear. “Maybe you should warn her about him. About the way he acted when we were at dinner with him.”
“She probably already know. We told Gentlewave what happened, remember? And she knows he was Boss. Anyway, I don’t want her to think I’m like Lucky—always trying to protect her too much. But… maybe she need protecting this time?” He tugged at his hair. “I don’t know. Corvin is too confusing to figure out.”
Dusty folded her arms as Corvin held an antiseptic-soaked rag to Dewbell’s knee. “I’ll keep an eye on him. We’re going to be together for the next three months, so that should be plenty of time to figure him out. If something seems too worrisome, I’ll talk to Gentlewave.”
“You tell me too, okay? Dewbell is smart woman, but she’s lonely.”
“All done!” Corvin took his hands from Dewbell’s bandaged knee.
She smiled, pressing her fingers to her lips and drawing her open-palmed hand down toward Corvin.
“Um…” Corvin cocked an eyebrow. “Are you blowing me a kiss?”
Gentlewave laughed. “She’s saying, ‘thank you.’”
“Oh! Good to know. Not sure if I should be delighted or disappointed. How do you say, ‘you’re welcome?’”
Dewbell gave Corvin a thumbs-up, looking amused.
That gesture Sasha had misunderstood upon arriving in America. For the longest time, he thought it meant: “up yours.” He gave people “the fig” in return, but that seemed to confuse them as much as their American gesture confused him.
Corvin helped Dewbell stand, then gave her a thumbs-up. He grinned. “I have a feeling I’m going to learn a lot from you.”
Audio File 24|October 23, 2172|Length: 00:41
I think Nebraska must be most boring place on planet. I am so bored. We been walking for two weeks now and nothing but creeping sugar corn everywhere I look. Wish I still had truck. I keep teasing Dusty because I don’t have anything to do, and she is getting mad now. She don’t want to walk next to me. Now all I got to think about is what is up with Corvin and Dewbell. I still can’t decide if Corvin even like her. Is he even attracted to womans? Maybe he like guys instead. Sometimes he tells Dewbell she is good listener, or say she got pretty hair, but he say nice things to Dusty sometimes too, and tell Gentlewave color red would look good on him. I don’t know.
Dewbell is teaching Corvin some sign language. I guess I am learning too, because I remember the things she show him. She thinks it’s real funny when Corvin messes up and makes sign wrong way. But Corvin don’t get mad. Actually, haven’t seen him get that creepy, angry smile on his face whole time we been walking. Hmm…
16 ~ Slaps and Kisses ~
Sasha sat in a squeaky swivel chair in front of an overturned slot machine, eating an apple slice. Jagged spears of neon tubing littered the multicolored carpet, punctuated by the occasional poker chip and plastic key card. One of Dusty’s rechargeable lanterns illuminated a small area of the vast casino floor—highlighting poker tables, several skeletons hunched in front of the slot machines, and mirrored mosaic tiles still clinging to the walls. Most of the tiles sat in glittering piles on the floor.
Sasha carved out another apple slice and handed it to Dusty, who reclined in a seat next to him. A gift shop lay beyond the bank of slots, rainwater dripping from the ceiling into the soggy carpet in front of the entrance. Corvin sat on the gift shop counter, chewing gum with his mouth open and flipping through a pile of raggedy mag
azines. Dewbell and Gentlewave were scouting out the other side of the building.
Dusty looked thoughtfully at the leaking, mirrored ceiling and took a bite of apple.
“What you thinking about?” Sasha asked.
“Just… all the money we’re going to get. How things will be better.”
“What will be better?”
She shrugged. “It’s twenty-five thousand tins. Everything will be better.”
“I don’t know what you mean. Just because you got more money, don’t make things better.” He may as well have said he was from the moon with the look she gave him. “I’m serious. What do you want to make your life better?”
“Well…” She smiled. “I want to be happy. Like those people I see on the streets of Hammerlink. Wearing their nice clothes and buying food at the market whenever they want.”
His brows drew together. “We have nice clothes and went to market too.”
“Yeah, but… we’re not like those people. They go to work, come home to a nice house with plumbing and tables with more than three legs. Kiss their kids. Pet the dog. Go visit their parents on the weekends. You know, normal stuff.”
“I hate to be saying this to you, but twenty-five thousand tins not going to give you your parents… And I don’t really want kids.”
“I don’t either. Maybe I’m not explaining this right.” She dropped her gaze to her lap and said quietly, “I look at those people, and I know that I’m not like them. They were never owned. Never traded their bodies for twenty tins. Never had to sleep in an alley or pick the mold off their food.”
Sasha took her hand. “You don’t got to do that stuff anymore either. Not even without Corvin’s money. And even if you got lot of tins, that don’t change things that happened to you in the past. Those things will still be there…” He frowned, trying not to think of his own ghosts. “And I thought you were happy with me. I was happy. We lived in dump of house, and sometimes only had potatoes to eat, yeah? But we had each other. And that make me happy. We still got each other. So I am still happy. I’m not doing this for money. I want to be where you are.”