Chapter 45
Both Marcie and the Eye had already been awake for hours, neither of them saying much to one another. The Eye had worked on his computer, Jasmine, trying to hack into the Ghost’s data stick, and she’d lain on her bed, staring at the ceiling while the monoline shook the hotel every few minutes. And what could she say to him? Goodbye certainly didn’t cut it, and she couldn’t articulate the ball of pain swelling through her chest.
A knock at the door, Marcie jumped to her feet and opened it to find Slip on the other side. The boy smiled at her, his dreadlocks hanging down in front of his face. “You ready?”
Marcie nodded, coughing to clear the lump in her throat. She held a halting finger at Slip. She needed a moment. After closing the door and leaving the boy in the hallway, she walked over to the Eye. He remained with his back to her, hunched over his laptop. “Stand up!”
Mechanical in his movements, the Eye got to his feet and stared at the floor. Marcie pulled him in to her and hugged him tightly. “I’ll be back soon, okay?”
The Eye shook in her grip, the light catching the glistening tracks on his pale cheeks when they broke apart. His bottom lip buckled as he spoke. “You’re an amazing young woman, Marcie Hugo. You go and get Sal’s lungs. He’s lucky to have you as a friend.”
Stabbing pains shot through her temples, and she winced against the sting before leaving the room.
The hotelier remained at the desk. “You owe me for another night.”
“You’re lucky I’m not trying to beat a refund out of you. We’ll be gone soon.”
The fat man muttered beneath his breath.
“I’m sorry?” Marcie said. “Do you have something you want to say to me?”
Smiling through gritted teeth, he said, “Have a nice day.”
“And he said he’ll have Sal’s lungs here?” Marcie said for what must have been the seventh or eighth time on their short journey.
Slip rolled his eyes. “I can only give you the same answer so many times, Marcie. He told me the lungs are here.”
They stood before the steel door leading into Mads’ palace, a jumbled mess of old buildings knitted together with newer brickwork. They ran across the place like scars. A strange architectural Frankenstein’s monster.
Slip opened the door, leading them inside. In the days since she’d last visited, Marcie had almost forgotten the grandeur of the place. The courtroom stretched away from them, the winter sun shining through the skylights and hitting the highly polished white tiled floor. Maybe it had been designed to dazzle, but the glare had little effect on Marcie’s eyes. Marcie winced as she walked across it, approaching the fat man in the chair on the other side of the room. It had to be Mads.
An entourage of at least twenty people. Among them were several semi-naked well-built men, including One. The rest were black jackets, many of them bruised and scowling at Marcie’s and Slip’s approach. Sally’s face glowed red, her lips pulled thin. She had two black eyes.
Twenty-five metres of hard floor between Marcie and the man in the throne, the click of her and Slip’s shoes called through the large space. She turned the targeting off in her eyes. “You must be Mads,” she said when she got closer.
The man nodded, his fat head dipping into the rolls of flesh that must have once been a neck. He had blue skin, although someone like him had the money to change the colour whenever he chose. Every part of his body spoke of regular maintenance, his skin too smooth for someone as clearly immobile and unhealthy as him. He fixed her with his yellow eyes, his pupils black vertical ovals. Catlike in his appraisal, they narrowed as he smiled, his teeth silver and sharpened to points. His voice had a metallic crackle that gave off a slightly distorted hiss. The sound slithered through the large space like an angry nest of snakes. “Welcome, Marcie Hugo.”
“How do you know who I am?”
“I know a lot of things. That’s how I stay in this position.”
“King of the shit heap?”
Several of the black jackets baulked, and the semi-naked men on either side of his throne winced.
Mads laughed. “Don’t knock it. It’s a profitable business. Besides, you enjoy the same power where you’re from. How is Wrench?”
“You know my dad?”
“I know of him. He seems like a good man. My sources also told me what you were capable of, but I had to see for myself.” He ran his eyes the length of her body. “It’s hard to believe what you have under that skin of yours. I must say, the Blind Spot have the best engineers around, and you’re a fine example of their impeccable work. Other than your eyes, no one would ever guess just how deadly you are.”
“And your way of testing me was to turn me into a murderer in the arena?”
“I’m not sure you could be turned to do anything you didn’t want to. Besides, I made a lot of money from people underestimating you. You should never pass up the chance to make a buck or two.”
“If that’s the god you worship,” Marcie said. “Anyway, whatever your twisted game is, I’m done.” The man she’d met in Prime City, the one who’d quoted her a price for Sal’s lungs, emerged from a darkened doorway, his spindly hands clamped together, his back bent as he leaned forwards. The sun shining through the skylights turned his round glasses into mirrors. “I’d like to take Sal’s lungs now and leave.”
“You know,” Mads said, “we’ve been holding back the larger bounties.”
“I’m not interested.”
“That’s a shame. We were ready to make you an offer you couldn’t refuse.”
“There’s nothing you can say to make me stay here any longer.”
“Your friend.”
Marcie pointed at the boy next to her. “Slip?”
“He’s mine. I’m talking about the Eye.”
The skin at the back of Marcie’s neck tightened, and she spoke in a low tone. “What about him?”
“He’s a smart one, isn’t he? A genius when you put a computer in front of him.” Mads stroked the rolls of fat covering his blue chin. “Although I’m not sure how useful that is in a place like this.”
“What are you getting at?”
“That I can’t look after him once you’re gone. I can’t promise his safety.”
The thud of Marcie’s pulse slammed through her, and she pulled in a long and deep breath before replying. She pressed the tips of her thumbs against the tips of her index fingers and spoke measured words. “I’ve done everything you’ve asked of me.” When Marcie stepped closer to Mads, the black jackets and semi-naked guards tensed. Each guard had a cattle prod, which they raised and angled ever so slightly towards her.
Mads’ smile broadened, and he signalled for those around him to stand down.
“I won’t have you threaten the Eye,” Marcie said. “What’s he done to you?”
“I didn’t threaten him. I was merely explaining my current situation. That he’s your friend, not mine. That I owe you and not him.” Before Marcie could reply, he said, “What month is it?”
“I assume this is going somewhere?”
Mads raised his eyebrows.
“It’s November. What’s your point?”
“I understand you didn’t have the easiest journey over here. You ran into some trouble in the wastelands?”
Marcie chewed on her tongue to keep her words in.
“And you know the worst months to travel through the wastelands?”
Marcie drew a breath to reply, but Mads cut her off. “You and I both know Sal’s lived a long time without lungs. What’s a few more months?”
“What do you want?”
“Work for me until March.”
“Doing what?”
“You and the Eye are the best bounty-hunting team I’ve ever seen. You can make me some credits. You can make yourself some credits.”
“I don’t need any more credits.”
“No, you don’t. And you could leave the Eye here, but I’m afraid his genius will be wasted in the Black Hole. Very
few people need a hacker, and those that do couldn’t pay him. While his skillset is among the best I’ve seen, it has no value in a place like this. And there’s no chance of him getting a visa.”
“What are you offering in return?”
“Three and a half months of your time. Five bounties. Do that and I’ll make sure the Eye is set up in Prime City for life. I’ll give you both temporary visas and somewhere to live for the next few months. As long as you do your best with the bounties I send to you, the Eye will have enough credits to set him up forever. I’ll get him permanent residency in Prime City, and you can return to the Blind Spot when the militia are busy with the crops.”
“And you’ll make sure Slip and his family are looked after.”
“I didn’t ask her to say that, sir,” Slip said.
“Sir?” Marcie pointed at the man. “He killed your father. It’s the least he owes you.”
“I already look after him,” Mads said.
“Bullshit. You pay him a pittance.”
Mads’ smug grin faltered.
“I’ve seen how his family live. You need to do better.”
The sharpened silver teeth had distracted Marcie the first time he’d opened his mouth wide enough. So when Mads licked his lips with his black reptilian tongue, she flinched, her stomach tensing. “I like you, Marcie.”
“Not enough to refrain from blackmailing me.”
“I thought we were negotiating?”
“Is that what you call it?”
Mads sighed. “What I was going to say is, I like you, but my patience can run out for even the people I like. No matter who your father is. But I’ll set the Eye up, and I’ll set Slip and his family up, as long as you live up to your part of the deal.”
Before Marcie could reply, Mads said, “You and I both know you’re loyal to a fault.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You can’t walk away from here when you know the Eye might not make it. You made a promise to set him up. After all, you ruined his life back in the Blind Spot, didn’t you?”
“How do you know so much?”
Mads grinned again, the strong winter sun reflecting off his chrome teeth like it did the floor tiles. “So we have a deal?”
Chapter 46
When Marcie returned to the hotel room, the Eye remained hunched over Jasmine. Had he moved since she’d been away? She’d brought Slip and One back with her, but the albino man refused to look at any of them. Marcie hugged the small dreadlocked boy. “I’ll be making sure Mads gives you what he’s promised, okay? I’ll see you around.”
Slip held on for a little longer and whispered, “Thank you, and good luck.”
“Why are you saying goodbye to him?” the Eye said. He then pointed at One, who had the large chrome screwdriver device in his hand. “And who’s he.”
“Hold your forearm out,” Marcie said.
“What?”
“Just do it.”
The Eye tutted while holding his forearm towards One. The bald man touched the tip of the long silver device against it and pressed the red button on the end. Thwump.
“Ow!” The Eye pulled his arm back. “What the hell was that for?”
“You now have a visa to Prime City that runs out at the end of March,” Marcie said. “There’s an apartment waiting for you there too.”
“You managed to get that for me?”
Both Slip and One left the room as Marcie said, “For us.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Now’s the worst time to cross the wastelands, right?”
“What’s going on?”
“So I figured I’d stick around for a while. Make sure you’re all set up before I take Sal’s lungs to him.”
The Eye smiled and then frowned, shaking his head. His crimson stare glazed and his voice broke. “You’re staying?”
“For a while.”
“Because of me?”
“It’s one of the reasons. But, like I said, it would be madness to try to cross the wastelands during these winter months.”
“But what about Sal? What about your dad?”
Marcie’s heart twisted. “I’ll miss them. Of course I will, but they’re not going anywhere.”
“And what do you have to do for Mads in return?”
“Five bounties. I’ll need your help. Once we’ve done those five bounties, it’ll be a better time for me to cross the wastelands, and you’ll be set up for life.”
The Eye crossed the room and hugged Marcie. “The selfish part of me is so glad you’re staying. You might be a royal pain in my arse, but I was really going to miss you.”
“And what does the selfless part of you say?”
“That I knew your loyalty would get you in trouble. You should have walked away when you could. You’re in Mads’ pocket now, and we’re about to move to Prime City. I managed to keep you away from the crewcuts and jocks for the second and third bounties, but we’ll have to face them at some point.”
“We’ll deal with the bounty hunters when the time comes. And I don’t trust Mads either, but he’s been true to his word so far.”
“Just because a spider hasn’t yet spun its web, that doesn’t mean it isn’t planning on catching a fly.”
Marcie shrugged. “Any luck with the data stick?”
The Eye shook his head. “Not yet.”
“Well, we have more time now at least. Come on,” Marcie said, several cockroaches skittering over the dirty carpet, “let’s pack our bags and get the hell away from this shithole. There’s a better life waiting for us in Prime City.”
End of book two.
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Like most children born in the seventies, Michael grew up with Star Wars in his life. An obsessive watcher of the films, and an avid reader from an early age, he found himself taken over with stories whenever he let his mind wander.
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Also by Michael Robertson
The Shadow Order
The First Mission - Book Two of The Shadow Order
The Crimson War - Book Three of The Shadow Order
Eradication - Book Four of The Shadow Order
Fugitive - Book Five of The Shadow Order
Enigma - Book Six of The Shadow Order
Prophecy - Book Seven of The Shadow Order
The Faradis - Book Eight of The Shadow Order
The Complete Shadow Order Box Set
The Blind Spot - A Science Fiction Thriller - Neon Horizon Book One.
Prime City - A Science Fiction Thriller - Neon Horizon Book Two.
The Alpha Plague: A Post-Apocalyptic Action Thriller
The Alpha Plague 2
The Alpha Plague 3
The Alpha Plague 4
The Alpha Plague 5
The Alpha Plague 6
The Alpha Plague 7
The Alpha Plague 8
The Complete Alpha Plague Box Set
Protectors - Book one of Beyond These Walls
National Service - Book two of Beyond These Walls
Retribution - Book three of Beyond These Walls
Collapse - Book four of Beyond These Walls
Beyond These Walls - Books 1 - 3 Box Set
The Girl in the Woods - A Ghost’s Story - Off-Kilter Tales - Book One.
Masked - A Psychological Horror
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Crash II: Highrise Hell
Crash III: There’s No Place Like Home
Crash IV: Run Free
Crash V: The Final Showdown
New Reality: Truth
New Reality 2: Justice
New Reality 3: Fear
Prime City: A Science Fiction Thriller (Neon Horizon Book 2) Page 22