by Mark Lingane
Carter appeared behind them, pushing his way in. He dropped the packs on the floor, turned and left wordlessly.
Sebastian yawned, struggling to keep his eyes open.
“I’ll go down and speak to the woman about the bed situation. You get some rest.” She watched him lie down on the bed, spread-eagled in the center of it. Within moments, he was asleep. She quietly closed the door and went downstairs.
43
NIGHT HAD COME to Carson City. She could feel the atmosphere beginning to build. She breathed in deeply, closing her eyes and remembering past times here. She had an express pass in her pocket and she was free in the CC. She got her bearings and made her way through the back streets, checking off the old stores as she passed them.
Third on the left after the tannery. She pushed open the old wooden door.
A heavyset, bald man sat behind a long wooden counter covered in various bits of weaponry. His face descended into a scowl as she stepped into the small shop, and he turned his attention away from the telescreen mounted in the rear corner of the shop that was transmitting several conflicting variations of news from around the country.
He reached for a crossbow and aimed it at her. “You’ve got guts showing your face around here.”
“You know you want to see me, Rex,” she replied. She set her face to stun.
“Don’t give me your little-girl-lost look. I’m lucky I can see at all after your last efforts.”
She sauntered over, bent over the counter, and smiled at him. “I seem to recall you managed to get well paid for it.”
“Ain’t much left out of that, after the medical bills.”
“But the scar suits you,” she purred. She put her finger on the end of the crossbow and steered it away. She twisted and jumped up onto the bench. “I need some crackers.”
“I ain’t getting you anything until you pay me the grand you owe.”
“No problem. You get me a dozen crackers, and while you’re being a busy boy, I’ll get you your grand.”
“And how you going to do that, or shouldn’t I ask?”
“You know better than that. I’ll be back in ten minutes.”
“How many customers you going to get in ten minutes?”
“I won’t slap you, just in case your head falls off,” she said. “Why are you so concerned?”
“It’s scary times, I tell you,” Rex said, “what with these rumors of huge beasts stomping around the forests with mutant dogs, a new weapon by the Master, plus him amassing a consolidated army, and this new flu coming up from the south—”
“Flu?”
“Yeah, some kind of infection. Probably like the Acrididae flu they announced a few years back. Remember, it was going to wipe us all out, turned out less deadly than real flu. But you know how they like to talk things up.”
“You might find this one a little bit more volatile. I’ve seen it and it ain’t pretty, just like you.”
Rex gave her a sneer. “Whatever. The last thing we need here is disease. We already got enough of it in the upper levels of the hotels.”
“You’re always class, Rex, always class. See you in ten.”
She walked away, feeling his eyes following her out the door.
Once he was certain she was gone, Rex leaned back in his chair and called through the rear door. “Hey, Jade.”
An abnormally large young man sat in the small room staring blankly out the door at the images flickering on the telescreen, laughing occasionally when someone got hurt.
“Jade,” Rex called again.
The young man-mountain slowly drew his attention away from the screen and lumbered out through the doorway, having to duck to fit under the low mantle. His clothes and skin were dirty, his eyes vacant, and his skin bloated by long-term radiation.
“See where she goes for the next ten minutes,” Rex said, “and make sure the credit’s legit. And stay out of sight.”
“Who?”
“The girl who was just here. Memphis. You like girls, don’t you?” He resumed watching the telescreen.
Jade ambled past the Rex’s chair, knocking the man as he squeezed through. Rex raised his hand. “Wait, if the money’s on the up, see if you can put the squeeze on.”
Jade lumbered out through the door into the evening air. He watched Memphis bounce down the street with a bright spring in her step.
Memphis was uplifted by the buzz of the humming plains city and the glorious evening. She crisscrossed the main street, ducking in and out of shops, and visiting old friends. For one brief moment, she felt completely free with no concerns. She had cash, a bed for the night, a gorgeous boy, and no one was chasing her.
“Someone’s following you,” said Ted, the boot repairer. He pointed through the dusty front window at the bloated man in the shadows across the street. “He’s been standing there all the time you’ve been in here, staring at the place. You know him?”
Memphis turned around and casually examined the boots by the window. She glanced up without moving her head and watched. He was a lumbering curb crawler, as slow moving as he was slow witted, but she knew that once they had you in their grip, you were gone. She wanted to know if he was working on his own, which was unlikely, or if he was a hired heavy.
“Do you know him?” she asked.
“Seen him, but I don’t know nothing about him. He’s not as interesting as a good set of laces.”
She smiled. Ted was always Ted.
“What kind of shoes do you want, anyway? Fast or climbers?”
“Repair my old ones, and today I’d like something a little different. Can I have a set of those boots that come up to the knee?”
He nodded in agreement. “Very useful for hiding small weapons.”
“And with a heel,” she whispered. She pointed at a tall set of boots “Those ones with the laces, straps, and buckles in the shape of gears.”
“Lady Mechanikas.” He gave her a look. “Ain’t very practical. More for your city ladies.”
“But they’ll look amazing on the back of a bike.”
“I take it from that shy smile you got someone to ride it.”
“It is, apparently, very obvious,” she said.
“Written big all over your face, young lady. Be careful this time.”
“This one is different. He’s not dangerous. Well, he is, but not in the same way you-know-who was.”
“A bounty on a person’s head should show how dangerous someone’s prepared to be.”
“That wasn’t the same. He was never interested except for that girl.”
“What was her name?” Ted slowly threaded the long lace through the dozen eyelets.
“I don’t know,” she lied. “Some stupid flower name.”
“Always found it’s better to be named after something that don’t die, like a city.”
“You’re a charmer, Ted. Let me try those boots on.”
“Have to admit they’s mighty fine on you. You got the legs to pull them off, and you’re standing taller, too. You could probably wear one of them short outfits and not look too cheap.”
“I think the outfit would be a step too far.”
“Sure? We got some of them showgirl outfits for home use out back.”
“No.”
“Want me to pack them?” Ted said, indicating the boots.
“No. I’ll wear them out. It’s a new day, and a new dawn. And I’m feeling good.”
“You won’t be able to outrun your lug-head friend out there.”
She smiled. “I’m not running anymore.”
She placed her old, patched boots in her new-boots bag and strutted out the door. She walked down the street and quickly ducked behind a delivery truck that was crawling past slowly. She jumped in the back. From behind the tatty covering, she watched the man run down the street, frantically looking for her, his face drained by the mental activity of surveillance. He barged through the crowd on the pavement, pushing them aside. He turned and stared at the truck. He ran up behind it and ripped op
en the cover.
The tray contained a dozen small boxes and nothing else. He stopped in the middle of the street. He looked under the truck, then back at the boot shop. He ran over and pushed through the door.
Memphis stepped into the darkness of the opposite doorway and watched. The man moved quickly for someone so cumbersome, and his face was set with the dark nature of someone who hurt others for pleasure.
He emerged from the boot store, smiling. She kicked herself. She should have overpaid Ted to keep his silence. It was the CC. You couldn’t trust anyone.
She made her way cautiously along the main street, looking for the local Western Union. The ancient bank’s sign had faded from black and yellow to cream on cream, but the outline was still there if you knew what to look for.
She swiped the express pass on the panel by the door. The heavy bolts slid aside and the door opened into the first chamber. She had to wait for the door to close behind her before she could activate the next door. Eventually, she was inside the building. The air was still and dry, and the static felt dangerous. She was afraid to touch anything in case the discharge blew her out the window.
She squinted through the thick steel mesh at the clean-cut boy on the other side. She tapped the dusty microphone. “Can I have a thousand credit advance?” She placed the card in a small swiveling basin.
The teller looked at the card, then at her, then back at the card. He snorted. “Uh, yeah.” The barely audible response crackled through the tinny speaker.
“How about fifteen hundred?”
“Uh. That’ll be pushing the limit. I’ll have to check with the boss for authorization.”
He went into a small office behind the counter. An elderly man with an oversize moustache and a large pair of eyeglasses looked up.
“Girl out the front has got this.” He waved the card. “Military.”
“Is it stolen?”
“Not reported.”
“Do a facial recognition on her, see what comes up.”
The teller adjusted a terminal on a side table and turned on the external camera. The infrared lights flared up in the cylinder and the lens focused into the foyer. Memphis caught the lights flaring, and quickly spun on the spot, hiding her face.
“Only a partial match,” the teller said. He pressed his security button and the machine churned away, calculating the information it had managed to capture. “It’s coming up with five possible matches. One’s a bit strange. Two high-profile bounties, but one’s on hold.”
“It all sounds too complex,” the elderly man said. “If the card’s not coming up as stolen then give her the cash, and get her out of here. Actually, ping the details around the more disreputable shops and see if they pick up anything. We’ll do a forty-sixty split on the bounty. Let’s get someone else to do the dirty work.” He waved the junior clerk away.
Memphis opened the door and went back into the small store.
“For heaven’s sake, girl, what are you wearing on your feet?” Rex said.
She placed the thick roll of credits on the counter and gave him a wide smile. “We’re even now. I’ve paid what I owe.”
He slowly counted out the credits, keeping a watchful eye on her. Then he counted them again. When he was satisfied, he stored them in his safe under the counter. He folded his arms and stared at her.
“That’s a lot of credits for a young lady to carry round,” he said. “People could get the wrong idea. Of course, I know better. You want a couple of runs? I’ve got some big payers.”
“No, I’m retiring from that.”
“What about just for me, special like?”
“I’m not doing anything for you, you smelly chunk of cheese.”
He leaned forward on the counter and pointed a finger at her. “There’s only two reasons you’d give up, either trouble or love. You ain’t acting like you in trouble, although you’re carrying enough credits to find it plenty quick. The way I remember it, you didn’t seem too interested in love.”
“Not with you, cheese man. Not with you.”
“This … young man. He got a name?”
“Everyone’s got a name, Rex. But I’m not letting you have it.”
“Why the big secret all of a sudden?”
“Maybe I got something special that I don’t want ruined by your dirty little fingers.” Her eyes drifted up to the small telescreen display. “Is that the Church of Truth channel?”
“Yeah.”
“What are they talking about?”
“How the Forty-ninth Division attacked the Chargers, the cowards, when the Chargers were suffering from this flu. The Master added his piece, saying he’s willing to support the Chargers.”
“Really,” she snorted. “What’s the Peacemaker saying about that?”
Rex shrugged. “The usual garbage that only politicians understand. Us mere humans ain’t invited into his large brain.”
“Well, I’d like say it’s been fun seeing you again, but we both know it’d be a lie.”
“You can be a cruel, girl.”
“Not anymore. And definitely not tonight.”
Ten minutes later, the door opened and Jade wandered in. Rex watched him go back into the small room in the rear, sit down, and stare at the telescreen, oblivious to the world around him.
“Well?”
“Huh?”
“You didn’t catch her.”
Jade grumbled a response before pointing at the telescreen. The Church channel was playing footage of an apparent 49th Division attack from a crashed zeppelin in Charger territory. Images of Memphis and Sebastian flashed briefly on the screen, with the words Wanted for questioning.
“You t’ink we should tell someone?”
“Is there a reward?” Rex replied.
Using one finger, Jade slowly tapped out the details on the small keyboard. The screen filled with data. “Da Master was offering one, but it’s on hold.” He tapped the screen. “But look at dis one.”
“That’s a heap of credits,” Rex said. “Too big to ignore. Give the man a call.”
“Will he take a call from da people like us? I t’ought he only spoke to dose la-di-da officials.”
“He will once he knows why we’re calling.”
44
MEMPHIS MADE HER way back to the tavern. She had found her emotions building over the days travelling with Sebastian. The feel of the muscles under his clothes. His unbeaten enthusiasm and all the control of a month-old puppy. Every day, the desire within her increased, and it was getting to the point of do or die. She hoped it wasn’t too obvious. On the plus side, he probably hadn’t noticed.
The woman behind the desk smiled at her as she entered, then smiled again when she paid for the room in cash up front. “I can see you’ve been thinking about something delectable, and probably disreputable for a young lady.”
Memphis could feel her ears turn red. “Is there a bar we could go where they don’t ask too many questions at the door?”
“You could try the Cherry,” the woman replied.
“How appropriate.”
“Is it your first time, honey?”
“Me, oh no. But, for him … I don’t think he’s had much opportunity. He’s spent his life fighting in wars overseas.”
“A foreign soldier, and such a fine young man. Such strong legs. Does he have an accent? I like an accent.” The woman leaned back and fanned her flushing face. “My, you are the lucky one.”
“I’ll try the Cherry, thanks.”
Memphis made her way up the stairs, not wishing to touch anything in case it erupted into flames.
In the lobby, Carter looked up at the concierge. She stared at the old man for a moment then turned away. “You’re no good to me, Carter.”
Memphis slowly opened the door and peered in. Sebastian stirred as she crept in and sat down on the bed next to him.
“I’ve had an idea,” she said. “It’s our last night in a major town for a while, so I think we should go out exploring. Ther
e are some places I’d like to show you. It’d give you a sense of life out here in the wild.”
Blearily, he followed her down the stairs. When they went through the lobby, Memphis noticed that the woman had gone.
They went out into the night streets. She wrapped her arm around Sebastian’s shoulder and steered him toward the noise and excitement of a plains town. She hadn’t been that friendly before, and he liked the warmth it gave him. He liked being able to touch someone without them trying to kill him.
“Memphis?”
“Yes?”
“I think there’s something I need to say to you, to explain.”
She took his hand and looked earnestly into his eyes. Confession time, she thought.
“I have a memory box that was given to me by a close friend. I, well, with growing up in war, I … never really had a future to look forward to. So much of what I treasure is behind me, the people I loved, family, friends. I’ve been living my life in the memory box, and I’ve been so wound up in that, because it’s all I’ve ever had, that I’ve been ignoring the good things in front of me, the beautiful things. I’m sorry, I haven’t given you the attention you deserve.”
“Is it raining?” Her eyes had misted over.
He looked up into the cold, clear night sky filled with twinkling stars. “No.”
She smiled at him. It wasn’t a confession of eternal adoration, damn it, but it would do for now. “Let’s leave the past behind, and focus on tonight,” she said. “This is what it means to be young, so let’s live it while we can.”
“Would it be okay if we held hands?” he said.
She grabbed his, intertwining her fingers, and dragged him off into the city.
The town buzzed with life. It was loud, the people were boisterous, and the lights were dazzling. Images of suggestive shapes, invisible during the day, now exploded with multicolored lights off the sides of the buildings. Some even moved, although in an on-and-off sort of way. The smell of drink and smoke drifted out of the entrances, each guarded by a heavyset man or two.
They passed a radio relay station that had a large digital clock showing the time and date.