Wastelands

by John Joseph Adams

  "Gas is better'n gold, and we work damn hard to get it!"

  Del stood his ground. Looked grim and disappointed. "I'd be the last man alive to try to part you from your goods," Del said. "It's not my place to drive a fellow into the arms of sweet content, to make him rest his manly frame on golden thighs. Not if he thinks this lovely girl's not worth the fee, no sir. I don't do business that way and never have."

  The men moved closer. Del could smell their discontent. He read sly thoughts above their heads. There was always this moment when it occurred to them there was a way Ginny's delights might be obtained for free.

  "Give it some thought, friends," Del said. "A man's got to do what he's got to do. And while you're making up your minds, turn your eyes to the top of the van for a startling and absolutely free display of the slickest bit of marksmanship you're ever likely to see!"

  Before Del's words were out of his mouth and on the way, before the men could scarcely comprehend, Ginny appeared again and tossed a dozen china saucers in the air.

  Possum Dark moved in a blur. Turned 140 degrees in his bolted steno chair and whipped his guns on target, blasting saucers to dust. Thunder rolled across the flats. Crockery rained on the men below. Possum stood and offered a pink killer grin and a little bow. The men saw six-foot-nine and a quarter inches of happy marsupial fury and awesome speed, of black agate eyes and a snout full of icy varmint teeth. Doubts were swept aside. Fifty-caliber madness wasn't the answer. Fun today was clearly not for free.

  "Gentlemen, start your engines," Del smiled. "I'll be right here to take your fee. Enjoy a hot taco while you wait your turn at glory. Have a look at our display of fine pharmaceutical wonders and mind-expanding drugs."

  In moments, men were making their way back to the stockade. Soon after that, they returned toting battered tins of gas. Del sniffed each gallon, in case some buffoon thought water would get him by. Each man received a token and took his place. Del sold tacos and dangerous drugs, taking what he could get in trade. Candles and Mason jars, a rusty knife. Half a manual on full-field maintenance for the Chrysler Mark XX Urban Tank. The drugs were different colors but the same: twelve parts oregano, three parts rabbit shit, one part marijuana stems. All this under Possum's watchful eye.

  "By God," said the first man out of the van. "She's worth it, I'll tell you that. Have her do the Nurse, you won't regret it!"

  "The Schoolteacher's best," said the second man through. "I never seen the like. I don't care if she's real or she ain't."

  "What's in these tacos?" a customer asked Del.

  "Nobody you know, mister," Del said.

  "It's been a long day," Ginny said. "I'm pooped, and that's the truth." She wrinkled up her nose. "First thing we hit a town, you hose 'er out good now, Del. Place smells like a sewer or maybe worse."

  Del squinted at the sky and pulled up under the scant shade of mesquite. He stepped out and kicked the tires. Ginny got down, walked around and stretched.

  "It's getting late," Del said. "You want to go on or stop here?"

  "You figure those boys might decide to get a rebate on this gas?"

  "Hope they do," Possum said from atop the van.

  "You're a pisser," Ginny laughed, "I'll say that. Hell, let's keep going. I could use a hot bath and town food. What you figure's up the road?"

  "East Bad News," Del said, "if this map's worth anything at all. Ginny, night driving's no good. You don't know what's waiting down the road."

  "I know what's on the roof," Ginny said. "Let's do it. I'm itchy all over with bugs and dirt and that tub keeps shinin' in my head. You want me to drive a spell, I sure will."

  "Get in," Del grumbled. "Your driving's scarier than anything I'll meet."

  Morning arrived in purple shadow and metal tones, copper, silver, and gold. From a distance, East Bad News looked to Ginny like garbage strewn carelessly over the flats. Closer, it looked like larger garbage. Tin shacks and tents and haphazard buildings rehashed from whatever they were before. Cookfires burned, and the locals wandered about and yawned and scratched. Three places offered food. Other places bed and a bath. Something to look forward to, at least. She spotted the sign down at the far end of town.

  MORO'S REPAIRS

  Armaments * Machinery * Electronic Shit of All Kinds

  "Hold it!" Ginny said. "Pull 'er in right there."

  Del looked alarmed. "What for?"

  "Don't get excited. There's gear needs tending in back. I just want 'em to take a look."

  "Didn't mention it to me," Del said.

  Ginny saw the sad and droopy eyes, the tired wisps of hair sticking flat to Del's ears. "Del, there wasn't anything to mention," she said in a kindly tone. "Nothing you can really put your finger on, I mean, okay?"

  "Whatever you think," Del said, clearly out of sorts.

  Ginny sighed and got out. Barbed wire surrounded the yard behind the shop. The yard was ankle-deep in tangles of rope and copper cable, rusted unidentifiable parts. A battered pickup hugged the wall. Morning heat curled the tin roof of the building. More parts spilled out of the door. Possum made a funny noise, and Ginny saw the Dog step into the light. A Shepherd, maybe six-foot-two. It showed Possum Dark yellow eyes. A man appeared behind the Dog, wiping heavy grease on his pants. Bare to the waist, hair like stuffing out of a chair. Features hard as rock, flint eyes to match. Not bad looking, thought Ginny, if you cleaned him up good.

  "Well now," said the man. He glanced at the van, read the legend on the side, took in Ginny from head to toe. "What can I do for you, little lady?"

  "I'm not real little and don't guess I'm any lady," Ginny said. "Whatever you're thinking, don't. You open for business or just talk?"

  The man grinned. "My name's Moro Gain. Never turn business away if I can help it."

  "I need electric stuff."

  "We got it. What's the problem?"

  "Huh-unh." Ginny shook her head. "First, I gotta ask. You do confidential work or tell everything you know?"

  "Secret's my middle name," Moro said. "Might cost a little more, but you got it."

  "How much?"

  Moro closed one eye. "Now, how do I know that? You got a nuclear device in there, or a broken watch? Drive it on in and we'll take a look." He aimed a greasy finger at Possum Dark. "Leave him outside."

  "No way."

  "No arms in the shop. That's a rule."

  "He isn't carrying. Just the guns you see." Ginny smiled. "You can shake him down if you like. I wouldn't, I don't think."

  "He looks imposing, all right."

  "I'd say he is."

  "What the hell," Moro said, "drive it in."

  Dog unlocked the gate. Possum climbed down and followed with oily eyes.

  "Go find us a place to stay," Ginny said to Del. "Clean, if you can find it. All the hot water in town. Christ sakes, Del, you still sulking or what?"

  "Don't worry about me," Del said. "Don't concern yourself at all."

  "Right." She hopped behind the wheel. Moro began kicking the door of his shop. It finally sprang free, wide enough to take the van. The supply wagon rocked along behind. Moro lifted the tarp, eyed the thirty-seven tins of unleaded with great interest.

  "You get lousy mileage, or what?" he asked Ginny.

  Ginny didn't answer. She stepped out of the van. Light came through broken panes of glass. The skinny windows reminded her of a church. Her eyes got used to shadow, and she saw that that's what it was. Pews sat to the side, piled high with auto parts. A 1997 Olds was jacked up before the altar.

  "Nice place you got here," she said.

  "It works for me," Moro told her. "Now what kind of trouble you got? Something in the wiring? You said electric stuff."

  "I didn't mean the motor. Back here." She led him to the rear and opened the doors.

  "God a'Mighty!" Moro said.

  "Smells a little raunchy right now. Can't help that till we hose 'er down." Ginny stepped inside, looked back, and saw Moro still on the ground. "You coming up or not?"

&
nbsp; "Just thinking."

  "About what?" She'd seen him watching her move and didn't really have to ask.

  "Well, you know . . ." Moro shuffled his feet. "How do you figure on paying? For whatever it is I got to do."

  "Gas. You take a look. Tell me how many tins. I say yes or no."

  "We could work something out."

  "We could, huh?"

  "Sure." Moro gave her a foolish grin. "Why not?"

  Ginny didn't blink. "Mister, what kind of girl do you think I am?"

  Moro looked puzzled and intent. "I can read good, lady, believe it or not. I figured you wasn't tacos or dangerous drugs."

  "You figured wrong," Ginny said. "Sex is just software to me, and don't you forget it. I haven't got all day to watch you moonin' over my parts. I got to move or stand still. When I stand still, you look. When I move, you look more. Can't fault you for that, I'm about the prettiest thing you ever saw. Don't let it get in the way of your work."

  Moro couldn't think of much to say. He took a breath and stepped into the van. There was a bed bolted flat against the floor. A red cotton spread, a worn satin pillow that said Durango, Colorado, and pictured chipmunks and waterfalls. An end table, a pink-shaded lamp with flamingos on the side. Red curtains on the walls. Ballet prints and a naked Minnie Mouse.

  "Somethin' else," Moro said.

  "Back here's the problem," Ginny said. She pulled a curtain aside at the front of the van. There was a plywood cabinet, fitted with brass screws. Ginny took a key out of her jeans and opened it up.

  Moro stared a minute, then laughed aloud. "Sensory tapes? Well, I'll be a son of a bitch." He took a new look at Ginny, a look Ginny didn't miss. "Haven't seen a rig like this in years. Didn't know there were any still around."

  "I've got three tapes," Ginny explained. "A brunette, a redhead, and a blond. Found a whole cache in Ardmore, Oklahoma. Had to look at 'bout three or four hundred to find girls that looked close enough to me. Nearly went nuts 'fore it was over. Anyway, I did it. Spliced 'em down to seven minutes each."

  Moro glanced back at the bed. "How do you put 'em under?"

  "Little needle comes up out the mattress. Sticks them in the ass lightnin' fast. They're out like that. Seven-minute dose. Headpiece is in the end table there. I get it on and off them real quick. Wires go under the floorboards back here to the rig."

  "Jesus," Moro said. "They ever catch you at this, you are cooked, lady."

  "That's what Possum's for," Ginny said. "Possum's pretty good at what he does. Now what's that look all about?"

  "I wasn't sure right off if you were real."

  Ginny laughed aloud. "So what do you think now?"

  "I think maybe you are."

  "Right," Ginny said. "It's Del who's the droid, not me. Wimp IX Series. Didn't make a whole lot. Not much demand. The customers think it's me, never think to look at him. He's a damn good barker and pretty good at tacos and drugs. A little too sensitive, you ask me. Well, nobody's perfect, so they say."

  "The trouble you're having's in the rig?"

  "I guess," Ginny said, "beats the hell out of me." She bit her lip and wrinkled her brow. Moro found the gestures most inviting. "Slips a little, I think. Maybe I got a short, huh?"

  "Maybe." Moro fiddled with the rig, testing one of the spools with his thumb. "I'll have to get in here and see."

  "It's all yours. I'll be wherever it is Del's got me staying."

  "Ruby John's," Moro said. "Only place there is with a good roof. I'd like to take you out to dinner."

  "Well sure you would."

  "You got a real shitty attitude, friend."

  "I get a whole lot of practice," Ginny said.

  "And I've got a certain amount of pride," Moro told her. "I don't intend to ask you more than three or four times and that's it."

  Ginny nodded. Right on the edge of approval. "You've got promise," she said. "Not a whole lot, maybe, but some."

  "Does that mean dinner, or not?"

  "Means not. Means if I wanted to have dinner with some guy, you'd maybe fit the bill."

  Moro's eyes got hot. "Hell with you, lady. I don't need the company that bad."

  "Fine." Ginny sniffed the air and walked out. "You have a nice day."

  Moro watched her walk. Watched denims mold her legs, studied the hydraulics of her hips. Considered several unlikely acts. Considered cleaning up, searching for proper clothes. Considered finding a bottle and watching the tapes. A plastic embrace at best, or so he'd heard, but a lot less hassle in the end.

  Possum Dark watched the van disappear into the shop. He felt uneasy at once. His place was on top. Keeping Ginny from harm. Sending feral prayers for murder to absent genetic gods. His eyes hadn't left Dog since he'd appeared. Primal smells, old fears and needs, assailed his senses. Dog locked the gate and turned around. Didn't come closer, just turned.

  "I'm Dog Quick," he said, folding hairy arms. "I don't much care for Possums."

  "I don't much care for Dogs," said Possum Dark. Dog seemed to understand. "What did you do before the War?"

  "Worked in a theme park. Our Wildlife Heritage. That kind of shit. What about you?"

  "Security, what else?" Dog made a face. "Learned a little electrics. Picked up a lot more from Moro Gain. I've done worse." He nodded toward the shop. "You like to shoot people with that thing?"

  "Anytime I get the chance."

  "You ever play any cards?"

  "Some." Possum Dark showed his teeth. "I guess I could handle myself with a Dog."

  "For real goods?" Dog returned the grin.

  "New deck, unbroken seal, table stakes," Possum said.

  Moro showed up at Ruby John's Cot Emporium close to noon. Ginny had a semiprivate stall, covered by a blanket. She'd bathed and braided her hair and cut the legs clean off her jeans. She tugged at Moro's heart.

  "It'll be tomorrow morning," Moro said. "Cost you ten gallons of gas."

  "Ten gallons," Ginny said. "That's stealin', and you know it."

  "Take it or leave it," Moro said. "You got a bad head in that rig. Going to come right off, you don't fix it. You wouldn't like that. Your customers wouldn't like it any at all."

  Ginny appeared subdued but not much. "Four gallons. Tops."

  "Eight. I got to make the parts myself."

  "Five."

  "Six," Moro said. "Six and I take you to dinner."

  "Five and a half, and I want to be out of this sweatbox at dawn. On the road and gone when the sun starts bakin' your lovely town."

  "Damn, you're fun to have around."

  Ginny smiled. Sweet and disarming, an unexpected event. "I'm all right. You got to get to know me."

  "Just how do I go about that?"

  "You don't." The smile turned sober. "I haven't figured that one out."

  It looked like rain to the north. Sunrise was dreary. Muddy, less-than-spectacular yellows and reds. Colors through a window no one had bothered to wash. Moro had the van brought out. He said he'd thrown in a lube and hosed out the back. Five and a half gallons were gone out of the wagon. Ginny had Del count while Moro watched.

  "I'm honest," Moro said, "you don't have to do that."

  "I know," Ginny said, glancing curiously at Dog, who was looking rather strange. He seemed out of sorts. Sulky and off his feed. Ginny followed his eyes and saw Possum atop the van. Possum showed a wet Possum grin.

  "Where you headed now?" Moro asked, wanting to hold her as long as he could.

  "South," Ginny said, since she was facing that direction.

  "I wouldn't," Moro said. "Not real friendly folks down there."

  "I'm not picky. Business is business."

  "No, sir," Moro shook his head. "Bad business is what it is. You got the Dry Heaves south and east. Doom City after that. Straight down and you'll hit the Hackers. Might run into Fort Pru, bunch of disgruntled insurance agents out on the flats. Stay clear away from them. Isn't worth whatever you'll make."

  "You've been a big help," Ginny said.

  Moro
gripped her door. "You ever listen to anyone, lady? I'm giving good advice."

  "Fine," Ginny said, "I'm 'bout as grateful as I can be."

  Moro watched her leave. He was consumed by her appearance. The day seemed to focus in her eyes. Nothing he said pleased her in the least. Still, her disdain was friendly enough. There was no malice at all that he could see.

  There was something about the sound of Doom City she didn't like. Ginny told Del to head south and maybe west. Around noon, a yellow haze appeared on the ragged rim of the world, like someone rolling a cheap dirty rug across the flats.

  "Sandstorm," Possum called from the roof. "Right out of the west. I don't like it at all. I think we better turn. Looks like trouble coming fast."

  There was nothing Possum said she couldn't see. He had a habit of saying either too little or more than enough. She told him to cover his guns and get inside, that the sand would take his hide and there was nothing out there he needed to kill that wouldn't wait. Possum Dark sulked but climbed down. Hunched in back of the van, he grasped air in the shape of grips and trigger guards. Practiced rage and windage in his head.

  "I'll bet I can beat that storm," Del said. "I got this feeling I can do it."

  "Beat it where?" Ginny said. "We don't know where we are or what's ahead."

  "That's true," Del said. "All the more reason then to get there soon as we can."

  Ginny stepped out and viewed the world with disregard. "I got sand in my teeth and in my toes," she complained. "I'll bet that Moro Gain knows right where storms'll likely be. I'll bet that's what happened, all right."

  "Seemed like a decent sort to me," Del said.

  "That's what I mean," Ginny said. "You can't trust a man like that at all."

  The storm had seemed to last a couple of days. Ginny figured maybe an hour. The sky looked bad as cabbage soup. The land looked just the way it had. She couldn't see the difference between sand recently gone or newly arrived. Del got the van going again. Ginny thought about yesterday's bath. East Bad News had its points.

  Before they topped the first rise, Possum Dark began to stomp on the roof. "Vehicles to port," he called out. "Sedans and pickup trucks. Flatbeds and semis. Buses of all kinds."