Fall of the Cities_A Mercedes for Soldier Boy

by Vance Huxley

  “You bring what you’ll trade to one of those houses down the road, out of sight of the nosy. We agree on how much of what you want, and work out how you’ll pay. Just you and one very trusted lieutenant who can keep quiet.” Dealer chuckled as he stood up. “You have knocked down everything nearby so the meetingwill be fairly obvious, but not what it’s about.”

  “The ruined house on its own, about a hundred metres away on the other side of the road, will do nicely. We left that one deliberately, for trading, before we started the open door policy. It’ll take me a little while to see what we can raise. Half an hour?” Harold had no idea how much Orchard Close could spare, but real brass for the Winchester would be very handy. So would some extra propellant, it had to be cheaper this way. While he was dreaming, maybe some clips? “Would you all like a beer while you wait? A free one.”

  “My men would appreciate that, thank you. Half an hour.” Harold escorted Dealer to the gate and watched him walk back to the cars.After warning the guards not to point anything obvious at the cars, Harold phoned Liz and Casper for starters. A guard went to find a couple of Demons who were off duty. They were to dress sensibly, not for fighting, and take beer and a dozen mugs to the cars.

  *

  Harold phoned to ask Patty if she’d come fully dressed to go shopping with prejudice, but wouldn’t explain. A frantic discussion followed with Casper, Doll, Sharyn, Tessa and Liz, because Harold had no intention of keeping this from his inner circle. Runners scattered to collect maces, Rambos and a score of Liz specialty crossbow bolts, because Dealer had said distinctive and dangerous. Liz could make more artwork, and as many Rambos as Harold wanted just now.

  The knives for Wamil were suggested, but Harold didn’t know if this bloke had loose lips about where the stock came from. Another timehe might offer one of each. Sixteen Rambos and two dozen maces, most of the current stock, went into a wheelbarrow. Liz added two big bronze ornaments she’d been going to melt down. A woman and a dragon, and both were lovely,which was why they hadn’t gone into the melting pot yet.

  Harold didn’t see half the scavenged goods these days, but Liz would pass word to the groups to find her more ornaments if these traded. The scavengers would look for hidden jewellery in future so that Liz could turn the gold into ingots. The blacksmith hoped Harold could buy brass cases, because she still didn’t fancy making them. Sharyn brought a selection of the jewellery the Coven held, either to sell to residents or to trade for food if the coupons weren’t enough.Since she kept the stocks, not even the Coven would know if Harold bought ammo with some of it. Tessa put a battery CD player on the barrow, with a CD of Jilli singing a dozen songs.

  Patty turned up armed to the teeth, including her baby in its custom tasselled sheath.If she couldn’t flaunt the weapon, Patty wanted to flaunt the disguise. Sheasked how she could go shopping dressed like this, unless it was to Beth’s?Everyone there laughed at her until Tessa explained. Harold stuffed one of the Mad Max 50s in the back of Patty’s belt, under her jacket alongside the pistol already there. “For shoplifters, because I reckon the smartarse will bring a bodyguard in Kevlar.”

  Harold put a pump action shotgun in the barrow for himself, covering it so the Army didn’t get agitated, while Patty carried a crossbow. She slung her Winchester sheath down her side where it might be a quiver. Haroldput a .45 revolver and a nine mil pistol in his belt. Dealer said to come armed so both wore machetes, Rambos and carried a mace. After all, Harold could always throw those into the trade if necessary. Patty swapped out her sabre for agood quality machete, so she could sell it.

  Harold had no idea where Dealer came from, or if he’d be back, so he wanted to get as much ammo or propellant as possible while he had the chance. The bloke’s stockpile might be enough to tempt some gangs to combine and run right over any defenders, regardless of the armoured cars and automatics. That would leave Harold paying gang prices again.

  *

  Dealer waited while Patty went in to check the room, then came out to wave Harold forward. Dealer’s guard followed them in, producing a little machine pistol like those the police used to have. So did Dealer. They bothwore loose waterproof jackets over their clothes to conceal the automatics from the Army. Harold picked up the shotgun, lettingit almost aim at Dealer’s knees.Patty dropped her crossbow and swung her sheath round, putting her hand in the end. The Winchester barrelpointed at the guard’s groin.

  Harold looked pointedly at the two automatic weapons. “Maybe we are both heavy on weapons for a friendly discussion. Those little sods are much too handy for my peace of mind,and even I can’t miss with this and it’s not birdshot. Patty can’t miss with that either,not at this range, so how about we sort of calm down?”

  Despite the weaponry, Dealer seemed more interested in Patty. “What is that, exactly?”

  “Winchester 30-30 underlever. Not automatic, but the next best thing.” Harold smiled just a little as the guard tensed. “Even Kevlar might not save you at this range, not with her ammunition.”

  “Maybe not. We wouldn’t want to find out, soperhaps you are right. We could lower the heavier firearms?” Dealer gestured at the guard, who hesitated before hanging his arm and the machine gun straight down. Patty’s weapon never wavered. Dealer looked her over, and smiled. “I tend to go over the top at first, just to warn the ambitious types. Since your bodyguard looks more civilised than most, maybe we could ease off a little more?”

  “One in each corner of the room?” Harold glanced at the distances. “Far enough away so we all get a warning if someone gets uncivilised.”

  Dealer looked round the room. “I think so. Except that one, because now I just have to know if it is what I think. Especially in a sheath like that.” Dealer nodded at Patty. “Hello. I am both surprised and delighted to see you. You are a vast improvement on most bodyguards.”

  “So I’ve been told. People keep offering me a job.” Patty eased the sling off her shoulder without the muzzle wandering much. “Boss?” Patty must be in full bodyguard mode if she’d started calling Harold boss.

  Harold looked at Dealer first. “Providing the weapon stays a secret?”

  For once, Dealer didn’t smile at all. “Consider this room a confessional. In my business, I can’t afford to have loose lips.”

  Turning to Patty, Harold nodded. “Pull the sheath off carefully to let the nice man see it, but only once the rest of us get rid of the heavy artillery.” Which is what they did. As the bodyguard put his automatic in the corner, Patty placed the Winchester on the cloth Harold had taken from the barrow. She took hold of the end of the sheath, removing it without getting near the trigger.

  “Very nice.There aren’t many underlevers about andwith all the fancy engraving, that’s a custom job.The barrel work has been damaged, butnot too much so would you like to trade it?” Dealer hadn’t mentioned buying or selling firearms before, ornot after the probe about making them, but now he sounded dead serious.

  Harold laughed when Patty stiffened. “She’d kill me. I’d like some brass for it, if I can afford it. It was damaged and only came with a few rounds.”

  “The barrel? Slow, careful work, straightening one of those. Does it work?” Now Patty laughed and Dealer smiled. “Of course it does or it wouldn’t be here. I’m surprised your bodyguard wants to keep a weapon like that asecret.”

  “I told the owner it was scrap and took it for spares, because I didn’t think the barrel would straighten. He’d be a bit annoyed if he found out.” Which was a bit of an understatement. Caddi would burst a blood vessel.

  “I can understand why. Do you need brass for anything else?”

  “Yes please, a few fifty calibre rifle, anddo you have any 410 shotgun cases? Then I’d like some propellant for modern weapons.” Harold pointed to the contents of the barrow. “If I can afford it.”

  “You’ve got a fifty-cal rifle? I thought there were only two and the one this side of the city ended up smashed. Badly. If you repaired that, you’re a gunsmith.�
� Dealer had suddenly become watchful and very serious.

  “No, it’s a Mad Max.” Dealer kept that look so Harold explained. “A weapon made from bits. In this case part of a fifty calibre rifle barrel but the actual firing mechanism is something else. Nothing any manufacturer would put a name to.”

  “A rifle?”

  “No.” Harold sighed because from his face, Dealer wasn’t letting it go. “I don’t want any sudden moves, all right?” Dealer and his guard nodded so Harold reached for the Mad Max in the small of Patty’s back. The guard suddenly had a very modern pistol in his hand,pointed at the floor. “Don’t get excited because this is single shot. I’m going to unload it without pointing at anyone. Right?” Harold spoke to Patty as well because she had a hand inside her jacket,no doubt on one of her nine mil pistols.

  “That’s a long pistol barrel.” Dealer snorted in amusement. “God knows what the rest is.” He glanced over at the guard. “When the breech opens, lose the Glock.” The bodyguard looked unhappy but resigned.

  “That’s somethingwell under half a badly damaged rifle barrel. Something big mangled the actual mechanism. The rest is two blocks of iron hinged together, with a chamber between them filed to take a rifle round because it came with five empties. The trigger mechanism and hammer came from a ruined revolver, and the grip is custom carved by our carpenter to help with the recoil. It can be braced on a shoulder or maybe a hip.” Dealer nodded so Harold let the block hinge sideways, taking out the long, fat round. “There, no magazine so it’s safe.” As the bodyguard put the Glock away, Patty brought her empty hand out of her jacket.

  Dealer relaxed a little. “The damage came from a sledgehammer, apparently. I told the owner to use the rest as a club. Why is the bullet red?”

  “It’s hardened and then painted with nail varnish. For Kevlar.”

  Once again, the guard tensed slightly.”That’s Teflon. Teflon coated bullets work on Kevlar.” The bodyguard thought hard. “I’ve never heard of using nail varnish. Does it work?”

  Harold grinned because he’d asked Patty the same question when she’d suggested it. “I’ve no idea but with luck we’ll never need to know.”

  “You can make metal jacketed rounds?” Dealer also lookedcloser at the long red round.

  “No. Hardened steel core centre in a lead bullet.” Harold tapped the metal plates covering his jacket. “People are armouring up.”

  “Right, I’m convinced. Not a gunsmith but good enough for what I want. Can a man bring in the weapon for repair?” Dealer noticed Patty’s hand twitch towards her belt.”His hands will be empty, and he’ll hand the bag to your bodyguard for her to take a look.”

  “Okay, but just for your information there are rifles aimed this way.If you two come out without us then you will die. It would be silly to pull such a complicated stunt for a few coupons and these weapons, but some people are well pastsilly.” Harold didn’t think that Dealer worked like that, but these were not trusting times.

  “Ah. Ditto. We may have to exit hand in hand.” Dealer looked from the guard to Patty. “I’ll swap dancing partners?” The bodyguard smiled and so did Patty, but neither answered.

  Once the bag came in, Patty opened it to show another of the little automatics. When Harold inspected it, as asked, the guard didn’t even put a hand near his pistol.Somehow the tension seemed to have eased. Harold wasn’t sure when he’d passed a test, but both he and Patty obviously had. “If I fix this I’ll be looking for empty clips in payment. If you’ve got them? Maybe loaded clips?”

  Harold almost held his breath but Dealer didn’t hesitate. “No problem if you tell me what weapons need clips. I can supply reloads or original ammunition, though the prices will be different of course.” Harold gave the makes and models for empty clips, deciding on new, empty brass to make up any shortfall. Original rounds and even reloads were expensive. While they talked, the guard started asking Patty about the Winchester, how it handled and how many rounds it held. Whether the rounds had hardened centres might have been more than casual interest.

  Soon Dealer and Harold were busy haggling over powder and brass and heavy metal. According to Dealer, all the maces and Rambos were headed well away to the other side of the city, so as not to spoil Harold’s local trade. Dealer would sell two or three of each to gang leaders, who would pay top price for them as poser but effective bodyguard weapons. The name of the Rambos made a good selling point. The maces and Rambos carried by Harold and Patty went into the barrow to be traded.Dealer pointed out that if Harold had anyone who could manage some engraving, a bit of fancy work on the Rambos would improve the prices.

  Dealer paused and frowned at one item. “Crossbow bolts?” Harold pulled one from the bundle to show the point. “Good Lord, what is that?”

  “That is a special, and each one is unique.A lot of gangsters around here worry about finding one in their leg.” Patty smirked as the guard leant in a little and grimaced at all the little sharp spikes and hooks. “We don’t have to hide crossbows.”

  Dealer looked fascinated and definitely curious. “I would have thought in their leg would be the least of their worries.”

  “No, because this is what happens when a metal worker has artistic leanings, and a vicious streak.” Harold saw Patty’s smile grow as he continued. “They are designed so that removing the bolt costs the victim the limb.”

  Dealer inspected the point again. “I can see that. How well do theywork against that jacket for instance? Doesn’t the, ah, artwork affect penetration?”

  Harold smiled sunnily because Patty had tested a few for just that reason. “Not much at a hundred yards.The extras tend to shear off if they hit something hard enough but the point keeps going. Those using the crossbows pride themselves on accuracy, so if some scroat plates their bodythe shooters aim at any unprotected bits. There are a lot of big blood vessels in limbs, and as a bonus, intense pain is incapacitating.”

  The bodyguard actually flinched slightly. Dealer gave Harold a long look. “That is a particularly nasty mind-set.”

  Harold held his eye. “Not if you’ve just escaped one pack of animals, and another lot try to get you. Many of the best with a crossbow are women.They will not hesitate.”

  The chuckle came as a surprise. “That solves apuzzle. Sanctuary is real, even if it turns out to be called Orchard Close. There are vague rumours about you in the strangest places.” Dealer’sface showed just a little annoyance. “I hadn’t connected the dots, even after seeing the armoured vehicles and realising you were the ones on TV. I’m usually a bit quicker than that. How good is your armoured vehicle against something that isn’t an Army bullet?”

  “Crap against anything but plain lead pistol ammo. Luckily a lot of people only use that, and skimp on propellant.” Haroldopened another of the bags on the barrow. “We’ve collected a couple of other things to trade as well. Are these ornaments the sort of thing you want?”

  *

  The trading took a while. Harold tried to push the prices up, but had no idea if he’d been stiffed. Both bronze ornaments were accepted, as wereseveral brand new pairs of impractically high-heeled shoes.Harold had no idea who’d volunteered them. Dealer produced a loupe to look at the jewellery, rejecting over half the gems. He offered to take the settings, or any other scrap gold,providing he could test it first. He liked the CD of Jilli singing, promising to use it to tempt other customers.

  Gradually the gear in the barrow moved over to Dealer’s side, to be replaced with items Orchard Close needed. Unsurprisingly, Harold found that the other gangs had always stiffed him over propellant, though it still wasn’t cheap. Percussion caps and primers weren’t cheap either when he asked. Harold didn’t need any, but not asking a price would have been strange. He parted with a few coupons, but few enough that he thought he’d done all right. Next time, Dealer assured Harold, there might be a few gang firearms to fix. Dealer would bring them, and make a decision when Harold produced the repair.

  Harold’s purchases went
into the barrow with the bagged broken weapon and his shotgun, all covered with the cloth. Nobody held hands as they left, even if Patty offered with a smile, but Harold and Dealer came out of the door like Siamese twins so nobody ended up shot. Harold and Patty headed straight for the gun room to hide the automatic. Two of Dealer’s men went into the house to remove the trade goods,then the four cars left.

  Harold had a long talk with his trusted lieutenants. The notifications about games at the Mart and Dealer’s visit arrived at almost the same time, so they must get the same information. The trigger had to be the numbers of residents, which meant a bloody great leak from the government somewhere. Either that or Dealer was official, which nobody wanted to even consider. None of them wanted to find out the government kept feeding ammunition into the conflicts.

  Harold had tried, but hecouldn’t get any hints about theother gangs. The impromptu meeting agreed that being discreet had to be part of Dealer’s stock in trade, underlined by nobody ever telling Harold where their propellant came from. That came as a relief becauseHarold didn’t want word spreading about Soldier Boy making crude firearms. He definitely didn’t want Caddi to come looking for the Winchester. In retrospect, they agreed that Dealer probably already had other weapons repairers in the city, but wanted options. With a smirk, Emmy pointed out he’d probably just lost onelocal repairer, compliments of Harold’s girlfriend.

  *

  Harold didn’t have much time to reflect on Dealer’s visit. The Barbies were pushing hard to get their transmitter repaired, but had promised not to attempt a kidnap. Three times, groups of women came to look at the partial transmitter and talk to Trev, always with Skipper and her special radio knickers. Real bargaining began because the bewigged blondes were absolutely serious. If Barbie Radio went back on the air, Harold could empty the music shop of instruments and sheet music.

  Despite Harold pushing hard, the Barbies didn’t want to part with any music CDs. They might need that bargaining power later. “What will interest you, maybe prise something loose?”