"You got some moves kid, I'll give you that."
"You want to get to the point?"
"The point?"
"Yeah, the point of why you were chasing after me. You said you wanted to talk, well here's your chance."
Piner seemed to consider my words as he weighed out his response. I took a look around and realized we were completely alone, probably for the first time since we had met each other. Finally, Piner spoke.
"How would you like to go home? Back to Miami. I can make that happen." He grinned at me.
"What the hell are you talking about, chum?" I asked, my tone betraying some of the surprise I felt at his words.
"I'm talking about getting Skywatch off your back so can go home." He was rummaging around in his pockets for something as he said this.
I took a step back from him, unconsciously dropping my right foot back a bit, into my fighting stance. How could Piner possibly know about Skywatch? Unless he was working for them. Or another bounty hunter. But that didn't make sense. Why had he waited the better part of five months before revealing himself? No, something else was going on here.
Piner had finally managed to pull whatever it was he had been looking for out of his pocket. He held it out to me. I took it cautiously and turned it over a few times in my hands. It was a synth-leather wallet. I flipped it open and staring back out at me from a plastic sleeve was an ID badge. It had Piner's face and name on it. That wasn't what had caught my eye though. It was the United States Government seal and the text printed in big bold letters that read: Drug Enforcement Agency.
I continued to stare at the badge for a long moment before flipping the wallet closed and handing it back to Piner.
"I don't get it," I said.
"I'll explain if you'll let me."
I nodded.
"We don't have all night. If I'm out here too long I'll be missed. I'm sure the same can be said for you?"
I nodded again.
"Okay, then. The short version. Your pal Lucas, the one who got you and that big bastard you’re living with into the plantation--"
"Zenigra," I interrupted.
"Yeah, Zenigra," Piner said as if he had known all along what Zenigra's name was, "Your pal Lucas, is a drug runner. DEA has been building a case against him for over a year now. He uses the drifters to move the drugs from plantation to plantation. He pays well and he doesn't use the same person twice, so it's been next to impossible for us to flip anyone. Two months ago, we managed to get someone undercover inside his operation. Then we lost contact with him. I've been undercover here since October, watching him, trying to keep tabs on his movements. But he doesn't do anything himself. He hires out to thugs like your buddy, Zenigra. They do the dirty work for him and he keeps his hands clean."
I thought back to the different trips Zenigra had taken since I'd been living with him. Had Zenigra known all along what Lucas was up to? That he was a drug runner? Had it been Zenigra that had silenced the undercover Agent? What Piner had told me about Lucas using the drifters to move drugs from plantation to plantation made sense. What better way to get something illegal from place to place than to put it in the hands of one of the invisible. The underclass. The disposable.
Nobody had ever paid me any attention as I moved from town to town and plantation to plantation. Law enforcement included. It was a simple and effective way to do things, and it stayed under the radar. There were hundreds of thousands of drifters working the fields. It would be easy to find one interested in making some quick flash just for walking the same roads they were already heading down.
"Lucas has been at this for a few years. He's got a huge network of plantations that he's involved with. He's a master at greasing the right hands."
"What does any of this have to do with me?"
"I know he implanted a microchip under your skin. I overheard him talking about it with that Chink doc a while ago. He wanted to make sure that the nanos they gave you wouldn't affect it in any way."
"So, what of it?"
" I want you to come with me and let me get that chip out of you. I don't know what’s on it, but I'm sure whatever it is will help us break this case wide open."
"And then what?"
"Then, we'll tell Skywatch to back off. Having been of service to your country."
Could it really be that easy?
"What happens to Zenigra?"
"We've already got enough on him to put him away for at least twenty years. You don't have to worry about him coming after you."
"And Lucas?"
"Hah, Lucas won't be getting out of jail for considerably longer than that. I wouldn't worry about him."
"Even if he goes down he can still send people after me or my family."
"Sure, if he was in a regular prison, but the charges he'd be facing, we're talking Cryo. Fifty years minimum. With a healthy rehab program to boot. By the time they thaw him out, he'll be afraid to walk down the drug aisle at the mega-mart."
I wanted desperately to take him up on his offer. To get out of this plantation and back to Miami. Back to Sasha. The only thing standing in the way was Zenigra. I couldn't just sell him out like that. I had to warn him. Give him time to bail out. But how? I needed time to think.
"Why have you spent all this time convincing people that I'm a terrible person that doesn't belong on this plantation if you needed me so badly?"
"I needed you on the outside looking in, kid. I saw your buddy Zenigra tell Lucas he'd only come in if you could. I wanted you spending as much time as possible with him. Everything I did, everything I said, was meant to push you closer to Zenigra and Lucas."
"So why wait until now to tell me all of this if you knew about the chip? Why not just swoop in with a task force and storm the plantation?"
"Lucas would have had Zenigra kill you straight away and we would have had no guarantee that he wouldn't have had time to get the chip out of you before we locked the place down. Then we would be right back where we started, except Lucas would know we were on to him."
I laughed at his words.
"What, you think because you're all buddy-buddy with the big guy he wouldn't kill you for a couple dollars? Gimme a break."
"He wouldn't," I stated.
"You still got a lot to learn about the world, kid. I've seen that guy’s rap sheet. He's done some pretty screwed up stuff. Believe me. Killing you wouldn't even make his top ten."
"I don't believe you."
"You don't have to. All you need to believe is that helping me helps you get your old life back."
"You still haven't told me why you didn't come to me sooner."
"Sooner? This is the first chance I've had. Lucas had this place pretty tightly locked down. Maybe you don't know it, but he's had eyes on you the entire time you've been here. He's known exactly where you were. Except for right now. You keep a pretty tight schedule, kid. Work, eat, run, spar, sleep. If I know that, then Lucas knows it too. He didn't expect you to go out for a late night run, so nobody was watching for you."
"But you were?"
He grinned at me.
"We have people monitoring the local Grid stations."
"You listened to my phone call?" I groaned, feeling violated.
"Not me personally, but I got a call letting me know you'd just been through some emotional stuff and I figured you might head out to blow off some steam. Anyway, who do you think planted the idea in Zenigra's head that he should get you a Progia for Christmas? That was me, kid."
I laughed. This was all a bit too much for me to handle. My mind was reeling with all the new information Piner was giving me. Everything that had happened since I got to the plantation was starting to make sense. Piner's false anger toward me. My subsequent status as an outcast. Lucas implanting me with the chip, then keeping tabs on me. Lucas having me move in with Zenigra. Zenigra teaching me how to fight. How had I gotten myself tangled up in this mess?
"I'll do it, but on one condition." Just as I said it, there was a rustli
ng in the woods to our left. Piner held up a finger to his mouth and we both cast our gazes in the direction of the sound. Slowly, Piner moved to the very edge of the woods and then stepped in. I could hear him moving about just inside the woods for several minutes before he reappeared.
"Nothing there. Must have been an animal. But we really should both be getting back. What's this condition?"
"Zenigra doesn't get charged with anything."
"Look, I know you think he's your friend but he isn't. He's wanted on warrants in three states."
"Do you want the chip or not?" I asked.
"Fine. Zenigra walks. But you don't mention this to him until after it's a done deal. Until after we have the chip. We'll bring everyone in, and you and he can walk out the front door when it's finished. That's the deal."
I nodded, "Fine. When do we do it?"
"Tomorrow, when you're working the fields. Make your way to the forest behind the main refinery during the midday break. Just head straight into the forest. I'll have someone waiting there to pick you up."
"Why not just walk out the front gate?"
"Lucas would never let that happen. Trust me, kid, I know how he operates. You'd be dead before you made it fifty meters from the main building. The forest during work is your best bet. I'll have someone waiting."
"You going to be there?"
"I'm going to leave tonight and set things up."
"Okay. Just make sure you've got the pull to get me out from under Skywatch or I'll cut this damn chip out with a knife and burn it."
"We're the government. We can make anything happen." he laughed and turned away from me, heading back in the direction of the dormitory.
I decided to finish my run, in case Lucas had people watching Zenigra's hut after all. It was a good half a mile back to the Hut and I took it at a sprint. My steps were light. Tonight had been both terrible and fantastic. I finally had a way to get home and once I was there, I would win Sasha back if she liked it or not. Things would go back to the way they had been before I'd had to leave. I felt a pang of sadness at the possibility of having to part ways with Zenigra, I'd always sort of assumed that we would make it to Boston together.
The lights were out in the hut when I got back. I entered quietly so as not to wake Zenigra. Kicking off my boots, I headed into the living room and plopped down on my mattress. I spent the better part of an hour letting various fantasies on how I would win back Sasha play out in front of my mind’s eye. Mostly they involved me busting in on Sasha trying to fight some guy off as he tried to make a move on her. The end of every fantasy was the same. The guy was a broken piece of meat slowly bleeding out on the floor and Sasha was wrapped up tightly in my arms.
I slept well that night. Better than I had in a long time. I made a deal that didn't betray Zenigra, in fact, it might even have saved him from going to jail, and I would get to move back home.
Sometimes, I decided, you could have your cake and eat it too.
Chapter 17
“Chummer was death wrapped in synth leather. Said pretty soon he was gunna stop looking for ya and make you start lookin’ for him. I think he means ta burn the shop down. By the way, I want a raise.” – Salli (cashier at the Dark Shop) speaking to her boss, Bansupuro Park, Withmore City, 2090
My progia vibrated and squawked softly from under the pillow where I’d placed it the night before after setting an early morning alarm. I’d set it wanting to make sure I’d have enough time to pack a few things I didn't want to leave behind at Zenigra’s. I had no idea if I'd have a chance to come back to the plantation after Piner's people had taken the chip out of me and arrested Lucas.
After silencing the device I laid in bed with my thoughts drifting forward over the possible outcomes for the days events and backward over the decisions that had led me to that moment in time. I knew I should get up and get to the job at hand but was held back by the finality of this last morning at Zenigra’s.
If I’d kept walking instead of stopping for winter, despite the lack of open plantations, I’d be in Boston by now.
Or dead in the back of a tractor trailer after trusting one too many truckers.
If I’d kept to myself instead of approaching Zenigra outside the plantation, I might have made it in after a few days waiting outside, without being in debt to Lucas.
Or you’d have burned several days walking time and gotten got by that bounty hunter.
If I’d--
Only one path now and that’s forward.
I let out a quick breath and got up.
I changed into my only set of cargo pants, unloaded my meager set of belongings from the backpack Sasha had given me, and stuffed as much as would fit into the pockets of the pants. When I had all the stuff I wanted to take along with me safely stowed away, I rolled the backpack up and slipped it into the waistband of the pants. I pulled two shirts on and went into the bathroom to stand in front of the mirror.
You could sort of see the bulge of the backpack, but I doubted most folks would give me more than a cursory glance.
I left the bathroom and ate breakfast in silence. I wanted to tell Zenigra what was going on, but Piner’s warning kept cycling through my thoughts. I pushed the oatmeal around with my spoon unenthusiastically and scratched at the side of my face with two fingers. Zenigra still hadn't woken up by the time I was pulling on my boots and jacket. I contemplated leaving him a note explaining the situation, or even knocking on his door and telling him firsthand but I couldn’t bring myself to do either. That was probably for the best. Zenigra might not want to go along with the deal. He might not believe Piner’s people would let him go, and if he tried to run it would ruin everything. Even worse, Zenigra might go straight to Lucas and tell him what was going on. I couldn’t risk that.
I didn't want to believe that Zenigra would knowingly put my life in danger, but Piner’s words about all the bad things Zenigra had done were still rattling around inside my head. I knew Zenigra was a good person, I knew it, but I also knew that he did what he had to do to survive. Would that include selling me out?
I pushed the thought from my mind as I exited the hut for what I fully expected to be the last time. I was sad to be leaving it. Over the past few months, it had become my home. I was definitely going to miss Zenigra when we parted ways. I was going to miss the simple food and playing memory. I just hoped Zenigra wasn't terribly mad at me about not bringing him in on the plan. If he forgave me, maybe we could meet up again when all of this was over.
"The only person you can trust in this world, is you," his words rang in my ears. He would understand.
*
The line for work was just starting to form as I exited the hut. I trudged across the field toward where Jack was handing out assignments for the day. I queued up with the rest of the workers and waited patiently for mine. I was hoping that Jack would put me on a harvesting team. It would make it easier to get over to the main refinery during the break. All I would have to do was make sure I had a full wheelbarrow of Switchgrass when they came around with the water. No one would think twice about me continuing to work through the break. I always worked through the break. I'd just wheel my barrow over to the main refinery, slip around back, and head into the forest.
I assumed Piner had chosen break time for my escape as it would take the longest for anyone to notice I was missing and alert Lucas. When I got to the front of the line, Jack nodded to me once and put me on harvesting duty. I kept my relief from showing on my face. This part, at least, would be easy.
The day seemed to crawl by. I worked as hard as I normally did. As the day wore on the heat began to build, but as the other workers started to strip off layers of clothing, leaving them discarded in the dirt, I kept all mine on. I couldn't risk someone noticing the backpack stuffed in my waistband. I was sweating for a change, but I ignored it in favor of maintaining the illusion of normalcy.
By eleven, most of the workers were down to tank tops and I was starting to think I was looking suspiciou
s still wearing my jacket, I cast furtive glances around me, but no one seemed to be paying me or my extra layers much mind. I began filling up my wheelbarrow in preparation for the mid-day break.
When the water finally arrived, the rest of the workers dropped down to the ground and started chatting as they drank. I noticed Jack heading in my direction. Now would be a terrible time for him to decide to strike up a conversation, or even to give praise to all the great work my group had been doing that day. I decided not to give him the chance to screw up my escape.
I walked up to my wheelbarrow and began pushing it in the opposite direction of Jack's approaching form. I took the wheelbarrow in a wide arc, circling back toward the main refinery. It was slow going, none of the resting workers moved to get out of my way as I passed and several times I had to stop and adjust my path through the throng.
The sun was beating down hard on my neck and I could feel the sweat starting to soak through my second shirt by the time I got to the main refinery. With one look over my shoulder I dumped the wheelbarrow outside the door and began walking around the back of the building. I hoped it would look like I was heading off to take a piss if anyone happened to look my way.
When I got to the back of the refinery, I cut right, putting it between me and the fields. Safely hidden, I stripped off my jacket, pulled the backpack from my waist, and stuffed the jacket inside it. It was a relief to be out of it. I slung the backpack over my shoulder and hurried into the woods. As I entered them, the smell of pine filled my nose. I tried to move as silently as possible, but as if in protest, my boots crunched through the underbrush with each step.
I had never been in a forest before. The trees towered above me and cast the entire forest floor in an unsettling gloom. They were spaced more evenly than I would have thought and the image of an old farmer crouching down, planting each seedling in neat rows came unbidden to my mind.
I had been keeping myself pretty well under control so far, but now, with escape so close, my heart was starting to race. When I was a quarter of a mile into the woods, I glanced over my shoulder. I could see the tall form of the refinery protruding just above the treetops. Good riddance.
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