XXXIV
I woke up to the tones of my PAV. It was Wei.
“Wanna go to the zoo?”
“I’ll be ready when you get here.”
By the time I’d scarfed down breakfast and dressed, she’d arrived.
“See you later, Gran.”
“Homework done?” she asked. “Tomorrow’s a school day.”
“I don’t have much. I’ll finish it when I get home. I promise.”
“I’m holding you to that. Now go on, you two, so you can get back.” She shooed us out the door. “And be careful.”
“I’m always careful,” I said.
“Don’t worry, Mrs. Oberon, she’s with me.”
We goofed around while waiting for the elport. Wei demonstrated a headlock on me and then showed me how to break away if someone grabbed my arm. We were downstairs before I managed to free myself from her grasp by jerking through the thumb side of the hold. “Keep practicing,” she said. “You’ll get it eventually.” I wasn’t so sure of that.
Outside it was bleak and gray. The sky spat hard little balls of white that bounced off the concrete. Automatically, I scanned the street for Ed’s green trannie. Nothing.
“I’m not ready for snow. I hate being cold.” I pulled my gloves on. “Is your dad back from Amsterdam yet?”
“No—tonight. You want to walk or take a trans?”
“Let’s walk. I need to toughen up to the weather.” I was envious that the cold didn’t seem to bother Wei at all.
We’d gone two blocks when the wind picked up and the sleet pellets turned to snow, soft and flat, falling faster and thicker. “Maybe we should take a trans,” I said. “I can toughen up later.”
We braced our backs against the wind gusts and waited for the number 33. I noticed a green trannie idling at the corner; I nudged Wei, nodding in its direction.
“Get in that doorway,” she said. “I’ll be right back.”
I was so intent on watching her that I didn’t notice that another green trannie had pulled up in the alley behind me until it was too late. Ed’s hand was over my mouth and he’d twisted my arm behind my back before I knew what was happening. Wei turned around in time to see him force me into his transport.
Quick as she was, Ed was quicker. He pulled out into traffic before she could reach us. I pounded on the door, but it wouldn’t open while we were moving—damn safety devices. I was trapped. I swallowed the urge to scream, forcing myself to turn and face him.
“Let me out,” I demanded. No way would I let him know how scared I was. I’d seen the damage he’d done to Ginnie. I was sure he wouldn’t hesitate to hurt me if it served his purpose. And at last I knew what his purpose was: Dee’s baby book. He needed me to get that. My heart quailed, but my resolve stood firm.
“Not even going to say hello?” He smirked. “That’s the least you could do—show some respect to the man who supported you for the last ten years.”
“Supported me?” I couldn’t disguise the sarcasm in my voice. “You never gave me anything at all.”
“Well, I’ll give you something now.” He backhanded me across the mouth. The pain was sharp and sudden. I tasted blood. I would not give him the satisfaction of seeing me cry. I felt a fury boil up inside me—ready to explode.
He watched me, his eyes hard and soulless. “And here’s something for the knee you gave me last time we met.” His closed fist slammed into my face.
I actually felt my brain rattle in my head and shooting pain spread from my hairline to my chin. Little silver dots floated in my line of vision and my rage turned to nausea. It took everything I had just to stay conscious, but I knew I had to if I was going to escape.
“I think we’re even now,” he said. “Let’s get down to business. You have something I want. A book. I wasn’t sure what until your blond girlfriend practically waved it under my nose the other night.”
I thought my head would explode. How Ginnie survived all the times he’d done this to her, I didn’t know. I murmured, no words, just sound.
“I’m not one for making deals, but I’m feeling generous today. I’m finally going to show them. All of them.” He glanced into the rearview and gave a self-satisfied smile. “So, Nina, how do you like this: you give me the book, or I make sure you’re chosen for FeLS. I heard your contract disappeared. Shame. And to make the deal even sweeter, while you’re out there in training, Dee will have to come and live with me. No doubt she’ll want to stay forever. That’s how Cinderella girls are… so I’ve heard.”
“I…” I stalled, pretending I was still dazed while I scanned the dash in front of me, looking for something I might use to get away. His trannie had a chiller, just like the one in Rita’s. I wondered…
Snow was falling faster now and the streets were getting slick. Even though trannies hover about a foot above the pavement, their tractor system relies on sonic contact between the vehicle and the ground; I’d learned that in Mechanical Science. I’d also learned that if a transport isn’t winterized, you can be in for a slippery ride.
Ahead of us, directly in our path, three trannies had swerved to miss a transit that had stalled.
“Stupid-ass drivers!” Ed eased up on the accelerator, his attention leaving me for a moment and focusing on the road. That’s when I saw my chance.
I pressed the chiller button and out burst a Sparkle—just like I’d hoped. I shook it, aimed, and popped the top—exploding the sweet, sticky liquid right into Ed’s face.
“You goddamn little bitch!” He smacked both hands to his face, frantically wiping his eyes, trying to get the carbonated soda out of them. He spluttered and cursed, momentarily blinded.
Reaching over, I jerked the steering wheel, causing our trannie to plow into the back of a transit. His side of the transport crumpled and my door automatically flew open. I bolted, skidding and slipping on the snowy streets, not daring to look back. People jumped out of my way as I raced blindly on. My sides were splitting and my lungs screamed for air, but I kept on running. I didn’t know how long I ran, but I didn’t stop until my legs refused to go any farther.
Crouched in an alley behind a stack of wooden crates, I called Wei.
“Where are you?” she cried. “I’m with Sal and Derek. We didn’t know what to do to find you.”
“I. Got. Away.” My breath came quick, shallow and painful. “I don’t know where I am. On the south side somewhere… I think.”
I strained to see through the swirling snow, looking for anything that might be familiar. I saw a transit sign outside the alley. It was for the number 47 line.
“I’ll get to Union Station,” I said. “Meet me there.”
I skulked in the doorway of a nearby building, not venturing out into the open until I heard the transit approach. As I scanned my pass, the driver gave me a funny look. The trans lurched forward and I stumbled down the aisle. A woman put a package she was holding down on the empty seat beside her as I approached, so I took the seat behind her, sliding over by the window. The pain in my face had settled into a dull throbbing. I hesitated before touching my lip; it was swollen and crusted with blood. I automatically reached up to brush the hair out of my eye. A little cry escaped when I bumped my cheek. The woman in front of me half turned in my direction. I put my head down to avoid her glance.
I skimmed my fingers along my cheek—I could tell it was swollen, too. No wonder the driver and the woman had stared; I bet I looked awful. By pulling the collar of my jacket up and letting my hair fall over my face, I was able to partially conceal my injuries. I didn’t want to draw any more attention to myself than I already had.
The few people brave enough to be out were merely dark apparitions in the driving snowstorm. It took an eternity to get to Union Station. The familiarity of the worn marble floors and wooden benches was somehow reassuring. I sat down, facing the front, waiting for my friends.