City 55

by William Pinecroft

  “Got it. No problem.” He hung up the phone and paid Dan. He didn’t say anything as he shut the door behind him. Dan had no desire to hang around after that, so jumped on his bike and rode to Charlie’s place.

  ****

  Charlie wasn’t sure which was more exciting, the fact that he was on a path to save the human race from the tyranny of the masses or that he was going to see Pam today. She had requested to work with him. She hadn’t asked for either one of his friends. That may not have been saying much. Jerry was a drunk. And Dan? She did pick Charlie over him. But maybe it made sense for her to help Charlie? Dan was on a bicycle, riding to parts of the town less traveled, and talking with people who avoided those they didn’t know. Maybe she settled for him.

  Charlie pulled up to Pam’s brewery as she was finishing up her paperwork. It appeared to be notes to a recipe, perhaps one she had been working on by herself. She looked awesome! She had her hair in a ponytail with the front pulled up like a punk rocker. She was dressed the part too, with a punk style skirt and an old Ramones T-shirt. Man, she is a sight to see.

  “Hey Charlie,” she shouted and waved to him while he stood inside the main entrance. “Hold on a sec.” She handed something to one of the men working with her, grabbed her belongings, and skipped over to Charlie. “How are you?” she asked. As she asked, she put her arm through Charlie’s, continued out the front door with him.

  He was only too happy to oblige and be her escort. This was the most fun he’d had in months. Man she smells, good. Wait, what does she smell like? He leaned in and tried to decipher the unique aroma emanating from Pam. He wasn’t as sly as he thought, because she laughed.

  “You’re probably smelling the hops, Charlie. They are a bitch to get out of your hair. Well, my hair at least.”

  Charlie smiled and walked on. He wasn’t sure what the plan tonight was. He was excited that he and Pam were going to be spending the night together on a “special mission,” as she called it, and no one else was going to be around. Just the two of them.

  “We’re going to go see a guy I know,” said Pam.

  Fuck! thought Charlie. A guy? Great. “Okay.”

  “I think we need him. If you’re serious about this deal with the government and all then I think this guy can help. How did Jerry and Dan do?” she asked.

  “No idea. Jerry’s been busy, and Dan has been out all week with his deliveries. They know we’re going to be busy tonight too, so the plan was to meet tomorrow,” said Charlie.

  “Okay. We might get held up where we’re going. I’m not sure if we’re going to be able to make it back tonight. I’ve booked us two train tickets leaving out of the station in an hour. The trip takes about an hour, so we’re likely going to end up spending the night.”

  “Spending the night? I’m on shift tomorrow night. Where are we going?”

  “Don’t worry. Your shift starts after six, right? You’ll be back in plenty of time. It’ll be our little adventure together.” She squeezed his arm with both hands, while leaning in a bit.

  Damn she’s good. A little extra attention from her, and Charlie would be willing to jump off the Golden Gate Bridge.

  Pam and Charlie swung by Charlie’s apartment to grab some clothes. Pam had brought hers to work. Charlie raced through the house, piling a few things in a backpack for the adventure. He wasn’t sure what to bring since Pam wasn’t offering up copious amounts of details. He grabbed what he liked. Pam made herself comfortable in the kitchen.

  “Can you explain to the guy we’re going to see what you saw in the hospital that one time?” Pam asked while she sat at the kitchen counter.

  “With the jelly mold?” Charlie asked.

  “Yeah.”

  “Sure, I’ll grab the imager. He should be able to display it.” When Charlie had finished packing, they took off.

  There weren’t too many people around at the main train station today. Trains weren’t used that much for passenger travel. They still provided an effective means of transport for cargo shipments. Most trains were now used in combination, part transportation of goods and part passenger travel. Charlie and Pam scanned their chip ID’s at the entrance to the train car and walked over to their seats. Population control had become a concern for the World Government, as resources across the globe continued to dwindle. Along with overall numbers, the distribution of individuals throughout and between countries was tracked to ensure proper allocation of supplies. Legislation had been introduced to limit people from traveling, thus providing further consistency. It was widely held that freedom of travel would be severely limited in the near future. Current methods of tracking chip IDs aided the government’s push for this limitation, as they built statistics supportive of such restrictions.

  Pam had splurged a bit, buying first class tickets for the journey together. Since few other people were about, they were able to grab four seats around a table. The train sped along the crests of the ocean waves from the San Francisco port down the western coast of California, passing by Mavericks, San Luis Obispo, and then Lompoc. During the trip, Pam and Charlie were able to relax and learn about each other’s past. They were able to forget for a while, why they were embarking on this trip and instead, were able to focus on what the other had to say.

  An hour later, they glided into the Los Angeles’ port. After disembarking, Pam and Charlie made their way south of the train station. Pam was scanning the ocean for one of the water taxis to take them to her friend. Los Angeles had become so congested, whether by air, highway, or the ancient railroad, the city long ago adopted an extensive network of water transportation. Citizens were now able to hop on at multiple water stops throughout the greater Los Angeles area, speed along the relatively uncongested waterways, and then pick up connecting transportation from the coast into inner Los Angeles.

  Pam and Charlie strode out along the loading bridge where the taxis would dock. Water taxis pulled up all around them, dropping off and picking people up. As potential passengers passed the line from the mainland coast onto one of these bridges, a tracking system below their feet traced their movement as they made their way anywhere along the bridge. Through this system, taxis were able to pinpoint the location of the next person in line, without the need for a physical queue. All that was required of the customer was to show up and wait at their leisure. Automation placed customers in order of arrival. Taxi drivers had the leeway to pick up any of the next five people in line, unless the longest waiting customer had been there for five minutes greater than the next. The built in flexibility improved efficiency for the taxi drivers, while also ensuring a single person wasn’t kept waiting for too long.

  A water taxi glided up to Pam and Charlie, allowing the previous customers to disembark before welcoming the new guests onto the vessel. One might make the mistake of envisioning a driver clad in flannel with a salty graying beard, but water travel was not as it used to be. Rather, the driver was a well-dressed twenty-year-old “Captain,” who welcomed them to take cushioned seats at one end of the vessel. He then slipped off above the wave tops. It was a pleasant and peaceful journey down to where Pam’s friend lived.

  The sun was setting, giving off radiant reds and yellows across the bustling city. Long ago, the hues were even more fantastic, as they mixed with the thick smog emitted from the bowels of Los Angeles. Ever since air recycling became the norm and technology was able to reduce the growing pollution on the planet, these magnificent paintings across the sky became a thing of the past. Most people would trade those brilliant reds for clean filtered air though. Charlie was at peace. Content with a beautiful woman at his side, the magical ocean rolling beneath him, and this new adventure they were embarking upon. Oh yeah, the adventure. He was meeting an old guy friend of Pam’s.

  Maybe boyfriend? Should I ask? That might be a little overboard. He wondered if he could broach the subject.

  The taxi slowed and began to veer toward the coast. As it approached, Charlie realized they weren’t actually heading fo
r the coast, but rather toward an extension of land that had been built up from the sea floor. This section, connected to Los Angeles, allowed people the ability to travel back and forth with ease. The area was designed in the style of Dubai, but solely to provide more living space for an ever-increasing population. California had actually quadrupled in population over the last twenty years. Other areas across the world were experiencing near exponential population increases as well, but spaces bordering the ocean offered something unique. They offered the potential for new land. These places presented people with a means to create additional living area, as they expanded outward from the old coastline.

  Charlie and Pam stepped off the vessel, which hovered back out toward the ocean. Charlie gazed around and noticed the area had a particular vibe to it. Guardian Element units could not bring their typical oversized vehicles into these areas because the streets in and out were too narrow. They could assault via water or air, but these people were somewhat removed from the rest of the population, and Elements Units tended to remain closer to the downtown areas where corporate business dominated. Due to all this, the streets, houses, shops, and open areas Pam and Charlie walked along, had a unique character. It seemed as if they were strolling through Telluride in the year 2010. Charlie didn’t attempt to hide his noticeable awe. Pam giggled as she watched him staring at the magnificence.

  “It’s this way,” Pam said as she directed Charlie along the western edge of the development heading south from where the taxi dropped them.

  As they continued, Charlie noticed the buildings becoming increasingly unique. The development had been constructed from the center out, as in the case of most communities. It was usual for formal plans to encompass all but the outer twenty percent of the area. In these reaches, individual construction took over, giving the area a sense of life and creativity. These homes and businesses were not built for the utility of why they stood. Rather they represented someone’s dream or means to express their unique identity to the outside world.

  After Pam and Charlie paid, they disembarked the boat, and walked down a wooden walkway along the edge of the ocean. Since they were away from the natural coastline, the water was fairly deep. Charlie peered down into the ocean, which rippled below them. It was peaceful out here, away from the activity inland. Houses began to dot the walkway as they continued along, nearing a community living out on the edge of the ocean.

  “Pamela, how are you my dear?” asked a striking Cuban man. He was standing beside what looked to be a cross between a scuba diving vessel and a fishing boat, docked to one of the houses. He was wearing a linen shirt and worker’s trousers. Charlie couldn’t help but notice how, fit he looked. He had a fist-length, jet-black beard with jet black slicked hair. His body seemed to hold a perfect bronze that glistened in the moonlight. Charlie figured Pam and he had known each other for a while. He wondered in what capacity. This guy did call her dear. Then this bronzed god-like man hopped up to Pam or Pamela in his case and gave her a nice long hug with a kiss on each cheek.

  As this continued, Charlie stood first looking in the direction of this man and Pam, and then he started to look around, up and down, trying his best to figure out the most natural focus he should keep.

  Man, this is taking a long time. I’m so happy these two could reunite tonight, and I could be here to witness the beautiful scene in front of me, thought Charlie.

  The man released Pam and peered into Charlie’s eyes with a gaze that could have made a tiger whimper. “Who’s this?” he said, still holding Pam by the shoulders.

  “Fred, this is Charlie Huff. Charlie, this is Fred Canseco,” she said introducing them both.

  Fred released Pam, keeping that look of fire directed toward Charlie, threatening to penetrate the deepest recesses of his soul. He walked up to Charlie never averting his eyes. Charlie stuck his hand out in anticipation of a handshake or at least with the hope it would slow the oncoming approach. Fred looked at him then smiled.

  “Okay Charlie,” he said as he turned back, putting his arm around Pam’s waist, walking her up into his house. Charlie stood for a second with his hand stuck out before deciding to follow them in. What did ‘okay Charlie’ mean? At least Fred hadn’t thrown him in the water.

  “Pam, I’d like you to meet Manuel. Manuel, this is Pam and Charlie,” said Fred as they all walked into his house. Manuel came up and introduced himself to both Pam and Charlie before retreating back into the kitchen to retrieve a bottle of Portuguese vinho verde. He poured four glasses, offering them to his guests.

  “To Pam, my love, thank you for coming back into my life. You made the moon blush as you walked up to me tonight,” toasted Fred.

  Charlie might have blushed after that introduction. Fred gave Pam a kiss on the lips and all four of them drank. Charlie did enjoy the wine. He had just found the silver lining in the whole scenario.

  The four moved to the patio overlooking the Pacific Ocean. With the construction of these small communities, engineers had redirected many of the heavy waves that crashed along California’s shores. The reason was twofold.

  First, it allowed people to sit on patios overlooking the ocean as if they were sitting beside a calm lake. Secondly, the true impetus was that now Southern California received generated energy from the redirected waves. Surfers bitched and complained, but there was no stopping the engineering marvel. All breaks along Southern California were now exclusively used to generate energy. Most of the breaks still existed in the same famous spots, but equipment had been manufactured and installed to catch the crash of the waves. A die-hard surfer could technically surf one of those waves. One wave would be it. It’s peaceful, but luckily, Northern California had not implemented these measures, thought Charlie.

  He sat pretending to gaze up at the moon, concealing his efforts to keep tabs on Fred and Pam’s conversation. Fred was spouting some form of gold. She was eating it up. Look at her. Charlie poured himself another glass of wine.

  Manuel got up. He collected a few fish from a small trap tied to the side of the patio, sitting beneath the surface of the water. He went inside and laid out vegetables and spices along the solid wooden counter in the kitchen.

  “What’s Manuel doing?” asked Charlie.

  “You are our guests and despite everything Charlie, we are hospitable to our guests. I know you and Pam have traveled from San Francisco and must be hungry,” responded Fred.

  “Do you mind if I take a look at what he’s making. Maybe I can help? You know, cutting up the vegetables and all,” said Charlie.

  Fred leaned back in his chair, wine in hand, and made an inviting sweep of his hand for Charlie to proceed as he liked. With that, Charlie jumped up and joined Manuel in the kitchen.

  Thirty minutes later, Charlie was setting out superbly prepared fillets garnished with vegetables topped with a tangy sauce he had whipped up based on Manuel’s instructions. Manuel remained sitting at the kitchen drinking wine, as he had been doing so for the past thirty minutes. “Bon Appetite,” invited Charlie. He broke open a bottle of white wine Manuel had pointed out. They all sat down and dug into the meal.

  “Charlie,” Fred said after he swallowed a mouthful.

  Charlie looked up in anticipation. Fred appeared to be thinking about what he was eating. Charlie couldn’t tell if he liked it or not.

  “You can come over anytime. You may be a surprise yet.”

  Charlie figured that was better than being, not a surprise? “Thanks Fred. It was my pleasure.”

  By the end of the meal, scraps were strewn about the large wooden kitchen top. Four empty bottles lay beside the sink. Each person now had a shot of grappa before them, which to Charlie’s dismay, should only be sipped. The fiery liquid aided digestion. He, unfortunately, had made the mistake of shooting the liquid, downing the glass in one fateful gulp. Manuel immediately scolded Charlie on his manners, and then topped his glass full.

  “Okay Pam and my dear Charlie, it’s late and we must get up early. I know y
ou want to talk about something important. Tomorrow, after our morning excursion?” Fred suggested to Pam.

  “That sounds lovely,” answered Pam.

  Fred showed Pam and Charlie to the spare bedrooms. Charlie was hoping there was only one. At least Pam wasn’t going up to Fred’s room. After both settled in with the arrangements, Manuel and Fred adjourned for the night.

  Charlie awoke to the intense smell of coffee that permeated the entire room he was sleeping in. At that moment, it seemed to be the most intense smell he could remember. He stumbled up and made his way over to the kitchen where Manuel and Fred were preparing some food next to the origin of the intensity. Pam showed up five minutes later, looking even more beautiful than normal.

  “Good morning both of you. I hope our humble house kept you warm last night. We leave in ten minutes. Have a cup of this. It’ll put you right with the world,” said Fred.

  “Where are we going?” Charlie asked Pam as he took a sip of the coffee. The coffee was delicious.

  Pam shrugged.

  “That’ll put hair on your gonads,” said Fred. “Of course, not you my dear,” he continued for Pam’s sake.

  Pam smiled, still struggling to wake up.

  Fred and Manuel walked out onto the patio and started to gather spear guns, nets, coolers, and other miscellaneous equipment. They loaded up the small boat moored to the side of the patio.

  “Charlie, can you bring over the thermos and the food we prepared; it’s in the fridge?” asked Fred. Once everything was organized, the four loaded into the craft and set off west. Charlie sat back and admired the scenery. The sun was coming up, casting its morning rays across the Pacific. The air was cold, and the breeze carried with it the distinct smells of the ocean. Fred had lent a couple wool sweaters to Pam and Charlie, so they sat at the back of the boat snuggled up, defending against the morning cold. Pam was leaning ever so slightly into Charlie, while sipping some more coffee, which Manuel had brewed prior to the departure.