Moon City
Page 25
“Who?”
“Sandra. I asked her if she’d like transport here. She declined.”
Dean closed his eyes a moment and nodded. “Understood.”
“I’ll be in touch.”
“Thanks again, kid.”
Dean pulled the car to the side of the road and killed the engine. He didn’t want to do anything at the moment. He couldn’t feel anything. Not happy. Not sad. Not lucky. Just numb.
Then his phone rang and it was her.
He looked at it for a few moments. Maybe he shouldn’t answer it. That was probably for the best. And then, if he didn’t, he’d always wonder what she might have said.
“Hello?” he said lowly.
“I know you don’t want to be with me anymore, but there’s something I haven’t told you. There’s a reason I said no.”
Dean went still inside. “I’m stuck in Moon City for a while, Sandra. Whatever you have to say is pointless.”
“I couldn’t go into stasis to wait for you, and I couldn’t go into the membrane chamber to meet you there.”
“I was told already. You declined.”
“I didn’t decline you. I want to be with you forever. You’re everything to me, Dean Fulsome.”
He was astonished. “So then why the hell did you turn Tasha’s offer down?”
“Because it isn’t safe for the baby,” she said with some measure. “We’re going to be parents. I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you sooner. I didn’t know what to do. I’ve been to the doctor and we are both healthy.”
The Slaughter Man’s mouth dropped open and he glanced around this dream-world he’d suddenly fallen into with silent awe.
“Aren’t you going to say anything?” Sandra finally asked.
Fighting through the tremors that coursed through his body, Dean swallowed and replied then with a whisper, “I’m coming back.”
She took a deep breath. “It wasn’t like you didn’t want to in the first place. Now the membrane transport needs repair. You won’t make it back here for three hundred some years, Dean.”
“I need to call you back.”
“Dean, wait—”
“I’ll call you back,” he repeated and hung up. He dialed out to Donaldo, who picked up on the third ring.
“Hey, my friend, heard the good news about the Killer—”
“Donaldo, I need some help.” He cut him off.
“Yes, sure. You know I’m here for anything, of course.”
Dean swallowed and closed his eyes. “I need to know where the nearest Grettish armada is located and what kind of transports are available here on Moon City.”
“What for, looking to commit suicide?”
“Can you find their location?”
Donaldo paused. “Yeah, I mean, that’s no problem. If we can get in touch with anybody who is worth a shit at the Commerce Polity, they can probably tell us the trade route to the nearest armada.”
“I think I know a kid who can help us.”
“A kid? But wait, hold on, back up a second, aren’t you supposed to be training the Zetú? You’re not going offworld right now are you? Limbus doesn’t usually give second chances, let alone third chances. Tasha won’t be able to help you this time. Before I give you anything, you gotta let me know what this is about. I want to keep my job.”
“Don’t worry about it. You’ll be paid for everything. I need to know how fast you can book a mid-range transport once we have the armada’s location.”
“The Firecracker Lady owns the transport station. So there’s that, but if you have the money or the means for her liking, we could book by the end of the day.”
“Get on it faster than that,” said Dean, before adding, “I’m contacting Christopher Agate to engage his mercenary services.”
“The Gem Stone warrior? Are you kidding?”
“No, I’m not,” replied Dean. “Oh, and also, I’m going to need to borrow Mr. Loveman.”
THE END
Benjamin Kane Ethridge is the Bram Stoker Award® winning author of the novels BLACK & ORANGE, NIGHTMARE BALLAD, BOTTLED ABYSS, as well as countless short stories and articles on writing and being human. Benjamin lives in Southern Florida.