“I’m sorry. I’ve got my nice shirt in the hover car. You said I could wear the hat.”
“Good to meet you, Salamanca. And you, Rochelle!” Tabitha called, already wishing they hadn’t left but trying hard not to show it.
“Take care.” Rochelle waved and then turned to walk off while Sal looked back.
“She seems so alone, Rochelle. Maybe even lost,” Sal whispered. “It’s just, I feel like we’ve met before, and I think she needs our help.”
Tabitha overheard, and, deciding to break with her usual patterns while Sal was feeling sympathetic, she turned around.
“Um, if you girls are willing, I could use a little help, to be honest.”
Sal blurted out, “Of course!”
At the same time, Rochelle said, “We’ve got to run!”
They both looked at each other, realizing their differing sentiments.
“I’d really appreciate it if you could help,” Tabitha pleaded.
“Of course, we’ll do what we can,” Sal said. “Right, Rochelle?”
Rochelle tapped her foot, powerless.
“Oh, come on, Rochelle. It’s not like we have to be early to the party. Nobody who really matters will be there early.”
This earned a shrug from Rochelle.
Once it appeared Sal had Rochelle convinced, Tabitha explained her predicament.
“I was stopped, and the officers arrested me. Yes, it was my fault, but not serious enough to keep me overnight. Yet, they did, on an “observation” technicality because of my erratic driving and, when questioning me, my ‘erratic behavior’ as they called it. I received my belongings and a nice female officer took me back to my car. Um, vehicle. Only later did I realize I was missing something important. When I go back to get it, I see this man talking to the lieutenant, someone I’ve seen before, and he’s not from here. He’s from the same place I’m from. Just the possibility that he could be following me totally freaked me out. I mean…”
“It’s okay, we know what you mean,” Rochelle stated.
“I’ve got to go back for this wrench. That’s all it is, but it means a lot to me. It’s sentimental.” That was part truth, anyway. “I have to somehow get it back while making sure this man doesn’t see me.”
“Okay, do you want me to go in and survey the place?”
“What about Russ; is he coming with us?” Tabitha asked.
“Russ? No, he’s off to do his own thing.”
“Oh, I thought he and Rochelle were…”
Sal chuckled. Rochelle looked uncomfortable.
“No, silly. Russ prefers men; he does not like women. Funny that he’s living here, I know, where there are so few men. But he is corresponding with someone by com every day, and it might be hopeful.”
“Oh, I had no idea,” Tabitha said. “He looks so, manly.”
“What’s that got to do with it?” Sal questioned.
Tabitha’s face reddened. “I’m sorry. Things are just different in my hometown. I feel embarrassed. We’re a little backward back home.”
“Yes, you’ll have to tell me about your hometown later. Now, moving on, what do you need us to do? We’re glad to help, and I’m sure we can do just fine without Russ.”
“Sure,” Rochelle added.
“Get the lieutenant alone, and then Rochelle can signal for me that I can go in. Can I borrow your hat?” Tabitha asked Rochelle, who seemed more willing to help now. With the hat, she tucked in her hair, hoping she would look different, at least at first sight.
Since their vehicles were parked in opposite directions, they set off on foot. There was a people mover, which Sal referred to as a slider, that moved them from the alleyway behind the coffee shop to the start of the river. At least this was closer. They walked the rest of the way to Washington St.
“People look at you funny if you walk around this much. Most people come here to the river to gaze or relax. Just keep that in mind, Tabitha. Walking a lot will make you stand out to others. They tend to look down on you like you’re homeless or something. And you don’t want to stand out so much if that man is watching you.”
Tabitha shuddered again. At the station, they all agreed that Tabitha would wait outside. Rochelle would be parked inside the building. There were no suspicious characters lurking outside, but Tabitha hid half of her face in her coat, feeling uneasy. She never looked away from Rochelle. Without much explanation, the other girls seemed to understand her fear of this man, George Mahoney. Tabitha truly hoped she was imagining things and that this was not Mahoney after all.
People were coming and going, and Tabitha’s eyes were on full alert. Five minutes later, Tabitha got the nod and wave from Rochelle. She slipped in the door quietly, eyes darting back and forth, watching for that familiar, yet unwanted face. By now, she truly hoped it had all been her imagination.
Up at the counter, she was greeted by a woman she hadn’t met yet. “Can I speak to Lieutenant Wilkes, or maybe Officer Marasel?”
“Hang on.” The woman left for a few minutes.
Rochelle came up. “What’s going on?”
“She’s getting him. Can you all just be on the lookout for a big, tall man, grayish hair? Just come up and nudge my elbow.” It occurred to her that there probably were not very many around with his physical description. This would make it easier.
Rochelle nodded and walked over toward Sal. People kept giving Sal strange looks, while some were stopping to ask her about the show. She had said she got a lot of positive attention from the physical change. Perhaps it was that and her low cut dress. She just had an overall glow of showmanship, as if she was painted with pixie dust.
“Yes?” Wilkes came up to the counter without the young lady.
“Lieutenant, you gave all my belongings back except for one thing, my metal pocket wrench. I told you, it means a lot to me.”
“Oh, I remember. Marasel told me about it. I saw you here earlier, but then you ran out like something was chasing after you.”
“A little emergency. Really, it’s nothing. I’m alright.”
He leaned in and whispered, “Sweetie, you’re obviously haunted by something. Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Please, Wilkes, just give back my little wrench. You’ll never know just what it means to me.”
“No, I guess I will never know. I really don’t see anything special about it. It is inferior metal; we’ve since improved on it tenfold.” He took a hand out of his pocket and held the wrench. “You didn’t get it from Potato woman, did you? She’s come in here with lots of strange outdated stuff, and even stranger stories to match.”
“No. It’s all mine. I brought it with me.”
“Here you are. There’s just something I sense going on inside of you, such a pretty little thing with so much weighing on your mind, and so many secrets. Look, if you need anything while you’re here, come see me. We’ll work out a deal.” He squeezed her hand as she grabbed the Allen wrench, staring intently at her, leaning in as if to peer into her soul.
Yes, she was a mystery to him. But she also smelled alcohol on his breath, as if he had bathed himself in it the night before. He wasn’t such a mystery anymore. Either the drug sims, or ‘mood’ sims didn’t take care of his need to feel numb or he was trained in the old school way long before the sims hit the scene. It was too close for comfort; in that moment she had found out more about him than she had ever wanted. She still held a slight disgust for him, but now it was tinged with pity.
As soon as she got her hand free, she turned to get out of there, placing the wrench key into her jacket pocket and not looking back.
Walking briskly, she met up with Sal and Rochelle.
“Well, you look relieved,” Rochelle stated.
Sal asked, “That man was really holding on to your hand; what is that about?”
Tabitha shrugged and then shivered. “I think I remind him of someone. But, yeah, he’s kind of creepy. I haven’
t really figured him out.”
Chapter 9
Don’t Leave Just Yet
They continued walking, Tabitha debating whether to head straight to the Envo. Did she have any power to fight George Mahoney here in 2047? Could Lieutenant Phil be of any help? Was it even the true George Mahoney that she saw? How much would she be willing to risk to find out? Another thought occurred to her. Would Milt be willing to take the risk? Was it motherly instinct that made her think twice, or society’s expectations of her as a woman?
Sal asked, “Well, where are you staying?”
“Um, I don’t know. Really, I’m just passing through. I’m not quite done exploring the town, you know. Oh, here’s your hat,” she pulled it off and handed it toward Rochelle.
“Keep it. You might feel the need to disguise yourself again,” Rochelle said. “Besides, I have others.”
“Well, thank you. It matches what I’m wearing. My husband always says I dress kind of grungy.”
“Grungy?” Rochelle’s eyebrows went up.
“Oh, no offense. Where I’m from, there are some people who frown on it. This attire is my preferred clothing, though. Believe me, if it was ten years ago, I’d be wearing something straight out of Flashdance.”
Rochelle smiled quietly. Sal looked at her blankly.
“It’s an 80s, um, an old movie. About a girl who is struggling to become a professional dancer.”
“That sounds wonderful!” Sal clapped her hands together.
“Well, now I seem to be in grunge mode. I really think it suits me though.” Her hair was long these days, and the salon updo from the other day was totally undone; it hung free on her shoulders.
“It does,” both Sal and Rochelle answered at the same time.
They got onto the slider. A billboard beside it showed a man in a space suit and helmet with several women and another man standing around him. “Captain Bellose Leads Mission to Mars, 2.0.” As they neared it, it began speaking. The captain and his crew smiled at them, and the billboard said, “This mission will be even bigger than before. Ten people will visit Mars and remain for seven days, providing footage and photography from its surface. Sponsor a crew member by contacting M2M.2.2047 on your com today.” Behind Captain Bellose and the mostly female crew, a reddish desert landscape covered the background, representing Mars.
The name Bellose sounded familiar to her. “Bellose? Captain Bellose?” Tabitha stared hard at the billboard, thinking she might even see herself among the crew. Of course, that was pure fantasy and imagination, but it seemed so real to her.
Captain Bellose, with smooth, short dark hair and a ruddy complexion. Eyes of dark blue, just as he had appeared in her dream. What was it he’d said? “Didn’t you learn your lessons the first time?” And this was the second mission to Mars. Well, it was also her second mission to the future, as the rocky back and forth of the last time only counted as one trip in her mind. Perhaps she should take heed of those words, as imagined as they were.
“You’ve heard of him? Isn’t he awesome?” Sal shook Tabitha out of a reverie with her words.
“Yes, I’ve heard of him.” She didn’t explain how. “Tell me about the first Mars mission?”
“It was two years ago.”
“Two years?!” That would’ve been 2045. “Did it go well?”
“Well, mostly, but they lost one crew member.”
“How?”
“One of them didn’t make it back to the ship before a dust storm caught up with her.”
Tabitha stared straight ahead. Yes, it was important to heed lessons learned. Perhaps Captain Bellose would be speaking those words to one of the crew soon. Why did these words sit in Tabitha’s memory? Perhaps it was just another unanswered time travel question.
“Tell me what it takes to be chosen to go to Mars,” Tabitha requested.
“Well, not just any average person could go, like you or me. Excuse me, I don’t know anything about you. Maybe you could go.” She gave Tabitha a questioning look. “There is a long application and acceptance process. Then there is extensive training. One must be in tiptop physical shape. Good mental health, too, but that just makes sense. They’d never allow me to be chosen.”
“But you seem to be in great shape. Why wouldn’t they?”
“Mental health. My mother has a history of mental illness. I suppose you could say my grandfather does as well. So, no, I wouldn’t qualify. That, and I wasn’t exactly considered ‘trainable’ in school. I just got by, earning a ‘good effort’ diploma, meaning that I just made an effort. Of course, I never produced exactly what they assigned to me. I do like the arts, though. My achievements in the arts were noted on my diploma.” She forced a smile.
“So, they would hold your family history against you if you apply to go aboard the space shuttle to Mars? That seems unbelievable, so unfair.”
Sal shrugged. “It happened to an acquaintance of mine. It’s just the way it is. Same with public office. It doesn’t weed out all of the riff raff, though. It just lets in the ones who have enough money to keep their secrets hidden.”
“Good point,” Rochelle said.
Tabitha nodded in agreement. It sounded a bit like reality in any town, any time, except that holding a family history against a person really did not set well with her.
Walking into town, Sal explained that they were going to the smoke shop for Rochelle to take a break.
“Do you want a drink?” she asked.
“No thanks.” Tabitha answered warily. Who knew what might be in a drink these days? Could her body handle it? Not to mention, she only carried outmoded currency.
“Oh, come on. Not even an aguafer? I’ll get you one.”
Tabitha smiled. Some things had not changed. She briefly wondered if the name came about from a brand name or a Spanish variation of water.
“Okay,” she relented. She noticed the sign said “Pay with chip only.”
“What is this ‘chip?” Tabitha asked.
“It’s chip technology, on my bracelet. See?” She held up her wrist for Tabitha. The chip was small and looked simply ornamental on the bracelet. “They scan it when it’s time to pay. Very convenient. Why, what do you all pay with back home?”
“Paper money or plastic.”
Sal just giggled at that.
“I think I prefer this much better. At least it’s not implanted. There is talk of that. But someone could cut it out of you. I’d hate to think of such violence. Better to have your method of payment separate from your skin.”
As they stood in line, Tabitha was drawing looks from others. She figured it was the shoes. However, very few people seemed to wear graphic t-shirts anymore as well. Too bad.
Finally, it was their turn, and Sal ordered a breakfast sandwich for Rochelle along with choffee for two, and aguafer for Tabitha. Payment was five bits, whatever that meant. Sal moved her wrist under the infrared and a red beam appeared, scanning her chip.
“Does it ever reject your chip?”
“Nope. You just become indebted. It doesn’t matter if you throw away your chip, either. They’ll find you. Dental records.” She pointed to her smiling mouth. “Wait, now, I suppose it would reject it if a chip has been reported stolen; that’s still a criminal act.”
Well, at least there were no barcodes, but Tabitha wondered what dental records had to do with it.
Rochelle sat down to smoke and then opened up her breakfast sandwich. It was a 24 hour breakfast shop that allowed smoking. Tabitha was ready to gag.
“I’m going to go outside.”
“Rochelle, I’ll be out there with her, whenever you’re done.” Sal took Tabitha’s arm. “Are you okay, though? Who was this man you think you saw? Can you tell me?”
Tabitha shook her head no. “What I know of him is not good, and if he knows who I am, or learned who I am, he would be after me. That’s all I can say. I’m hoping he didn’t follow me here.”
“Alright
. We’ll leave it at that.” Moments later, Rochelle came out, so tall she eclipsed the man next to her.
“You didn’t have to hurry on account of us, Rochelle,” Sal said with a smile.
“Oh, it was too noisy in there. It wasn’t you all.”
“I’ve told you, you should try the mood sims to help you deal with smoking withdrawal.”
Rochelle just shook her head no.
“Are those like drug sims?” Tabitha asked.
“Well, kind of. But those are dangerous. Have you ever tried them?”
Tabitha shook her head no.
Sal continued. “This is not. This aims for the feeling that one might use a drug to reach. They have many options: Euphoria, psychedelic, mellow, calm, ecstasy, numb, etcetera.”
“Ecstasy is a drug. Or was. Numb? Is that a mood?”
“Well, it’s a way that some want to feel. I don’t know how to explain.”
“You’ve tried this?” Tabitha asked. She felt her voice rise in concern, as if she were the girl’s mother or older sister.
“Once or twice,” Sal answered quietly. “You’ll get to see it. We’re passing by there.”
They first walked past a Memory Download office. Tabitha noticed that this building, like most others, had many stories. It appeared that people were living above the shop. The Memory Download office was set up like a doctor’s office, which was good. Tabitha remembered the drug simulation from their last visit, the loud carnival atmosphere and the wide-eyed spectators. Hopefully, the mood sim was not like that. She’d had no idea what to expect from a memory download office.
“Tell me how this works. I’ve seen the advertisements.” Tabitha stopped in from of the Memory Download Office.
“I’ve never done it, but from what I understand, they put some electrodes up to your head. They ask some questions of things you know. You answer them and a machine records the answers. The machine also shows which parts of the brain light up when you answer. They ask questions of things you are not sure of, but the part of your brain that is working to answer it will light up, even if you don’t remember. It somehow helps you make connections by using the things you do know.”
Undercurrents in Time Page 8
