Beyond the Crystal City

by Logan Brookfield

  Nancy came over to wipe the table, pulling a damp rag from her apron pocket. ‘Now, you know the rules, boys, no trading and no deals inside the Hive. If you’re waiting for some kind of deal, do it outside, please, as I don’t want the Black Hats turning this place over again.’

  Carl shook his head. ‘Don’t worry, Nancy, we’re just two old buddies reminiscing about the good old days.’

  ‘Good old days?’ she said, hands on hips. ‘There were never any good old days, trust me, and if you are here for a chat then tell this one to order a drink and stop looking over his shoulder. He looks nervous and his eyes are too close together. I don’t trust him.’

  Carl burst out with laughter as Peter frowned and wondered what he’d done to be given such a hard time.

  ‘I’m nervous because this place can be dangerous and I’m not drinking because I don’t like the stuff,’ Peter said leaning back in his chair.

  Nancy smiled. ‘I’m just pulling your leg, kid, but seriously, if you just want to sit around then go and sit outside, you’re making everyone else jumpy.’

  ‘It’s OK, Nancy, here’s our other friend, I’ll get some more drinks in,’ Carl said.

  Nancy nodded, tucked her cleaning rag into her apron and returned to the bar to serve some other customers.

  Carl looked towards the door and waved. Alex was standing just inside the doorway squinting and trying to adjust his eyes to the dim light. He was a heavily built guy from another sector who had a lot of contacts for contraband all over the city. His waist-length brown leather jacket and tight dark trousers made him stand out from the usual ragged Wretch. He had a patch over one eye and a heavily scarred face and always wore a baseball cap.

  He walked over and sat down, placing his hat on the table. Nancy brought over three glasses of Grog.

  ‘So what’s up?’ Alex asked.

  ‘Alex, thanks for coming, this is Pete. It’s OK, he’s cool. I need your help with something,’ Carl said leaning forward.

  Alex nodded to Peter who nodded back. ‘Fire away, if I can help and there’s plenty of profit in it I’ll try and help. But don’t mess me about, Carl. I deal with the big boys not small fry like you and your friend here.’

  ‘Small fry?’ Peter mumbled. ‘Insults are coming thick and fast today.’

  Carl took a sip. ‘Just hear me out, Alex, you’re going to like what I have and you’re going to want more.’

  Alex cupped his hand behind his ear. ‘I’m listening but if you don’t spit it out soon I’m going. Too much Black Hat activity in this area and there’s a sandstorm brewing.’

  Carl nodded. ‘I’ve got a route into the city and access to a lot of contraband. Tea, coffee, fruit, filters, batteries, you name it, I can get it. Maybe even drugs and medical supplies too. I can get it, I just can’t shift the quantities I’m getting.’

  ‘Right, now you’ve got my attention. I won’t ask you how or where because you’re not going to tell me, but why don’t you let me send my people in? Hell, I’ll even go in myself. I can carry twice as much as you can. I’ll be fair and split the goods with you.’

  Carl shook his head. ‘No can do, my friend, I’m sorry. It’s too risky and if Wretches from different sectors start piling into the city it’ll soon get spotted and shut down. All I need is a way to shift this stuff once I’ve got it out and a fair trade for what I have.’

  Alex leaned forward. ‘So you have a way into the city? This is more than interesting, I know some people that would be very interested in knowing about that.’

  ‘Let’s just keep it simple. We can all benefit from this new outlet but if you get greedy it’s going to dry up real quick. I’m offering you endless supplies of almost anything you want. I’ve even brought you a bagful of samples so you can see for yourself,’ Carl said, looking under the table. ‘I’ll need to give it to you outside as Nancy keeps giving me the evils and I don’t want to be barred from here.’

  ‘So, if your supply route is as good as you say it is, I’ll be able to shift anything and everything you bring me, no problem,’ Alex said.

  Carl ducked down as two Black Hats walked through the door. ‘We’ve got company, I’ll catch you outside,’ he said crawling along the floor to the rear exit.

  Alex looked over his shoulder as the Black Hats started asking people questions and looking around. ‘Damn it, I better not get busted today over this meet. Drink your drink and act normal.’

  Peter sipped his drink and pulled a face. ‘Yuck, tastes like something that tastes horrible.’

  One soldier approached their table. ‘Where is your friend? I saw him ducking down and acting suspicious as we walked in. What’s he got to hide?’

  Alex looked at the machine gun and back at the heavily armed man. Everything he had rehearsed for a time like this seemed to evaporate. He opened his mouth but the words just wouldn’t come out and he felt his heart sink into his boots at the thought of being arrested and interrogated. He slowly moved his hand from his knee to the handle of the knife in his waistband and checked the position of the other Black Hat.

  ‘I’m sorry, Officer,’ Peter said. ‘That guy panicked and left in a hurry because he was trying to sell us his food rations, but we weren’t interested.’

  ‘Well, who is he and where does he live?’

  Peter shook his head. ‘We’ve never seen him in here before and I doubt he’ll be back. Think he was just some drug addict trying to get a quick fix but we told him to beat it then you guys walked in.’

  ‘And what about you?’ the Black Hat said jabbing Alex in the arm with his gun. ‘Are you the wise one keeping quiet or have you something to hide? You ever been in trouble before?’

  Alex shook his head. ‘No, sir, just enjoying a quiet drink when that guy approached us. Never seen him before and we told him to get lost; we don’t want any trouble.’

  The Black Hat lowered his gun. ‘I’m not convinced but since he’s gone I can’t question him either. If any of you see him again notify the authorities and we’ll come and pick him up, OK?’

  Peter and Alex both nodded and breathed a sigh of relief as the two heavily armed men walked away and out of the main door.

  Alex placed his head in his hands. ‘That was close, I thought this was supposed to be a safe place. I only agreed to come because Carl guaranteed there would be no complications and plenty of contraband. Now he’s gone and so has the bag of stuff he brought.’

  ‘Sorry, but I’ve never known them to come in and question people like that. Something must have spooked them,’ Peter said. ‘I’m sure Carl will honour his promises and I’ll tell him you’re still interested.’

  Alex leaned back in his chair and shook his head. ‘I need to get out of here, it’s too risky in this sector. There’s too much activity. I’m sorry but tell Carl the deal’s off. I’m not losing my freedom for a bagful of batteries and air filters.’

  Chapter Eight

  Carl approached the queue for the ration kiosk. Two heavily armed Black Hats wearing black jumpsuits and chest armour stared at him. The gas masks on their faces and the machine guns cocked and ready to fire were a menacing sight, but protecting the food kiosk was a full-time job and this sector was a dangerous place to have a stock of rations. Although he’d rarely eaten the toxic biscuits, they were always good for bartering.

  At the end of the line was Amy. A little younger at 21 and shorter at around five feet four, Amy’s long, flowing mousy blonde hair and fresh face was a welcome sight for Carl. ‘Hi, Amy, how goes it?’

  ‘Hi, Carl, I’m OK thanks but Mum’s not too good these days.’

  ‘Oh no, what’s up?’

  Amy shook her head as they edged closer to the kiosk. ‘Not sure really, the old doc reckons some kind of serious chest infection that only antibiotics will cure, but we don’t have the resources to get them and they are as rare as fruit these days.’

  ‘I’m really sorry to hear that,’ Carl said looking over his shoulder. He then leaned closer towards Amy. ‘
Look, after we’ve got our rations I really need to talk to you about something, but it’s top secret and I need you to promise not to tell anyone,’ he said putting his finger to his mouth.

  Amy nodded and smiled. Carl looked into her electric blue eyes and his heart danced in his chest. His expression melted as their eyes locked together for a few seconds. He felt rooted to the spot and completely at her mercy, such was his deep love for her. She took him to the highest mountain every time she looked at him and uttered his name. But then he’d plunge into the darkest valley each time he had to let her go.

  ‘My turn. I’ll meet you over there when you get yours,’ she said.

  Amy collected her small bag of biscuits and placed them in her backpack. Carl stepped up to the kiosk window and collected his. The ration vendor was a large middle-aged man. Only the Cloud people would be cruel enough to send a fat man out to give rations to poor starving people. His healthy complexion and full thick hair signified only one thing: he was a resident of the Crystal City. Probably living in a luxury apartment in the clouds and spending every evening bathing in clean hot water while eating fresh food and drinking fine wine.

  Carl handed over his meal tickets, one for him and one for his mother. Children were allowed to collect the rations of their parents as most people over the age of 35 were too sick to walk or leave their dwellings. The young could cope with the harsh environment but the older you got the more it wore you down, like a never-ending virus that wreaked havoc with your body and mind.

  As the man bagged up two portions of biscuits Carl looked to the right of the counter. The guy had left some kind of security pass within reach. It contained a barcode, a photo and his job title.

  JARVIS BRAUN

  City Ration Supervisor and Caterer

  Level 2 access including Code 5 and Code 7

  As he passed Carl both bags Carl let one drop and its contents scattered over the kiosk floor.

  The ration vendor rolled his eyes. ‘That’s going to cost you one bag of rations.’

  ‘Oh no, please, I’m really sorry about that.’ Carl said. ‘Please could you pick them off the floor for me? My mum’s really ill and we need them.’

  The ration vendor thought about it for a few seconds and exhaled loudly. He bent down revealing the crack of his fat ass bulging over his chequered catering trousers.

  Carl looked at both guards, who were preoccupied sharing a joke. He then quickly grabbed the security pass off the counter and pushed it into his pocket. He smiled and stepped forward just as the vendor rose to his feet.

  ‘Thank you so much. That’s very kind of you,’ Carl said.

  The vendor let out another loud sigh. This seemed to be his only method of communication but Carl didn’t care. He had got what he needed and hurried away from the kiosk. He walked over to where Amy was waiting. ‘Let’s keep walking because he’s going to notice something is missing real soon,’ he said.

  ‘Why, what did you take?’

  Carl looked over his shoulder and started to walk faster. ‘His security pass and I’m going to try and use it to get your mum some medicine.’

  ‘No way, you can’t do that. You’d never move around the Crystal City unnoticed and that’s if you even got inside. Everyone I know who has tried has been killed before they got past the second fence,’ Amy said.

  The biscuit vendor looked around on the counter and patted his pockets. He got down on his hands and knees and searched the floor. ‘Thieving little Wretch,’ he shouted as he stood up. ‘Soldier, stop him, he’s stolen my pass.’

  The Black Hat stepped forward, took the safety catch off and levelled his weapon. ‘Hey, stop right there,’ he shouted.

  Carl and Amy picked up the pace and walked as fast as they could without looking like they were trying to get away. ‘Just keep moving and don’t look round,’ Carl said.

  ‘Shoot him!’ the vendor shouted. ‘Put one in his back and do us all a favour. I’m sick and tired of these lowlife thieving scumbags infecting this place.’

  The Black Hat aimed at Carl’s back. He lined up a red dot laser sight between his shoulder blades and started to squeeze the trigger, then stopped and replaced the safety catch, lowering his weapon.

  ‘What are you doing? He’s getting away,’ the vendor said jabbing his finger. ‘What’s the point in having security if you don’t keep us secure? Today he thieves from us, next week he’ll be making bombs. He’s a criminal and you’re supposed to deal with criminals!’

  ‘I’m not putting in the paperwork for the expenditure on ammunition, that’s what I’m doing. Why don’t you get back to tending your biscuit collection and I’ll decide who gets shot and who doesn’t.’

  The vendor slapped his hands on his thighs in frustration. ‘Waste of time, I’ll put in a report when I get back and ask for a security detail that has some balls next time.’

  The Black Hat raised his weapon and pointed it at the kiosk. ‘You do that. I dare say you’ve not seen your balls in a long time.’

  The vendor shook his head and served the next person.

  The soldier stepped back and continued to watch over the ever-growing queue of hungry people. Everything in the city had a price because everything had to be manufactured; nothing was imported so things were expensive, particularly military equipment and ammunition. Bullets and weapons had to be signed in and out and any firing of rounds had to be explained and often involved a lengthy form-filling process and an interview. It was much easier to get hold of a person and beat them with the butt of a weapon or baton.

  They rounded the corner and Carl glanced back to check that they weren’t being followed then continued to walk towards where Amy lived. It was further away from the Crystal Towers than Carl lived and conditions were even worse. Amy’s house was a collection of ragged plastic sheeting shredded by the winds, and bits of rotten timber. Her beautiful face and angel-like hair hid the misery and desperation of her home life.

  Amy stopped on the corner near the old war memorial ruins. ‘Don’t come any further, please. You know I’m embarrassed about where I live.’

  ‘You don’t have to worry about what I think. You and your mum have made it as good as you can. It’s not your fault, it’s the Cloud people and their grip on everything we do. They live in peace and harmony with plenty of food while we live like this,’ he said.

  Amy coughed and her eyes filled with water. A trickle of red blood ran out of her nose and over her top lip. Carl gently wiped it away with his thumb.

  ‘You’re not too good either by the looks of you,’ he said. ‘Meet me by the cathedral ruins tomorrow night as the sun disappears and I’ll show you something like you’ve never seen before.’

  Amy giggled as a tear streaked down her face. ‘Is that a promise or a threat?’

  Carl smiled. ‘Both if you like. There’s a place I’d like to show you, I go there sometimes and it kind of put things into perspective.’

  Amy nodded and kissed Carl on the cheek. She then ran down the rubble-filled dusty street and disappeared round a corner to where she lived. Carl touched his face and closed his eyes. Amy had never kissed him before and it felt magical. The chemistry between them had built over the years and the next time she kissed him he was going to hold her tight and kiss her forever.

  Chapter Nine

  The truck screeched to a halt at the end of the street near the market area, sending a cloud of dust into the air. The rear double doors swung open and six heavily armed Black Hats jumped out. The driver and one guard stayed behind and secured the rear of the vehicle while keeping watch on the surroundings.

  The six men formed two lines of three and walked down the street keeping some distance between each man in case of attack or booby traps. They cocked their weapons and checked the doorways of the various ruins as they walked by.

  A whistle echoed through the market. The pre-agreed warning signal gave a few moments for the stallholders to hide any contraband and disappear into the afternoon haze and dust if ne
eded. The old lady on the first stall covered her basket of stolen food scraps and used batteries by placing a circular piece of wood on top with a ragged tablecloth over it, making it like any other Wretch stall.

  The soldiers split up to cover as much area as they could in the allotted time. The first one took out a pile of paper and handed the old lady a sheet, which she examined closely with her failing eyes.

  The paper was split into four boxes and within each box was the face of one of the people they were looking for. Thieves, drug dealers and murderers were on the list this week and in the bottom right-hand corner was Carl. The ration kiosk he took the pass from had a low-quality security camera that took a snapshot every few seconds and captured every Wretch that it served. Carl’s face was now on Wanted posters and everyone in the area had to receive one or be questioned over why they refused.

  ‘Have you seen any of these men?’ he asked.

  ‘Son, I’m struggling to see the piece of paper let alone what’s on it,’ the old lady said squinting. ‘Let me get my eye glass.’ She pulled out a monocle with the lens missing. ‘Now let me see, nope, nope, nope and nope, does that help?’

  ‘Stupid old crow, stop wasting my time or I’ll examine your licence to trade and the goods in that basket more closely.’

  One Black Hat had a larger poster which he stuck to the side of a building in a prominent position. The reward was clearly displayed in the text at the foot of the photos. Extra rations, medicine, clothing and clemency for minor crimes were on offer to those who had the right information and proved themselves useful to the local authorities. All information would be treated in confidence and any rewards given out covertly.

  Another Black Hat thrust the paper under the nose of a man at another stall dealing in recycled clothing. ‘Have you seen any of these men?’

  The man shook his head. ‘Nope, can’t say I have.’

  The soldier pressed the paper into his face. ‘You didn’t even look. Don’t you people want law and order? Are you happy with criminals running around your neighbourhood?’