Chapter Four
Yugo placed a hand on his chin and surveyed the boxes on the table before him. Each contained a different type of candy, some sweet, some bitter. But it was a particular kind he was searching for and he would not rest until he found it. Yugo ran his eyes over the rows of shiny wrappers and colored paper until he saw a box of jawbreakers wedged next to a bundle of licorice whips.
He glanced at the small sign posted behind the candy.
Five pieces for forty credits.
Yugo just had to have one. The jawbreakers were his favorite, and he needed something to occupy him on his walk home and hopefully forget the throbbing pain in his skull. He looked at the old man sitting on the other side of the table. He sat on a stool with his legs crossed and head bowed low, buried between the pages of a tabloid newspaper.
Yugo thought a moment about simply grabbing a handful of the candy and making a run for it. It was something he had done many times in the past, but now it seemed such an act was beneath him. He no longer had need to steal, and certainly not over something such as a piece of candy. Still, Yugo just had to have one of those jawbreakers.
"Hey mister, I want to ask you something," said Yugo to the vendor.
The old man lay the paper across his lap and looked up at him. He saw a young boy with his arm outstretched, pointing to the item in question.
"The sign says that I can buy five pieces for forty credits, so that means that just one will cost me eight."
"No, if you buy just one it will cost you ten credits," replied the old man sleepily.
Yugo frowned and stared the vendor in the eye, the old man returned Yugo's challenge with a look of disinterest.
"But I only want one," said Yugo angrily. "It's not fair that I have to buy five of them to get a break on the price."
The vendor crossed his arms and shrugged his shoulders, taking a quick look in both directions at the various other stalls that crowded the street.
"Who said that I have to be fair?" he replied. "This is a business I'm running here, selling this stuff piecemeal isn't worth the effort of even setting up shop. If you want the candy then it's five pieces for forty credits, take it or leave it."
Yugo looked away in disgust. He couldn't simply walk away from the candy, these jawbreakers were hard to find and it was what he craved at the moment.
"All right, I'll take five," said Yugo reluctantly.
The vendor scooped up five of the black candies and dropped them into a paper sack. Yugo reached into his coat and pulled out a handful of chips. He spread them over his palm and plucked out the ones required to make exact change. He passed the chips across the table and the old man handed him the bag.
Without a word Yugo turned and walked away. He strolled past stalls displaying everything from metal pots to medicines. It was always busy in the markets on a clear evening such as this, and Yugo smiled as he reminisced about how he had stolen from these people in order to survive just a few short years ago. Things were so different now, at that time Tipahres had been nothing more than a dream, a tantilizing image that greeted him at the rising of each new sun. But now the dream was about to come true. In several years he would amass enough credits needed to leave this place and live among the clouds. It would be a wish fulfilled, a promise kept, and hopefully Tiphares was not subject to the same ills that plagued the world beneath it.
Yugo grit his teeth and pushed his right shoulder into his ear, the cold he had contracted several days ago had only been the beginning. He now had a moderate case of the flu and at times his body shook uncontrollably as he felt chills race along his spine. Not severe enough to confine him to bed, but it would have been better if he had refrained from going outside for a week or so. Yugo had considered this and decided against it. The virus would run it's course soon enough, and he could ill afford the loss in profit resulting from taking some time off.
The young boy left the entrance to the market and turned left, pushing his way past a group of revellers that obviously had been drinking earlier this day. Yugo ducked his head and narrowly escaped a stray elbow that surely would have killed him had it connected. He shook his head and continued on. It was just another of those things that made life in the scrapyard so unbearable. True, he had an honorable motive for seeking passage to Tiphares, but he also wished it for himself. He couldn't stand the city. It's people, the noise, and the oppressive gray walls of the buildings around him. All of these things pressed in on his tired body and clawed at his sanity. If not for the promise of leaving this place someday, Yugo was deathly sure he would have died long ago.
He paused at a corner and looked across the street. A crowd had gathered to watch a display of dare-doing. A man was stripped to the waist, his arms and chest adorned with obscene tattoos. He held a flaming sword over his mouth and lowered it in until the hilt of the weapon was all that was visible. The throng gasped in astonishment, but Yugo merely smiled at the seemingly impressive feat.
He held out the bag of candy and plunged his right hand into the paper sack, pulling out one of the jawbreakers and looking at it.
It was best that he had bought several, he reasoned. The candy would last him for about a week, and the flu gave him a bout of nausea that supressed his appetite and made it difficult for him to keep solid food down. For the moment, at least it seemed that candy was the only that didn't upset his stomach.
He prepared to throw the jawbreaker in his mouth when he felt a hand grasp his right arm above the elbow. The suddeness of the act startled him and Yugo dropped the candy onto the street where it exploded into a dozen pieces.
Yugo clenched his fists and swore under his breath. It was probably Tanji standing behind him, and when Yugo turned he expected to see his friend wearing a stupid grin on his face.
He wrenched his arm free of the hand that restrained him and spun on his heels, preparing to launch a stream of profanity at Tanji for his stupid action. But when he saw who it was he stopped and lowered his fists.
It was a woman wearing a pair of dark glasses over her eyes. Her hands were buried in the deep pockets of a long coat and a hood was pulled far over her face. It was not uncommon for people to dress this way in a city plagued by pollution and foul weather, but to Yugo the clothing seemed to be a disguise of sorts, as if the woman wanted to avoid being identified.
The attempt at deception had little effect on him however, for it took Yugo no longer than a few seconds to recognize who was behind those black lenses.
"Myra," said Yugo with genuine surprise in his voice. "What are you doing here?"
"We have to talk," she replied nervously. "I have something important to tell you, and if you're smart then you'll listen to what I have to say and take my advice."
Yugo frowned and regarded Myra with a puzzled look. What could she possibly want to tell him, and why did she appear so worried?
"Is it a message from Mr Vector?" asked Yugo. "Does he want to see me about something?"
Myra shook her head and took her hands from her pockets.
"No Yugo, I'm not here to give you a message from Mr Vector. I'm here on my own and it's urgent that we talk, there's no time to lose."
"So talk," prompted Yugo. "You know I'll listen to whatever it is you have to tell me."
"No, not here," she answered. "Do you know someplace private where we can be alone? It's important that we get off the street as soon as possible."
Now Yugo was becoming worried. Myra wanted privacy for what she was going to tell him, and that surely meant that something was wrong.
"Yeah," he replied hesitantly. "I have just the place, follow me."
Yugo turned and started across the street with Myra a few steps behind him. Twice he glanced back at her and saw Myra walking with her head down, her right hand firmly gripping the edge of her hood to keep it low over her face. Eventually Yugo arrived at his destination. He turned right and stepped into a side alley between two buildings. Myra followed and after a minute the two found themselves beneath the flickering light of a streetlamp.
"Okay Myra, we're alone now. Whatever you have to say, I'm listening."
Myra took a deep breath to calm herself, it seemed toYugo that this was the first time she had felt relaxed all evening.
"I know about you and your friend Tanji," she began abruptly.
Yugo stared at her, unsure of how to react.
"What do you know Myra?" he asked hesitantly.
"That you're both spine thieves," she answered. "For two months now you've been robbing innocent people of their spines and selling them to the blackmarket."
Yugo stepped back a pace and looked at Myra with astonishment. It was likely that she should know this since she was in the employ of Mr Vector, but Yugo had never given any thought of what Myra might think of his activities. Yugo cared nothing for what people might think of him, for the few that did know of his crimes were themselves involved in the blackmarket. He had never given any thought of what Myra's opinion of him might be. He respected her, and for the first time since he had begun his gruesome crime spree Yugo felt shame for the terrible acts he had committed. Then Yugo shook his head and brushed away the feeling of guilt as he recalled another face, a brother to whom he had made a solemn vow.
"So what?" he replied angrily. "Who are you to pass judgement on someone like me? You work for Mr Vector too Myra, and whatever he's mixed up in so are you."
"You're right," Myra replied solemnly. "I'm aware of the things he does and in a way I'm also responsible for what he happens. But I'm not here to judge you Yugo, I'm here to warn you, hopefully to save your life."
Yugo felt his pulse quicken and swallowed the hard lump in his throat. He waited for her to continue.
"There's a hunter-warrior after you and your friend," she said anxiously. "She knows your names and your faces, and if you know what's best you'll run as far away as possible."
Yugo felt his knees start to give way and fought to stay on his feet. A wave of panic consumed him and his mind was a jumble of incoherent thoughts. The worst had happened and he and Tanji had been identified. How did it happen? They had been so careful in their activities, perhaps someone had informed on them.
"My god!" he stammered. "We're both dead, the factory has our names and that means that every enforcer in the city is looking for us. How did it happen Myra, did someone inform the factory?"
Yugo clutched his face with his hands and bent forward. His body was wracked with fear and he couldn't drive away the persistent vision of his impending death.
Myra grabbed him firmly by the shoulders and shook him, if for no other reason than to force him to look at her.
"Listen at me!" she said sternly. "Did you hear what I just said? There's only one hunter-warrior after you, and that means you have a slim chance of surviving."
He stared into her eyes and let her words sink in for a moment before answering.
"I don't understand," replied Yugo. "How can just one hunter-warrior be after us?"
Myra knew that a stern tone of voice was appropriate. As much as she felt compassion for the frightened boy, she knew there was no other way he was going to listen to her. For even the most defiant of children were inclined to listen to the words of an adult, particularly in a time of crisis.
"You're careful to look at the wanted bulletins each day, aren't you?"
Yugo considered this. He had indeed made it a point to check the bulletins on a daily basis to see if his and Tanji's names were present.
"You're right!" he exclaimed. "There's been no mention of us as wanted fugitives."
"And there won't be," she replied. "You and your friend are a special case Yugo. The factory knows nothing of this, and neither do the rest of the hunter-warriors."
Myra paused briefly as she rehearsed the prepared lie she was about to tell him.
"One of your victims was an important man, someone with a lot of money. He's hired a bounty hunter to chase the two of you down, and when she finds you she's going to kill you."
Yugo tried to recall the faces of their victims and which of them could be the one behind this. It didn't seem that any of them had been the sort with a lot of money.
"But Mr Vector, he can help us," Yugo said anxiously. "He promised me that if I got into any trouble I could come to him."
Myra shook her head and spoke in a low voice.
"There's nothing he can do Yugo. This is a private contract, not one sanctioned by the factory. Mr Vector knows nothing of this and even if he did, it's beyond his power to help you."
Yugo had calmed down somewhat and his breathing was returning to normal. He was still very much afraid for his life, but now his rationale had returned and he thought hard on asking Myra questions. It was important that he learn as much as possible.
"But how did you find out about this?" inquired Yugo.
"I have connections," she replied hurriedly. "The hunter-warrior that's after you is ruthless. She'll stop at nothing to get what she wants and her sole purpose in life at the moment is to see you and your friend dead. You have to run for it Yugo. Take Tanji with you, leave the scrapyard and never return. Your life here is over."
"Never!" answered Yugo defiantly. "There's something that I have to do and I'm going to see it through until the end. Hunter or no hunter, I'm staying. Even if I have to fight this woman I'll do it."
Myra lowered her head in disappointment. It was as she had suspected, Yugo was determined to stay and there was little she could do to change his mind.
Yugo waited for an answer but there was none forthcoming from her. He saw Myra turn her head slighty and that's when he noticed a sharp red scar on her right cheek.
"You've been hurt," said Yugo earnestly, pointing to Myra's wound.
Myra removed her glasses and Yugo could see the sadness in her eyes. He also saw the thin crimson line running along her cheekbone.
"Who did this to you?" he asked angrily. "It was probably Vector," he said arriving at his own conclusion.
"No Yugo, I was hurt by this hunter-warrior that's pursuing you, and that's why I'm telling you that you don't have a chance. If you stay then it's only a matter of time until she catches you. How long do you think that will take Yugo? Do you believe it's possible for you to escape to Tiphares before then?"
"You seem to know a lot about me," said Yugo suspiciously.
"I know that you'll be dead within a week if you remain in the city. And if you're not concerned about yourself then what about your friend Tanji?"
Yugo suddenly realized that he had been so worried about himself that he hadn't given any thought to the welfare of his friend. He had to warn him, and there was little time to waste.
"I have to go Myra," protested Yugo. "Tanji's in danger and I have to tell him."
Myra put a hand on Yugo's right shoulder and bent close to him.
"There's a train leaving for the outlands from a gate in the western sector, do you know where it is?"
Yugo nodded once as he listened intently to her instructions. He had never been there but it was easy to find. One simply went as far west as possible until the raging of the hydro-wall could be heard.
"You have to get on board somehow," she whispered. "The train departs tomorrow morning at nine o'clock and if you leave now you should be able to make it on time. Once in the outlands you'll be safe, she'll never be able to find you there."
Yugo considered this. It was an option, but one that he would not use unless absolutely necessary. However for Tanji it provided a means of escape.
He smiled faintly as Myra patted his shoulder and turned her back on him. There was nothing more she could do, and to remain any longer was to put her own life in jeapordy.
"Good luck," Myra said as she walked away.
Yugo watched her go and hung his head low. As Myra reached the entrance to the street he raised his voice and called to her.
"Myra wait! There's something that I want to tell you."
She turned and looked back at him.
"I just want to say, thanks," he said with sincerity. "I realize that you took a big risk in coming here, and that no matter where I am I'll always consider you my friend."
Myra stood silently for a moment then turned away. Yugo knew that there was no need for her to say anything.
Now Yugo was alone and felt the panic once more upon him. Every creak, every rustle of the wind seemed to roar in he ears. Sounds that he had never given any thought to now threatened him, and he saw imaginary shapes against the walls and sensed that he was being watched. He looked toward the way Myra had left and was sure he saw someone peering at him from around a corner. Yugo ran his eyes along the top of adjacent buildings and saw a pair of eyes laughing at him. She was out there somewhere, this woman who had sworn to kill him. And if she were of the same mindset as himself she would not rest until he and Tanji were dead.
Yugo launched himself into a mad dash toward the street, his arms pumping furiously and his breath rasping through clenched teeth. He had to warn Tanji, as for himself he had not yet decided what he should do.
***
"That's it, just a little more."
Tanji slid his right hand over the track ball and positioned his left index finger on a red button. He waited several seconds then pressed it, sending a flurry of shells into the opposing ship. No sooner had the craft exploded than another soared into view to take it's place.
"Damn, this is tougher than I thought," he said to no one in particular.
Susie leaned her arm against the monitor and looked at Tanji with an expression of boredom. She had been watching him play this game for the last half hour, and knew that once Tanji got serious about a game he was inclined to stay with it until he won.
"How much longer are you going to play this thing?" she asked him.
Tanji answered her without taking his eyes away from the screen.
"It shouldn't take me much longer," he replied. "I just have to make it past this level, then there's a fleet of destroyers that I have to kill before I arrive at the homeworld."
"But you promised that we were going to spend some time together," pleaded Susie. "And watching you play this stupid game isn't exactly what I had in mind."
"We are together," he said with a grin. "It's just that I have to finish this once I've started. My reputation's at stake, you wouldn't want people here to think that I'm a quitter, would you?"
More like a loser, thought Susie.
With the exception of the sound of gunfire and the occasional explosion, the next several minutes were spent in silence. Tanji concentrating on the play of the game, and Susie staring off into space knowing that she had just wasted another day of her precious youth.
Just as Tanji waded into a maelstrom of enemy ships he was startled by hearing his name resound around the walls of the arcade.
"Tanji! Tanji!"
He shook his head and swore under his breath, it was Yugo looking for him. He had no idea what his friend wanted, but there was nothing that was going to pull him away from this game, not this time.
Tanji felt a hand grip his shoulder and it caused him to lose control of his ship, he veered off course and had to execute a sharp turn to avoid crashing into a large cruiser.
"Damn you!" shouted Tanji angrily. "Just what is your problem anyway?"
Yugo stood over him, obstructing Tanji's view of the screen. He was breathing heavily and beads of sweat ran down his temples. Susie pushed herself away from the monitor and looked into Yugo's frightened eyes. She had never seen anyone so scared, and knew that something terrible must have happened.
Yugo ignored her stare and grabbed Tanji by the collar, twisting his friend's coat so that he was forced to look at him.
"We have to talk," said Yugo between deep breaths. He glanced at Susie and leaned in closer to keep her from overhearing. "We're in big trouble Tanji, and I have to see you right now."
Tanji groaned and made a weak attempt to push Yugo aside.
"How serious can it be?" he replied. "Whatever it is you'll just have to wait until later to tell me. I'm not giving up on this game just so you can preach to me another of your big brother sermons. I'm busy here, and in case you didn't notice I have company."
Yugo realized that any further persuasion was useless. With both hands he grabbed Tanji by the back of the collar and wrenched him from the low seat he had been sitting in. Tanji landed on his feet and immediately found himself being dragged towards the rear of the arcade. He looked at the puzzled faces staring at them, and made several attempts to kick Yugo in the legs and swing his elbows at him. But Yugo was the stronger of the two, and his aggitated state gave him a strength of resolve that surprised even Tanji.
"Let me go!" shouted Tanji at the top of his lungs. "I'm going to kick your ass the first chance I get Yugo. Just who the hell do you think you are!?"
Yugo ignored the protestations of his friend and kicked the release bar on a rarely used fire exit. The door flew open and Yugo flung Tanji against the wall on the opposite side of a narrow alley. Tanji put out his arms to brace himself against the impact and pushed himself away, only to trip over a piece of rusted pipe lying on the ground. He landed on his chest and rolled over onto his back, rising quickly and balling his hands into fists.
"You bastard!" he roared at Yugo. "You wanna fight pal, well just say the word. I'm kind of tired of all your bullshit anyway, and it's about time that somebody punched your lights out!"
"Shut up!" said Yugo with authority. "This is no time for arguing Tanji, we've been identified and there's a hunter-warrior after us."
Tanji stared for a moment then put his hands down. At times the noise in the arcade was rather loud, and a temporary loss of hearing was normal for a few hours afterward. He was sure he had misheard his friend.
"What did you say?" asked Tanji, his voice becoming quiet.
Now it was Yugo's turn to be angry. He grabbed Tanji again and pushed him against the wall, holding him firm.
"I said there's a hunter-warrior out there looking for us, did you hear me this time you idiot? One of the men we stole from has hired a killer to come after us, she knows what we look like and it's only a matter of time until we're caught."
Tanji shook his head in disbelief, unwilling to accept what he was hearing.
"You're lying," he said in a trembling voice. "This is just some stupid joke you're playing on me."
Yugo shouted into Tanji's face, forcing him to close his eyes and turn away.
"Do I look like I'm joking Tanji!? If you stay here any longer you're going to die, it's as simple as that. We were both aware of the risks, and there was always the chance that we would get caught."
Yugo could see now that Tanji was frightened. He had always known that he was made of sterner mettle than his friend, and realized that it was important that he compose himself and appear calm. If he panicked then Tanji was as good as dead. He release his friend and backed away, allowing Tanji to absorb what he had just heard.
"No, it can't be," muttered Tanji. "I don't want to die Yugo, not here, not this way."
Yugo looked at Tanji and saw his eyes well up in tears, he had to calm his friend and offer him hope, no matter how fleeting it might be.
"We're all right Tanji, for the moment anyhow. There's still time to get away from the city and I know a way."
Tanji rubbed his nose against his sleeve and looked up at him, waiting for Yugo to continue.
"There's a train leaving the city tomorrow morning," said Yugo calmly. "If you manage to stow away on it you'll be able to escape from here, but that means that you can never return."
"What do you mean if 'I' leave the city," asked Tanji. "What about you? You're coming too aren't you?"
Yugo stared at the ground for a moment as he collected his thoughts.
"I don't know," he replied. "I have something to do Tanji, you know that. If I leave here then I'll never get to Tiphares, that's for certain."
"Don't be a fool," said Tanji. "If your brother were here now he would say the same thing I'm telling you. You have to run away Yugo. You may never reach Tiphares, but if you die then your brother's memory dies with you. As long as you're alive there's alway hope. Maybe someday things will be different and we'll be able to come back."
Yugo hated listening to Tanji's words. Most often it was Yugo who made the decisions, but on those rare occasions that Tanji had something meaningful to say he was often right.
"If you're not going to come with me then at least accompany me as far as the hydro-wall," said Tanji. "Once you're there you can decide what you want to do. And anyway, if you stay here this hunter-warrior will kill you for sure."
Yugo considered this and looked into Tanji's hopeful eyes. He knew that Tanji was afraid and didn't want to be left alone, and the last thing Yugo wanted was for his friend to follow his lead and stay behind. Yugo would accompany Tanji to the hydro-wall, if for no reason other than to make sure that Tanji got on that train, rather he wanted to or not.
"You're right for once," smiled Yugo faintly. "Together we'll leave the scrapyard and make new lives for ourselves in the outlands. A couple of smart guys like us could make a killing among the locals in those small towns."
"Not funny," frowned Tanji folding his arms.
Yugo laughed and looked up at the sky. It was early evening and the clouds had disappeared, swallowed up by a shadow that covered the entire world. He could faintly see the lights of Tiphares, shining like a thousand pearls waiting to be plucked from the sea.
"Well now that's decided we had better leave," stated Yugo solemnly. "There's no time to lose Tanji, we head straight for the gate in the western sector and we don't look back. No detours, no good byes, it would only put the lives of others in danger."
Tanji nodded and sighed deeply, preparing for what he knew would be the most dangerous night of his young life.
"There's just one more thing," said Yugo. "It's best if we split up and travel seperately."
"What do you mean Yugo? You just said that we were going to go together."
"We are Tanji. I promised that together we would leave the city, but there's only hunter-warrior out there looking for us, and if we travel seperately there's a better chance of at least one of us getting through."
Tanji nodded reluctantly. He knew Yugo was right.
"Okay Yugo, whatever you say. But if I don't see you there then I'm coming back to look for you."
"Don't worry about me," smiled Yugo. "I always keep my word, you know that."
Tanji looked for a moment at his friend and then turned and ran down the alley, his footsteps echoing off the walls around him.
Yugo waited until the sound had died away, then set off in the opposite direction.
***
The existance of the hydro-wall was common knowledge to most, yet few had actually seen it. Unless one had business with the factory access to the area was forbidden. The scrapyard was a city ringed by a twenty meter high wall of liquid that destroyed anything that came into contact with it. It served a dual purpose, to keep the citizens of the scrapyard confined within it's boundaries, and to keep out hostile elements that might disrupt the delicate balance maintained between Tipahres and the city beneath it.
Getting there would prove extremely difficult. As one traveled west out of the center of the city the topography changed. Buildings became smaller and the streets narrower. The stone monoliths that Yugo was used to surrendered to squat shacks of wood and canvas. There were people here, but they weren't the gregarious sort that he was familiar with. People kept to themselves, and more than a few cast a wary eye in his direction as the young boy raced through the night.
Eventually even human habitation ceased and one would find oneself in a barren landscape of debris and ruin. All about were the castoffs of the city. What fell from the sky was used by the people, and once these things had lost their usefulness they were incinerated or ended up here. Hills of waste and trash of every description erupted from the landscape, each posing yet another obstacle in his path.
Yugo wasn't sure what he would find when he arrived at the hydro-wall. He had heard the stories, and was sure that once he was clear of the ruination around him he would find man-made barriers, wire fences and perhaps sentries intended to keep stray citizens from approaching the deadly wall.
Yugo stopped and leaned forward, resting his hands against his bent knees.
It wasn't fair, he thought. Unlike Tanji, Yugo had already spent a great deal of energy in rushing to warn his friend of the danger they were in. Additionally his body was wracked by the virus which caused his limbs to ache and his head to throb with a steady pain in his temples.
He filled his lungs with deep breaths, ignoring the stench of the earth beneath him. He stood not on solid ground, but rather layer upon layer of debris that had compacted over the years to form a semi-solid mass that rendered slightly as he stepped upon it.
Yugo had been running for hours, pausing at regular intervals to catch his breath. He was fortunate to be so young, for he was sure that had he been an adult he would never have been able to accomplish what he had done. And during those brief periods of rest he would look back the way he had come, searching for any signs that he were being followed. Never had he seen any indication of this, but he knew that to relax his guard would be a fatal mistake. He was one of those marked for execution, and he knew he could rely upon no one but himself to get away.
But could he leave, he wondered. The city meant nothing to him, it was a place of anguish and dispair. But if he left he knew he would never be able to return, and that meant giving up any hope of reaching Tiphares. The indecision weighed heavily upon him, and the persistent fear and sickness that gnawed on him affected his judgement.
"First things first," he thought aloud. "I have to make sure that Tanji gets on that train. Whatever happens after that I'll take it as it comes."
His breathing had returned to normal, and Yugo prepared himself for another sprint of running when he felt a pain in his lower abdomen. The severity of it caused him to fall to his knees and place his hands on the wet earth. He was sick, and the combination of over-exertion and and the stench around him caused his body to revolt against the demands he had made of it. He was powerless to prevent the fluid that spilled forth from his mouth and splashed the ground in front of him. He wretched violently and wiped his lips against the collar of his coat. Tears filled his eyes and he felt his throat burn.
"Damn it," he said, after he had spat out what remained in his mouth.
Yugo forced himself to stand and set off again, each step a labored effort as the ground squished beneath his feet and and made running difficult. He searched desperately for any sign of change in the terrain, any indication that he would soon be out of this wasteland and near the wall. He was near total exhaustion now and occasionally fell to his knees, pushing himself up by his hands and staggering to the next hill. The sun had started to rise behind him and he was cast in a long shadow that he chased over the barrens.
He was becoming desperate, his imagination telling him lies that he was forced to listen to. Was there no end to this? he thought. Perhaps he had been running in circles or maybe the rumors had been wrong and there was no wall. Maybe the ruin in which he found himself was all there was of the earth outside the city.
"No!" he shouted. He couldn't accept such a thing. The wall was there, and he would find Tanji waiting for him, just as he had promised.
Yugo stumbled to the crest of a hill and glanced over his shoulder. The sun had climbed midway in the sky and cast reflections off the pieces of broken glass and metal around him. It was difficult to see, and Yugo squinted his eyes and tried to focus on the horizon before him.
It was there, the hydro-wall. It rose a mere one hundred meters away and was protected from encroachment by a wire fence six meters high. Yugo was surprised at how quiet the raging torrent was. He wasn't sure if it was made of water, but it seemed that the sound of the blue liquid had a subduing affect, and he was tempted to drop to the ground and rest his tired body.
Yugo felt the calm return and for the first time he noticed the scrapes and cuts on his arms and legs. The run through the wasteland had been an ordeal, and he had suffered many wounds that stung and demanded treatment against infection.
He shrugged off the minor pain and started down the hill, looking left and right for any signs of movement along the perimeter of the fence. There were none, and Yugo lunged forward and grasped the sharp wire in his fingers, hanging onto the fence to relieve the burden placed upon his legs.
The hydro-wall was now a mere thirty meters away from where he stood, and if Yugo hadn't been in such a state of fatigue he might have regarded the wall with the respect it commanded. For aside from Tiphares itself the wall was the most incredible sight he had ever seen. A marvel of engineering, a twenty meter high wall of shimmering blue that projected straight into the air and hid the world beyond it.
Yugo had little time to wonder about such things and ran his eyes far into the distance in both directions. The hydro-wall encompassed his line of sight and seemed to curve inward slightly where it disappeared into the horizon.
It was indeed true, he realized. The entire city was hemmed in by the barrier, and that meant that there had to be gates along the wall where trains and other vehicles could pass.
Yugo shielded his eyes and looked far to his right. On the very edge of his vision he could see that the hydro-wall ended and was replaced by a solid structure. He realized that during the night he had strayed south and was perhaps one kilometer from the railyard Myra had told him about.
He smiled at his good fortune for having arrived so close to his destination, and pushed himself away from the fence, staggering northward along it's perimeter toward the gate.
Yugo ignored the pain in his legs as he placed one foot in front of the other, slogging his way through the fine sand which had replaced the trash he had fought his way through for the past several hours. It was early morning now, and a hot wind had risen from the desert floor, scooping up grains of sand that swirled in tiny whirlpools at his feet. There was little doubt in his mind that beyond the hydro-wall was a vast desert, and that to leave the city he would be exchanging one hell for another.
He continued on, wary of the presence of any sentries, human or artificial. Yugo could see clearly now the gate, a massive structure of gray concrete with several smaller buildings clustered around it. He could also hear voices and the sound of machines and vehicles as the railyard awoke and began the daily business of transporting goods into the city.
Yugo huddled down near the fence and studied the layout of the facility. He was still some distance away, and had to squint hard to discern the various buildings and their function. It was obvious the smaller structures were administration offices and housing, and extending out from the gate was a massive cave which he assumed housed the great trains that ran between the farms in the outlands and the factory. He looked upward and spotted a netman situated at the entrance. Somehow he and Tanji would have to sneak past it, if they were even lucky enough to pass unnoticed over the strip of barren land on the other side of the fence.
Yugo looked all around him, searching for any sign of his friend. There was none, and considering the size of the railyard he knew Tanji could be anywhere, outside the fence or inside the complex itself. He decided against scaling the fence for the moment, figuring it was best to search the perimeter and hope that he would come upon Tanji waiting for him as he had promised.
Human beings are by nature stupid creatures. Reasoning and rational, yet mute to those things around them that they can't identify by touch or smell. But there are times, especially in those of crisis that a sixth sense kicks in. A warning mechanism that alerts one to an immediate danger not noticed by the eyes or ears. For Yugo it was felt as a tingling at the back of his neck which told him that he wasn't alone and that his life was threatened.
He swung his head back and looked at a shadow standing over him. It wasn't Tanji, rather he saw the outline of a woman framed against the sun. She stood defiantly, legs apart, hands on her hips and her head cocked to one side. She seemed so out of place, here among the desert and the debris that lay strewn over the earth.
Yugo knew immediately who she was, but his weary state prohibited him from speaking or even reacting as he should have and taking flight. There was no place to go really, the fence was at his back, and he knew his tired legs were unable to run anymore.
"You're not half bad," she said calmly. "I've been trailing you for the entire night and you've led me on quite a chase, any less and I would have been disappointed."
"You're going to kill me," said Yugo with resignation.
"Of course," she answered. "It is my job after all. You've broken the law and deserve to be punished, it's as simple as that. I just missed the opportunity of killing the pair of you at that arcade, but when you and your friend split up I knew that all I had to do was follow one of you and that you both would reunite eventually."
Amerlis looked away for a moment and ran her eyes over the bustling complex.
"He's here somewhere, I can sense it. After I've killed you it's only a matter of time until I catch him."
"Go to hell!" said Yugo. "Maybe I'm done for but you'll never catch Tanji. He's going to make it onto that train and escape from here. All he has to do is climb over this fence and you'll be unable to follow. You may be a hunter-warrior, but the netmen will shoot on sight anyone who invades the facility."
"They can't shoot what they can't see," smiled Amerlis. "At times during the night I was so close that I could have reached out and touched you, and never once did you suspect that I was there."
Yugo had little doubt that she was telling the truth. He was going to die, of that he was certain. But there was still a chance for Tanji to get away. If he acted quickly Yugo might delay Amerlis long enough to allow Tanji to slip on board that train. It would be the last thing he would ever do, and the idea of simply letting Amerlis slaughter him without a fight was abhorrant to him.
He watched Amerlis draw the knife from her belt and hold it in front of her.
"Don't make this any harder than it has to be," she said calmly. "If you just hold still it will be over before you know it, but if you struggle then this could get messy and you'll suffer needlessly."
Before Yugo had realized it Amerlis had grabbed him by the hair and twisted hard, digging her knuckles into his scalp. He winced and grabbed her forearm, unable to break free.
"I told you not to resist," she said sternly. "And the last thing you want to do is make me angry."
Yugo saw her extend her arm back and prepare to swing the knife. He was just seconds away from death and realized that he had to act now.
He scooped up a handful of sand and flung it in Amerlis' face, causing her to release him and clutch her eyes with both hands. Without pause he lept to his feet and ran back toward the hills of refuse which he had forged his way through the previous night. Higher he climbed, pumping his arms and legs and gasping for air. Never once did he look back, and he could hear Amerlis shouts and curses as she rubbed the sand from her eyes.
"You little bastard!" he heard her scream. "I'm going to cut your fingers off one at a time when I catch up to you!"
Yugo ignored her and disappeared over a hill, falling down the other side and leaping to his feet in a vain attempt to get away.
Amerlis pushed the knife back in her belt and watched Yugo's desperate flight. She grinned in admiration of the little thief. He was a fighter, and that was something that she could understand.
"Too bad I'm not a little younger," she laughed.
Amerlis set off after him at what for her was a leisurely pace. Unlike Yugo, Amerlis' steps were quick and light, seeming to barely touch the ground she stepped on. She bound to the top of a hill and paused to watch Yugo scramble desperately up the next slope.
"You're making this too easy!" she shouted to him.
Yugo realized that she was toying with him and it made him angry. He continued to run and scanned his eyes over the ground, looking for anything that might serve as a weapon. A piece of broken glass, a length of pipe, anything that would give him a fighting chance.
Suddenly he saw it directly in front of him. Jutting from the trash was the wooden handle of an axe. He grabbed the smooth wood and pulled it free, only to find that the metal blade had long been lost from it.
"And what were you planning to do with that?" he heard Amerlis' voice.
He looked up and saw her standing over him. She seemed not at all out of breath, as if the brief pursuit had been nothing more strenuous for her than a leisurely walk .
"Come on!" shouted Yugo leaping to his feet. "If you want to kill me then go ahead and try. I'll smash your skull in if you even take a step."
Amerlis matched Yugo's stare for a moment then delivered a blurring kick that stung his wrist, sending the axe handle flying in the air.
"Stupid brat," she said angrily. "I was going to kill you quickly but now you've left me no choice."
Yugo had no chance to react as Amerlis leaped forward and grabbed his right arm. She threw him through the air with seemingly no more effort than if he were a rag doll. Yugo braced himself for the coming impact as he crashed into a hill of garbage, sending scraps of paper flying in all directions.
Yugo shook his head and tried to push himself to his feet. He was immediately knocked flat on his back by Amerlis, who pounced on him and stamped her right foot hard against his chest, pinning him to the hill. Yugo grabbed her ankle with both hands in a futile attempt to push her away but Amerlis pressed harder, as if he were nothing more than a mere insect for her to toy with.
"Now you see what you've done?" said Amerlis. "You've wasted my precious time in a useless attempt at allowing your friend to get away. I admire your loyality, but you're going to have to pay for what you did to me."
Amerlis bent down and grasped Yugo by his right wrist. She tugged his arm straight up and held it against her chest in an iron grip. He gasped when he saw her place the blade of her knife against his index finger, preparing to slice it off.
"I said that I was going to cut off all your fingers, but I don't have the time for that so just one will have to suffice. I'll keep it as something to remember you by, and once I've killed the other one I'll take a finger from him as well."
In desperation Yugo kicked frantically at Amerlis' legs and struck her ankle repeatedly with his left hand. But Amerlis held him firmly underfoot and stretched his arm even harder, almost tearing it free of his shoulder.
Just as Yugo felt the blade sink into his flesh he saw a large stone strike Amerlis on her skull, just behind the left ear. She released Yugo's arm and stepped back, clutching the wounded area and hunched over in the thros of terrible pain.
Yugo looked past Amerlis' legs and saw Tanji some fifteen meters away. He was charging up the slope with an iron bar in his hand.
"Get your lousy hands off him!" he heard his friend shout.
Amerlis turned toward the voice and grit her teeth. She was furious, and Yugo could see blood running from the wound down the nape of her neck.
"You little bastard!" she screamed. "You've just saved me the trouble of having to look for you."
"Get out of here Tanji, run away!" pleaded Yugo.
Yugo noticed Amerlis swaying slightly from side to side. She seemed disoriented, and shook her head in an attempt to regain her faculties. He saw her raise her right arm across her chest then throw her hand out, sending the knife sailing through the air toward his friend. Yugo had barely time to shout a warning when the knife struck Tanji in his left thigh.
Tanji dropped the iron bar and fell to the ground screaming. He lay on one side, curled into a fetal position and clutching the bloody flesh around the knife which jutted from his leg. Yugo saw Amerlis take a few staggering steps toward his friend. It was obvious that she was suffering the effects of a mild concussion and that her vision was impaired, no doubt she had probably intended to strike Tanji in the chest.
From his position on the ground Yugo watched as Amerlis stumbled and fought to remain upright. He had barely the strength left to raise his head and look at her, unsure of what course of action to take against someone as strong as her.
"You two have been more trouble than you're worth," she said in broken words. "I'm going to tear you apart piece by piece until there's nothing left to find."
Yugo noticed her slurred speech and odd manner. He realized that Tanji had seriously injured Amerlis when he had struck her with that stone, and that if he didn't act this moment then Tanji was going to die before his eyes.
He heaved himself up and ran headlong at Amerlis' receding figure. She was just a few steps away from Tanji when Yugo launched himself through the air and crashed into her, grasping his fingers tightly around her waist. Amerlis was caught unprepared and both she and Yugo fell to the ground with the young boy clinging to her back. As Amerlis struck the earth Yugo saw a metal rod shoot from her back, missing his skull by barely a few inches.
He rolled clear and lay on his back for a moment, swallowing deep breaths of air with his mouth. When he felt his strength returning Yugo turned his head to look at her. Amerlis lay on her chest, blood oozing from the wound around the rod which protruded from between her shoulder blades.
Yugo closed his eyes and an expression of relief spread over his face. He wasn't sure if she was still alive, but he knew that she could do them no further harm.
"Is she dead?" he heard Tanji ask faintly.
Yugo propped himself up and looked at Tanji who lay on the other side of Amerlis, holding his leg. He didn't answer his friend, instead he stood and staggered over to where Tanji lay and knelt next him.
Yugo looked at the knife buried in Tanji's leg and knew the pain must be excruciating.
"You're hurt bad Tanji, real bad. If we don't do something about this then there's a chance you might bleed to death."
Yugo looked into Tanji's face and saw tears streaming down his cheeks. Tanji looked up and clutched Yugo by the sleeve of his coat, pulling his face toward him.
"You'll have to take it out," he heard Tanji whisper. "I know it's going to bleed more if you do but I can't walk like this."
Yugo knew that it must be done. He would not allow his friend to die here among the filth cast off by others.
He placed one hand against Tanji's knee and wrapped his fingers around the hilt of the weapon.
"Look away," he said to Tanji.
Tanji turned his head to one side and Yugo held his breath. He wrenched the knife free and threw it in the air, and as he did so a gush of blood spilled out over his other hand.
Tanji screamed and Yugo cupped a hand over his friend's mouth.
"Be quiet," he urged. "If we're lucky then we haven't been noticed by anyone at that complex over there, and I doubt that it's okay for someone to be this close to one of the gates."
Tanji nodded and Yugo reached into his coat, pulling out several rags which he had found came in handy in his various odd jobs. He knotted three of them together and fanned them out, wrapping them around the grisly wound and tying a slip knot in front. It would stem the bleeding, and Yugo noticed that the edges of the wound came together tightly. It appeared that the injury was not as serious as he had first thought.
"You're going to be okay," Yugo assured him. "It doesn't appear to be bleeding much now, but it's still important that we get you to a doctor and have it treated properly."
Tanji shook his head and ignored his friend's comforting words.
"You've got to see if she's dead Yugo," pleaded Tanji "She hasn't moved any, but there's a chance she might be still alive, a bitch like her doesn't die this easy."
Yugo looked over his shoulder and saw that Tanji was indeed right. Amerlis seemed dead, but there was only one way to be sure. He left Tanji's side and walked hesitantly toward her, looking for any sign of movement. There were none, and he knelt down and cautiously placed a hand on her shoulder, pulling upward and rolling her over on her back.
He was not at all surprised that Amerlis was heavier than a normal woman her size, and he looked into her face as she came to rest on her back. Her eyes were closed and a trickle of blood ran from her lower lip. She appeared calm, serene, and he had to admit that she was very attractive to his young male eyes.
He cast his eyes down and looked at the metal rod that was driven through her body. She had obviously fallen on it when he had grabbed her, and knew that such an injury would have killed an ordinary person like himself, but Amerlis was not completely human.
Perhaps damaged is the appropriate term, he thought.
Yugo brought his face close to hers and turned his head to one side. He could feel her breath against his cheek and heard steady breathing. He also noticed an involuntary twitching of the fingers of her right hand.
"Well, is she dead?" he heard Tanji ask him.
"No," he answered without looking away. "She's still alive, but for how much longer I can't be sure."
"Then kill her," said Tanji angrily. "If she recovers then we're as good as dead, you know that."
Yugo looked again into her face and frowned. He knew it was the most prudent course of action but he hesitated, it didn't seem right somehow.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" said Tanji. "That hunter just tried to kill us, in case you've forgotten. And if you don't have the stomach for it then I will."
Tanji shifted his legs in an effort to stand but Yugo turned his head sharply in his direction and stared hard at him.
"No!" he said sternly. "I won't let you Tanji. And don't force me to fight you, we both know who would win."
Tanji sat back down and stared incredulously at him.
"What the hell is the matter?" he shook his head in disbelief. "She's the only one that can identify us Yugo, but if we kill her then we'll be safe and we can return to the city. And considering what we've been doing for the last two months it should be easy for you."
Yugo knew that Amerlis couldn't be permitted to recover, but his conscience told him that to take her life was the wrong thing to do. Stealing spines was one thing, but the ability to commit cold-blooded murder against a helpless victim was beyond him. He could have killed her in the heat of a confrontation and not given it a second thought, but as he looked into her gentle face he knew it was not within him to take her life at this moment. He also realized that if Amerlis were a man he might have stepped aside and let Tanji finish her.
If left alone Amerlis might indeed regain consciousness, or she may die. Yugo had no way of knowing how long the latter might take. A few hours, perhaps several days. She was of cyborg construct and it was impossible to determine the severity of her injuries.
Yugo looked around the immediate area and saw Amerlis' knife lying in the trash a short distance away. He stood and walked over to it, scooping up the bloodied weapon and returning to her side.
"That's it," urged Tanji. "Slit her throat and be done with it Yugo, then we can get the hell out of here and go back home."
Yugo shifted the weapon in his hands so that the blade was poised downward. He held it over Amerlis' body and closed his eyes.
"Come over here," he said to Tanji. "I need your help."
"What for?" asked Tanji.
"Just do as I tell you," said Yugo. "I need you to hold her down."
Tanji stood and limped over to where Amerlis lay. He collapsed next to Yugo and put out his hands to prevent himself from falling forward.
Yugo looked at Tanji and spoke in a low voice, he was more nervous now than he had ever been in his entire life.
"I want you to grab her leg here," instructed Yugo pointing to Amerlis' right knee. "And whatever happens don't let go, do you understand me?"
Tanji had no idea what Yugo intended to do but he complied, placing his hands firmly around the woman's limb.
Yugo could feel his heart pounding as he prepared to violate Amerlis' body. He had not the slightest knowledge of what he was doing, and if Amerlis should happen to die then it would be as Tanji said and the two of them would return alone to the city.
***
Yugo raised his hand and wiped the sweat from his forehead, leaving a smudge of oil along his brow. He dug his finger into a can of grease and applied it to the armature above his head, coating it completely so as to provide not only lubrication against the other moving parts but as protection against the elements.
He looked out over the city and could feel a strong wind from the west. It buffeted him against the windmill and he had to grab onto one of the metal fans to keep from being swept off the tower ten meters above the roof on which it was mounted.
From below him Yugo heard the trapdoor open and looked down. Yuko climbed out of the hatch and stood looking up at him. She was wearing a simple print dress and held one hand against her forehead to shield her from the sun and to keep the hair from her eyes as the wind whipped it about her face.
"Are you almost finished?" she called to him.
Yugo nodded and grabbed one of the blades. He pulled it toward him then released it. The fan started slowly at first, then picked up speed. After a minute it spun on it's own and began to hum, a sound that was music to Yugo's ears.
"All done!" he called down to her.
"Glad to hear it," she replied. "By the way, Silas wants to talk to you before you leave."
Yugo waved in acknowledgement and Yuko turned away toward the trapdoor. Yugo wiped his hands free of grease with a blood stained rag he pulled from his back pocket. The wind tugged the rag from his fingers and carried it out over the city. Yugo watched it sail into the air and then began his descent down the side of the tower, wedging his arms and feet into the laticed framework. He jumped to the roof then strode over to the trapdoor, lowering himself down the ladder and then reaching above him and shutting the hatch.
After a minute Yugo found himself in a small room on the ground floor. His coat was as he had left it, and he pulled it on and started down a narrow hall for the front door. He could hear voices coming from a sitting room that was just ahead on his left. One of them belonged to Silas, the other was unfamiliar to him.
Yugo stopped just outside the room and stood in the darkness of the hallway. Silas sat on a cloth sofa with Yuko at his side, and across from them sat another man. Even though he was sitting down Yugo could tell that he was taller than average. A gaunt frame, dressed completely in black. His long face was crowned with sandy blond hair, and a small pair of glasses was perched on his nose.
"Just marvelous," he heard the stranger exclaim.
He saw the man hold up a small glass vial with several raised lines prominent along it's length.
"This is wonderful craftsmanship," he said to Silas. "To be honest I didn't think you could do it."
Silas smiled and put his arm about Yuko's shoulders.
"It wasn't that difficult really," he answered. "Just a matter of working with the specs you gave me. I have the complete set ready and you can take them with you right now."
"Excellent," replied the stranger.
He set the vial on the table and leaned back in his chair.
Silas looked past his guest and noticed Yugo standing in the shadows of the corridor.
"Ah, here he is," said Silas beckoning Yugo to come forward. "Please Yugo, come in. There's someone I'd like you to meet."
Yugo hesitantly stepped forward and presented himself, feeling a little uncomfortable at the prospect of meeting someone new.
This is the young man I've been telling you about," smiled Silas.
The gaunt stranger rose and turned around, towering above the young boy.
"Doctor Ido I'd like you to meet Yugo," said Silas, doing the introductions.
Ido extended his hand and Yugo grasped it. The young boy was rather surprised at meeting someone like this under such casual circumstances.
"I'm pleased to meet you," said Ido earnestly. "I've heard a great deal about you from Silas."
"All good I hope," replied Yugo.
Ido laughed and released Yugo's hand.
"Of course," he answered. "Otherwise I wouldn't have asked to see you."
"Mr Ido needs some work done," interjected Silas. "I told him that you were available, and that you've done a commendable job of repairing and maintaining our windmill."
"That's right," said Ido. "I need someone to help me out from time to time. I have a clinic on Tempesto street and I'm frightfully busy seeing patients and taking care of other important matters. And since I live alone it would nice to have someone around who knows how to fix things."
Yugo's eyes lit up at the prospect of new business.
"I'd be glad to," he said happily. "But I'll have to charge you though."
"Of course," answered Ido. "I'll pay you the same rate as Silas does, if that's agreeable to you."
Yugo nodded his head and Ido smiled in return.
"Good," said Ido. "Now that's settled I'll just give you the address and you can come visit me, maybe tomorrow or the day after, whenever you're free."
Ido pulled a slip of yellow paper from his pocket and extended his hand toward the young boy. Yugo looked at it for a moment then warily put his hand out to receive it.
"Well I have to be off," said Yugo with a hint of nervousness in his voice. "I have a lot of other things to do before I go home."
"Of course," said Ido. "I look forward to seeing you again Yugo."
Yugo waved to all in the room and then hurried out, wanting nothing more at this moment than to be outside in the morning air.
***
Tanji leaned against an iron beam near the entrance of the arcade. He shifted all his weight to his right leg, thus relieving the burden on his left one which was wrapped in a thick bandage prominent beneath his leggings.
He held a soft drink to his mouth and sipped it from a straw. There wasn't much left in the paper cup but he had to leave soon anyway. He surveyed the room and the children clustered around the various games. To his expert eye it was easy to ascertain who were the experienced players and who were the beginners.
Tanji looked warily at a young man walking toward him. He was a few years older than himelf and was a full head taller. His hair was long and matted, and over his thin frame he wore a red shirt from which sprouted pale arms. The boy stopped in front of Yugo and pushed back a pair of thick glasses that were smudged and dirty.
"Hey Tanji," he said to him in friendly manner. "I haven't seen you around for a while."
"I've been kind of busy Hex," Tanji answered. "I gotta make a living, you know."
"Sure, I understand Tanji. It's just that I kind of miss you around here, I could always count on you to give the games a workout, it kinda let me know what's wrong and what works."
Tanji didn't answer, instead feigning interest in a group of girls huddled around a video terminal. One of the girls glanced his way and frowned in disgust.
Well, easy come, easy go, thought Tanji.
Hex started to walk away when he turned back and smiled at him.
"Oh by the way Tanji, I want to thank you and your friend for helping me out."
Tanji looked nervously around him and then answered Hex in a low voice to avoid being overheard.
"Not a problem," he replied cautiously, hoping that Hex would drop the subject.
"Well it was for me," continued Hex. "I don't know how you guys did it, but I would never have been able to finish my work without your assistance."
"That's okay," replied Tanji hurriedly. "Just remember to keep this to yourself all right? That was what we agreed upon."
"Sure Tanji, I'll never mention it again. But you should give the new game a try, I've finished it and it seems to be a big hit around here."
Tanji ignored him and Hex walked away, turning his attention to a young boy who was waving him over.
Tanji heard a chorus of shouts and looked toward a group of children who were gathered round a girl strapped into a chair with her fingers manipulating a pad of buttons. They stared at the screen in front of her, and marveled at the explosion of bright colors and vibrant images.
What a terrible fate it is for someone to be trapped alone for eternity, he thought.
Tanji put his head down and sipped the remainder of his softdrink, then absently tossed the cup into a nearby trash bin that was already filled to overflowing. He turned and hobbled toward the entrance. It was early evening, and he was to meet Yugo across town in a deserted alley not far from a busy intersection.
End
Index