Among Treacherous Stars by Kate MacLeod

Author:Kate MacLeod
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781946552587
Publisher: Ratatoskr Press

16

Scout wasn’t used to strangers touching her this much. It was awkward at first, but after Rudolf gently teased her for flinching she forced herself to relax. By the time he was done with the conditioning treatment she really was relaxed. Having someone else gently holding her head under the sink, rinsing the bubbles away, was kind of comforting. That and the warmth of the water; Scout bathed outdoors using water from a spigot when she managed to bathe at all. She had always appreciated the decadence of hot water and soap, but now she was discovering there were more layers.

Watching all the curls of hair falling to the floor around her as Rudolf cut first with scissors and then with an electric trimmer was a bit disconcerting. She became aware of the cool air of the room on her scalp, especially near the back of her neck where he had shaved it almost smooth. But Rudolf and Seeta kept up a light banter, Seeta digging through Rudolf’s bag and trying things on herself as Rudolf worked on Scout.

By lunchtime he had finished. Scout had been afraid she was going to look like she had a pumpkin shell on her head, but the product that had looked vivid orange on his hands before he rubbed it in was having a much subtler effect, shifting honey blonde to something more like a ginger blond.

And there was no way the wind was going to blow her hair into her eyes. She could get used to that.

Seeta had added a long purple streak to her black hair, flowing past her ear to wind its way through her long plait. She had also stenciled a small black filigree pattern over the ends of her eyebrows, a subtler effect than Rudolf’s more elaborate silver work. Scout thought it suited her.

“Off to meet your fellow?” Rudolf asked as he packed up his bag. Seeta flushed deeply.

“I thought we were meeting your contact,” Scout said.

“Yes,” Seeta mumbled.

“Now listen, Seeta,” Rudolf said in mock sternness. “Take care of your heart. Those foreign boys are all trouble.”

“This is business,” Seeta said. “Just business.”

Rudolf didn’t look like he believed that for a minute, but he let it go. “How about you?” he asked Scout. “Happy with your look?”

“Yes, it’s very interesting,” Scout said. He laughed.

“It’s a big change for you; shock is normal. Come find me again in a few weeks and we’ll see what we can do to really change it up.” He winked at her before leaving the apartment.

“So, you like this guy we’re going to meet?” Scout asked.

“It’s not like that,” Seeta said. “It’s a game, a flirting game. This is how I get in. I cultivate relationships. This guy knows where the secret black marketplace is, and he’s been promising to take me there. Where we’re going now has some black-market stuff, but it’s just special food and clothes. Nothing too objectionable, so management lets it go. But the secret black marketplace has more stuff. Dogs, like I mentioned to you before.

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