Elise and The Butcher of Dreams by Steven Welch

Author:Steven Welch [Welch, Steven]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780996801423
Publisher: Cave Branch Press
Published: 2019-01-24T22:00:00+00:00

THE TRUCK

It was a black truck with the word Dodge molded in metal and welded to the front of the massive hood.

The tires were fat and reinforced with several strips from other tires because rubber did not fare well in the desert or near the sea. There was rust, yes, but Ahmet the Engineer had welded sheets of metal here and there to reinforce the chassis and cover the holes. The glass was in good shape. The truck was wrapped with barbed wire and sharpened metal poles bristled out at angles along the frame. The cab could hold two or three people and the flatbed behind it was loaded with six barrels of the crude new fuel that Ahmet and a few others were able to create out of garbage, grease, moonshine, and the stale old gasoline of the time before The Turn. The mix was combustible and unpredictable.

Elise tossed her backpack into the cab. The Octo-Thing dangled from her shoulders and his eyes were sleepy. The evening sky was a wash of indigo and crimson. There was a light breeze and the heat of day was drifting away.

Ahmet was under the heavy hood of the truck taking one last look at the engine. He glanced up at Elise and smiled.

“She’s a strong truck, Elise,” he said in a mix of Arabic and English she had learned to understand, “all new everywhere we could. I can tell you there is no stronger beast in Jordan. None.”

“How about Egypt?”

“Strongest anywhere. Even Egypt.”

“I’ll find out soon enough, I guess.”

“Why do you want to go so far? This is a good town, Elise. The best town. Good moonshine. We have a bar. Who else has a bar? Who will play guitar?”

“My guitar is broken. That skinny kid who lives with Denzel can play. He’s just too shy. Kick his ass and get him to play. You’ll like him. He’s better than me.”

“Egypt is too far. Too many things in the desert. Bad people too. Too far.”

“Well then, I’d better get started.”

“Drive at night to keep her cool, that will be smart. The engine runs on this shit fuel we make but it can run forever on a liter. Run forever, but keep her cool. She’s a nasty bitch when she gets hot. But she’s the strongest beast anywhere, Elise.”

“I know she is. Shukran, Ahmet. Here.” Elise tossed Ahmet a little leather pouch that landed on the radiator cap. Ahmet took the bag and stood. He opened it and his eyes grew wide when he saw what was inside.

“This is a dream. You gave me a dream,” he said. Elise clapped him on the shoulder.

“You’re welcome. That’s who you are to her, you know. That’s you. Make it happen.”

A tear made a thin trail along Ahmet’s brown face. He slammed the hood of the truck down and locked it into place with a little chain and pin combination. The leather pouch went into his back pocket. He handed Elise the keys.

“You remember now, she

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