Chimera by Will Shetterly

Author:Will Shetterly
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Published: 2013-04-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

I drove residential streets as quickly as I could. Most neighborhood toll stations simply raise the pike at night, but we still gave away a lot of change to kids who may or may not have been authorized to collect. Eventually, with our pockets lighter, we parked in front of a lower-class house, a rectangular box from the 20th century that was almost redeemed by enormous rose bushes on either side of its front walk.

Zoe said, "I guess this is it."

"I guess so."

"Want to leave me here?"

"Can't. Payment's yet to be arranged."

"I wish there was another way."

"Hell, be glad there's one. Maybe if I reduce my firepower, I'll start using my brain a little more."

She smiled. "Small chance of that."

No lights were visible in the house. At the front porch, we looked at each other and shrugged. Zoe double-checked the address, then rang the bell. We waited long enough for me to feel conspicuous.

Then the door opened a crack. Moonlight fell on a woman who scowled out at us. Her eyes were feral. Black tattoos covered most of her dark skin. Her forehead tat was a wolf's head.

Zoe said, "Ruby? Nate sent us."

The wolfwoman opened the door wide enough for us to step into the dark house. "This way." Her voice was husky, like a longtime smoker's.

I could see almost nothing. I did my best to follow Ruby's dark shape by sound. Zoe grabbed my arm to keep me from bumping into a chair. Maybe her touch should've been comforting, but it reminded me that those of us who took the slow route to speech and thumbs are not designed to function well in the night. How many chimps would walk willingly into a cave with a jaguar and a wolf?

Ruby turned on a lamp. We stood in a small living room furnished in early 21st century thrift shop. The wolfwoman looked at us, giving special attention to Zoe's artwork. Still scowling, she said, "My brother's driving a truck to Dallas. He'll come by around dawn. Let's see the hardware."

I opened the Pocket, caught my SIG, and showed it. I opened the Pocket again. The gun disappeared.

Ruby said, "He'll bring a doc."

I said, "No cutting till Zoe's out of here."

Ruby nodded. "Come on."

As she took us down a short hall, I asked, "Why no lights? You think someone's watching you?"

Ruby showed her teeth in a cold smile. "Humans want to take the sun with them everywhere they go. Electricity isn't free." She stopped in front of a door. "You stay here tonight. Private bath, no room service." She turned to Zoe. "If you want to change clothes, there's some old things of mine in the closet."

Zoe said, "Thanks. Mind if we get some food?"

Ruby shrugged. "Kitchen privileges included. Don't wake me, don't break anything, and we'll get along fine. If the sheep in wolf's markings needs something, turn on some lights."

"Thanks."

Ruby went into another room. I looked at the door to ours, then said, "Food?"

Zoe nodded. "Food."

Ruby's refrigerator provided

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