Rubberman's Cage by Joseph Picard

Author:Joseph Picard [Picard, Joseph]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780981396002
Barnesnoble:
Goodreads: 22610148
Publisher: Ozero
Published: 2014-09-01T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

Poking Around

Lenth followed along beside Leena as they crossed the huge common room towards one of the haphazard ramps. As they walked, they passed a group of three Citizens.

“Leena, food's here?” one of them asked.

“Yeah. Hey, you guys haven't seen a stranger in the last little while? Besides this guy here. Probably has bloody hands and stuff? Did a lot of damage, some dead people.”

The trio looked surprised and didn't have any useful information. Leena gave them a brief warning before she and Lenth continued on their way.

“Who were those people?” Lenth asked.

“I don't know. I mean, I've seen them around, but I don't know their names.”

Lenth looked back at them as he walked, then back at Leena. “They knew you.”

“Yeah, most people know me. I'm kinda with Mike and stuff, and, well...”

“I only knew about four people all my life, and I know them all. Not knowing people that you live around...” Lenth glanced around, spotting others in the distance. “It's just really weird for me. I guess I'm weird to you and the other Citizens.”

Leena shrugged. “Hadn't thought about it much. Four people all your life, huh? Does that have something to do with why you couldn't get a girl?”

“Pretty much. There were no girls.” Lenth chuckled nervously.

Leena whistled a long, low note. “Boy. That sucks. Wait. Am I the first girl you've ever seen?”

“No, no, I met some Provider women. You're nothing like them, though.”

“What, they got no...?” She swayed back and forth and ran her hands down along her body in an exaggerated way.

Lenth stared at her, shaking his head. “I'm not even sure what that was.”

With a weathered gaze, Leena walked on. “Oh, you poor boy, you,” she said sullenly. “Gonna have to get you an education.”

They passed a few more Citizens as they approached the ramp, and asked them if they'd seen a stranger with bloody hands. No luck. They started up the ramp, and Lenth could now see that it was a mix of metal slabs built into the wall, fragments of the original staircase, and chunks of anything flat and big enough to be lashed on. Electrical cables, bungee cords, regular rope, and unidentified bits bound the whole mess together.

Lenth looked back across the huge commons. “Six was good at hiding in tight little spaces. I was hoping he wouldn't be as good in a wide open place.”

If Lenth's stare across the commons was one of awe, Leena's was one of quiet disdain. “I think I know enough hiding places to get us a good start.”

As she led in front of Lenth, he watched her stride and compared her to Karen. Karen walked with confidence and ease. Leena walked with confidence as well, but it was more determined motion. Maybe it was just that they were walking up an incline. Maybe it was the stress of the situation.

Lenth looked at the occasional drawings made by Citizens, like the ones by the elevator. This was one of the things that Citizens did instead of work.

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