Rory Sung stepped off the bus and looked around. This really was a small town. He was at one end, and could easily see the other. He was the only person getting off the bus at this stop, so he quickly grabbed his backpack and started walking into the town, towards what looked like a hotel. He passed a few people, only one person spoke, and that was just a quick "Buenos Dias".
"Excuse me sir, but is this building still used as a hotel?" he asked a man who was sitting in front of the building whittling on a piece of wood. I was if the Pulse hadn't happened, nor the twentith century, for that matter. To Rory, this town looked like a small town from one of the old cowboy movies Logan had let him and McKenzie watch.
The man gave him a look, as though he was to good to answer a tourist's question, but he answered anyway.
"Non, senior, boarding house, two don, one across. Buenos dias." With that he pointed, then got up and walked inside the building.
'Friendly little town.' He thought, walking in the direction the man had pointed. He passed two buildings, then turned down the ally and walked until he saw a sign that simply said 'Tourists' in English and Spanish, painted with red on a piece of wood. Down this 'street' there were some signs of the Pulse, but not many. All the streetlights were smashed out, and all the telephone poles had no wires on them. Rory hoped the cell phone Logan had lent him would work way out here, because it didn't look like he was going to use a phone any other way. He decided to try anyway, so he dug the cell phone out and dialled the number Logan had told him to call once he got there. Logan answered, but it was really hard to understand.
"Rory? Is... you?"
"I'm here, and I think I found a place to stay, but I don't think there are any phones."
"Have...seen McKenzie..."
"I can't hear you very well."
"...Later..."
"I'll call back" But all he got was fuzz, so he closed the cell phone and walked towards the building. Just as he got one foot on the stairs, the screen door burst open. Two giggling children ran out, chasing each other. They looked about ten or twelve years old. Rory turned and watched them run down the ally the way he came. When they had disappeared, he turned towards the door again and knocked.
A dark haired woman came to the door. She looked like she may have had some Chinese ancestry, like him, but he wasn't sure.
"Can I help you?" She asked, drying her hands on a dishtowel.
"Yes. I was told this was a boarding house. I was looking for a place to stay for a few days, until the next bus comes through." He quickly told her the story he and Logan had made up. He was got off the bus to stretch his legs, and it had drove off without him.
"The next bus going that way does not come until next week. The one going back up North will be here in three days." She told him.
"Well, I'm not sure which one I'll take. I have to be back home in a week and a half, that's not much time for visiting my cousins when I get there. I guess I will have to go home and come back another time, and stay on the bus!"
"The room will be a hundred dollars a night, including meals, and I trust you to pay before you leave. If you want laundry done, you will have to use the sink and hang it out back. We have had no electricity since the Pulse."
"That's alright."
"I'll show you around the house." Rory followed her inside. Once his eyes adjusted to the dim light, he noticed there was a lot of older furniture. The house was small, but not crowded. She showed him the kitchen, den, laundry room and bathroom that were on the main floor, and then took him upstairs. At the top of the stairs was a hallway with four doors off it, and one on the end.
"This is my room," she said, pointing to the first door. "The two on this side are the children's, and the one down here will be yours." She led him down the hall. The room was small, but it looked comfortable. There were two other doors inside the room.
"That door leads to my room, but it is locked. This other door leads to the bathroom. It will be for your use only. The door leading from the hallway is locked so the children won't use it. They use the bathroom downstairs."
"Thank you. This room looks very comfortable, I think I will enjoy my stay."
"You're welcome. I'll leave you to unpack; dinner will be in about an hour. The children will be there, if you mind, I can bring yours up here."
"That's alright. I don't mind children. And I thank you again, Ms.?"
"McKenzie, but please, call me Jace."
To Be Continued...
