I know you waited months for the second chapter. I really am ashamed. But
it turns out I had this hyper-thyroid thing and chronic mono. I didn't
think it was possible to be both tired and super active at the same time,
but that just goes to show : )
***
It had started to snow. His hands had gone numb, and he had dropped his papers (now wet and muddy) three times already. It had never gotten this cold back on Earth, although admittedly that was due to Earth's lack of an ozone. Still, the cold was refreshing. He would never get used to the controlled climates Beka loved so much.
He had planned on walking throughout the night, but now he began looking for a place to hole-up in. Many of the buildings around the street were dark and hollow looking, though he knew this was due to lack of electricity, not inhabitants. He wasn't sure if a traveling spacer would be welcome, but when he dropped his papers a fourth time and had difficulty picking them up with frozen fingers, he decided he'd take his chances.
The nearest building might have once housed nice apartments. It was well designed and hadn't bowed to time as easily as its neighbors. The windows were boarded up- it wouldn't be drafty. When Harper knocked on the door, the building became quieter, though he hadn't been aware of any distinct noises emanating from it before. He waited a moment and knocked again.
"Can I come in? It's freakin' cold out here!" Still nothing. Fine. There were hundreds of places left to try. if he didn't die first 'cause he couldn't hold his weapon in numb hands.
"Please?" he called, his voice loud enough to be heard inside, but not so loud as to draw every nocturnal sleazebag towards him. "I won't be any trouble! Never am. Just need a place for tonight and. and I have food."
Again he waited. He hoped it would be enough, and was wondering what else he could offer when the door swung open. A woman peered out tentatively. She was old, with skin that hung loosely about her skull and dull, sunken eyes. She spoke, and her voice was distorted by a kaleidoscope of coughs and wheezes.
"I'll let you in- but don't you try nothing. You just need to put your hands out -empty- like this. You still want to come in?"
Harper nodded and slipped his papers into his coat pocket. No need for them here, he supposed. He raised his hands, palms up like the woman had shown him and winced. His hands were a blue-grey. Unbidden, a memory of Hone's tapered, energetic hands crossed his mind. Hands manipulating the delicate components of the tesseract machine. Hands gripping the rail, slipping and reaching desperately towards him. Tearing his gaze away from his hands, Harper followed the old woman inside.
She led him through a naked hallway past a flight of stairs. Cold eyes watched him from above. "They didn't want me to let you in. Said it was some Uber trap. But I can't pass up a chance to feed Haley, no matter what." The woman pushed open a knobless door. "So come in. If you're a thief, you've struck out tonight."
The room was dominated by a large green trash bin that radiated blessed heat. The light it cast upwards made the ceiling dance and flicker, but left the floor shrouded in shadow. Harper quickly knelt as close as he could with out touching the hot metal.
The old woman made an impatient noise and Harper opened his backpack with a sigh of resignation. Careful to keep its contents from view, he removed a wrapped sandwich and a can of Sparky. He tossed both items to his hostess and she, glaring at the meager offerings, left the room.
Harper lay down in the far corner of the dark room, warily watching the door. So, he wouldn't freeze tonight, that was good. Whether or not he'd be stabbed to death was another matter. The young engineer closed his eyes. "Yeah, well, tomorrow will be better," he mumbled to himself.
***
***
It had started to snow. His hands had gone numb, and he had dropped his papers (now wet and muddy) three times already. It had never gotten this cold back on Earth, although admittedly that was due to Earth's lack of an ozone. Still, the cold was refreshing. He would never get used to the controlled climates Beka loved so much.
He had planned on walking throughout the night, but now he began looking for a place to hole-up in. Many of the buildings around the street were dark and hollow looking, though he knew this was due to lack of electricity, not inhabitants. He wasn't sure if a traveling spacer would be welcome, but when he dropped his papers a fourth time and had difficulty picking them up with frozen fingers, he decided he'd take his chances.
The nearest building might have once housed nice apartments. It was well designed and hadn't bowed to time as easily as its neighbors. The windows were boarded up- it wouldn't be drafty. When Harper knocked on the door, the building became quieter, though he hadn't been aware of any distinct noises emanating from it before. He waited a moment and knocked again.
"Can I come in? It's freakin' cold out here!" Still nothing. Fine. There were hundreds of places left to try. if he didn't die first 'cause he couldn't hold his weapon in numb hands.
"Please?" he called, his voice loud enough to be heard inside, but not so loud as to draw every nocturnal sleazebag towards him. "I won't be any trouble! Never am. Just need a place for tonight and. and I have food."
Again he waited. He hoped it would be enough, and was wondering what else he could offer when the door swung open. A woman peered out tentatively. She was old, with skin that hung loosely about her skull and dull, sunken eyes. She spoke, and her voice was distorted by a kaleidoscope of coughs and wheezes.
"I'll let you in- but don't you try nothing. You just need to put your hands out -empty- like this. You still want to come in?"
Harper nodded and slipped his papers into his coat pocket. No need for them here, he supposed. He raised his hands, palms up like the woman had shown him and winced. His hands were a blue-grey. Unbidden, a memory of Hone's tapered, energetic hands crossed his mind. Hands manipulating the delicate components of the tesseract machine. Hands gripping the rail, slipping and reaching desperately towards him. Tearing his gaze away from his hands, Harper followed the old woman inside.
She led him through a naked hallway past a flight of stairs. Cold eyes watched him from above. "They didn't want me to let you in. Said it was some Uber trap. But I can't pass up a chance to feed Haley, no matter what." The woman pushed open a knobless door. "So come in. If you're a thief, you've struck out tonight."
The room was dominated by a large green trash bin that radiated blessed heat. The light it cast upwards made the ceiling dance and flicker, but left the floor shrouded in shadow. Harper quickly knelt as close as he could with out touching the hot metal.
The old woman made an impatient noise and Harper opened his backpack with a sigh of resignation. Careful to keep its contents from view, he removed a wrapped sandwich and a can of Sparky. He tossed both items to his hostess and she, glaring at the meager offerings, left the room.
Harper lay down in the far corner of the dark room, warily watching the door. So, he wouldn't freeze tonight, that was good. Whether or not he'd be stabbed to death was another matter. The young engineer closed his eyes. "Yeah, well, tomorrow will be better," he mumbled to himself.
***