I couldn't sleep that night. The moon was really bright. I went up to the roof at our new place. We had the top floor, the 15th. The snow had stopped a few days ago but most of the rooftops were still covered and white. The grav trains sputtered accoss all the old bridges that used to carry cars. It had finally started to sound like the future. I heard heavy footsteps behind me. I knew it wasn't Zaley.
"Nice view up here, boss."
I recognized the voice, but he sounded younger and strong.
"Hi, Jet. How's tricks?"
"I think you know."
"Maybe I just want your prospective."
"It's rough. That's the only way I can describe it."
"Luna sent you?"
"She knows I'm here but she didn't send me."
"Smart girl."
"You made her."
"How can I forget?"
"Seems like you've been doing a pretty good job for a quite a while."
"How long have I been in here?"
"Too long. It's fucking hard to get around in here and there's so many peeps in here with you. I can't tell'em apart from the figs."
"I have a lot of trouble with that myself."
"It's war out there, boss."
In the distance I could see a H.A.D. preparing to ascend. They look like big, white whales and can carry about four hundred passengers.
"Where are those people going?"
"Nowhere now."
"Does that mean you're stepping out?"
"I'll be out in the morning."
I walked toward the stairwell. Jet looked like linebacker, striking. I'd had my back to him the whole time.
"You should go check things out. It'll probably be your last chance."
"I'm sorry boss. It's damn shame. I think I will have a looksie"
I went back to bed but I couldn't sleep. I just held Zaley and wondered if I'd ever see her again.
"Nice view up here, boss."
I recognized the voice, but he sounded younger and strong.
"Hi, Jet. How's tricks?"
"I think you know."
"Maybe I just want your prospective."
"It's rough. That's the only way I can describe it."
"Luna sent you?"
"She knows I'm here but she didn't send me."
"Smart girl."
"You made her."
"How can I forget?"
"Seems like you've been doing a pretty good job for a quite a while."
"How long have I been in here?"
"Too long. It's fucking hard to get around in here and there's so many peeps in here with you. I can't tell'em apart from the figs."
"I have a lot of trouble with that myself."
"It's war out there, boss."
In the distance I could see a H.A.D. preparing to ascend. They look like big, white whales and can carry about four hundred passengers.
"Where are those people going?"
"Nowhere now."
"Does that mean you're stepping out?"
"I'll be out in the morning."
I walked toward the stairwell. Jet looked like linebacker, striking. I'd had my back to him the whole time.
"You should go check things out. It'll probably be your last chance."
"I'm sorry boss. It's damn shame. I think I will have a looksie"
I went back to bed but I couldn't sleep. I just held Zaley and wondered if I'd ever see her again.