The Rocket Girl's Tale Read online

  Panicked, Reiki thought back to the deck. Two of the cards were easy, but Danton had inadvertently covered the edge of the third card while fanning them. She knew it was a club, but she’d have to guess the value by elimination.

  “Two of clubs,” she said as she indicated the man she was unsure about. “Five of hearts, and Namika of spades.”

  All three flipped their cards over. Reiki allowed herself to breathe again.

  Jude swept the large pile of gold onto a few sheets of newspaper and balled it up as Reiki got to her feet.

  “You chaps wanna throw me back my pistol?” he asked.

  “Take the gold and run before we change our minds.”

  Reiki heeded that advice and fled. Someone shoved her purse into her hands as she raced out of the group. She didn’t even stop to collect her accessories.

  The hall had been filling up during their distraction, so now about a hundred people stood in the upper decks. Streams of people poured out of the stairs. Reiki would have to push her way down for now. She was about to do so when Jude caught up with her and blocked her path.

  “Jude, let go of me. I’ve got to get out of here.”

  “Don’t hurry so. We’re safe now.”

  “You’re mad,” said Reiki. “You almost got me raped or shot or both.”

  “Nah, we had it under control. Nothing we can’t do, you and me.”

  Reiki wanted to scream. She punctuated her next words by slapping the back of her hand into her palm. “You got me robbed.”

  “It’s just stuff. We can buy it again.”

  Reiki shook her head. “Look, I just want to go home. I’m going to make a steaming cup of apple cider, curl up, and wish this letter and this whole day never happened.”

  “Burn the stupid letter.” Jude snatched it from her, tore it in half, and hurled it over the rail.

  Reiki leapt for it. She almost fell, but Jude dropped the bundle of coins and caught her by the waist. Her hand closed about one of the halves. The other half vanished into the darkness of the assembled crowds below.

  Jude pulled Reiki back to safety, and she collapsed in his arms a quivering heap.

  “You almost jumped over the rail after a letter you don’t even need,” said Jude. “Now who’s the mad one?”

  Reiki stashed the half of the letter she had in her poor, thinned-out purse. She was certainly not going to burn her greatest achievement, even if that was a failure.

  “Slow down, girl. Don’t kill yourself over some star-forsaken Academy that doesn’t want you.”

  Jude spoke as he got her sitting down.

  Wait. His knee? Oh, he wouldn’t.

  Out came the ring, and Reiki slapped herself in the face. That’s what the wife reference was about. And the sudden lack of money. How blind could she have been?

  “Reiki, I wanted to ask this after the match, but I think you need some cheering up. Will you marry me?”

  No way to come out of this without looking like the worst person ever born. Reiki burst from Jude’s arms and ran for the stairs.

  She made the lower level as an exhibition match started. When Reiki glanced to the middle of the warehouse, she saw the forest of arms and fists that accompanied the roar of a thousand cheers.

  People bustled past her, eager to reach their seats. She was caught in a river of tweed jackets, overcoats, boots, and fistfuls of wager-strips. More than once she was shoved or elbowed off balance. No one even stopped to say sorry or showed any sign they knew she was there.

  Dejected, Reiki made her way to the nearest wall and tucked herself into a shadowy recess that may once have been a ticket booth. Dry paper crunched under her heels, and the place reeked of stale urine, but it was clear of fast-moving elbows.

  Reiki took a moment to sort through her purse. She had lost all her money, so taxi home looked out of the question. In the morning she would need to get new ID ordered. And new apartment keys cut. She’d have to break into her own window tonight. The cost of repairing it would come out of savings earmarked for books.

  Guess I don’t need books any more.

  The crowd thinned out as the last of the stragglers ran past. Still no sign of Jude. Was he upstairs bemoaning a broken heart? Perhaps throwing a temper tantrum and getting into fights? Maybe Reiki ought to check on him to deter him from doing something stupid.

  Maybe he needs some time to work through things.

  Reiki emerged from hiding and stumbled into the women’s restroom near the front doors. She ensconced herself in the middle urinal, made to use it, then remembered she had no coins to stick in the dispenser to get toilet paper.

  Shades! One thing after another.

  Running footsteps slammed into the restroom door, and someone rushed into the urinal beside her. A black, hard-soled shoe appeared under the steel partition. A man’s shoe, to go by the size and grey pant leg. A leather folder plopped down on the floor beside the foot. As it flopped open, Reiki saw a list of what looked like addresses, names, and accounts numbers typewritten on yellow paper.

  The man on the other side expelled a deep breath of exhaustion. Someone on the run? Reiki had no idea. She tried to keep her eyes off the book, but she’d always found numbers mesmerizing. It was when the man sighed again that she managed to regain her wits.

  “Excuse me, sir. Are you okay?”

  There was a long, uncomfortable pause on the other side. Reiki thought he was surprised to find out he was not alone. He swept up the folder and lifted it out of sight.

  “It’s been a terrible day, milady.”

  “How so, sir?”

  “They murdered my wife today, those bastards. Put her up on the gallows and took her life.”

  Reiki opened her mouth to speak, but found she had nothing to say. Here was the husband of the accountant from the afternoon’s execution. What words of consolation could she offer such a man? Her own bad day paled in comparison to his. She thought hard.

  “Milord knows the stories, I’m sure. They say when a beloved soul goes to the stars, it will result in a joyful reunion some day.”

  Only heavy breathing told Reiki the man was even listening, so she pressed on.

  “She’s watching you, milord. One day, you’ll be together with her in a world where there’s no pain. Only light and skies and song.”

  “Aye. I do believe it, I do.”

  More footsteps sounded outside, and someone heaved a shoulder on the restroom door. Already alert and scared, Reiki pulled her feet up, lest anyone should see her, but the man beside her made too much noise and was heard.

  “There,” came a gruff voice.

  Bodies heaved at the urinal doors to the stall next door, and they gave with a bang. There was scuffling. Punching sounds and groans. An unnerving quiet moment followed.

  Reiki trembled in fear, but managed to not make a sound. Not even a scream would help this far down Industry Road, since it was rarely policed.

  For all I know, these are the authorities come to fetch him.

  The tableau of silence broke with that same voice.

  “Bring him.”

  Dragging noises followed the sounds of a half dozen men leaving. Reiki allowed herself to breathe and prayed silently for the man and the soul of his wife.

  CHAPTER 03

  INTRODUCING ARTHUR

  Arthur Galenden was a little bit lost the evening he saw the green-haired damsel skulking around in the shadows.

  So far, he found Hillvale difficult to navigate. The roads weren’t made with cars in mind; they tended to make sharp turns or merge in unexpected places. One street even had steps. An actual two-step staircase that mopeds could rumble over and horses picked their way up.

  It all contributed to his being lost. The directions to the charity auction failed to account for the Lansdale being unable to pass down many of the city’s streets.

  Thus, when Arthur spotted the young woman, he turned over the book in his lap and held up a hand to signal a stop. When they slowed down and pulled over beside her, Arthur rolled down his window and called out.

  “Sweet lady, directions if you please.”

  The woman had just sped up when the car arrived, but now she turned and did a double-take. She had long, shapely legs and a figure that bordered on buxom. Her fingers were long, ended in unpainted nails, and bore no marriage bands. Her roundish face, all peppered in freckles, was etched with worry and strain.

  Hard to blame her for worrying. Arthur glanced at the industrial-type warehouses with their upper floor lights gleaming against the deep blue darkness of the sky. The sewer grates along the sidewalk oozed billowing clouds of steam while bats clustered around the only clock tower in sight.

  It was the kind of edge-of-town street Arthur would think twice about traversing unarmed. He’d seen a fair number of men in caps and matching jackets gathered in the archways of the warehouse exits in his travels. They cast dice for silver and glared at the Lansdale like they wanted to rob it. Arthur wondered how this young lady could pass here unmolested.

  “Directions to where, milord?”

  Eric climbed out of the driver’s seat, walked around the nose of the car to meet her, and showed her the directions he had scrawled on a folded up sheet of paper. She glanced at it and shook her head.

  “You want to drive to the Conningway Hotel, you have to go back, around to the clock tower, and hop on Ghets Avenue from the north.”

  Arthur found himself lost just watching the way she twirled her arm out when she pointed. This woman was mesmerizing. He wanted to talk to her more. Even if nothing came of it, this was a rare opportunity. r />
  Eric, having received the directions from her, bowed and returned to the driver’s seat. Instead of moving on, the woman remained where she stood and drank in the sight of the car. Now was Arthur’s opportunity.

  He leaned back out the window. “Your name, milady?”

  “Reiki,” she said.

  “Would you like a lift, Reiki? We seem to be headed the same way.”

  Her eyes slid past the car and to the cluster of warehouses behind them. Whatever Reiki saw there, Arthur imagined it was part of her decision.

  “Um… okay.”

  She walked around the car and climbed in.

  Eric started them off as soon as Reiki was settled. Aside from the startling green hair that dropped past her upper back, Reiki wore a clingy red dress cut a daring three spans above the ankle. Her shoes and purse were muddy and speckled in slush, much of it frozen on.

  “You look really cold,” said Arthur. “Thanks for accepting the ride. Maybe you can thaw on the way.”

  Reiki shook her head and seemed to fold in on herself. “I don’t feel the cold. Cryokinetic. Rank four.”

  “Ah, a very uncommon power.” Arthur smiled to comfort her while mentally going through his list of phrases to draw her out.

  Reiki surprised him by taking the lead. “May I ask your name, milord?”

  “Arthur to you, Miss Reiki. Arthur Galenden. What do you do?”

  “I’m a student and part-time seamstress,” she said. “And you?”

  “Our family business is oil. But I’m in town to bid on outstanding tenders for the moon project.”

  Her eyes went wide in surprise. “Really?”

  “It’s so indeed,” said Arthur. So, she was impressed by things like fancy cars and rockets. That would be a perfect in. In a few moments, he’d have her stockings charmed off.

  “I assume you’re drilling for your oil then,” said Reiki. “You look Gedanese, which is a shale-type region with heavy oils. I’m guessing you use steam injection for your tertiary recovery.”

  Arthur quirked his lips in surprise. Reiki knew a lot of facts about a demesne halfway across the continent. This wasn’t going to be as easy as he’d thought.

  “Oil prices are high, but nowhere near high enough for the effort of tertiary recovery,” he explained. “When the well ceases to be profitable, we plug it and move on.”

  “Oh, I see,” said Reiki in what sounded like reserved acceptance.

  She looked out the window, and Arthur followed her gaze to a warehouse surrounded by people. Though the ancient bulb-laden sign claimed it was a clothier, he was willing to bet some quasi-legal activity was going on in there.

  “Dog fighting?” he ventured.

  “Boxing, but it’s just as bad.”

  They passed a pair of electrokinetic guards using their powers to carry a man in a grey jacket. The way he hovered between them, he looked like he might be sleeping, but the red splotch on his chest told tale of a gunshot wound.

  The Lansdale stopped to allow the men to cross. The headlamps reflected bright against their ceremonial robes and flashed off the golden tips of a conspicuous black ledger the lead man carried.

  Reiki had her head down during the proceedings, and Arthur hoped she’d missed that bit of ugliness. As the men whisked the body off to the morgue, they drove on, trapped in a conversational lull. Arthur decided to take the direct attack to stir things up.

  “So, Reiki. Are you married?”

  “No, I uh… Had a boyfriend until just now. Things weren’t working out.”

  Arthur saw a picture of a lover’s quarrel at the boxing venue. She’d wanted something more serious, but he had liked things simple. They’d quarrelled, and she’d thrown the promise ring at him.

  “You’re free to come to the auction with me, then,” said Arthur.

  “Oh, I… I can’t.”

  “Never say can’t. Can’t is for people who’ve given up.”

  She smirked at his proverb. “I didn’t mean it like that. What I meant is I’m just not having a very good day and wouldn’t want to dampen your evening.”

  What to tell her? That even that slight grin was a ray of sunshine peeking through a stormy night? That would be coming on a little strong, though Arthur felt it in his heart. He decided to take it slow. Women like Reiki were worth the wait.

  “All right, we’ll drop you off at home to thank you for your help.”

  He would also send flowers in the morning to cheer her up. During a lunch date the next day Arthur would close the deal.

  “No thanks, I’m good. There’s the hotel up ahead, so you can drop me off here.”

  Arthur gave Eric the signal to stop as he looked around. Brownstone apartments surrounded them on a busy downtown street. A mix of cars and bicycles rolled by, as well as two horse-drawn carriages.

  Reiki climbed out as soon as the Lansdale stopped moving. Since she was street-side, the open door drew an angry ding from a cyclist. She ignored it and poked her head back inside.

  “Thanks for the lift, Arthur. Good luck at the auction.”

  She was gone before Arthur could think of a way to extend her stay. Reiki walked around the back of the car and took an alley over which metal fire escapes formed an unholy arch. Down that brick path, Arthur spotted the headlamp of a motorcycle parked behind boxes of garbage that was likely home to a family of rats.

  Reiki turned to glance back before the night swallowed her. Passers-by closed the gap, and the traffic ambled on in a sigh of release. Arthur frowned in Reiki’s wake. This one that got away, she was beautiful, mysterious, and at one with the heartbeat of the city. By the stars, this encounter was far from over.

  Arthur travelled the rest of the way to the Conningway Hotel and disembarked under a large, heavy-looking portico of brass railings and halogen lights. The people gathered to the sides of the red carpet were a mix of velvet, white canes, top hats, and expensive jewellery. Hotel porters and valets wore tuxedos in baby blue with black belts and visored caps.

  Among those porters was Mallen, Arthur’s chief accountant. He approached as Eric walked up on the other side.

  “Shall I return around ten?” asked the latter.

  “Make it eleven,” Arthur replied. “I bet this auction will run a little late, and there might be a wine and cheese somewhere along the line. What do you say, Mallen?”

  Mallen gave a nod and a smile. He wore his wavy black hair cropped close to his scalp on the sides and bunched a little higher on top, which made his dimpled smile look warm, smart, and friendly. Arthur tended to wear his hair short to medium-length, but since his was straight and sandy brown, he leaned towards the loose long-fringe side part.

  “Lots of good pickings tonight,” said Mallen. “I spied out a Süffite high family with an unmarried daughter going in. They got her under lock and key, but with some effort, I could swing an arrangement.”

  “I got an even more interesting one for you,” replied Arthur. He pointed an elbow back down the street. “Mysterious green-haired woman about seven blocks back. Wanna see if you can get her address for me? Her name’s Reiki.”

  “No last name? Is she a serf?”

  “Didn’t offer one. She might be. Still, see what you can get.”

  “You got it.” Mallen took a step away, then paused and turned back. “By the way, the lady in the doorway behind me is Iliara Välenus. Her father is in charge of the region while the Namika is off fighting a war somewhere. Had some tax auditors executed today. You’d best avoid her if at all possible.”

  “Interesting,” said Arthur.

  Colour-matched iron pins held Iliara’s long brown hair in a star-shape that must have taken an army of stylists to create. She wore a petal-shaped dark blue dress and a simple necklace of large pearls. Her toothy smile reminded Arthur of a crocodile. And she had eyes on him through the glass doors. Despite Mallen’s warning, he was not going to be able to sneak past her.

  Might as well face the music. Arthur bid Mallen and Eric safe travels and made his way to the door. A young lady in a cream-coloured gown materialized from the onlookers and looped her wrist through his arm. They walked forward as the doors parted in unison under the porter’s hands.