Brother to Dragons, Companion to Owls - Jane Lindskold [10]
Thumping music announces a juvee gang. As I remember how the Four treat trespassers, a damp sweat prickles across my skin. I don’t even dare to scratch lest they look my way. But they pass me without even a rude comment.
By the time Abalone hails me from where her new vehicle idles in a cross street, I am almost too weak with fear to climb in the passenger side.
She gives me a grin and we swoosh off above the dark streets. When she leaves me in an all-night diner with food and tokens for the video game built into the table, I am almost over my fear. Leaving Betwixt and Between in my bag, I slip them French fries and drops of oversweet orange soda.
Abalone taps on the window an hour later. Her hair is again the color of fire and her lips shimmering blue. We take the subway back to our turf, but, though dawn is a mere hour away, she does not take me to the Jungle.
Instead, we go to a strip of concrete and crabgrass that has been dubbed a Park by a municipal blueprints maker. We sit on a wall and Abalone lights a lovely little pipe made from copper tubing.
“It went really well tonight, Sarah,” she says after she has it drawing. “I made good money on that piece. Of course, time’ll show it was floated, but flip ’em. If a kid like me can bust the codes, anyone can. They should write better codes.”
I gesture confusion. She puffs smoke rings, considers, then gives me one of her sparrowlike tilts of her head.
“Sarah, I told you that car belonged to me when I drove it away. That’s true—I made it mine. A cop could have pulled me over and everything in the computer would have said that flitter belonged to ‘Abby Shane,’ the name on the ID I was carrying.”
She breaks one of her smoke rings with her index finger. “Setting that up took me a month, but I’m rich now. I can pay my fees to Head Wolf until the next ‘repossession’ is ready. And I can pay yours, too. That is, if you want a job.”
I nod vigorously. Not to be a Tail Wolf or a Tabaqui!
Seeing my excitement, Abalone holds up a hand. “The job doesn’t ask much—on the surface. But you’re going to need to learn a whole lot to swing it.”
“When the strong command, obedience is best,” I reply.
“Fine, briefly then. I want you to help me steal vehicles. I’ve been at the job long enough that before long someone is going to get wise to me. I change my appearance, use false names and prints, and forge IDs. Still, I’m the same general height and build and if anyone started really checking…”
She shrugs. “I want to start using you to pick up the cars and sell them for me. We’ll split the profits, say seventy/thirty.”
A host of protests race through my mind. I can’t drive. I can’t bargain. I can’t even talk! My worries choke me and my hands flutter to my throat.
Abalone pulls them down and holds them.
“Easy, Sarah. I think you can do it. If you don’t want to, there are other ways to stay in the Jungle”—she looks away—“maybe even better ways.”
I tilt my head inquiringly. Abalone lets go of my hands and starts thumping her heels on the wall. I wait.
“Head Wolf may not like that I’m giving you work—especially since he doesn’t quite know what I do. The Law states that adults should be able to hunt for themselves. You know the part.”
I nod. “The Jackal may follow the Tiger, but, Cub, when thy whiskers are grown. Remember the Wolf is a hunter—go forth and get food on thy own.”
“Exactly, your Baloo is proud of you. I may be able to make Head Wolf see this as part of your training. Sweet Mike, you’re innocent enough. I think he’d go for it.” Her voice drops to a whisper. “Especially, if you’re willing to make him feel good about it.”
Even in the dawn’s early light I cannot interpret the expression on her face. Shame, pity, even jealousy seem to vie for dominance before she is again my weird, wild teacher. I touch her shoulder and point to the sky.
“Remember the night is for hunting, and forget not the day is for sleep.”
She stretches and hops off the wall. I stand and we walk back toward the nest of chemical tanks. We are almost there before she turns to me again.