Shackleton's Folly (The Lost Wonder Book 1) (16 page)

“Of course, Shackleton. I pay my debts.”

“From the sound of it, you are trying to cut me out of a good thing.”

Zizoh was flabbergasted. “Shackleton — no; I do no such thing.”

“Then why are you trying to get rid of me just as you are nearing an expansion?” asked Alec.

“I do not.” Zizoh looked crushed.

“Zizoh, you said it yourself. If you had another cart, you could do more business. Right?”

Zizoh thought about it, “I did say that.”

“Then consider this a loan extension. You expand your business, and then pay me back,” said Alec.

Electra caught Alec’s eye, and he indiscreetly winked back at her.

“You keep the money and grow the business — for now. You understand?” asked Alec.

“Yes, Shackleton — I do understand. I will do just that. There is a spot by Nowhere Downs that would be perfect for a good hot-dog cart.”

Electra looked toward town. “I thought we had somewhere to go?”

Alec agreed with Zizoh. “Sounds like a great business plan, Zizoh. We have to get going. See you next time, Zizoh. Make me proud.”

Alec led Electra away from the food-vending cart. “We do — but there’s nothing like a little change of cuisine to make you appreciate life.” A taxi had just dropped off passengers when Alec stepped up to the automated car before the doors had shut. He held it open with one hand and took a bite from the hot dog. Electra hopped in, and Alec followed. “O’s Shop of Curiosities,” said Alec. The taxi’s navigation system hesitated, and then trundled off, away from the taxis in the arrival queue it had been waiting in. Alec finished off the hot dog as they passed through the traffic-filled streets.

The sidewalks were filled with the comings and goings of many beings. Their route turned away from the strip and toward a pair of towering air conduits. The businesses in this section of town were less flamboyant, and their patrons coveted anonymity. A small, two-story shop had been sandwiched between two of the four-story air conduits. The nondescript exterior of the shop had been painted to blend into the background; it would have been invisible to those who stood at a distance. A small printed sign in the window’s lower right corner announced to those who stopped to read it: “O’s Shop of Curiosities.” The environmental system filled the area with the sound of a small hurricane. Alec opened the door for Electra and followed her in.

The interior of the shop became sealed off from the noise of the street when Alec shut the door behind them. The quiet little shop was filled from floor to ceiling with statuary and other plunder from many worlds. A labyrinth of shelving and tables filled the shop’s floor. Alec took Electra’s hand and led the way through the tables and around statuary to the back corner of the shop. Electra let him lead; it was not what she was used to, but, here, it somehow felt right. It was not like her to be so invested in a man.

Was the prophecy for real? Was Alec the seeker, a saver of worlds? She felt a great deal for this man, who had freed her from the slave anklets. A mix of emotions and primal needs had indeed come forth as she was getting dressed. The noisy landing bay required them to close distance, and those feelings presented themselves for a moment again. She had searched his eyes and found more than just a spark of passion. Electra would explore the depths of this man soon.

They came out of the shelving near a long glass display counter that broke only in the middle for a swinging door. Knickknacks of all shapes and sizes filled the counter’s four levels of shelving. A cash register from some offbeat planet sat on one counter near the swinging door. O herself sat behind the counter on a barstool. She was humanoid in general shape, with a visible jellyfish texture. Her expression was all lit up with excitement as she got up and swung the door wide. “Come here, and give us a hug,” she gushed. Alec put his arms around her and hugged gently. Her body bulged slightly to the pressure of his arms, like a child’s toy.

Alec stood back, “O, I want you to meet Electra.”

O smiled and said, “My pleasure, dearie. How did you ever get involved with this one?” She puckered her face. “You could do a lot better.”

Electra stated simply, “He purchased me from my last owner.”

A shudder ran from one end of O to the other. O started verbally battering, “I can’t believe it, Alec. You would stoop so low as to enslave an intelligent being — and one of your own race, judging from her scent.”

O took Alec and spun him around so that he was facing the direction they came. O stated in no uncertain words, “When you think you know someone, they go off and do something stupid.” She started pushing him down one of the aisles between the shelving. She caught Electra’s eye and winked.

Alec demanded attention. “Now, wait a minute before you go throwing us out. I freed her, you crazy old woman.”

O cackled and rushed to Electra and hugged her. O said, “Alec, he hates the slavers.” O went over to a display of head scarves and took a couple from the display. She held them up to Electra, looking for the one that complemented her coloring the best. O, satisfied with her choice, wrapped it around her neck and tied it in front. “This is my gift from him.” She nodded to Alec. O hugged her again.

Alec smiled as Electra tried to extricate herself from O. O let go and returned to her barstool behind the counter.

“First things first. You have another staff for her?” He gestured to Electra.

O took Alec’s wrist bracer from Electra’s arm and ran a hand over the forearm. “I think I have one her size, more feminine in design, too. It will look more like jewelry.” She said to Electra, “You will be happier with the one I have for you. This one is so heavy and cumbersome.” O tossed it to Alec. He put it on.

Alec reminded her, “O, you said you had my order?”

O nodded. “A delivery has come in for you.” O opened the cupboard on the back wall and pulled a large box of green, glassified remains. Alec reached in and turned a few so that the nameplates were visible.

“They were believers in your father,” said O, solemnly. “To entrust your mortal remains to you says much.”

“Not all ridiculed my father; not all lost hope in him and what he promised. Humans are a funny race, O. Even when all seems lost, we can still wrap ourselves in hope.” Alec’s serious tone cracked a little. “Thank you. I will take them with me. Where is the inscription piece?” Alec cleared his throat.

O pulled out a keyboard, entered an access code, and typed in a database search. She keyed in a few more commands. O looked at the screen again and then went into the back of the shop. Alec nodded affirmingly to Electra. The boom of a box falling to the floor came from the back room, followed by some choice alien curses. O emerged with a large, odd-shaped box and put it on the counter next to her keyboard. The box was big enough and could easily hold the inscription piece they had.

O stated, matter-of-factly, “Yes — you have the credits?”

Alec said, “I want to see it first.”

O shook her head. “Not until I see your account. You see, I have overhead, labor, bribes, and taxes to cover. I need cash — 200,000 credits — not a promise.”

Alec sputtered, “Are you crazy? That wasn’t our agreement. I don’t have nearly enough.” He looked to Electra and back to O.

O made it very clear, “It’s a seller’s market, Alec. How are you humans doing lately?” She eyed the box in front of her, tracing the edge with her hand. “Seems to me, if this could save your race, I’d say that would be priceless. Of course, you could do me a favor and work off this obligation.”

O drew the keyboard closer and typed in a command, and an application appeared for Nowhere Downs onscreen. She keyed in her username and password. Then she selected her entry for today’s race. Another keystroke added the name of the rower. She entered “Alec Shackleton.”

“What do you want?” Alec demanded.

“Well, I could use your athletic skills.” She smiled back at him and logged out of the application.

Alec said, “Out with it.” He tapped his finger on the counter top.

O grinned. “Today is race day. I need you to fly your old colors.”

Alec shook his head. “I’m done. My racing days are behind me.”

O spoke loudly and slowly so as to make sure he understood that he had little choice in the matter. “You will be my substitute rower, unlimited class, this afternoon. You could earn enough to purchase the inscription, and I’ll throw in the staff weapon for free.” She looked from him to Electra. “What do you say? I make a killing, and you get what you really want.”

Alec said, “Eights, fours, pairs, or sculls?”

O said with a tone of delight, “Sculls — the odds are so much greater when so many don’t finish. Your shell will be waiting for you in the same place as last time.”

“I feel so used,” he said as he stood there. He tapped his commlink. “Dancer, I need my rowing gear from the
Quest
. Could you bring me my bag from the ship? It’s race day. Meet us down at the docks.”

Alec tapped his commlink again. “You happy now?”

“I will be when you win.” O keyed in more, waited, and then started to place bets on her entry. “I must not make them too big, or someone will be suspicious. Dock seven, slot seven.”

“We will be going then,” said Alec, exasperated. He reached for Electra’s hand. Electra took his hand, and Alec led them through the maze out to the front door. The noise of the world outside the shop burst upon them again as they left the shop. Alec looked for a taxi as they walked toward downtown, but they were either too far away or already had passengers. They walked in silence by unspoken agreement. Alec finally managed to flag down a taxi, and they jumped in. “Nowhere Downs,” said Alec to the taxi’s request of destination. Electra’s hand sought his again. Alec took her hand and squeezed gently.

“What is ‘Nowhere Downs’?” asked Electra.

“It is a race course. A lot of betting goes on, and, at times, small fortunes are made. It all can be seen right there.” Alec pointed in the direction of the wall with the video screen.

“You have obviously done this before for O. How will she make any money placing bets?” Electra watched the buildings go by as they passed.

“I have raced for her before. The last time O rigged my shell, and I was dead last. She didn’t tell me about it until after the race.” Alec thought about it. “I didn’t sandbag it, and I wouldn’t have done so if she had asked — she knew that. It will only work once.” He looked up at the race course. “If I lose, we are without the inscription piece and can’t move forward.” He turned toward her and looked more determined and confident than ever. “If I win, we get the third piece of the inscription.

Alec opened his hand, fingers wide. Electra did the same and interlaced their fingers, again closing them around his. Alec responded in kind. Their hands intertwined, the couple enjoyed the ride in silence; the sparkle of the strip enveloped them.

The taxi arrived at their destination, Nowhere Downs, and slowed to a stop at the curb. Alec did not want to let go of Electra’s hand, but it was impractical not to while they were getting out of the taxi. It had been a closeness he had yearned for all his life, amongst the stars, searching for the world his father had promised him. Alec had to believe that this was all worth the time and energy he had devoted to his belief that his father was right. He had faith in his father’s theory. The warmth of the hand he held was a sign; he had to be nearing the end of this pilgrimage. The taxi requested a destination. Alec let go his grip on Electra and stepped out of the taxi. The spell of the moment broken, he surveyed the area as Electra exited the taxi. He gestured toward the entrance with “Boathouse” emblazoned over the archway. “This way.” They made their way through the pedestrians to the entrance of the boathouse.

The corridor they entered had signage indicating which direction they should head. Alec took them to the right. The boathouse was busy with athletes, coaches, and teams readying themselves for the races. Bags and participants moved swiftly, almost as one. Electra kept up with Alec as they came out into one of the many equipment-preparation areas.

The nearly flat floor was fused, leveled, and polished by equipment the mining operation had left behind. They had used it to cut and build living space in the rock spaces that were devoid of valuable ore. The room’s floor was filled with teams working on oars needing alignment and racing shells. The long, sleek craft lay on stretchers about a meter off the floor. Some worked on the seats and slide rails; others worked on the oar locks and rigging to make sure everything was lubricated and ready for the race.

Alec looked around for Dancer, but he had not arrived yet. Electra watched as the other teams, competitors, made their preparations and asked, “These craft you race — they are for the water?”

Dancer came into view from the corridor, and Alec waved him over. Dancer carried his sports bag, over his shoulder, and his oar case. He whipped off the bag and handed it to Alec. Dancer stood and leaned the oar case against the wall. Alec looked for somewhere to change, but there wasn’t a changing room. He made his way over to a semicircular impression in the wall and tossed his bag down. Alec unzipped the bag, pulling shirt, shorts, shoes, and socks from it. He thought about it and grabbed a medium-sized towel from the bottom of the bag. “They don’t make provisions for changing here. Dancer, can you help me with this?” He was about to hand the towel to Dancer.

“Look, if this is for me, don’t — just get changed,” Electra said and turned away from him.

Alec shrugged. “Okay — you and Dancer will be my support crew,” he said and took off his shirt. His upper body was well-toned and sculpted by years of rowing. Alec removed his shoes and socks, and dropped his pants.

“What will we be doing for support?” she casually turned back to him. Alec was completely naked, reaching for his shorts. She felt the blush return to her cheeks, and she snuck a glimpse. He was definitely a man — and one who had kept himself fit. Electra ran imaginary fingers across his abs, playing with the ripples she saw there.