As I Walk These Broken Roads (8 page)

The seconds stretched by. The guards couldn
’
t figure out what to do with their eyes – their gazes kept darting from Wentworth, to Raxx, to their glasses, then back again. Raxx just watched the three of them, while Wentworth glared impassively into his drink. The song playing on the stereo ended, and a new one started up. Wentworth grimaced, searched for the power cable, and jerked it out.
“
I hate that song,
”
he said. Then he breathed out, and looked at the two guards.

“
You guys fucked up.
”

“
Hey man, I wasn
’
t even involved – that ox shoved me when I was just trying to calm things down–
”

Wentworth
’
s look silenced Billy. He took a slow sip of his drink before speaking.
“
The first rule of Civie Ops – of the guard duty that you two are supposed to be pulling – is that you
’
re always operational. You think your job
’
s nothing more than guarding the merchant on the highways? Well, you
’
re dead wrong boys. These settlements,
”
he swept his arm towards the town outside,
“
are funny. There
’
s a group dynamic going on in these places. You never know what
’
s going to set them off. Either of you ever been around – what are they – cattle?
”

“
Uh – yeah,
”
Verizon shuffled in his seat.
“
That
’
s what my folks do. We got a herd down South between Steeltown and Six Nations.
”

“
Then you know how if you spook one of them, they all start running?
”

“
Yeah man. Uh, that happened the first time I took my pup out with me. She got all
excited
by the new smells, plus, I didn
’
t know it at the time, but she was just coming on to her first heat. Aw, shit, you should
have
seen it, Billy – she nipped one of them and next thing you know the whole herd
’
s running. Man, but my pa was pissed… it took us a week to round
‘
em back up again…
”

Wentworth nodded at the story.
“
Well boys, that
’
s what these locals are like. Anything can spark
‘
em – and then you got a whole mess of shit on your hands.
”
He looked over at Raxx for comment, but the man just shrugged, and nodded. Wentworth laid his gaze back on the guards.
“
We
’
ll just have to hope that what happened tonight doesn
’
t set them off. Verizon, tomorrow you
’
ll go apologize to Elmo for talking to his woman. Billy, don
’
t you say anything.
”
He gave them a chance to protest, but they were wide-eyed silent.
“
With any luck Elmo will be feeling bad about what happened.
”
He stared down into his drink.
“
The hangover should help with that
.
”

Tilting his head back he downed the rest of the drink. The other three followed suit, Raxx stayed sturdy but the other two gasped.
“
You guys ought to get some rack. Tomorrow morning you
’
ll have to explain to your boss what happened. My advice would be to start off by telling him you fucked up – take responsibility for it. No bullshitting. Then say something along the lines of what I just told you.
”

The guards stood sluggishly and made gestures fitting to their abashed expressions. They wandered off to their rooms, and then it was just the two of them. Wentworth refilled their glasses, his eyes heavy on the bar.

Raxx cleared his throat.
“
That was good of you. What you did just now. You didn
’
t even know those guys, not really.
”
He sipped at the drink,
“
And Elmo… he
’
s just been messed up lately. He got kicked in the ribs by a mule a while back, and since then he hasn
’
t been able to work a full day.
”
He swirled the amber liquid,
“
I
’
m not even talking about helping with Elmo. I mean what you said to them just now; I think it
’
ll be good for them.
”

Wentworth paused for a beat before answering.
“
I didn
’
t do it for their sake.
”
His eyes were emotionless as they looked over the glass.
“
That bit I said about locals stampeding? That
’
s how it really goes; and if they stampede it
’
ll land shit-side up for anyone else who isn
’
t local.
”
He drank. His glass clinked as he put it down on the bar. He fished around inside his jacket for cigarettes.
“
That
’
s not something I need, or want to deal with right now.
”

Raxx stared at him, a slow flush rising in his cheeks. He seemed about to speak then shook his head.
“
You know what? Forget about it.
”
He went to down his drink, but seemed to have second thoughts as it reached his lips. He grimaced, and put the glass back on the bar.
“
Your motorcycle
’
ll be fixed sometime tomorrow,
”
he said as he rose from his seat,
“
next day at the latest… so you don
’
t have to worry about anyone
‘
stampeding.
’
I
’
m going to bed.
”

Wentworth paused in lighting his cigarette to nod, but Raxx was walking away

The door shuddered close; a slam would have been more appropriate. He poured the Mechanic
’
s whiskey into his own glass and watched the smoke from his cigarette curl up. The liquid
’
s level fell, and he filled it again. He stared at it, deep into another time and place. In his mind the scratchy recordings of prewar music still played. When Eddie finally returned his mind was spinning and lost, and a heavy weight lay on him. He left for his room to let
the sleep
engulf him.

With the sun setting on his back, Mad Dog breathed the night air. The dead, broken land stretched out forever until it met the darkening sky.

The night was still, its silence broken only by the sounds coming from the compound, and the trudge of footsteps approaching from behind. He waited for whomever it was to declare themself. His thumb was tucked into his beltline, while the other hand fondled his revolver. With the weight of the sun on him he cast an impressive figure – his leathers burned with the dying summer, against a beckoning darkness. A mirthless smile spread across his face as the footsteps came to a halt.

“
Mad Dog.
”

He breathed before answering.
“
You smell that, Sheik?
”
The younger man didn
’
t reply, waiting for his leader to continue.
“
The smell of freedom – boundless – it
’
s out there.
”

“
We finished searching the building.
”

“
Good. What did you find?
”

“
Few hundred liters of petroleum in jerries, the vehicle bay
’
s all stocked up with oils and fluids, but that
’
s it. Nothing but chairs and desks in the rest of the place. Oh yeah – there
’
s a cistern in the vehicle bay. The water
’
s gone rust-funny, but it ought to be good for drinking. From the looks of it, I
’
d say that there ain
’
t been no one here before. We
’
re the first.
”

Mad Dog nodded.
“
Keep the young lads searching; see if they can find anything else that
’
s interesting. Tell
‘
em to search through the desks. If there ain
’
t been anyone else here – who knows? Maybe they
’
ll find something. Have
‘
em clear out a room for sleeping in, too.
”

“
Sure thing, boss… Say, uh – Falcon said something you ought to hear.
”

His visage crackled,
“
Is he whining about those warning signs again?
”

“
Yeah, but he said something else, too. He said that it might be a good idea to set up a watch back towards Steeltown. I dunno, it
’
s been a few days. Seems like it might be a good idea.
”

His anger melted into a frown. He
’
d forgotten about the Vipers. It wasn
’
t a bad idea to have somebody on lookout, but…

He smiled as the idea came.
“
Good thing you told me that, Sheik - here
’
s what you
’
re gonna do. Go back there and tell Falcon that I like his idea – tell him to get his pack, and to go find a spot where he can see the western horizon. Show him where the sleeping area will be, so he knows where to come get us is he sees anything. And if he says anything, tell him that now he don
’
t gotta complain no more about those old warning signs. Sound like a good plan, Sheik?
”

“
Yeah, I think that solves everything up real nice. I
’
ll go take care of it Mad Dog.
”

“
You do that, Sheik.
”

The man trudged away, and Mad Dog returned to his thoughts. What was that line in the distance? It was beginning to look like a column of smoke…

* * *

“
What I want to know is what Marie was doing talking to him in the first place?
”

“
Don
’
t be pinning it on Marie. Elmo
’
s been a lump ever since that mule kick.
”

“
Gertrude wouldn
’
t
have
kicked him, if Thomas had got Raxx to fix that axle back when it first started going funny…
”

“
Ai, it ain
’
t all on me!
”

“
You
’
re forgetting about that Wentworth fellow! What was he doing stepping in like that?
”

“
You should of seen how Elmo was acting this morning.
”

“
I want to know why Vince here can
’
t control his guards!
”

“
I think he
’
s right about that Wentworth… Elmo
’
s scared stiff.
”

“
Serve
’
s him right for being a lump!

“
So? That don
’
t meant Wentworth
’
s the one to show him.
”

“
Maybe no, but your daughter
’
s out of line!
”

“
So
’
s your son!
”

“
Enough!
”
Vree slapped the table with the flats of her hands, silencing the
Seniors
.
“
You – stop looking at him like that – this ain
’
t about whose kid did what – this is about the entire town – ai?
”
The
Seniors
, some with their eyes downcast, others still looking defiant, nodded reluctantly.
“
You wanna talk about Elmo or Marie, well, that
’
s for next month – there ain
’
t nothing new there. What we
’
re here to talk about is Wentworth. So any of you got something to say about him – and
not
about Marie or Elmo?
”

The farmers
’
expressions downshifted to a kind of bitter sullenness. Vree panned her gaze from one to another… until she met someone who could meet her gaze.

“
I
’
ve said what I got to say, Vree, but none of you want to hear it.
”

“
Say it again, Vince,
”
she glanced about the room,
“
I think everyone
’
s ready to listen now.
”

Vince steepled his hands. Goddamnit, here he was playing diplomat in a town that needed his commerce more than they realized. Their paranoia over a derelict wasn
’
t just ridiculous, it was dangerous too. The man hadn
’
t hurt Elmo, and here they were talking about ganging up on him…
“
Listen, Vree – all of you –
o
ut West there are a lot of guys like him – guys that wander into town, got a funny look about them, and sometimes get into trouble. But here
’
s the thing – when they get left alone, they
’
re fine. They ain
’
t really wanting to start the trouble they get in – they just seem to be good at finding it. Now this Wentworth guy ain
’
t done nothing – sure, he helped out my boys when they were being dumb, but he didn
’
t hurt Elmo, and it turned out okay. Rankin – wasn
’
t Elmo helping you load water barrels this morning?
”

“
Ai…
“

“
Exactly!
”
Vince slammed his fist down,
“
and Wentworth never used that gun he had on him the whole time!
”

Some of them shook their heads, others nodded, but no one spoke. Vree looked at him expectantly.

“
The man
’
s dangerous – that
’
s without a doubt – but he ain
’
t done nothing, has he? You
’
d be best off forgetting about all this.
”
Vince shrugged, waiting for them to respond, to admit the logic of his arguments. But none of them did.
“
Raxx has almost got that motorcycle of his fixed… right? Let him go. The derelicts sort themselves out, all on their own.
”

“
Vince–
”
the Councilman
’
s face lifted,
“
You
’
re a maverick. I know what can be done to help all of us.
”

* * *

Raxx stared at the midmorning sun with irritation. It was too damned bright, too damned early, and he
’
d
screwed
up the coffee this morning. It was weak, and he
’
d run out of cream. He really ought to be look
ing at the damned
motorcycle.

“
Raxx, good morning!  How
’
s the day finding you?
”

“
Uh, Vree – Councilman – okay, I guess.  What
’
s up?
”
Now h
e had to be polite to somebody;
it was too early for that.
“
Something need fixing?
”

“
You could say that. I
’
m here because the Town Seniors wanted to see you.  There
’
s a matter they
’
d like to discuss.  If it wouldn
’
t be any trouble, would you mind coming with me?
”

“
Uh, yeah, I guess so.  You got coffee?
”

“
Ai, of course, Raxx.
”

* * *

Someone rapped on his door. Wentworth memorized the page he was reading and glanced up.

“
Come in!
”

Raxx grasped the knob, and opened the door.  Like the rest of the building the room was decorated in a Victorian style – but the bed was worn, and the sheets were frayed, and the drapes were faded.  The room suited its occupant – wearing black jeans and a grey t-shirt, his jacket and helmet tossed over the wicker chair beside him, Wentworth
’
s somber appearance seemed appropriate.

“
Hey.
”
said Raxx.

“
What
’
s up?  You got my bike working?
”

“
No, not yet.
”
He chewed his lip-ring.
“
Listen, I
’
m going for a drive.  My truck
’
s out front and I could use some company.  Want to join me?
”

Wentworth studied the Mechanic.
“
Yeah. Yeah, I could go for a drive.
”
He swung his feet off of the bed and began to pull his boots on.
“
Anywhere specific you
’
re thinking about?
”
He struggled into his jacket and clipped his pistol to his belt. His goggles were on the nightstand. He put them on, covering up the pale circles around his eyes.

“
Nah, just around.
”

Wentworth slid a magazine into his rifle, slung it over his shoulder, and picked up his helmet. 
“
Let
’
s go.
”

Raxx waited for him to lock the door to his room, and they walked out through the bar.  The truck was idling out front.  Wentworth tossed his rifle into the backseat, next to Raxx
’
s shotgun, then the two of them jumped in. Raxx manoeuvred the vehicle onto the highway.

The ride was smooth, but the steering wheel trembled in his hand.
“
Need to see about that CV joint,
”
he muttered, but aside from that neither man spoke. They let the silence to stretch out over the engine
’
s thrum.

Wentworth leaned back, watching the Mechanic drive, and waited for him to speak.

“
So what are you thinking about doing when your bike
’
s fixed?  Gonna keep heading west?
”

“
I don
’
t know,
”
replied Wentworth,
“
See where the road takes me… but I don
’
t know. Maybe Blackstock wouldn
’
t be such a bad place to rest the feet for a bit.
”
Raxx nodded but didn
’
t say anything.
“
That big guy – Elmo – came by and shook my hand this morning. Maybe… well, sometimes I can be a bit jumpy.
”
He paused to let in the scenery. It was so contained, encapsulated in a vehicle cab. He was insulated from the world as it flashed by.
“
The only thing is; I don
’
t really know what I
’
d do with myself. I
’
m not like you.
”
He struggled with the statement.
“
I don
’
t have any skills to sell to Blackstock… and being a farmhand doesn
’
t exactly make the spirit rise in me.
”

“
Yeah, when you
’
re a farmhand, that
’
s pretty much it.  Hell, even if you
’
re the farmer you
’
re married to the land.  B
ut wandering
’
s rough, too
.
”

“
You miss the road, though.
”

“
I guess… but it
’
s good to know where your next meal is coming from.
”

Wentworth
’
s eyes narrowed. Next meal..?

Raxx
’
s tone was casual, but his face was tense.  Suspicion rose like a sharp breeze. His pistol was on his left hip, the holster latched. It would take both hands to draw it quickly. Trying not to show it, he relaxed his muscles, and kept his expression blank.

“
So what
’
s really going on?  What
’
s your reason for heading out? This isn
’
t just a drive.
”

Raxx frowned.
“
You
’
re right. The town
’
s Councilman spoke to me today.  The Seniors know about you . . . about your reputation.  Listen, Wentworth? I
’
m sorry. You
’
re wanted out East, aren
’
t you?
”

He just stared at the Mechanic.
So he hadn
’
t come far enough; two days travel without any settlements, but he hadn
’
t left it behind.
He glanced down at the pistol on Raxx
’
s belt and noticed that the latch securing it in the holster was undone.  Cold anger surged through him.

“
…they know about the shit storm that
’
s following
you.  They know–
”
Raxx glanced over
in
to depth
s
of a drawn pistol.

“
What do they know, Raxx? And what are they going to pay you?
”