Monday, January 9, 2012

The Tower of Trials Chapter 1 Page 3

Everyone stopped talking and looked at the boy.

The fat man pointed at the tools in his pockets and belt. "He knows how to fix things."

The man took George's hand and showed his palm to the crowd. "See his hand's clean and soft. Betcha he hardly got experience working with his hands. He's a young thing. Nice and pretty too."

The crowd stared silently at George.

George at that moment felt uneasy to be the center of everyone's attention. Since the Vixens wanted someone with less qualification, he had been set up front as an example of the other extreme of experience.

Yay, he got to be part of a joke.

Both Vixens pointed at George. "You're hired!" they announced together.

That brought another wave of protests from the crowd. Everyone was shouting their dissatisfaction over the Vixen's selection. The Scarlet Vixens, a well-known group of adventurers, were looking to hire someone and they had picked the most inexperienced of those present. Possibly the most inexperienced in that commercial district. Why, the new hire was probably still a kid. And how did a kid get in that bar anyway!?

George decided that it was not a good idea to show his ID to the crowd.

The argument continued. Hey, yeah, a clean kid like that did not belong in such a place. Come on, there were more qualified people. Argh, it was so infuriating. Why, one could PUNCH!

And that punch set off a series of tempers. Fists and furniture started flying.

The fat man released his grip on George's collar so he could join in the fun, one he was forcefully drawn into when someone threw a metal mug at his face.

Oh, wow, it was George's first bar fight! Not that he could do much anyway. After all, he was a small guy. He should not be throwing puny punches. Instead, he should be- Ah, flying saucer! Duck!

Okay, the situation was getting a little dangerous. And illegal too. George should get away, fast! Before the Enforcers incarcerate him for being there. That was if he was not sent to the hospital instead. But which way should he go? There were fights all around the bar. Ah, flying fist heading for his handsome(?) face!

Suddenly, the fist was deflected with a downwards chop. The brown-haired Vixen was there. She thrust a palm at the assailant's chin. Then as he reeled from the blow, the Vixen turned him around and shoved him away.

She grabbed George's hand. "Come on, we've got to go!"

The Vixen swiftly pulled him through the brawl, neatly around a fight and gracefully under another. Then as she rose up from her crouch, she was hit by a thrown stool in the side of her head. The Vixen stumbled and released her grip on George. With a snarl, she picked up the stool and sent it flying back.

George was grabbed by his collar. When he turned his head, he saw that it was the other Vixen. The taller woman pulled him towards the exit. She shouldered a man out of the way and followed another patron through the main entrance.

"Let's hurry," the darker Vixen urged as she started to jog down the street.

George followed after her. It required considerable effort on his part since his legs were shorter. And he was out of shape from city life.

On the street, an Enforcer van passed with lights and siren on, no doubt to impose order on the bar brawl. The boy was glad to be away from the scene. He definitely did not fancy spending his free day in the Enforcer lockup.

The Vixen led them to a small park where they stopped for a breather.

"Are you hurt anywhere, Squirt?" the taller Vixen asked George.

George shook his head. "No."

"I hope you're worth the trouble hiring." It was the other Vixen. Somehow, she had caught up with them.

"Wait," George said in between breaths, "What do you mean I'm hired?" No fair that he was panting heavily. The other two women did not appear to be gasping for air.

The Vixen spoke again, "Oh, that means that you've the privilege to work with us, the Scarlet Vixens."

"Work? Doing what?"

"Adventure in the wasteland, hunt weird monsters, collect treasure," she replied vaguely.

"There's a tower we want to raid," the taller Vixen said, "Pretty routine stuff - go in, get past traps and guards, haul off all the goods."

The brown-haired Vixen nodded in agreement.

The taller Vixen continued, "We don't expect traps and locks but it's better to bring someone who knows the technical stuff just in case."

"Don't you already have someone?" George asked. He had heard from rumors that one of the Vixens was a genius with technology.

"Oh, you mean Laura." The brown-haired Vixen sighed. "Laura's away. Family emergency. So we've no one to break locks for us. And fix things. And build things."

"That's where you come in," the tall Vixen said, "In case we find something that needs fixing or taking apart."

Was George's dream of adventure about to come true? "But why me? There are more qualified people, like that woman earlier."


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