"Hey,
Squirt!" called a tall woman with ebony skin and short black
hair. There was the logo of a red fox's grinning head over a
background of a gray cloud on her ceramic breastplate. It was Tricia.
"I was hoping you'd be here."
"Squirt!?"
blurted the bald man. He thrust a finger at George. "Is that
your new member, Vixen?"
"You
can sort of say that," Tricia told him.
The
other three men at the table snorted and chuckled. "You're
interested in small men?" asked the unshaven man.
"Oh,
and you wanted to take him out to dinner!" teased the
spiky-haired man, "And hold his hand..."
The bald
man reached forward and gave the spiky-haired person a hard shove.
"Shut up!"
The
spiky-haired man pushed back his stool and stood abruptly. "Hey,
that was uncalled for!"
The bald
man too rose to his feet. "Well I don't like what you're saying
about me!"
"It's
the truth!" retorted spiky-haired man, "You said it!"
"Bar
fight!" The announcement came from the other side of the bar.
For no apparent reason or logic.
There
were only maybe twenty or so patrons at the bar that early in the
morning. It just meant that there was more room to maneuver in the
good fight. Fists and furniture started flying.
Tricia
slipped next to George. "We should leave," she said as she
calmly assessed the chaos.
George
was busy dodging airborne stools and glasses. "Yes, please."
Tricia
grabbed him by the collar and started pushing her way to the exit.
She shouldered a man out of the way. She blocked a fist swung her way
and delivered a blow to the assailant's midriff. Then she ducked
under a thrown mug of metal.
They
reached the exit safely. Once outside, the tall woman released her
grip on George and allowed him to walk normally. George followed
along the sidewalk beside the street.
They
turned at the end of the block. "How'd you like to learn to
drive?" Tricia asked.
"I
already know how," George replied.
"Driving
in the wasteland is different from driving in the city," Tricia
said, "It'll be good practice for you."
George
thought about it. True, his first ride in the wasteland was exciting
and it would be fun to learn to drive on uneven terrain. But the
wasteland was a dangerous place. He had been shot at the last time he
was out there. Then again, there might be more exciting things for
him to discover, perhaps a mystery or some strange event worth
watching.
An
Enforcer van passed, no doubt filled with officers in riot-control
gear. It headed in the direction of Sandy's Last Hand.
"Are
we raiding another tower or something again?" George asked.
Tricia
shook her head. "Just out for a drive, letting you get the hang
of it. It would be handy to have someone else who can drive. Io
can't, not that she needs to."
"And,
uh, if we happen to find any treasure or something during our drive?"
George asked. It was a serious consideration.
"Still
having an eye on wealth and riches, huh," Tricia teased with a
smile, "It'll be the same deal as before."
Which
meant George would get the usual one-quarter of a full share. Which
would not make him rich fast. The Scarlet Vixens were really taking
advantage of his inexperience to cut back on his hiring fee.
"I'll
have to tell Papa first," George replied.
"He's
okay with the last time?" Tricia asked.
George
nodded. "Yeah."
"Okay,
then. Get down to our garage as soon as you can." Tricia glanced
at the time on her wristcom. "Uh, better make it in an hour."
"Okay,"
George agreed.
***
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