Outside the train station was a cobblestone path. The path ended with a dirt road. Makeshift buildings piled up next to each other. The better places had gravel.
There were a huge variety of lights that shined, in every corner, on every roof. All signs had a need to glow. Every neon light assaulted my vision from the streets.
My claws grasped onto a pair of white sunglasses from my duster.
I gazed back at the neon lights, they were less intensive.
The lack of human ears made wearing the glasses awkward. I missed when I had normal ears, they were more convenient.
Much less sensitive.
“Are those sunglasses?” Lyle asked.
“Yeah, a woman bought them for me a while back,” I answered.
“By who?”
“Thousand Cuts, if you have to ask.”
“Her?” He sounded surprised. “Don’t you find how you hang out with her strange?”
“Yes, there is a lot wrong with her,” I replied.
“I mean the way you let her lead you around. You do not find that weird?” He referred to the rumor of Thousand Cuts and I dating. The gossip started when others took account of our outings
I must set the record straight, “What can be strange about following Thousand Cuts around? She’s a… a friend. The woman is strong, skilled, capable…” I trailed off.
I bit my tongue before I said beautiful.
Yes, she is attractive; no, I shouldn’t twitch my ears from admitting that. Looks and personality are different.
I placated my swaying tail the best I could.
“You’re letting a woman order you around,” Lyle interrupted my thoughts.
Is that what it’s about, “I’m not talking to you anymore” I waved him off.
I took out the Morse code transceiver from my coat. I tried recalling the various abbreviations and phrases. There were many. Morse code was time-consuming without the shortcuts.
I turned on the device *To station S1MB from station S2YZ.*
*R, dispatch here. Hello Mekiko. What’s your RST?* The Dispatch asked my location.
*599, I’m in SW HG. No further report.* I gave the area that I was at.
*OK*
*SK*
I stowed the device away. I was to report when another development occurred. Little was happening anyway. Besides the fact that I was near The Iron Graveyard, Lorry was correct. Hognose Street had little in danger. Lyle was at least content with patrolling for the day. I wanted something different entirely.
Like where’s the excitement? Standing out here was tiring.
All the residents avoided Lyle and I. I hardly blamed them. Lyle scowled at everyone that got close to us. The rest locked their doors from us.
The operation was supposed to boost IMPERIAL reputation. What we were doing did the exact opposite.
Something must change.
We passed by the same apartment for the third time. I narrowed my eyes at the same person that I saw each time. I glanced while Lyle kept walking.
“Lyle, stop,” I said.
“Hmm, is there a problem?” He asked
“You don’t find anything out of the ordinary.”
Lyle said he didn’t find anything suspicious.
I pointed, “that old lady by the apartments. She’s the woman in the wheelchair, or the only woman. Everyone else left, yet she’s the only person not wary of us.”
“She’s old, the hag could have nothing better to do,” Lyle glanced at the old lady.
“Be that as it may, there’s no ignoring her. I’m walking right up to her and introducing myself.”
“What’s that?” the old woman raised her head. She asked if we wanted to see her.
“Uhh, yes,” I closed the distance. “You could hear us?”
She wheeled herself closer as she heard confirmation. “Sorry, I was barely listening. My hearing wasn’t what it used to be.”
“Uh, did you hear our conversation back there?” I shuffled my feet.
“Of course I did, including what your friend called me.”
“He’s — not really a friend.”
“So that’s your relationship with collar boy. Ha! Sorry that I thought so little of you before.”
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
“What did you say about me?” Lyle interrupted her.
“I called you collar boy,” she said. “I’m not the only one who should check their hearing.”
“I will not be insulted by the likes of you,” Lyle reached inside his duster.
“What are you going to do? Pull that gun you're hiding on me?”
“what if I do?” He challenged.
“Go ahead. Shoot the defenseless old widow in a wheelchair,” she spread her arms. “Some hero you turned out to be.”
The old woman struck a chord. Lyle’s hand trembled before lowering his revolver.
The woman rested her arms, “I wish to speak with the gentleman for a change.”
“You’re referring to me?” I asked.
“I'm definitely not talking about, collar boy. They call me Old Lady Carmen around these parts. Nice to meet ya.”
“I’m Mekiko. Why do they call you Old Lady Carmen?”
“Well, they used to call me Carmen. I hope that you can take the hint. Not not I mind the name. There aren't a lot of people my age around these parts.”
I observed the rundown apartment, “everyone who saw us has long since fled. I’m taking your word at full value, sorry for my ignorance.”
“Don’t you dare apologize. I can tell at a glance that you’re not around here. I go as far and say that I know who you are.”
“Really? My uniform, sure; but are you telling exactly who I am?” My tail swayed.
“Of course,” she put on the glasses hanging on her neck. “Your white ears and tail says so much. I figured that you — are a catboy.”
That? “Please don't get my surprise up before shooting them down.”
“What I observed holds truth, boy. You are equally baffling yourself. A lone male nyancan out here in Snakewater. What would your tribe think? What would the female nyancan warriors say to you?”
I shrugged, “not much apparently.”
“I know my nyancan culture well enough. Your tribe must have sent you something to bring you back.”
“Well, there is this letter from… from my tribe. Who wrote the letter is none of your business anyway…”
“Mekiko, you have a community who supports you. Don’t throw all that love and affection away for some ideal,” she straightened her back. “Go where you feel safe, not in Snakewater. Never in Snakewater, boy.”
I stared at the gravel floor. To go back to my tribe I never knew, it was tempting; felt right. I would be with my mother. I was all emotional thinking about her. She had left a pit in my stomach since the day I received the letter.
However, I shook my head, “No, leaving is too easy. I’m not running away from my problems. There’s duties that I need to uphold.”
“Go where you know home is. Returning is never too late, remember that.”
I don’t know where home is. Home, my tribe, mother; family.
I breathed out, “I’m here for a different reason… All we want is to gain some good reputation with the locals in Hognose Street.”
“Is that why you’re here?” Carmen asked. “There’s definitely some hidden intentions, but I won’t pry deeply. I am only an old widow in a wheelchair after all.”
“Look, nothing I tried worked. Everyone else avoided us. You’re the only person who showed an ounce of compassion. I’m on my last legs here. What I ask for is guidance.”
“You with that scoundrel, I’m not surprised. He acts no different than a ghoul.”
“You old crone!” Lyle yelled. “You have no right to call me that!”
“Prove me wrong, collar boy!” Carmen challenged. The old lady cleared her throat, “You can say I know my way around these parts. There are so many woes, countless problems that you could handle. You know what I’m getting at?”
“You lost me,” I replied.
“The job postings that ask for merc intervention. People will always be cautious of you, but who can refuse free work?”
“you’re suggesting I become a mercenary for free?”
Old Lady Carmen clapped,” exactly! You offer help. Some people may get skeptical, yet that matters little. Not like they would help themselves. Whaddya think?”
“You can't be considering her proposal?” Lyle interrupted.
“I never asked for your opinion, collar boy!” She yelled back.
“Now your insult is getting old. How about you say something original?” Lyle said.
“For you collar boy. No, I call em like I see em.
I glanced back at the lady and Lyle, “I need more details before deciding.”
“There’s problems all around us,” she leaned in her chair. “But I recommend that you go a little ways down the road, by that orphanage over yonder. There was a monster problem not long ago.”
“A monster problem? And they are beside kids?” I asked incredulously.
Carmen nodded, “I'm afraid so. There were reports of monsters in the shape of rats. They nestled around The Iron Graveyard, like they all do.”
“So, the orphanage has an infestation. That sounds like the place has more of a rat problem than anything.”
“I said: monsters in the shape of rats. There’s a difference, boy. The orphanage could hire mercenaries, but that’s not ideal. The owner's budget is already tight as it is. Cleanup is going to cause them financial strain. This is where you come into place.”
“I snatch their problem when they're at their lowest,” I realized.
“What I thought. So, do I have to give ya time to think?”
“Hmm,” I rubbed my chin. “What I hear, and to translate: I like you to do a job, but I’m not paying you a crown.”
“Are you doing the job or not, boy?”
“Indeed, I am,” I replied.
“You can’t be serious, catboy,” Lyle interrupted again.
Old Lady Carmen wheeled herself up a ramp, and went inside the apartment. I watched as Lyle ruined the only good conversation I had in Snakewater.
I took a deep breath, “okay, Lyle. Tell me — because I’m all ears.”
“You accepted the witch’s proposal so easily,” Lyle raised his voice.
“First she was a hag, and now she’s a witch. Are you upgrading her to banshee next time you mention her?”
“You really don’t believe she’s plotting something?” Lyle's voice softened. “Nobody gets to her age without an agenda, not in Snakewater. You see how that hag controlled the conversation from the start? Or how she left so suddenly moments ago? You agreed to her too quickly.”
I paused, he gave me little time to think, “Emperor almighty, Lyle. She is just being nice! People can be nice!”
“Catboy, what’s with you and your inexplicable feminist agenda?”
My inexplicable feminist agenda? Lyle left me speechless.
“You know what Lyle?” I exclaimed. “How about you go make a better idea? Since you’re so good at pointing out flaws, I want to hear input. You’ll be the one to judge.”
“Gladly, we go to the orphanage, and we exterminate some rats.”
“But that's what I was going to do!”
“What I did was consider the plan with deliberation. You accepted the crone’s purposely impulsivity,” Lyle pointed at me. “We are not the same.”
Okay, fine,” my ears twitched. “Carmen said the orphanage is down the road. We can start there.”
He jogged down the dirt road, and I tagged along. We went past the dilapidated houses and shops.
At least I was now being productive.