Tasha finished applying lotion to the back of Luke’s neck.
“There you go. All done. It’s important not to let your skin dry out in the sun.”
“Thanks.” Luke thanked her.
*Rummage*Rummage*
Ash dug through Tasha’s carriage.
“Find anything?” Tasha called.
“No. All of your clothes are too small.” Ash called back.
“Did you really only have one set of clothes?”
Ash gave her a flat stare. “One good set.”
“Those were your good clothes?” Tasha blinked.
*Rummage*
Ash flattened his stare even more. He reached for another pile of junk-
“You two can figure this out later. This whole situation is too hot for me. I’m leaving town.” Tasha slammed the lid of her cosmetics case closed.
“You just got here.” Luke noted.
“And now I’m going to leave. See how that works?”
“At least let us help you with your marriage.” pleaded Luke.
“My what!?” Tasha flipped around.
“Your carriage… why? What did I say?” Luke looked confused.
“My carriage?”
Tasha looked back at her wrecked vehicle. One of the roof mounted wind turbines gave a last desperate twirl, then broke and fell onto the ground.
“Fine.” she accepted.
#
The Tin Smith watched the three strangers roll the broken carriage into the courtyard of his workshop. They were two boys and a young woman. The taller boy carried most of the weight of the vehicle. The thinner boy wheezed like a bellows with every step. The Tin Smith rolled a pair of dice in his hand. He tossed them up, caught them, *Box Cars*.
“Hrrrm…” The Tin Smith bombilated.
They parked the carriage. The young woman walked over.
She pushed back her wavy hair and wiped her hands on her pants. “I need some parts.” Tasha stated.
“Mmm can see that.” The Tin Smith hummed.
Tasha waited.
The Tin Smith rolled the dice in his hand.
“Do you have any?”
“Mmmaybe.”
“Can I get some of them?” Tasha intoned.
“Mmm…maybe.” The Tin Smith looked at the wrecked carriage. “Mmmight be expensive.”
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Tasha stuffed her hands in her pockets. Her fingers twitched. There was a nervous clicking noise.
She started over. “How about this? Got any snap-locks?”
“Hmmm. I do get a few odd bits frommm the Ocean’s Bounty every nnnow and then.” The Tin Smith mumbled. “Youuu a lock-jock?”
“I’m a jock who can snap a snap-lock off a lock-jock’s lock in a snap and a pop.”
The Tin Smith tossed his dice. *Sevens*
“Hmmm. Come back tomorrow. We’ll see about mmmaking a deal for your carriage.”
“Great. See you then.”
Tasha walked back over to Ash and Luke. She shook their hands. “Well… goodbye.”
“You’re leaving?” Luke asked.
“No. But I am walking in a different direction from you.” said Tasha.
“You don’t have to-” Luke offered.
“No. No. This is for the best.” Ash interrupted. He returned the handshake. “We’ve caused you enough trouble already. We should find someplace to wait for Ave. We won’t bother you any-
Oh crap! Get down!”
Ash shoved Luke and Tasha into a bush next to the entrance of the Tin Smith’s workshop. He jumped in afterwards.
Ash hissed.
Ash attempted to dodge roll out of the bushes. The shower curtain caught on a branch. Ash flashed his seat support to the entire street.
#
Ted and Jack stopped in their tracks in the street outside the workshop.
“Is that Ash?” Ted asked.
“I would recognise those skinny ankles anywhere. It is him!” Jack shouted.
#
Luke snapped the shower curtain off the bush and lifted Ash to his feet.
“Hey!” Ash shouted at the Tin Smith. He pointed across the workshop to a heavy wooden door on the other side. “Where does that door lead?”
“Hmmm… up.” The Tin Smith droned.
Ash looked over his shoulder at Tasha. “Different directions! Good idea! See you later!”
“Or not! It was nice to meet you either way!” Luke waved.
Luke and Ash sprinted across the courtyard. Ash weaseled his way through a gap in the door. Luke took a running jump and vaulted over the top. The two of them disappeared into the street on the other side.
Two boys, one broad, one wide, chased across the courtyard after them.
“What are they doing here?”
“I don’t know.”
“We need to find them before…”
“Before?”
“I don’t know. Something bad I’m sure. Help me with this door.”
The two boys worked together to heave the heavy wooden door open. They also ran into the street after the other two.
The Tin Smith watched them go without getting up from his chair. He tossed his dice.
“Hrrrm.”
*Snake Eyes*
#
“Likewise…” Tasha waved. She let her arm drop limply to her side.
Tasha walked over to her carriage. She started packing up her cosmetics case and what clean clothes she could find.
“Well that was exciting.” Eins chirped. The dog popped its head out of a basket.
“Yaaa! What? Why are you? When did you?” Tasha waved a hairbrush in the air.
Eins shuffled off the top of a junk pile.
“Why didn’t you go with them?” she asked.
“Ash said to get down. So I did.” said Eins.
“Well… go find them.”
“But I don’t know where they are.” Eins whimpered. The dog sat down on the edge of the doorframe.
Tasha didn’t say anything. She finished packing. She threw a satchel over her shoulder. She walked out of the courtyard. She left the workshop.
#
The Tin Smith rolled the dice in his hand.
*Clickety*Clack*
#
Eins wiggled nervously on the edge of the carriage.
Tasha leeeaned her head back around the corner.
“Come on.”
Eins hopped down and trotted after her.