A Deal
Entity took a slow bite from the dripping slice, letting him take his long, hard look. She was almost commonplace among the vendors, the above-ground dwellers and builders who saw her every day and night, either shouting orders to her workers, or presiding over the festivities once the oppressive sun fell.
But the sewer rats from belowâŚthey werenât always so lucky.
A grin curled at the corner of her mouth as she dragged a thumb across her lower lip, and took several steps closer.
âGood. Then no need for introductions. I hear youâre a very capable man, good for more than shoveling shit. Is this true?â
Goose tensed. Not quite a flinch, but his posture lost some of its easy lean as she approached a little too fast for a squirrel-ly road warriorâs comfort. Back a little straighter, biceps bunching though his arms stayed folded. He didnât step away.
âIt aint a lie,â he allowed, as good as a yes to her question. Wasnât going to sell himself short, but what were they saying he was capable of now that he hadnât already said on his way in and had discarded?
His eyes dipped to the fruit in her hand and back up. The fresh sweet smell was distracting, foreign familiar, a tug at his nose toward a memory. A grocery store aisle. Apples, strawberries, but he couldnât place the name of that one. âPeachâ was wrong-
Capable. Folk were passing it around that he was capable. Back to present. Goose blinked.
Yea. Heâd loosed a few expletive laced suggestions down below. Went off once or twice on the incompetent mechanics banging around over his head and lent more elbow than strictly necessary for what theyâd hired him to do out of exasperation alone. A little grease monkey stuff, nothing big.Â
He could do bigger. â... Ya got somethinâ short-term in mind, Iâll see what I can do.â
