In the Deadlands by David Gerrold Read Free Book Online

lit.
    We went all the way to the back. One or two of the doors were closed, with sounds seeping out around the edges—once the sound of surf. But the ones I could see into were empty. A record player tinkered with sounds and darkness.
    The last room was like all the rest. Except something smelled funny. Like dusty orange. Two or three mattresses lay dirty on the floor. Four people in the room: two guys, two girls. They all had tombstone eyes. I didn’t like the looks, but I’d heard about the new kick and I wanted to try it.
    â€œThis’s Deet,” grunted the brillo-head.
    Casual glances, nothing more.
    â€œThat’s Woozle,” I said, nodding at the Wooze. She was still covering her eyes.
    â€œSit.” One of the girls shrugged. I sat. Woozle, putting one hand behind her, lowered herself. The mattresses had no soft; they were flat and dusty-slimy.
    The two guys were off to one side, sitting-leaning up against the wall and looking at each other. Okay, none of my business. It was the girls who held my attention. They had pale eyes, pink in the red-lit room.
    â€œWho are you?” one asked.
    â€œDeet. I’m Deet. He just told you—” I pointed at brillo-hair, but he wasn’t there anymore.
    â€œUh-uh,” she shook her head. “ Who are you?”
    Shrug. “I’m me. That’s all.”
    â€œOkay. Who’s she?”
    â€œShe’s Woozle. She goes where I go.”
    â€œEverywhere?”
    â€œJust about.”
    â€œYou like that?” Her voice was like an empty room. It echoed.
    â€œYeah, it’s okay, I guess.”
    â€œYou don’t like it?”
    â€œI don’t know.” I shrugged again. “I’m used to it.”
    â€œYou want to change it?”
    â€œWhy should I?”
    â€œYes. Why should you?”
    I wasn’t sure what she was talking about any more. I shrugged. “Why do you want to know?”
    This time, she shrugged. “Need to know. That’s all.”
    Woozle tugged at my arm then. I ignored it.
    The other girl now. “Where’re you headed?”
    â€œNowhere now. We’re here.”
    â€œThis is where you want to be?”
    Another tug at the arm. I shook it off and answered the pale-eyed question. “It’s as good a place as any.”
    â€œDeet....” said Woozle, and she had that tone again. Plaintive. “Deet...!”
    â€œChrist, you’re a nuisance, Woozle, you know that? What do you want?”
    She pushed hair back out of her eyes, looked at me, wetly. “Deet, I want to go home.”
    â€œThen go, dammit!”
    â€œUh-uh, Deet. Not without you. Deet, I’m scared.” She lowered her voice to a point where she was almost mouthing the words. “Deet, these people scare me.”
    â€œIt’s all right, Wooze. I’m here.”
    â€œThat’s what I’m scared about. You’re here . I don’t think you should be.”
    â€œYou starting that again?”
    She lowered her eyes. “No. I’m sorry. It’s just that—”
    â€œAw, look—” I knew she wanted me to touch her then, but I didn’t. “Look, this’ll only take a minute. Promise. Then we’ll go. Okay?”
    She looked up with tear streaks. “Promise?”
    â€œPromise,” I said, and touched her chin. “Just don’t nag me, okay?”
    â€œOkay, Deet. I’m sorry.” She sniffed at her sleeve.
    I looked back at the girls. They had long stringy hair, like they were hiding behind it. There was something funny about the shapes of their mouths too. I smiled, sort of, as if to excuse the Woozle.
    They didn’t smile back. Okay, I didn’t care. They took up their questioning where they left off. Questioning? What was this anyway—a test? Why did I have to pass a test?
    â€œHey,” I interrupted. “I didn’t come to talk. I came for the kick.”
    â€œWe know.