Chapter 16
Shall we dance?
It was the day of the festival, Tasha and Jake ran toward the crowd, talking and munching hot dogs and tacos. Although almost everyone in the fair carried a gun and looked around the crowd suspiciously, they were having a nice time with their family. It was a day of armistice, the time when people silently agreed to take a break from each other.
Jake took out bunch of copper coins from his worn-out jean. And he bought a chili dog. He smiled happily when he grabbed the chili dog. He started pushing the chili dog into his throat. The chili dropped on the street as he pushed it with his lips. Tasha was jumping around in the crowd, first went to see jewelries and then she went to look at the pets. The man was wrapping his pet snake around his neck. A thick heavy snake yawned and leered dully at Tasha, and turned its head around. Tasha followed its head and saw it yawned again. She reached out and patted its head. It hissed and rolled around the man’s arm. Tasha giggled.
As Cassandra was war-ridden, highly unstable country, the currency which Veron printed had almost no value and subject to fraud. So, people used ora, enosi and psomi which the mercenaries used to trade, if these currency were not available, they used foreign currencies or barter with another. This deeply upset Veron because he liked to see his face on every bill they’ve issued. Therefore, only soldiers used those currencies. They rather acted like robbers because they forced the merchants to accept the currency, which had no value whatsoever. If they refused to take it, they threw them into prison.
Merchants wanted to make sure whether there was a right percentage of gold and silver inside the coin, (they didn’t care much about the copper). As it wasn’t too hard to replicate and counterfeit the coin, all the merchants owned the electronic density checking device to avoid fraud by diluting the percentage of gold. Still there were a lot of speculation and smuggling activities in the gold and silver market.
Jake knew that Tasha was involved in the channel of merchants, because she sometimes bought Jake a surprise birthday present. Last birthday, Jake received a high tech dinosaur toy. Jake was shocked. The dinosaur was about the size of a puppy. Jake invited his friends and played with it together. She bought a nice pistol for herself, which somehow Alvin knew it immediately and took it from her. “I’ll give you when you are over eighteen,” he said. In an exchange, Alvin gave her five nasty skunk bombs which he said it literally contains a skunk fart, manufactured by his friend working at some toy shop. Unfortunately, his friend couldn’t meet people for months after an unfortunate accident while making that bomb. According to Alvin, when this bomb goes off, people will puke, scream and be alone for more than a month. Tasha’s eyes beamed when she heard this, throwing a huge smile and took those skunk bombs, and she was carrying it with her ever since.
Alvin and Diana knew of Tasha’s involvement with merchants because when Alvin and Diana went to buy some fish for dinner, the owner told them about Tasha, that she was a talented trader. Tasha rarely talked aloud about this matter to anyone.
Tasha grabbed Jake’s hand and head toward Charlie, the candy shop owner. Jake grinned because he liked Charlie too. When they got there, Charlie was cursing at the merchants at the fair.
“Now now Charlie, they are not here to hurt you,” said Tasha, trying to keep Charlie from vendors.
“Bastards! They are taking my children!” shouted Charlie. He was throwing huge rock candies at them, yelling at them to move their tents away from his shop.
“Oh yes, Charlie, Jake is here, do you remember Jake?” said Tasha, pulling Jake in front of red-faced Charlie.
“Jake?” Charlie stopped and gazed at him. Charlie’s face was still red, breathing hard, but the smile appeared upon seeing him. “Oh, oh hello my little friend, do you want some cotton candy?”
“Charlie, what about me?” said Tasha, smiling.
“Of course I get you one too! Wait here,” Charlie was smiling happily and went back to his house, after few grumbling, they heard a loud motor sound coming out from the candy machine.
“So, have you noticed?” said Tasha, her eyes narrowed, keeping her voice down so only Jake can hear.
“Noticed what?” asked Jake, putting his ear closer to Tasha.
“The ghosts are in the fair,” whispered Tasha, grinning, looking at the street.
“The…. what?” said Jake.
“You know the ghosts, the agents with a cloaking device. They are walking around,” said Tasha.
“How do you know?” asked Jake.
“Well, I saw the few clumsy ones stepping on those puddles. Unlucky for them, it rained last night,” said Tasha, her eyes beaming.
“So… Is it Nina Polchinski?” said Jake.
“I think so!” hissed Tasha.
“What do you think they are doing?” asked Jake.
“I don’t know. Let’s enjoy the fair for now, maybe we’ll find out!” cheered Tasha, her blood boiling. Her face became pink with excitement.
“Here! Here my friends!” exclaimed Charlie. He was grabbing huge greenish cotton candies. It was so huge that it looked like Charlie carrying Christmas trees.
“That was super fast Charlie,” said Tasha, amazed.
“No more sweets for today I guess,” Jake muttered.
“Thank you Charlie!” said Tasha, grabbing the humongous cotton candy.
Charlie laughed hard and said, “enjoy the fair!” and went back to his store. He didn’t close the door but the wind blew and the door shut with a loud bang.
“Now, shall we…” Tasha suddenly stopped and her face got hardened.
“What are you…” Jake gazed on the front too and startled at the sight.
The huge fat guy, who looked like a great white shark, walked toward them. He was with two skinny but muscular males on the side. They were snarling and spitting on the street. The big one looked at Tasha and Jake, his thick eyes gleaned at them dangerously. There was a long three-striped scar on his cheek. It was healed but the skin of the mouth seemed like it stretched out.
“What have we got here?” the fat guy exclaimed as if he received a birthday cake, his purplish tongue licking his lips. Other two guys frowned and leered at them, making threatening postures.
“Look guys, it’s the whore and the worm. It’s been a long time! We thought you guys are dead,” the fat guy grinned. Two guys stretched muscle, cracking their necks.
“Are you bitches finally got a gut to escape?” scoffed Tasha.
“Fuck you whore,” growled one skinny guy, curling his lips. “We got out from that shit place alright, because we got recruited by the traffickers! They could use our noble skills you know. Now we are part of the gangs.”
Tasha and Jake met them in the past when they were in the orphanage, the name of the big guy is Douri and other two skinny guys were named Toin and Mus.
“Yeah, we are cool,” laughed Toin.
“Thank you for this sexy scar you gave me, whore. It helped me greatly when I got recruited by our master,” said Douri, two other guys were smirking.
“Sure, you got it from the chick,” said Jake, plainly. Tasha glimpsed at Jake, little surprised, and began to laugh. The guys removed their smirks and walked toward them closer.
“Well, I see you got some guts while you are away from us. You little prick,” said Douri, swinging his massive fists in the air.
“Yes, maybe it will be best to return a favor…” Mus sniggered taking his knifes out. Douri looked at him and sniggered, and took out his knife too.
“In public? You can’t be that stupid,” said Tasha.
“Oh, no, our master will be glad when we show some guts. Who knows? We can sell you to the traffickers and he will be happy for us bringing some profits!” said Toin.
Tasha leered at them. Jake pulled her back toward him.
“You think the ghosts will save us?” whispered Jake.
“Don’t be stupid,” hissed Tasha to Jake.
“Why did Alvin take away my gun anyway?” grumbl
ed Tasha. “You have to be over eighteen to survive? What a load of crap.”
“Well… hope for the better I guess,” said Jake, making a fist, gesturing that he is ready to fight, but Tasha shook her head and held him back.
The guys were getting closer, their eyes blazing. Tasha winked at Jake. She reached out the hand in the bag. Suddenly, she pulled out the Skunk Bomb and threw right into Douri’s face. The Skunk Bomb was soft and squishy. It bounced against Douri’s head. In the air, it exploded and something yellow and green splattered at Douri’s face. Tasha and Jake immediately nauseated by a strong odor, scowled, tried not to puke. Douri started screaming.
“It’s a good old time baby, run!” shouted Tasha. Tasha and Jake threw their cotton candy and ran. Toin and Mus started puking on the floor, running away from Douri.
“That whore! I’m going to…” the Douri bellowed and gurgled with puke.
Charlie came out from his store full of rock candies again to throw at vendors but as soon as he opened the door, he frowned at the smell. Charlie groaned, seeing the three young men puking in front of him. He grumbled and went back inside the store, locking the door.
Tasha and Jake ran. Bumping into the crowd, after a while they arrived at the beach. Catching their breath, Tasha and Jake laughed, Tasha howled in the air. They started walking along the beach to reach a magnificent view of the sunset, where there were musicians playing secretly from the eyes of soldiers. Normally, soldiers were drunk in the tavern in the days of festivals. They weren’t too hard on the searches.
Tasha and Jake saw the sea hawk flying and the wave breaking against the big rock. Soon they arrived at the place, where the musicians were playing guitar, saxophone and an accordion. Tasha smiled and sat down on the rock.
“Good huh?” said Tasha.
“Yeah! How did you know about this place?” Jake exclaimed.
“Oh, Charlie talked about it once,” mumbled Tasha, lying down on the rock. The red sun glowed; the crab slowly crawled in a distance. Tasha, sighed with relief, listened to the saxophone, the man was playing jazz. She wasn’t sure about the name of the song but she started swinging her body. Jake giggled.
“Do you like jazz?” asked Jake.
“Who wouldn’t?” she said, humming.
“I don’t,” said Jake.
“Ha! You are no fun. It would be so nice when the guys ask for a dance in the beach,” Tasha glimpsed at Jake, skimming his head to toe. “Not that I have much expectation.”
“Nope I don’t, I’ll just look stupid,” mumbled Jake, lying down on the rock also.
“So, how’s the club?” said Tasha.
“What are you talking about?” said Jake.
“You know, ‘Rodents,’” Tasha grinned.
“Oh… It’s same old same old,” murmured Jake.
“I’m glad that you got some guts to do such thing,” Tasha giggled, Jake went little pink.
“Yeah, they came when I was cutting the yard, asked whether I would like to jump around the city,” said Jake.
“That is nice. Can you draw graffiti and stuff?” asked Tasha.
“A little, I mean if you are interested, I’m sure you can join it too!” said Jake, scratching his head.
“There is no way you can make me do that stupid thing,” said Tasha.
“Well, how about you? What are you going to do?” asked Jake.
“You want to know?” said Tasha.
“Yeah, what is it?” insisted Jake. Tasha stared at Jake charmingly and opened her lips.
“Gunslinger,” said Tasha, grinning. Jake was dumbfounded, silenced for a while, looking at Tasha.
“W... What? No! Diana will pass out!” shouted Jake, suddenly.
“Probably,” said Tasha.
“But… but why?” said Jake.
But Tasha ignored Jake and closed her eyes, listening to the tides breaking and the sound of saxophone was slipping into her ears.
“Be careful if you are in the ‘Rodents.’” said Tasha. “You know what happened to the musicians and dancers.”
“Ha! They will never find our nest! We change it every day!” shouted Jake.
“What is the nest?” asked Tasha.
“The gathering ground before we launch ourselves into the urban forest. I mean it is fun! You should totally come to visit! See? Just one time, it won’t be bad, I promise” said Jake. Tasha glimpsed at him and snorted.
“Alright, if you want it that bad, I will try to hang out with you goof balls,” Tasha stood up, staring at the sea. Jake stared at her, calmed down, his heart beat faster. He gazed at her.
“Shall we dance?” Jake said, awkwardly. Tasha laughed.
“No, baby, you are just a kid.” Tasha messed Jake’s head and kissed him on his cheek.