Mike Hindle.
"Goodnight" Wes hung the phone up. He sat back in the chair loosened his tie and put his feet on the table. 'Birds, who needs 'em ?' he thought to himself. He picked the phone up again, dialled and waited, " Josef it's me wassup? Yeah I know tell m e about it. Look you heard from that Indian what's he called walks on water or summat yet, no, right don't worry I'll pick him up in the morning catch you then, later."
It had been a long night first Lisa had complained that she didn't see enough of him then there were no messages on the answer phone all this and it was only Monday. The decanter was half full after he refilled his glass, the ice ma de a quite chink as he raised the glass to his lips. The stereo system buzzed softly as it changed CD's; a subtle Jazz ballad filled the room. Wes closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep. He woke briefly to undress and crawl into bed.
When he awoke the alarm clock read nine thirty. In one hour he had to pick up a new kid to the team, an Indian who was apparently some shit hot magician. Wes was always sceptical about mages, not knowing many he didn't trust them all that much. However as Josef had said, " If the shit hits the fan a bullet in the head always stops worry." The room swirled as he tumbled out of the warmth of the quilt. He dressed quickly wearing a dark grey shirt and a black tie, his face stung from the afters have. He donned his black long coat, picked up the gold tinted shades, his keys and made for the door.
The sun streaked through the crack in the curtains, Josef screwed a cigarette in to his mouth, lit it and inhaled. The cancer stick seeming to breathe life into him instead of death. He rubbed some lube into his datajack and ambled towards t he bathroom he f licked the light on and the fluorescent tube made his eyes shut as it winked into existence. The water he used to wash with was cold against his skin, his hand scratching roughly against his two-day growth. The thought of shaving paused momentarily inside the Decker's head. Josef Petrowski greatest Decker in the world stood in a pair of shorts staring himself in the face, his mind lost on some tropical island that he had every intention of retiring to someday, just as soon as he had the money and nothing better to do.
The sun felt warm against his face; ' Surely today is a good day.' Walks on Wind was a tribal shaman whose totem path was that of Bear, a slow but methodical creature. He was stood under the Seattle space needle, "a nice central location th at you will know " had said a disembodied voice on the pay phone. A car pulled up beside him, a d ark green Chrysler jackrabbit, inside sat a Man who at first glance seemed to have gold eyes, not uncommon in the cybertech age but unusual. "Yes...?" the India n began as the window rolled down.
"Get in." The goldeneyed mans voice was flat and to the point.
"Umm, What is the location of the home?" Asked the Indian as he had been instructed by the voice on the phone.
"What??"
"What is the location of the home?" He repeated.
"Oh, Man what a dick" the goldeyed man muttered to himself.
"The home rises on the East Side but the four walls are at the south" stated the man quickly, "Now get in before someone things I'm looking for a date!"
In his apartment Josef laughed to himself as he looked at the time, 'Wes should like the old cloak and dagger spy routine' he thought as he pulled on his jeans. Right on time his doorbell Chimed twice, the video screen revealed it was Wes and the Indian, Wes looked non-to pleased.
The door opened and Wes walked in followed by the Indian, the stairs took them n o time at all and within seconds Goldeneyes was hammering on the apartment door. The lenses turned out to be just that sunglasses that were removed on entrance to the apartment block. A scruffy looking, half-dressed man opened the door. Goldeneyes spoke "M an you look like shit what were you up to last night?" "Not what, Who" said the other,
"You Sly bastard. Was she worth it?"
"Nah, but it killed an evening." They both laughed. "Have you said anything to t his guy or have you done your usual two grunt a day routine?" Goldeneyes had mad e his way into the apartment and seemed to be foraging in the fridge he grunted in acknowledgeme nt.
"Well, I am Josef Petrowski, Pengo. That over there is Wes Beckett" the Goldeneyed counterpart looked up and threw a can of cola at Josef. "Borealis" he contin ued "he is ... was a bodyguard. I as if you hadn't noticed am a Decker and you are Walks On Win d." The Decker paused to open and drink from his can. "Currently wanted by Lones tar and Aztechnology for theft of Bio Chips belonging to aforementioned Aztec la st Thursday night, you nailed two of their mages and a bloodhound in your escape and managed to avoid almost all security precautions. However you didn't expect the robbery of a store over the road that resulted in two squad cars being sent. Hence Lonestar want you for fireballing a cop car and Aztec wants their biochips back. All thi s on a sesame se ed bun, that's why we can trust him Wes, 'cause if he does shop us he wont live past the next sunset." Finished the Decker matter-of-factly.
The Indian's jaw hung open " How did you know all this?"
"Pengo knows everything"
Laughter from the bodyguard.
"My sister ran shotgun with your Decker I got the whole thing on tape around her e somewhere if you want to watch yourself, if your into that sort of thing."
"When you two have stopped sucking each others dicks, I told sally we'd meet her at Takuri's at eleven. Pengo dressed putting on a clean shirt and a dark tie that seemed to change colour as he walked.
The roads were clear and Wes made the journey in less than ten minutes. He let Valet park the car, and the three of them walked into the restaurant. The Maitre de stepped forward to greet them, He sneered at the mage but soon regained composure as he saw Wes and Josef. "Gentlemen, gentlemen may I welcome you to Takuri's how may I be of service this morn?"
"Is Sally here yet Yumiko?" asked the bodyguard,
"Yes, Wes-San she arrived moments ago, will you be attending with her today?"
A nod.
"This way please then sirs." Yumiko bowed and turned, as he began to walk he turned sideways and snatched three menus from a rack next to the door. "Will it be the usual drinks for you Wes-San?" "Yeah, and bring us a pitcher of water."
"What shall I bring for your friend"
"A glass for the water you'll bring" stated the Indian.
Seconds later the three of them were sitting at an empty table.
"I thought your man said Sal was here?" mused Josef.
"You know what she's like she'll have seen us coming, more likely heard us and disappeared so she can make an entrance."
The bodyguard was right, as if it had been a cue line Sally entered.
She was about five eleven with long black hair that she had tied back In a pony- tail. "How are you boys...?"
"Walks on wind, this lady is Sally Mitsuma."
"Charmed, but surely you have a shorter name than that?" purred the newly arrive d female, the Indian stuttered an stammered but managed to spit out " Joshua, Josh."
"Well Josh, it looks like you passed the first test, a drive with Wes, you obviously have nerves of steel" the girl ducked as Wes threw his napkin at her "You s till sore about our race in Redmond Sally?"
"You ran me clear of the road Wes, everyone says so why don't you just admit it a girlie is a better driver than you!"
"I'll admit it when you prove to me your a girlie" said Wes flatly. The two parities glared at each other then broke into laughter, "Its a good job Vangelis isn 't here or you'd be eating barrel a la Pred for lunch he still things you rammed us into that ditch" said Sally after the laughter died down. "Speaking of Van why isn't he here ?"
"God meeting" said the Decker, just as the Indian was about to ask who this mysterious person was the waiter arrived with their drinks.
"Are you ready to order sirs?" they each nodded,
"Steak please and no salad this time" from the bodyguard,
"I think I'll try the Lasagne please" stated Sally,
"And you sir what my I get you" asked the waiter as he looked down at Josh,
"I'm fine thank you" at this the waiter turned to look at Josef " but you can bring me the glass I asked you for at the door." The waiter seemed to turn crimson from the neck up, "Certainly, sir," the very words looked as if they would make him choke.
"And while your at it I'll have a hamburger, portion of fries and a milkshake." "Strawberry" finished the Decker as the waiter stumbled away.
"What's his problem he didn't tell me it was a strawberry crush in the poncy way he normally does." "He had a sudden change of heart, he thought I looked like the owner of the restaurant" Josh commented as a smile broke onto his face, "my people found it easier to get what we needed if we looked like you."
Sally smiled at Wes " See magic does have its uses"
Minutes later they ate.
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