Land of the Old & Weary

tw: guns & violence

“Are you coming tonight?” She nervously tossed the sat-phone from one hand to the other. A lot of things were riding on the success of tonight’s operation, and she couldn’t do it if she was missing a person.

A gravelly voice spoke up.

“What did I say about calling me about ops?”

“No calling about ops, but-”

“That means no. Goodbye.”

Frustrated now, she called the number again, hitting the buttons with a little more force then was necessary. The dial tone rang for a few seconds, and then stopped.

“Look, I know you said you quit, but this thing is gonna fail if we don’t have enough people, and you’re the only one that’s still available. So suck it up, and be there.” Out of breath, I hung up.

I stormed out of the room, angrily muttering about. Grabbing my coat and flashlight, I was rummaging through my kitchen looking for my keys when the doorbell rang. I cursed, and slammed the drawer shut. Peering through the peephole, I shook my head and opened the door.

“Tess Whittier, in the flesh and bone ! To what do I owe the honor?” In a sudden change of mood, I grinned broadly, letting the weary traveler into the flat. Tess chuckled, and raised a hand in a mock salute.

“‘Fraid this isn’t a social call. You know Spencer Victor, the poor old sod, they found him in the Alley with a bullet in his head.” She bowed her head for a moment, holding her hat in her hands, and then she continued.

“Now, I hear that you and your ragtag gang are planning a little somethin’-

“Wait- how’d you know about that?” I interrupted, frowning.

“That's irrelevant. What matters is that the Sheriff said that y’all can’t go running about slashing people’s necks. At least not for a while.”

“So he sent his pet project 'stead of coming by himself?”

Tess chortled. “Come on, Lei. You don’t let anyone that isn’t already on a timer anywhere near your places.”

I frowned. It was a setback, but nothing too big. Suddenly turning around, I grabbed my flashlight and pointed it at Tess.

“Who told you about my op?” I snarled. A leak in the group was a big thing, an unforgivable thing. I had no space for traitors in my gang's midst.

“Ah, you know, word gets around.” Tess smirked, taking the flashlight from Lei’s hand and tossing it on the table. I scowled, pushing Tess out of the door and locking it behind her. I frowned.

It seemed a frown was going to be the day’s resting face for me, because that was the face I wore as I drove down to the rendezvous point.

It was rapidly approaching nighttime, and most of the gang was holed up in the House. Of course, Radcliffe was still AWOL, but I hadn’t really expected him to come, anyways.

The House in question was a small, concrete bunker on the outskirts of the New City. It was sparsely decorated with a couple of threadbare rugs and flattened pillows, and some bunks on the other end of the room, for the members that didn’t have anywhere else to call home. Nobody that knew about the House had another home, anyways. Other properties, yes, but no other home. I had made sure of that when they were recruited.

Impatiently tapping my foot, I glanced at her watch, again, and again, and again. It had probably been another hour of waiting before the metal door burst open with a dull clang, revealing a tall, able-bodied human slinging a much smaller body over his shoulder.

Radcliffe was here.

I rushed forward, understandably cross with Radcliffe.

“Is that a child? You’d better not’ve killed him, I’ve got enough on my mind without the murder of some kid on my conscience.”

“Relax. He’s not dead. I caught him snooping ‘round the bushes, lookin’ for a way in.” The man replied, dropping the child on one of the bunks.

“Goddammit, what is it with people knowing everything today?!” I cried, exasperated.

“I led ‘im here.”

The room waved with shock, and slowly, the once-quiet space was turned into a murmuring territory of anger and confusion.

“Alright, alright! I’m not an idiot, y’all know. I was leavin’ my place when I see this kid riding behind me on his bike. Tried to shake ‘im, couldn’t do it.”

Now everyone was confused. How could a child, who looked not above sixteen, mind you, be able to tail a man of Radcliffe’s caliber?

“So I let him tail me, then I snuck around and gave ‘im a good one to the head. Y’know, so we could figure out what ‘e wanted.”

I clapped slowly. “Bravo, charlie. But now he’s knocked out good, for at least a couple hours, knowing you, and he won’t talk after that.” I paused, for effect, but also to give my next words meaning.

#

a couple minutes later

“Alrighty people, listen up! Here’s the plan for today,” I gestured at the board beside me, and the map pinned up on it. “We enter through the back doors, as usual, and here, right next to this road, we line up and wait. A little birdie tells me that a big shipment’s going to be passin’ through these here canals, and it’s up to us to get whatever’s inside. There’s about six other decoy ships, so it’s got to be something important. Any questions?”

A pale, ginger-haired woman raised her hand.

“Yes?”

“What about the child?” The woman looked at the kid, clearly concerned.

“He’ll be awake by the time we get back.”

And with that, everyone started packing. For these types of missions, stealth was of utmost significance, so a lot of gear wasn’t required. A flashlight, a smallish map, an even smaller earpiece, and a pistol.

“Oh, I almost forgot! Try to refrain from manslaughter today. Apparently some old drunk ended up dead near the river, so you’d be best with some good old-fashioned fists.” I acknowledged as everyone started for the door. A particularly disappointing-looking man shoved his brass knuckles back into his bag, and a couple of people were shaking their heads disapprovingly. But the most important word was my word, so they sucked it up and walked out the door.

“Oi! Malik! Would you mind staying here and babysitting Junior over there? Kid of that talent won’t stay put, you know…” Malik shrugged, and made his way over to the nearest chair, giving the child a stare that would send a braver man running.

It seemed today was just full of disappointments. I didn’t like that. Missions were much more successful when everyone was happy and fed, and when the gang was given a free rein. It was our territory, after all. Nobody remembered that, but it was. Sad how the young’uns always forgot their land, the place where their hearts most intimately connected...

#

30 years ago

- lei cai