TAKE THE LOOSE BITS

1563 4D

Daddy lit the torch and ducked and the kids missed him. Janny crouched in a tiny dark niche. She jerked in surprise when he fired a gun two times into the darkness and hit Seven-Rats Rodie. The kids ran. Daddy came out and looked at the fat woman’s body where Seven-Rats lay dead on top of her. Janny smiled. Seven-Rats beat her a few meals ago, before the lights went out and hunting got good.

Where was Daddy going? He cried when he got up from turning Seven-Rats’ body over. Janny followed him. When the lights went on again she’d go to him. Right now was a bad time. He was dancing on drugs, twitching, staring. He would shoot if she came to him too fast. She hung back as he walked into a home.

After a while he came out again and looked through other places on the street. Kids were getting together behind her. A click of teeth. That was Holeface. Holeface always took street meat. She wanted to warn Daddy but she was afraid to step out. Then the two men jacked Daddy and knocked him down and took his guns and ran away.

Janny started to come out. Daddy lay on the street with blood on his side. Janny crept to him and sniffed. He was breathing. She remembered Holeface. Find some other meat for Holeface so he wouldn’t bother Daddy. She slipped away down the street and found the other children digging through junk in a house.

Her little knife. She clutched its handle. It was too little. Mama Bones could help her. Mama was up one and three turns left-hand. Janny scuttled into a stair and raced.

The two huge dead men had kids climbing on them like on two hills. Clothes ripped. Kids pulled off belts, shoes, knives, strips of cloth, bags, pockets, cartridges, torches, hair. They gouged out teeth, ears, nails, cyberwear. They cut off fingers and toes and tongues. Mama Bones counted cartridges, checked guns.

Janny scurried to her and said with her hand, “Come help Daddy. Daddy hurt.”

Mama Bones looked at her and cradled her hand, saying the same way, “Busy. Later.”

“Come help Daddy. Holeface coming hurt him.”

“Ou Daddy?”

“Two right-hand, down, down, one left. Show you.”

Mama Bones shifted to speech. “Alla you lissen. You lef’ han' finish, you sav?” The kids on her left nodded. “You ri’ han' come wi' Mama.” Silent, the rest of the children followed her as Janny led them, running, back to the stairs.

Holeface clicked at the stair exit. Mama Bones passed Janny like silent wind. She made Holeface gurgle and choke. The children passed Janny and she followed them now. Where was Daddy? Janny ran to Mama Bones and pointed. They all went to where Daddy lay. Kids crawled over him and felt everywhere and took things. Janny said, “No!” The kids looked at her and started to rip at Daddy’s clothes. “No!” she said again.

Mama Bones said, “Alla you stop. Jus tak da loose bits.” She leaped over and smacked a chunky girl still pulling on Daddy’s sleeve. “Leavem be now. We gotta go finish, upside.”

Janny pulled Mama’s arm. “Stay him wake up,” her hand said.

“No more. We done Holeface fa you.” Mama Bones pointed to a heap of twisted limbs and head and street junk. She cleaned the blade of her knife on his baggy sleeve. Then she felt his pockets and belts. She took his knives. Janny held out her hand for her bits. Mama gave her two five-pieces from Holeface‘s pack.

“You come wid us now, Pee Jan,” Mama Bones said, “He be okay, sav?”

“Okay, Mama,” Janny said with her hand, “Daddy be okay.” She looked back in the dark and Daddy whispered,

“Engel.”