I give Boeing a suspicious look and tell him to hold on a minute.
"Hey, Vin- Mind if myself and our friend here get a ride back with you? It would beat walkin'."
I survey the scene.
"See folks, a tiny bit o' understandin' goes a long way. Like I said, we'll make sure folks get paid out. Now, let's just get back to livin' our lives, what say you?"
Spendin' a hold to have folks go back, quietly, to their reg…
I get up on a table to address the crowd again.
"Folks, let me tell you somethin' about our friend Valentine. Ze's in a little bit o' debt right now, which means things aren't gettin' paid out today. I know that's disappointing, but I also know tha…
I probably lingered a bit longer in that hug from Val than was proper. Hope ze didn't notice...
"Yeah, Val. I'd be happy to go talk to the crowd some more."
I smile broadly. "Val, my folks are hurtin' right now, so I don't have too much to give you, but you know you can count on me, all of us, actually, for support of the non-monetary kind. In fact, I'd be happy to make sure folks leave here in a calm m…
As soon as Valentine his the ground I'm up on a table yellin' to folks.
"People, people, listen... whatever's goin' on, let's keep this place calm. Valentine keeps us all in food and drink and oils the whole machine o' this place, so I'm sure that …
I'm nervously tappin' my foot. This just ain't my scene. That kid better hurry up and get here so we can get goin'. Hopin' the family is still okay. I should be there. Rain has me a bit... turned around. Havin' to deal with him instead o' bein' wher…
I smile. "Of course, Boeing. Tell him you talked me into it. One more thing, I'm findin' it hard to trust folks lately, given all that's goin' on, but I do trust you. I'm happy to accept HM's help, but I'd like you to come back to church with me aft…
"Well, it sure sounds like HM drive a hard bargain..."
How could I get Boeing to spill more about HM's overall plan, here? Sure HM has some machinations he's workin' on...
Well, looks like Caesar wants to strike a deal to hurt the Devil. Puts a fella like me in a strange position. Bein' honest with myself, I have to admit, I'd see HM gone. Frankly, I'd see all these powerful fellas gone. They all seem like corrupted f…
Eh, Boeing. Poor fella. Still on a chain.
"Thank you, friend, but my impression is that most o' the time, when someone hands you a drink, it's not really on the house, if you catch my meanin'. Sure, you might not get charged, but you'll pay for it…
"Can't rightly say I have," I reply to August. "I figure I seen enough blood in my life, and none of it twas particularly fun, so I ain't ever been quite sure what the appeal of watchin' folks hurt each other fer entertainment is."
I regard Val. It…
Now see, this is why I tend to avoid these. It's all... bloodshed and the like. Val is... Val is someone I have some deep and complicated feelings fer. Maybe I didn't know that in my conscious brain until we danced together, but it's been floatin' a…
My mind is still focused on my family and on Rain, but an artifact does always sound intriguing.
"Of course," I say to August, before she leaves. "I'm always happy to see interesting things. Let me know when I should come by and I'll be there."
I…
"Vignette, I gotta say thanks. I was tryin' to play it as smooth as possible there. I hate to see my family be the reason other folks ain't gettin' clear water. But that guy... that guy is just too much. What do we know about these forest folk?"
"My family, they're sick. And they ain't gettin' better, unlike some folk. You want to stand up and add some more honesty to that, Rain, or are you to scared to say it?"
"Still ain't rightly sure what it is I done to you to get you so riled up you'd be willin' to let my friends die, Rain, but my patience is growin' a bit thin with your lack of neighborliness. Maybe if you were to tell me what it is I gone an' done t…
Hmmm. Seems like Vignette don't know what's up. Problem is, if Rain actually can help with the sickness, and it seems he can, I don't want to jeopardize that fer everyone else. Just make sure we're in on it too. Let's try to force the issue.
"That'…
I frown. "That is unfortunate. Bon's good people, and useful to folks, too. Mind if we walk that way with you? I got a few questions to run by you about some goings on at Pike?"
Still doin' my best not to acknowledge Rain. What's his game, here?
Regarding Vignette, ignoring Rain, least for the time bein', I say "'Lo there, Vignette. Just the folk I wanted to see. Hope yer doin' well. Can I ask where yer headin' off to? SeaTac and I came a long way to say hi."