Dustland Requiem (A Bard's Folktale)

  * * *

  Kody reluctantly opened his eyes as sunlight shone onto his face through the window. Still lying in bed, he pulled the covers over his head until Cris came out of the bathroom, now in jeans and a cozy polo. He rolled over to a knock at the door, watching as Cris answered it. In its frame stood Geroge with his classic aviator sunglasses, waiting.

  “Y’all ready?”

  “Yes, just give us a minute.”

  “C’mon, chickarita, grab up your stuff. Everyone’s waitin’ in the lobby.”

  Kody climbed out of bed and quickly got dressed as he and Cris grabbed up her belongings, most of his own things having been lost in the fire. They headed out to the otherwise deserted lobby, where a heated debate was underway.

  “I ain’t doin’ it, ya’ shit sack, so you can go fuck yerself!”

  Jake was about an inch from Arturo’s face, the latter looking less than amused with his hand resting on his pistol.

  “I didn’t make a request. You got Estaban’s daughter killed, which makes yours one of the most valuable heads around. Lucky for you, you’re more useful to me alive than dead. But if you don’t cooperate, I have no problem selling off your corpse and improvising.”

  Alma jumped in the fray, working with Lorena to try to separate the two as Glenn sat back and observed.

  “Hey! No one is killing Jake. That’s the end of that very short story. Now, if that means we have to play along with your shenanigans for a bit to get outta here, then maybe we can work something out. Not like I wanna leave Lorena in danger,” Alma offered up.

  “Then tell your brother to stand down and fall in line,” Arturo replied.

  “Hey, I don’t take orders anymore, asswipe!”

  Jake shoved Arturo, causing him to fall back onto the floor. Arturo hopped back up onto his feet, grabbing Jake by the collar and running him into the wall, putting his revolver to Jake’s throat. Kody leaned in, moving to help, but Cris held him back. Arturo brought his face close to Jake’s, nostrils flaring as they came eye to eye.

  “I don’t want to kill you. But that’s what this very capable pistol is aimed to do if you move against me again,” Arturo articulated clearly.

  Adjusting his glasses, Glenn stepped up to the two, drawing their attention. Glenn raised his hands, showing they were empty, before slowly lowering Arturo’s weapon and separating the two.

  “Ar-Arturo, Jake and I will be h-happy to assist you,” Glenn said.

  “Atty, the hell?”

  Glenn turned to Jake, looking at him over his glasses and nodding. Jake snorted and rolled his eyes to the side, taking a seat in a nearby chair next to Alma. Arturo holstered his weapon, inspecting Glenn with a stern expression.

  “You’re willing to help?”

  “You’ve st-stated your position c-clearly. If your plan is only to use J-jake as bait, then it should pose little d-danger to him, and I imagine you’ll p-provide substantial c-compensation, correct?”

  Arturo looked Glenn over, chuckling to himself. “You want me to pay him?”

  “W-why not? A k-kin leader can surely afford it, and it seems in line with your pr-practices. Given both the d-desperation and necessity of J-jake’s assistance, I’d say everyone wins.”

  Arturo let his head roll back, laughing to himself for a minute before saying anything. He finally held his hand out to Glenn, the two exchanging a handshake. Arturo turned to Jake, who watched nonchalantly.

  “You’ve got clever friends. Stick by them—they just might keep you alive.”

  “Arturo, give us a minute?” Lorena asked.

  Arturo nodded and headed outside. Kody and Cris made their way into the lobby, joining the discussion.

  “What’s going on?” Cris asked.

  “Arturo’s gonna blow up the bandito hideout, and he wants to use Jake as bait. And apparently Glenn over here thought it’d be funny to try to sell my brother.” Alma leaned against a wall watching both Glenn and Jake unamused.

  Lorena stepped up, managing to walk on her ankle well enough, and clarified the situation. “Glenn prolly just saved Jake’s life, Alm. Even if Arturo has good ideas, he’s still a bandito, an’ unlike the rest of ya’, I know what banditos’ll do ta’ get what they want.”

  “Then why help them?” Alma asked.

  “’Cause even though it ain’t great, Arturo’s way is the closest ta’ gettin’ peace we got.”

  “All right, all right…fuck me.” Alma sighed, rubbing her head. “If Jake’s stuck in this damn thing, then so am I. And so are you, Glenn, for forcing us to go along with this mess. Go ahead and lead us down the rabbit hole, jefe.”

  Glenn nodded. Kody noticed Geroge take off his sunglasses, standing next to himself and Cris. Geroge looked over to Kody, and then Cris, and interrupted the group meeting.

  “Hey, this cavalcade of craziness sounds fun and all, but uh…who’s driving the bus home?”

  The group in the lobby looked at Geroge, and then behind him to Kody and Cris. Geroge shrugged and continued.

  “Hey. Don’t look me at like I’m runnin’ away or somethin’. Ain’t been in a real fight since second grade, and I’m thinkin’ my grown-up debut against some pissed off dudes with lots of bullets ain’t gonna work out too well. Wish y’all the best, but my life’s back home, which is where I need ta’ be headin’.” He turned to Cris. “You drivin’, chica?”

  “Yes. Go load up your bag.”

  Kody watched as Geroge headed out the door, followed by Cris. The rest of the group turned to Kody. Jake laughed behind him, nudging Alma as Kody turned away and began carrying Cris’s bag outside.

  “Good luck, Kody, ya’ two stay safe,” Lorena said, lowering her head.

  Alma sprung off the wall, running over to Kody. She ripped the bag from his hand and tossed it on the floor.

  “Are you fucking kidding me? This is how you have my back? You can’t bail on me now.”

  Glenn cocked an eyebrow, which did not escape Kody’s notice as Alma confronted him. She grabbed Kody’s face and forced him to look at her.

  “Kody, when this is thing is over, we’re all going home. Together. I don’t care what or who you do after that. But right here, right now? We’re gonna need every person we can get to make sure that happens.”

  “What about Cris?” he asked.

  “Yes, what about me?”

  Cris marched into the center of the lobby, breaking in between the two and knocking Alma back. Alma stood her ground, unwilling to back down.

  “Come with us.” Alma asked, taking Cris’s hands.

  “What?” Cris recoiled.

  “I meant every word I said. I don’t wanna lose anyone. That means everybody counts. So come with us. C’mon Crissy, let’s bury our issues for now and go home together…please.”

  Kody shifted back and forth, watching the two. His strawberry brunette and cherry princess. The only women he’d ever loved. The best of friends who grew to hate each other because of him and his lust. But maybe there was a way to change that. His gaze rested on Alma when Cris turned back to him, worry decorating her face. She chewed her lip. Kody spoke up, “I did promise I’d have her back. Besides, didn’t you make it your mission to look after Glenn?”

  “What? That doesn’t even…” Cris trailed off, turning back to Glenn. She looked at him with fondness, and then at Lorena and Alma. “…and G?”

  “He can wait in the car, I guess.” Kody shrugged.

  “So how does this work? What do we do?” Cris asked.

  Kody watched as Jake sat in his chair, using a knife to clean his fingernails. Alma turned to Jake, and then Glenn looking for answers.

  “There are e-eight of us, so I propose we go in two t-teams. From what I saw, Art-turo rides a horse, and Lorena is g-good with it as well?” Glenn looked to Lorena, who nodded in response. “So Lorena and Art-turo will ride ahead as the advance p-party, and the r-rest of us will squeeze int-to the convertible.”

  “Where we’ll go and sell my happy ass ta’ the
highest homicidal bidder. Cheers!” Jake offered a toast.

  “Yeah, what about that?” Alma asked.

  “Once we’re s-staged and in p-place, that’s where ph-phase two comes in,” Glenn responded.

  “Phase two?”

  Glenn smirked, drawing everyone in as he began laying out his plan.