Page 55 - Tales Apocalyptic and Dystopian

High Tex and the Orbies

The boy came forward, and did not recoil as Ottley checked his
vital signs. Pulse. Respiration. Reflexes. Muscle tone. Flexibility.
Tongue. Eyeballs. It was a revelation. Even the boy’s hair was softer
and darker than any he had encountered in his travels.
“Any problem.”
Ottley snapped out of amazement. “None. I don’t understand.”
“Daniel, tell Ottley your story.”
“Certainly, sir.”
The boy had—what? Ottley groped for the word—manners. He
stepped back, as if what he beheld might suddenly transform into
something yet more stupendous.
“I was raised by my mother in a cabin very far from here. I do not
know the name of the place, if it has one. In the winter months it
always got cold, and once it snowed. My father disappeared when I
was very young. He had gone down the mountain to find food and
firewood. My mother told me later he would die rather than reveal
our location, and that she would do the same. Then I knew the world
below was very dangerous. We managed to get by on small animals
my mother trapped and plants she knew we could eat. She had old
books and taught me to read. She made us clothes from cloth in a
green metal trunk. I stayed indoors most of the time because she was
afraid of the sun.”
Ottley studied the boy’s face. It registered none of the usual traits
of the unaccomplished liar. No twitches, tensing, sweating, blinking,
hesitation. If he weren’t drugged, then the kid had to believe what he
was saying. Ottley’s respect for Tex went up several notches. The
man had a reputation, but word of mouth was not considered a
reliable medium for accuracy by the prudent. Now Ottley knew his
own part would be minor; the product would sell itself once the
buyer’s initial resistance was overcome.
“One day my mother went out for food and didn’t come back. I
was very frightened, but she had taught me to remain hidden in the
cabin as long as possible if she did not return. I stayed until the food
ran out. Then I wrapped myself up in every piece of clothing I could
wear and went out. We had a hidden path which looked like an
animal trail. It took me from the cabin down the mountain to a river.
I followed it until I saw some people in a kind of shed by the water. I
think they were looking for fish. I saw a picture of a fish once in a

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