Page 56 - Tales Apocalyptic and Dystopian

High Tex and the Orbies

book my mother showed me, but I didn’t know it was worth looking
for them anymore. I was hungry and tired, and they didn’t want
another mouth to feed, but Mr. Nye happened to be visiting them
and he wouldn’t let them hurt me. He said he knew a man who
would take care of me, and that we should make the journey together
to High Tex. I did not trust him at first, but I had no choice. We
traveled many weeks, and Mr. Nye went to a lot of trouble to protect
me and find me food. Now I am with High Tex, and he has also
given me shelter, although it is very dangerous outside here and it
must be difficult for him to keep me safe from the terrible weather
and bad people down here. But this is not my final destination,
according to him. Soon I will be going to a place where it will be
much safer and people will want me.”
“That’s the short version, Ottley,” said Tex. “You need more.”
“No. Show me on a map where I found him, how long it took to
get here, how long ago this happened, how I knew you would take
him in.”
“Those are the right questions. You are the man I sought. And just
in time: the boy will be leaving this afternoon. Daniel. Go to your
room and get ready. You know what you can take with you.”
“Yes, sir.”
Ottley heard the first trace of emotion in that reply, a bit of
sadness. It was another surprise. Most people able to carry on had the
subtler feelings burned out of them, no matter what age. The boy left
an uncomfortable silence behind. Tex broke it.
“Not many of us left.”
“I won’t argue with that.” Ottley intuited his host referred to the
brotherhood of con artists to which they both perforce belonged.
“Normal commerce is all twisted. Nothing left, everything needed.
Rubes and marks should be treating us like gods, no matter the
quality of goods we supply. But we have a hard sell. No honor even
for a false prophet. Hope is the organ we play and the pipes are
busted. No sizzle accepted without a bite or two of steak attached.”
“You found a customer for the boy. The price won’t be a case of
soldier’s rations. I think you found the right tune for this one.”
High Tex grunted.

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