Our Home is Nowhere (The Borrowed Land, Book 1) (17 page)

28

A week later, Joe stood in front of the bathroom mirror examining his thighs. The swelling had gone down and a thin layer of fresh skin had formed. He could wear jeans again, though he still preferred to have bandages covering the wounds. Showering wasn’t a chore anymore and the water actually felt good on the new skin.

Joe was getting ready for his night out with Amanda. Laid out on the bed was one of Phillip’s old suits. Phillip had also let him pick out a tie. Joe settled on a dull red one with yellowish fleur-de-lis speckling the front. It hung on the doorknob, already tied. The night before, Joe had tried to figure out for himself how to tie it. He must have tried ten times before finally submitting. Embarrassed, he had gone to Phillip, who showed him the proper technique. He knew all the names for different knots: Windsor, Pratt knot, Trinity, Eldredge, and others that Joe didn’t remember. Joe had decided to go with the classic Windsor.

He slipped into the suit pants and then into the button-down shirt, which he tucked in, hoping the discomfort wouldn’t last all night. Then he tightened the tie around his neck and hiked on the tweed jacket. It fit neatly across his shoulders and buttoned snugly at the waist, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. He stood in front of the mirror, hardly recognizing himself. He remembered his dad wearing outfits like this when he and his mom went on dates long before the war. Since then, Joe hadn’t seen anyone in a suit; he never thought he’d actually get the chance to wear one himself. He wished he had a picture of his dad taken on one of those date nights. He wanted to see how similar they looked.

Joe answered a knock at his door and found Amanda standing out on the landing. She was wearing a light blue dress and had her hair pinned behind her ears. She wore half-inch heels and a hint of lipstick.

‘Wow,’ Joe said quietly. ‘You look…you look amazing.’

‘Thank you,’ she said. ‘You look great yourself.’ For the first time, Joe saw her blush.

‘Are you ready to go?’ he asked.

‘I think you forgot something.’

Joe looked at her, bewildered. Was he supposed to have a gift? Did she expect him to kiss her? She pointed at his feet. He looked down at his toes wiggling nervously inside white socks and grinned.

.........

Taking the motorcycle on their date had been out of the question. Phillip had been reluctant to let them take his vehicle, but he acquiesced when Amanda reminded him of all Joe had done for them the past few months. ‘Not a scratch,’ Phillip had said, tossing the keys to Joe. The truck was spotless on the inside, and it would be hard to find a scratch on its exterior. Phillip didn’t drive it often, having no real reason to venture far from Midland, aside from his trips to Dustmouth or to pick up Amanda in Almost Sunny Springs. Before they left, Phillip told them not to be out too late: Tesh would be arriving in the morning.

They pulled up to Northern Lights and Joe killed the engine. He shuffled out into the brisk night air and swung open her door before she had a chance to reach for the handle. She smiled, thanking him, as he helped her out. A shiver skittered along her arms, so she pulled her cardigan over her shoulders. Gathering his courage, Joe put an arm over her shoulder for warmth. She drew closer to him and they walked towards the restaurant.

Northern Lights sat atop a hill, and had winding steps cut into the rock leading to the large doorway. On their way to the steps, they passed two male Slummers, one that looked familiar. Joe assumed they were members of the Saneless Sect. He expected them to ask for money, but they remained quiet as he and Amanda made their way up the steps, his hand on the small of her back.

Blue lanterns glowing like incandescent jellyfish were suspended on hooks along each side of the steps. Strung along the grass was a thin membrane of green seaweed. Joe glanced up at the building itself. The eaves burned with an eerie greenish-blue light that twisted and wrapped around the roof like a double helix. A chimney in the center of the roof pumped ashy smoke.

The doors swung open of their own volition, admitting Joe and Amanda into the foyer, a circular, chandeliered room with blue and green lights moving along the black walls. With his hand on her waist, Joe gently steered Amanda up to the peroxide-blonde hostess, thinking quickly about what to say. All that came out was: ‘For two.’

‘Very well, sir, would you like inside or patio seating?’

Joe looked at Amanda. ‘Whatever you want.’

‘Patio seating sounds nice. Does it overlook the river?’

‘Yes ma’am.’

She led them through the main dining room, weaving past tables full of people chattering noisily. The floor seemed to be made of glass and Joe swore he saw fish swimming beneath his feet. The hostess threw open the patio doors and found a spot for them
beside the railing, directly beneath an overhanging heater.

Joe ordered a beer. Amanda ordered water.

‘You don’t drink?’ he asked.

‘My dad…I’m worried it might be in my blood. That’s the last thing we need.
Two
alcoholics.’

After a couple minutes, their waiter, a broad shouldered man with a small head, brought out their drinks and handed them two menus. While they looked over the menus, a mariachi band began playing a slow ballad before transitioning to a lightning fast song, the guitarist’s fingers moving in a blur over the frets while another man pounded the accordion in and out, in and out. Most territories had outlawed Mexican music; some had even gone so far as to hold burnings of all things Mexican. The stigma might have died away, Joe thought, after the Purging of Mexico. The obliteration of an entire country was punishment enough for a war they didn’t start.

When the band finished, Joe brought out some money to tip them, but Amanda put her hand on his, saying, ‘Told you it was my treat.’ She handed the guitarist a wrinkled bill.

After they ordered, the waiter asked if they would like to take a tour of their walk-in aquarium to pass the time. ‘We are famous for our exotic species of fish,’ he explained. ‘They come from all over the country.
Even overseas.’

Glass circled them, keeping at bay the crystal clear water full of sea urchins, anemones, coral, and some man-made structures, like the large image of Buddha meditating soulfully in the pebbles. Colorful fish danced around them in constantly moving schools. Joe’s fingers met Amanda’s and intertwined as they slowly walked along together.

‘I got some more information about your Ararat,’ Amanda said as they walked.

‘Yeah?’

‘I heard my dad on the phone with Tesh. Whatever Ararat is, it’s in Mexico.’

Joe scrunched up his nose. ‘There’s
nothing
in Mexico.’

Amanda shrugged. ‘That’s what he said. Tesh will take you tomorrow. I’m going to see if I can come too.’

Joe thought about it as they walked along the corridor looking at the fish. He hadn’t crossed the border into Mexico since he’d been very young; the family had gone to the Gulf for vacation. Perhaps they had started rebuilding down there—not likely, but possible.

He and Amanda stood on the balcony overlooking the river, telling stories about their pasts while they sipped their drinks. They had a perfect view of Slushland’s skyscrapers. The fires had gone out days ago after a downpour of heavy rain. Joe thought of the Guttermen hiding in the sewers, peering out at the madness in the streets. How many people had died, he wondered.
Three that he personally knew about; one by his hand. The regret he felt for that dreadlocked woman had faded with his burns.

Amanda slid her fingers back into his. ‘What’s Hell Paso like?’

‘Dirty and hot. A lot like Slushland without the tall buildings and Slummers.’

‘Are your parents still there? You mentioned your mom, but your dad…?’

Joe looked out over the water, trying to picture his dad’s face. ‘He died protecting the border. I was just a kid at the time.’

‘He sounds brave. I can see where you get it from.’

It was nearing eleven o’clock when they decided to head back to Midland. Amanda paid the waiter a generous tip on their way out. It had been raining lightly, and now the steps outside were slippery and perilous. Joe held tightly to the railing while he helped Amanda down the long, winding steps to the parking lot. When they reached the lot, he loosened his tie and craned his neck, gasping for breath.

‘I’ll never get used to one of these,’ he said.

Amanda tugged down on the tie. ‘But it looks so good on you. I could get used to this new look.’

‘We’ll see,’ Joe said, smiling.

Three cars were parked in a row beside theirs. As they passed the second car, Joe noticed a shadow cast near its rear tires. He tensed when the two Slummers from earlier appeared, blocking their way. Both fidgeted, their hands wringing themselves out like wet rags. One of them ran his shaking hand through thinning, unnaturally gray hair. Joe put his arm in front of Amanda and moved her behind him.

‘C–c–can you sp–spare su–su–su–some cuh–coin, brother?’ one of the Slummers stammered. His eyes were dilated. Joe noticed track marks running along his forearm. The gray-haired Slummer glared lustily at Amanda, before his eyes moved to Joe.

Joe held out his hands, palms up. ‘I don’t have anything.’

‘D–d–don’t lie tuh–tu–tu mmm–mmm–me.’

‘I’m not lying to you.’

‘Joe,’ Amanda whispered, ‘let’s just
give them—’

T
he stammering Slummer pulled a pistol from his pocket, and it quivered in his hand, the barrel pointed at Joe’s waist. Amanda sucked in a pocket of air.

Joe took a step back, pushing Amanda back with him. ‘Put the gun away. We’ll give you what we got.’

The lusty-eyed Slummer licked his lips and pointed at Phillip’s truck. ‘Gimme the keys to that—and her bra and panties,’ he said, cocking his head like a rabid dog at Amanda. That was when Joe remembered where he’d seen him before. It was Rook.

‘Take what we have,’ Joe said, emptying his pockets, handing them his wallet that contained only a few dollars.

‘I want her panties,’ Rook repeated. ‘Give me ’em. Give me her cunt, too.’ The words dripped from his mouth, slathering his chin with their vile intent.

‘Don’t you remember me?’ Joe asked desperately. ‘I freed you that night in Almost Sunny Springs. I got you out of there, Rook.’

Rook glared at Joe, his pale, twitching eyes showing no recollection. ‘I don’t know you,’ he said. ‘But if ya know me, then ya gotta know my stepmom. When I came back to beg forgiveness, she’d blown a hole in her face. Or did you do that to her after freein’ me?’

Joe shook his head. ‘I never hurt her. Here, take our money and let us leave,’ he said. ‘We’re trying to work with you.’

‘Wha–what’s she gu–gu–got inner p–purse,’ said the other Slummer, pointing the gun past Joe at Amanda.

Joe edged in front of the barrel and noticed that the Slummer was holding the gun’s stock in his fist, his finger not even on the trigger.

‘Here,’ Joe said, lifting his open palms slowly into the air. ‘Take my tie.’ He pulled it off over his head.

The Slummer blubbered. ‘Wh–wh–hat
do we wa–want th—’

Spit burst from his mouth as Joe lunged into his chest, driving him to the ground. The gun skittered across the parking lot. The tie fluttered atop the Slummer’s chest. Joe grabbed him by the throat and punched him in the mouth, shattering his front teeth, splitting open his own knuckles.

Rook began screaming, screaming at Amanda. Joe punched again, cracking the Slummer’s nose, and felt his body go limp beneath him.

‘Joe!’ Amanda yelled.

Behind him, he heard a wet coughing, choking. Still on top of the Slummer, he spun on his knees.

Rook stood just inches away from Amanda touching her stomach; Amanda’s eyes were wide with surprise, her mouth torn open, making that hacking
cough. Then Joe noticed blood bubbling around Rook’s hand, dripping through his fingers and down Amanda’s dress, pooling between her legs. Rook was regarding her greedily. Joe screamed. Rook pulled the shiv out of Amanda’s belly and stabbed again.

Joe’s blood turned to ice and filled his entire body in an instant. He didn’t register Rook’s cackles or him running beneath the streetlight to whip the shiv through the air, slinging Amanda’s blood onto the asphalt. Joe ran to Amanda and caught her before she hit the ground. Her weight forced him to his knees.

‘Amanda, Amanda,’ he said over and over, as if she would be revived by hearing her own name, as if, being reminded of his existence, she could find the will to stay alive.

Her eyes were slits. She coughed blood.

‘No,’ he said, determination mounting in his voice. ‘Stay with me. Please, Amanda.’

His determination turned to a plea. He scooped her up and carried her to the car, refusing to look at the two gashes cut in her dress from which leaked her blood. Joe swung open the car door. It bashed into the car next to theirs and set off its alarm.

‘You’re gonna make it, you’re gonna be fine.’

He positioned her in the passenger seat and wiped the hair out of her face. Her eyes moved slowly from his chest to his forehead, not really focusing on anything. He thought he saw the smallest flicker of a smile cross her lips, but then it was gone.
She’s afraid. She knows
…
she knows I’m lying to her
…