Chapter 257
We were ushered into a shipping warehouse attached to the east side of the Galleria at gunpoint. Sae, Astrid, Astria and Max wore simple white masks with cutouts that allowed them to see, leaving me as the only person appearing to show my face.
More eyes followed us than Id prefer, both our escort and the myriad of people aroundideally, we would have snuck in without consulting with leadership at all, but the new reality of the Galleria didnt much allow for that. Everyone was heavily armed, with more automatic weaponry than Id seen in a single area that wasnt waving a certain flag. There were less Users than expected, but they made up for it with heavily armed civilians. None of them were dressed poorly. For the most part, their clothes and gear were either new or in good shape. Their backgrounds were betrayed only by the plethora of worn visages and windburned complexions
Come to think of it, they were likely this well-armed because they had to be, considering their choice of settlement laid between two aggressive, warring regions. The galleria straddled both, and therefore, represented an overwhelming tactical advantage to whichever side took it first.
And the fact that it was still independent of both was a statement of its own.
In the car on the way over, Greg confirmed some things Id only heard rumors of. A man referred to ubiquitously as The Steward led the settlement. Hed been something of a street legend before the dome. If you were homelessespecially newly homelessthe first piece of advice youd receive from the more experienced individuals who shared your situation was to find The Steward. According to Greg, hed show you the ropes, teach you both how to survive and be invisible in an otherwise hostile environment. Hed also give you a crash course in what you could and couldnt scavenge, and differentiate between the gray-legal ventures that were lucrative, and the too-good-to-be-true sort that would rain hell down on your head.
From the way it sounded, he was reasonable before the dome. But I knew all too well that just because a person was reasonable before the system didnt mean theyd stay that way.
So, with caution in mind, I took a seat in a metal folding chair, across the from The Steward. The rest of my team hung back, and after Max confirmed that the chance of an ambush was low, tried to force myself to relax and take-in the man sitting across from me.
For all the hype, he wasnt what I expected, but that was probably the point. In-line with what Greg told me, he had the sort of presence that could blend in almost anywhere. If I had to guess, from the male-pattern baldness and salt-and-pepper, I would have put him around advanced middle-age, though stress and exposure to the elements could make the homeless appear far older than they were. A trench coat with the arms cut off adorned his slight shoulders, and he was wearing a faded Black Sabbath T-shirt over what appeared to be considerable armor that covered his vitals. A twelve oclock shadow shrouded his jaw in bristles, and he appeared to be studying me just as intently as I was observing him.
Shall I take a peek in his head? Azure asked.
I considered it, before sending my summon a mental negative. nove(l)bi(n.)com
Hes a region leader in everything but name. There was no bullshitting, no posturing, no time wasting attempt to make us wait to reinforce the power dynamic. Whatevers in his back pocket, hes confident.
Or he wants something. Azure countered.
Both were probably true. Either way, I didnt want to risk a potentially beneficial connection on the off-chance Azures surface level reading was detected.
Still, the silence was killing me. I used silence as Myrddin far more than I ever had in negotiations as Matt, as the uncanniness of the mask tended to get under peoples skin after a while. But I got the feeling it wouldnt work on The Stewardwho I mentally dubbed Stuart, simply because the preceding The was bothersome.
I was about to speak first before Stuart pulled an arm from beneath the table, presenting a deck of worn red-backed bicycle cards. Do you gamble?
Russian immigrant. Hes suppressing the accent but its there.
Not when I can help it, I answered.
The crows feet around his eyes crinkled at that. A wise answer. He shuffled the deck, cards blurring in a cascade of clicks, then ruffling as he bridged them. Despite his gnarled fingers, the movement was practiced and easy. Which created the first note of warning in the back of my mind. Because, in my fathers words, a good shuffler was often the first sign of an experienced hustler. Do you know why it is wise?
When your vehicle passed through our gates. Stuart answered.
Then I guess, I have to wonder why Im sitting here. I leaned back, resting my hands on my lap. There were multiple points after our arrival that this meeting could have been aborted. You could have turned the car away, used your numbers to detain us.
Perhaps these things did not occur to me.
I cracked a smile. Please. You dont hold the most tenuous position in the city by being incompetent. And Im guessing this I knocked lightly on the felt table. Isnt just here for the sake of a metaphor.
Finally, the side of Stuarts mouth quirked upwards. Correct. On both counts. The angel on my shoulder is generous, but when it comes to personal judgements, she can be a bit how-to-say hasty. Often, my instincts align with hers. When they do not, I find it better to resort to more primitive methods.
Whats the game?
To ascertain what kind of man you are.
I meant, what are we playing?
The game of your people, of course.
Colonialism?
Hold em.
I nodded. In theory, Id have more control in something like five-card or Black Jack, but there was still plenty of opportunity there.
And whats the buy-in? I asked.
He pointed the deck at me and smiled. The second most important question. Im thinking, we throw in something tangible. You will either be paid up to ten-thousand selve to join our guild as a restricted member, or pay up to that same number depending on the way the chips land.
That it was a ten-thousand selve bet arbitraged through the system was the obvious part. The part I was supposed to notice. What was less obvious was the fact that both outcomes ended with me joining his guild. A restricted guild member was often temporary, and could see little to nothing about the guild or members. Meanwhile, guild leaders could see almost everything about a restricted member.
My feats covered my ass in that regard. If that was what he was gunning for, he was headed for disappointment.
In addition, if you win, I will allow you entry into our home. If you lose He paused, examining me. then you will take off this mask my angel says you wear.
Fuck.
