After a critical look up and down at my outfit, she held up a ticket and took a long drag from her cigarette. “That will be ten dollars, mister.”
Ten dollars? Do I look like I’m walking around with fairies shitting hundred dollar bills? Then again there’s plenty of fairies here. Yet again, I found myself at one of those San Francisco events. Yes, the kind with lots of drugs and alcohol. Except this one had more tits than usual. I hand the chick behind the booth a blue-tongue and sauntered in.
The crowd, well, crowded around me. With me were my deputies, my crew. We were here to find someone—no—not just someone. Geode. She was serious business. And we had to get the jewels back.
“Come on. Let’s go that way,” I said to Prism. She was wearing one of her over-the-top costumes; makeup completely covering her face and a tutu. ”Really. Did you have to wear that costume again?”
“I’m underdressed for this event. I wish I had put on more,” said Prism with a sneer. ”What, don’t worry. I can handle anything that’s thrown at us.”
Behind them Line and Pyramid walked up. Pyramid was wearing, well, almost nothing. That’s the nice thing about these kinds of things. That everyone wore almost nothing. He could get used to this.
“Bye guys. I’m going to party,” said Pyramid happily. ”See you all later!”
She sauntered away, along with Line. He shook his head and watched her disappear into the crowd. Even though they had just met, he would have like to get to know them more. Especially Pyramid.
“Well, shall we, ladies? Let’s go.”
Box, Prism, and Star entered the crowd.
—
On top of the rocking bus, they scanned the crowd. Geode had yet to turn up. They were dancing to the beat of anonymous bass on top of the platform built on bus along with about twenty other revelers. The bus jumped on its feet along with the music. It was almost dusk, and the shadows played tricks with his mind. It almost seemed like the crowd multiplied in front of him, body interweaving with body in crazy patterns.
“Come on, let’s get off and move on,” Prism said. ”Let’s see what’s happening down the street.”
Box sighed. ”Don’t forget what we came here for.”
Prism replied only with a smile and led the three of them down the ladder, through the bus, and out into the crowds.
—
The next thing he remembers is a beer in one hand and a cup of sake in the other. Looking around he could only see a line of other people also holding beer in their hands. Their faces seemed to melt into alternatively laughter and screams.
—
They eventually found Geode in a place of ill repute, and precisely where they knew they would find her. The black tent.
“There you are,” said Box.
“Here I am,” said Geode.
The tent breathed next to them, almost as if it were holding its breath. Sometimes it would inhale people and other times it would exhale people. The air was almost cold, wrapping them in shivers and goosebumps.
Prism and Star were running interference, distracting the crowd of people around the tent. Talking up a storm, asking people how they were doing, and oh, yes, they haven’t seen each other in ages.
Box and Geode stood off to the side, studying the crowd.
“You look nice,” said Box. ”I like your costume.”
Geode pursed her lips and studied herself critically. He would study her critically too, all day long. But he wasn’t here to do that. He had a job to do.
“I think its better for you if you stay with us,” continued Box.
“Okay,” Geode said. ”Lead the way.”
—
“We need to blend in,” said Star. ”We should do what other people are doing. Like that kissing booth.”
Kissing booth? The eighties called and asked for their party games back. Who does a kissing booth these days? Honestly, he was starting to wonder if this was his crowd after all; all these half naked hippies.
The kissing booth was surrounded by harsh shadows and was on the sidewalk, off of the black street. The only thing it needed was a spotlight above it to make it look all mysterious and inviting. You could see people doing god-knows-what in the park behind the booth.
“Yes! We should do it together,” Prism added gleefully. ”Come on, let’s do it!”
Seriously? Was this what he had come to? A kissing booth? Well. At least the girl in the booth was cute. Cuter than the girls he remembered behind the kissing booth in middle school. A lot cuter.
—
Wolf and Comet sauntered up to them out of the darkness. Behind them slunk Mirror. The trio, as they were called.
“What are you guys doing here,” exclaimed Prism. ”I didn’t know you were going to be here too?”
I shook my head. Wolf and Comet were a couple to watch out for. You didn’t want to cross them. Comet could build a missile and, well, Wolf—you didn’t want to cross her. I needed to go over and pay my respects.
“Geode. Stay behind me. Don’t make any sudden moves.” I walked over to Comet. ”Hey, man. How are things going? This here is Geode.”
After greetings were exchanged, we moved through the street. It was almost time. Mirror walked behind us. He had dark sunglasses on with a cape. You couldn’t see anything behind those sunglasses on. Just your reflection.
—
We lost the trio in the crowd not much later. Privately I heaved a sigh of relief. You never really knew what they would do, especially Mirror. You couldn’t tell what was happening behind those sunglasses.
On the other end of the street, we watched the fire show while we danced to the music. A woman got up on stage and lit two goddamn hula hoops of fire and started weaving about.
“Wow,” said Star and Prism.
What was so special about flaming hula hoops? I could do that with a few hours of practice, thought Box. It was time to move along. Best not to stay in one place too long.
“So, about those jewels,” Box said to Geode. ”Where are they?”
Geode smiled behind her round sunglasses, small twin disks of ebony. She was dressed up as a Matrix character.
“Its all good. They’re inside me.”
“Inside you?”
She smiled coyly. ”Yes, inside me,” she purred. ”Why do you think I’m called Geode?”
I took a few steps back. I had never thought about it. It seemed blindingly obvious in retrospect. And what was also obvious was that I was screwed. The client wanted the jewels. The jewels were inside Geode. No way to resolve that one.
—
A hour later they were back at the black tent. It was nearing time to leave. They had successfully shaken off all pursuit and lost everyone except Chin.
“Box,” growled Chin. ”What are you doing here? I thought I told you not to show your ugly face here again.”
Shit.
“Oh, nothing, Chin. I don’t take lip from anyone, most especially not the likes of you.”
Chin narrowed his eyes and stared at Box. Chin was sensitive about his face, especially his chin and lips. Ever since the accident. This wasn’t going to end well. Me and my mouth, getting into trouble since 1980.
