LACK OF MAN (part8)                

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        They headed down the street to catch the railcar that ran through the North and South ends of town. The East was just as bad as the west as far as unemployment, low-rent houses, apartments, and welfare go. The South was almost like the North, the rest of Jasmin City judging the area as middle-class. The houses were still quite expensive. The group of three stood at one of the designated stops, having gotten there a few seconds to late, watching the train speed off regardless of Sulli’s hollered demands for it to wait. Leerna was hanging off Hunter again and still. He had offered up his supportive arm to her before they had even stepped out onto the cracked concrete of the streets. She did, in fact, release a wide, unforced smile to his extended arm, bent on angle for her fingers, hand, wrist, and forearm to glide through. Now, twenty minutes later, her appendages were still happily wrapped.

 

        Hunter kept looking down at her, hoping for her to either be gazing up at him already or do that flick-her-eyelids-up thing he had always found to be cute. His hopes were met on both accounts several times, his stomach jumping each time. He wasn’t really looking forward to this trip in the first place, but it all seemed like a breeze with Leerna on his arm. All the other times he had seen Thell, Leerna was hanging off him or trying to get away. Never had she been with, or at least having it look like they were together. His mind ran through every wondrous possibility of what could occur, the look in his, as Hunter would call it, stupid-fuckin’-bug-eyes.

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        The more Hunter glanced down, the more he wanted, needed to kiss her. He let this go on for too long, another fifteen minutes, and the railcar came rolling up. Leerna wasn’t looking up anymore. She was gripping Hunter tighter, however, staring at the cop holding onto the railings on the back. He was directly staring at her. Hunter quickly pulled her in, taking a seat at the front, as far from the cop as possible. She was shaking despite both of Hunter’s arms around her now and Sulli on the other side, keeping watch. The cop was not staring, nor did he the rest of the twenty minutes that he was on railcar duty. Sulli held the bag on his lap, protecting his item from random people that got on and off the vehicle. Each stop irritated all three of them. They all had to get off. Sulli just wanted his cigarettes. Hunter wished he was at home with Leerna, and she just wanted to forget. But at the second last stop, the cop walked through the aisle to the front. Still, he didn’t once look at any of the three passengers there. As this cop exited the railcar, ending his shift, he was replaced by another. Leerna could feel Hunter’s comfort grow tighter, feel his very need to protect her, to kill for her safety. The railcar pulled forward with a jerk, but the cop didn’t go to the officer’s post at the back. He stopped and turned to them.

“You three look a little lost,” he said, gripping a vertical handlebar.

“Nope,” Sulli replied quickly.

“You okay, ma’am?” he asked Leerna. She didn’t look at him, turning her gaze to Hunter’s knees.

“She’s fine,” Hunter replied for her.

“Why can’t she answer?” he asked, adjusting his stance.

“She’s upset,” Hunter replied. The cop just nodded a bit.

“Uh huh…” he said. “Ma’am, who’re these men to you?”

“Were—“ Sulli got out, always irritated by police questioning.

“I want to hear it from her,” he interrupted, holding out his hand. Leerna turned her head, facing her lips towards the cop, but not looking at him.

“This is my boyfriend and friend,” she said meekly.

“Can I ask what you…and your boyfriend and…friend doing going to the North End?” he asked, his face showing a look of disbelief. The three of them looked at one another, all of them knowing what he was getting at.

“We’re going to see a friend,” she replied.

“You three know people in the North End?” the cop kind of laughed.

“Why wouldn’t we?” she asked, annoyed by his everything, looking in his eyes now. “Do we look objectionable in some way?”

“Leer,” Hunter snapped in a whisper. She shot him the very look she was doling out to the cop.

“No…just because I’m a fucking halfie and we’re not wearing nicer clothes means were shit?” she demanded, standing up now.

“Leerna,” Hunter said, gripping her wrist.

“Yer gonna hafta calm down, ma’am,” the cop replied.

“I am calm,” she snapped, so enraged by things the officer had no clue about. Had there been any other living beings on that railcar, they would have been staring, fearing the safety of this poor girl. But only the metallic driver sat in front, the head, a camera, always leering forward, with mechanical arms sprouting from the body designed to steer an keep track of velocity.

“Ma’am…” the cop said, holding up both arms, hands being used for something Leerna didn’t quite understand at that point.

“You people are supposed to protect us, but all you do it insult, beat, and exploit us,” she said angrily. “Just because I’m a halfie and live on the West End means I can’t know someone in the North?”

“Ma’am,” the cop said a third time, louder this time. Sulli and Hunter were both ready to punch this officer if he tried to arrest her.

“What?” she sighed, still angry.

“I was jus’ askin’ cuz I live on the East and I don’t know anyone in the North or South,” he said, smiling a bit.

“Oh…” she replied, quickly sitting back and covering her face. Fears of being arrested suddenly hit her. What could happen? Jail cell. Around more cops? Lots. Could they gang rape this time? Probably. No Hunter to protect her there. All those crooked cops tying her down to a dirty mattress. They could keep her there for as long as they wanted. She looked up quickly, taking note of her distance from the emergency release buttons.

“And my wife is a half-Martian,” he said, adjusting his helmet “Have a good one.” He walked away to his post at the back.

“Holy shit, Leer,” Sulli said, finally taking normal breaths.

“Sorry,’ she said, burying her face in her palms again.

“What was that?” Hunter asked, putting his hand on her back.

“I don’t know,” she replied, looking at him.

“Well, try not to do that again,” he laughed.

“Sorry,” she smiled.

“It’s okay,” he said, pulling her close. “I don’t blame you.”

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        Instinctively, they both leaned in, lips eagerly waiting to embrace each other, to become one. Instead of a nice first kiss of their new relationship, there was a loud screech and their heads were smashed together. Sulli’s body weight adding to the force. The railcar was abruptly stopping, the sudden jostle making the officer come sliding on his front down the aisle. He scrambled to his feet, inspecting the three passengers. Sulli was looking to the front, Leerna and Hunter were rubbing their foreheads.

“You guys okay?” the cop asked, grasping at his radio. Hunter nodded at him, having to take a second to gain his composure.

“You alright?” he asked, running his thumb over her forehead.

“Fine,” she replied, looking up at him, releasing a smile at his caring for her. The kiss she was deprived of had to happen. She went to lean in, seeing the look in his eyes suddenly change.

“Oh my God,” Sulli exclaimed. Everyone’s eyes flung to the front of the railcar, a horrid siren blaring, searing into their ears. “GET DOWN.”

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to be continued...