Era Game and Her Cohorts in New Babylon - Book 2 - The Big Spinner

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Book 2 - The Big Spinner

It had been dark for hours and the clicker was off, it set their stomachs into motion. They were deep in ruralships hiding out with their auto parked on a dead end street near a deserted set of industry buildings. Jinx had them keeping watch on Era Game. They had easily dispatched those thugs chasing Era and her crew of Cohorts. Era was a Boldly Beautiful Creature and her looks killed on sight, so they easily fell in love with their Job.

“It’s so quiet out here at night.”

“Dark too.”

“I’ve seen it all anyways.”

Bravo Smiled. Dillinger was almost asleep, but Bravo was starting to mill about the auto securing everything and checking under the hood. It was Fast and sturdy but look like and elephants ass. Eras Auto could out run them, but for how long. Competition was hard to come at 46 miles per hour, but they could clip most of eras Competition at their speed.

“I bet… if we rigg this thing up with some alcohol we could ride out at 40. If this was a race Era would live for sure, but its not and she cant die.Boss said.” Said Bravo

“Don’t start with me, i’ll save era, you take a nap.” Dillinger grumbled himself awake.

“If I die she’s a goner. I’m Just Saying.” told bravo.

“If you die! They’d save another hundred men, in the next week alone. Who’s gonna clip em out here, this is her neck of the woods.” More a question than a statement.

“She acts like it’s all her neck of the woods.” Bravo answered.

“You know what? I like the way she acts.”.

—-----------------------

“That Damn Clicker is off again. I just saw a chicken walking across the road backwards.”

Adam woke up with a riotous laugh that shook era to the core making her forget what she was thinking about.

“Its been a little shifty since we left Peaks.”

“We gotta make our way up to Prince township to see my cousin. If I don’t share this haul with her, her kids are gonna starve to death!”

“Well that’s as good a reason to get my ass up and just do it, If I ever heard.” Said Mark who’s literally off his back , on his feet, and ready to go in less than 5 mins. He was the only one ready to go, no one else was lit off Charlie's drugs.

Era had been sleeping for 2 days, seven Hours and forty-two minutes. It was time to get lit and get into prince township before noon.

“She’s gotta Pool!” Era exclaimed It wasn’t hot anymore not for a week or so but the memory of unbearable summer heat was still on them.

“Play on, Playa!” Charlie was lit with a start and dove at the dishes in the kitchen, cleaning. “It never hurts to keep a clean kitchen”

“I gotta tune up lil Blue.” Era pressed herself into doing a full tune up. She Had lil blue running and it was a dream, the auto was a present from her Parents. On the Far side of peaks into the mountain range Her parents lived in a Huge Forest Lodge. Rich and Happy.well away from the world of crazy talk, they never made Era regret being born. But Era was a Lucky girl and made her own way. Except the Auto. It was so expensive. Exquisite. Low to the road and it was a bull of torque. And It was one of the meanest roadsters you could buy. “Every young girl should have one of these.” Her father had said, and her mother would laugh.

Era was a Pilot and worked, period. That was her nose, on the road. The Coming races that she would win, they would be a blur in the final rally, she thought romantically Her Dreams of driving 55 though kept getting obscured by her lust to pop a coin off the mystery.

After the tune up, era got a bucket of hot water that was thick with soap and scrubbed lil blue inside and out. When she was finished, the blue auto looked set itself against the road Sparkling. Detailing the inside with a vacuum and window wash she smiled at perfection. With a foot on the throttle she lured Mark, Adam and Charlie outside with their packs stuffed and ready to go.

“I gave Adam one of your old packs to Use, loaded him up with stuff we might need.” Charlie filled Era in.

“Priceless.” Eras Cousin Gilberts parents own a Television. And that was the reason Era wanted to go up to prince township. If they were lucky She would be able to catch a game show, If the were really lucky they would be able to watch “The Big Spinner”, Just one presentation would set Era off down the road for weeks. Plus they were rich for a bunch of vagabonds, they had a few hours to waste on Entertainment.

“Lets go! We gotta get Carousin and coffee!” Era announced.

“I’ll follow you anywhere for a cigarette!” Mark admitted.

They loaded up and lil sat squat looking fierce. Era could just imagine watching her favorite television Advertisement “ Combine with Entertainment choose Blissband!”

__________________

Bravo was already on the road and could see eras auto start out of her neighbor hood with serious guilt about the low speeds posted for the pilots to see. 23 miles an hour.

“Sensible speed though, 23” Dilinger noted.

“I don’t think she saw the sign.” Bravo warned.

“We cant loose her…”

“I wont lose her, but I dont want her to see us if I can help it.”

Dillinger rooted around in his bag and spent 5 mins loading and cocking 6 Military grade Pistols. He put two in bravo’s reach, than he made sure his blades were easily accessible. Then after that he split a hoagie sandwich “ She’ll stop for Carousin.”

Bravo sped up and passed another auto, He could see era pretend to care about the speed limit, ‘she must be distracted by somethig’ bravo thought.

“She must be distracted.” Said Dillenger. Bravo smiled

—-----------

Mark Lit a cigarette, He took a puff and passed it back to adam. Then did the that three more times till he was smoking his own. Era took one big long pull from cig and rolled down the window and exhaled, she took one more puff and throw it out the windows.

Mark shook his head and chuckled. After a minute charlie passed her smoke up to era , “Ive had enough”.” Era took two puffs and tossed it.

“I wish we had a roller “ Mark. said. A roller played music from a radio signal, Peaks had thirty something radio stations. Radio rollers were big but entertaining.

“Not enough room. The boost takes it all.” Era claimed. “ I need speed.”

Adam tossed his cigarette and put his face in Charlie neck and closed his eyes.

“Good thing you like us adam.” Era pouted, charlie smiled.

“‘Your cousins gotta pool?” adam asked.

“Ya!!! Big one,” SHe paused them admitted. “ And they have a Television.

“‘What? I dont believe you.” Adam said. Mark laughed and charlie squealed.

“I love television!!”

“Oh my god,” Said era. “ Have you ever seen the Big Spinner?”

—----

“Yes!” Bravo said inhaling a big puff from the second cigarette had scooped up hanging half way out their jalopy while piloting.

Then they road tall and alert for the next couple of hours finding cigarettes and more from the trail Era and her friends were leaving. Dillinger took over working the auto around peaks towards Prince township.

“Whereever were going, find the pissporest spot in the township to park so when can blend in, and close in if we can.

_______-

“I’ve never seen that one.” Said Charlie. TTruth be told she had let on to seeing way more than she actually had. “I wanna seed it.”

“Ive seen em all.” era claimed.

“Ive never watched to much television before. Hockey games, lots of those.”

“Ice hockey or stone hockey?”. They used rollerskates in stone hockey. Adam loved hockey.

“Both and roller derby!”

“Im a roller derby queen!” era shouted.

“Me too.” said charlie.

“Id love to see you two in rollerskates.” Adam was a derby lover too, but for another reason.

“Oh there hot in skates!” mark stated. “ Real wicked hot.” Era beamed.

” hope the big spinner is on when were there, I didnt get to see very mucfh of it.” Television was mezmerizing and hypnotic, and was the only thing that distracted her from people and the adventure. Whatever it was talking about was somehow deeper than that. She wasnt sure though, it was just fun.

“Well youll see things on TV that youll never see in real life.”

“I know! Isnt it thrilling!” era asked.

“Maybe a little bit. “ adam offered “I would go for some hockey right now.

______

“Were not gonna blend in here” said dillenger slowing to the posted 15 miles an hour. They had just enter Prince township, and right away it wa obvious that no poor people live here. The house were mansions and the estate were bold, big and Inviting, not a cross look to the place. Pedestrians walk with there dogs and there billowing dresses of high society

This was the place. Era had already led them off the main thoroughfare and up into the wooded hills, the mansion continued to grow and even the farming equipment was sparkling and fierce looking as a million tax chip.

The Oak trees where enormous and every yard was home to two or three mammoths. Eras auto fit right in, they almost lost because every auto was a super and looked as expensive as eras. None them claim 46 though..

—-----------------

Era never gave much thought to culture shock, she was focus one letting go of some of the angst there night in Peaks had caused. She had met not one but two guys she would marry if they asked he. She knew that and it was a little much for her. Some good television always helped.

Mark was waking up and the two in the back were kissing on each other while era caught glimpses in the rear view mirror. That was why none of her passengers noticed when they drove into heaven..

Minerva blinked away from the Television eye and George said “Theyre almost here. Prepare the stone.”

THey had been watching era and her friends throught the magical television eye there immense wealth afforded them, they even read eras emotion and heard a few well parsed thoughts. Delicate girl they thought. With that announce ment the entire counsel of robed elders broke away from the eye and descended into the lowered deck of the Cavern they were using for the cult ceremonies.

_____

“Whoa! Were are we Era?” Asked charlie. “ Era smiled and pulled her attention away from her thoughts.

“Were almost there!”

“Where? to the presidents house?”

“No silly, to my aunt and uncles. They have a big estate and the end of the next road, Theres plenty of houses there we can stay. In, All by ourselves, of course the Television is in the mansion.,Its in a great great room but only My cousin and her two Kids will be there. Theres only three channels but….” You could get 4 channels in Peaks and 5 78 miles south of peaks, three channels everywhere else around here.

—----

Era hugged her Cousin tight and gushed “Oh My god that was horrible, nothing but work!”

Her cousin Gilbert was short and pretty with clean white skin and red hair, she had a serious rack on her and freckles, She was in a plain skirt and light autum coat over her button up shirt, all very expensive clothes.

“Leave it to the road My era your home. Where in H - E- double hockey sticks have you been?”

I have a place near brads, little shack me and my hosers hang out of at night.”

Gilbert belly laughed. “I Bet!!!”

Everyone else had stayed in the auto. Eras Uncles estate must also belong to her aunt because it was as beautiful and an opulent dining hall with crystal chandelier, everything was paved in stone and hosted statures of bronze, Fountains pooled water and Fish sparkled under the surface odf the water. The estate grounds was cordoned by Brick laid walls and shrubs and many types of flowers in the massive gardens, glittered with yellows blues and reds.

The mansion it self was menace with gold and stone and every sign of wealth that you could think to use to scare the living daylights out of a poor man.

.

“Is that?”

“Buzzy!!!!Yes thats Buzzy.” A young red haired man was poking his face around the seal of the open front door of the mansion. “Buzzy come out here and say high to your big cousin!”

“Is that Era? Of the famous Games”

“Your grand father is a Game!”

“Hes a nerd!.” Said a Mitildafey from behind. “My Brother not Grandpa.”

“Miltildafey!” Era barely had a chance to move away from Gilbert as Mitildafey jumped on era.

“Yeah Eras here!!!!!!!” said the kids in Unison.

“Buzzy Onyx, go tell Rally that we have four new friends to watch Television with us, they must be hungry!”

“Gilby! I’ll park lil blue in the garage and be over with my friends in a a lil bit.” Said Era.

“Is that two men with and your friend?”

“Gilby Your a married women!” Era said in defense of morality.

“Ya. But i’m not dead.” Gilby hugged on era the kids disappeared into the mansion.

“No Your not thank goodness, and yes it is. There both good looking. And they’re nice guys too.” Era grab Gilbert by the arms.

“Do they…. Like Television?”

—---------

They had been lucky enough to find a farm rd with a huge orchard on it, the trees were still full of leaves. They parked the auto in the thick of it, no one would see them there.

“I should have suspected Era was a rich kid, from her auto, You just never wanna believe something like this.” mutter Dillinger.

“I swear did you see the estate they went too!!!” Bravo was in shock, normally they felt at home in any setting, now they had to wear there best clothes or they would be noticed for sure.

“Ya did you see that place.”

“Ya I saw it.” Bravo finished.

—---------------------

“What do you mean you’re not coming in with me?” The garage was huge, with a stone floor, as rich looking as anything else on her uncles estate.

“You never told me your family was rich.” Mark had decided to go in with her, even though he had never been in a mansion before.

“I didn’t think it was important.” Era had wanted to park lil blue by the tune up bay but there was a huge Dump box truck blocking the entire area. “Thats a big truck. Anyways nonsense! youll be comfortable. My cousin wants to meet you two. Her husbands always gone on business.”

The crew un unloaded there stuff from lil blue and set it all on a long work bench. “Everything will be safe here, leave it, The servants will have fresh clothes for us after we bathe.”

“Servants?” Adam said helping clear lil blue.

“Ya! And i’ll get this truck moved so I can put lil blue on the lift, well put a set of new tires on her and replace the bulbs and get her going 47. I wish.”

They left the well lit immaculately clean garage and walk together across the estate to the mansion.

—------------

“This is Robertafey! isnt she pretty.” Matildafey had gathered a pile of dolls and was handing one of them to Charlie who took it with a smile. They four of them were all sitting on a giant couch that was full of huge off white pillows, They couch was more expensive than her place outside of brads township. “And this is reginafey…’

“I cant believe it, The Big Spinner is about to start!” Era celebrated her luck. With that Gilby sat down on the couch right next to mark, Era was on the other side of him.

“Hello good sir, my name is Gilbert Roana Onyx, Im Eras good cousin.” She extended her hand and mark shook it with a smile.

“So good to meet you sweetie.” Mark said and era smiled.

“Don’t you remember when you were Gilbert Roana Game!” Said Era.

“How do they let you walk around your so cute.” Gilby said with a bashful expression.

When “The Big Spinner” started they introduced the contestants and the host. The host was a fellow by the name of Mathew Mirth. Mathew spent ten minutes showcase what the winner would take with them, and then took on a grave tone as he announce. “And of course the losers will a die a horrible death for Challenging the the Big Spinner.” The children snickered.

“Oh My, Thats worse than hockey. They only have a penalty box, they dont even get killed in hockey.” The Children snickered. “The winners get a new auto, a new furnished home Gold jewellry, a vacation in a tropical paradise and the Losers Die!” The children snickered.

After the first game, after the losers all fell through trap doors to there doom, after they announced the next round and after they went to a commercial. The commercials advertised a whole host of products that they had lifted from boxes themselves. Eras Cohorts were all in shock.

“Now I know why I don’t have a television!” Said Charlie.’ “These commercials are too long!”

The Children laughed and before The Big Spinner came back from commercials the kids announced “They don’t really Die. They just go to the lounge and get free drinks.”

And sure enough when the show continued the host announced that the losers had survived another day, and would return home safe and happy.

“Oh, those poor contestants.”

Right after the fourth game of Big Spinner, the servants entered the great room and began to tidy up with dust wands and rags. The Big Spinner was a giant metal disk that had a red arrow pointing out that the host commanded to spin fast making the red arrow blur. The big spinner would slowly and dramatically come to a stop pointing at the winner. The studio audience went wild as the losers disappeared through the trapp doors that sprang open. Confetti bombs showered the winner obscure the mechanics of the losers departure. Servants then delivered silver platers to a large table and announced Snacks.

Gilby and her two childrens took seats at the table. Era and her cohorts easily followed lured by the brilliant aroma.

“This is posh my dear cousin, im afraid my friends have never eaten so good.” Era gushed as she sat next to Mitildafey and began picking at the plate Mitildaafey had designed with snacks.

“Hey thats mine….” Matildafey smiled and gave her the plate reaching over to make another. Era turned her head to see her friends had already gotten over there fear of wealth and had pile there plates high with tooth picked wieners,fresh broccoli, and little tomatoes.

As they chomp there snacks a servant came up to Gilby and whispered in her ear. “Excellent, thank you, peapod.”

“Peapod! What a glorious name!” Charlie said.

“Ya, she’s my favorite.” Said Buzzy chomping a mouthful of broccoli and sauce.

“I like Dolo the best, He always fixes my little cart. ” Miltidafeys lil cart was a child sized auto she would mash around the estate in looking at the flowers, pretending she might be a gardener.

“‘Speaking of I had Dolo moved the big truck for you. And he gathered the parts for lil blue.”

“Oh! Great!!” are said with a mouthful of herself.”

“ I had them crack the seal on the river house, so when your tired of watching television with us you can get some sleep.” Gilby finished her plate. Eras realized that she must have left the keys in Lil Blue. Finishing up herself she announced.

“The river house!, Nice!” Era smiled at her intrepid friends, You'll love the river house, It has a dock on the Vermont River with plenty of riverboats, It has a different look to the place, modern, and bachelor type decor!”

“Whoa! River Boats. Sounds amazing!”

“Oh No, Didn’t Jinx want us to come back to peaks already. !” Said Charlie,

“I think he meant at our convenience, the killers are probably still fighting the thieves as we speak. They always fight over those Pallets. Im surprised he let us haul one for him.” adam reported.

“It was for us, by the amount of chips we got.” era assured them.

“You know most people would be afraid they had made a mistake and given those chips back just in case.” Said Adam, Looking around he continued “But I can See why your not worried about the tax… So I assume were alright for a few days.”

“Three days and well find Jinx and just see what he was thinking,” Era Twinkled.

“You mean were gonna stay here for three days?” Mark looked at charlie.

“Im cool with that.”

“Yes!!! I have One Hundred and Thirty two Dolls and I know all there Names.” Matildafey Jumped up from her seat “ I’ll go get them!”

Buzzy also Jump up “I wanna show them my trains!”

With that the children disappeared.

“Wheres your parents Gilby?” era wondered.

“They’re at the River City estate, They Have Six Channels.”

“Where’s Donoald?” Donald Onyx was here brooding Tall Dark and handsome better half.

“They say he’s away on business, but he at the Mountain Lodge Writing poetry and hunting.” Gilby giggled, “I hope he brings home some Elk, Its so good. He wants to have another child.”

“Gargoyles don’t sit so high on a perch Gilby!”

“I know! Maybe we can have twin, or triplets.” Gilby loved her children almost as much as she loved television.

_______

Mark follow Era out to the garage, curious about the Key. He was to grab Charlies there packs and return to the mansion to watch Roller Derby with Gilby and Her kids. Buzzy had said the trains were up an running and he was gonna show them the tracks he had made himself.

Sure enough the giant truck was parked outside the garage and the Garage was flooded with light. When they entered Era knew immediately that something was off. Lil Blue was running..

Their packs were gone from the spot they had been on a Giant workbench lined with tools. They had been replaced by New Packs, stuffed full like their packs had been. And the loose item had been organized and bundled in new packs.

“Those aren't our packs Era!”

Era looked slightly confused though. And then… “Those are your packs.” Said a voice from behind a tool rack. The voice belong to a six foot walk battle tank covered in grease. “I had them replace your bags to be cleaned, They'll be returned if you must keep them.”

“You must be Dolo.”

“Its good to meet you Era. I love your Aunt and Uncle, They have an immense kindness.” Dolo didn’t offer his Greasy hands as a greeting but he Bowed Just a Little. “I was about to put your auto on the lift to rebuild the engine, it should only take 12 hours if you don’t mind.”

“Whoa, rebuild the… wow.” Mark eyes wide. “I should get back to the house.” He smiled and took Dolo hand anyways. “My dad was a mechanic! I’ve seen him rebuild an engine hundreds of times, maybe I should help.”

“If you want.” Era was thrilled to give so much love to lil Blue.

Dolo picked up a giant tool box that must have weighed 150 lbs. His giant muscled arms and hands took the weight easily. “‘Move your auto to the lift and we’ll get started.

____

THey had walk miles in the woods till they reached the estate. They wanted to see what era was up to and make sure they were alright. They could easily be arrested if they didn’t belong here. Arrested, dead, what's the difference.

Its was near dawn when they saw a grease covered Friend of Eras return to the mansion in a white upholstered electric car with room for six people and a crocket set. Mark went into the mansion.

Bravo and Dillinger was in a row of thick bushes, worried about their job and worried about eras safety and whereabouts. Everyone looking into the eye could see this to be true.

George Game looked away from the eye to see his Wife Jayne Game put her hand on her good friend, Millies hand whispering in her ear. “They’re protecting her.”

Minerva looked down the cavern to see the giant circle, a rock rolling even faster now.

“Move forward with our plan!” Said george and everyone went busy with preparations.

—---------------------

Era had never heard Lil Blue so happy. Dolo was a master mechanic and era wasn't half bad herself, with no training too. She left dolo and lil blue and trotted back to the mansion. It took her twenty minutes to get there and she saw the electric car where Mark had left it. With a large grease mark from mark grease cover butt. And the normal white steering wheel was covered in grease.

The sun was up and she didnt notice Bravo and Dillinger in the Hedges when she entered the mansion.

She burst into the mansion and saw no one was there. The great room was empty and the Television was off. There was a pile of dolls and their packs sitting by the couch. She searched upstairs and saw the giant Dollhouse that was big enough to use as a child play room. She went Downstairs to the basement and was awestruck by the seriously impressive railroad and rail station model that took up most of the room in the immense basement. The giant windowed bay door were open to the Green sprawling lawn of the back estate.

The CHooo Chooo! Hadn’t come from the Model train set that was already running its set of long expensive models. It came from a train of seated cars that were now rolling into the basement on a big track. Each car in the train sat 2 people and there were five cars. No one was seated in them, the moved by themselves. Era walked up to the train and saw a doll in the first seat with a paper note attached with a safety Pin.

Era took the note up with her greasy paws avoiding soiling the doll. The note Read.

“We have your Friends! And The Children too! If you wish to see them alive again, get in the train and take a ride to the river - The Cult of Cathode Ray” The Cult of Cathode Ray! Wish to see them alive ?

Era got into the train next to the doll and it left the, what she now realized was a mock up of a real train station. “Uh oh!” With her aunt and uncle away, robbers must have kidnapped her cohorts and her family.

______________

The Train Had went around the Back lawn into the tree line towards the River, it went through a serene looking grove shade from the sun and through a long dark tunnel . Iescape its journey by stopping and a concrete slab by the river doks. Era jump out of the train and looked around. She could se the river house and open and inviting but empty. The river boats were moored and empty too. To the right down the river was a stone path, and Era immediately saw a dolls sitting upright smiling at her, iot also had a note pinned to it. Eras was hungry and needed a bath, but robbers had dashed hopes of caring about the little things and she scooped up the note. It read.

“Come down the path, to the great cavern, your friends are here. Come alone! - Cult of Cathode Ray” Again with the cult of Cathode Ray! Era jogged down the path, dropping the note.

—-----------------------

The interior of the caverns entrance was dark but there was a light coming from the tunnel at the rear of the cave. Between Era and the Tunnel lay a table and Era stopped to look at it. The top was cover with sharp looking Knives, Each with a letter of the english alphabet engraved on the hilt, Era picked up one of the knives to examine it, by the weight and the look of the blade era realized right away what the knife was for.

______________

Bravo and dillinger had grabbed the electric car and followed the train down to the river and after checking the river house they found the rail car and the note in the front seat. They immediately went into panic mode and pulled blades from their Sheaths. They found the second note and ran down the path, As they got close to the cavern they heard chanting, the sound sparks and a howl of ghosts coming from the cavern.

In a sweat they pierced the cavern and passed the table . see the knives they began to sprint towards the loud sparking and chants.

The howling became a screech as they entire another great cavern in the rock to see Eras friends and Family huddle together watching the show in horror. In the center of the room two robed figures grab Era Game by the arms making her drop a large knife. Another taller robed figure approached Era with a knife raised high in his hand. He boomed “You have Come to save your friends' era! Good fortune will bestow them, But You…..” The robed figure closed the distance. “...Must Die in their place!! So commandeth Cathode!!”

Bravo reacted with a snarl and Dillinger coughed. “You DIE!!!!” So loudly everyone turn to look. Except the tall robed figure who thrust his knife into Era Chest make her jerk and Scream. A scream of agonizing disbelief as she realized It was her uncle that had stabbed her.

“You all DIE!!!!” Yelled Bravo.

“Oh No!” Sadi mark stepping towards era “ Era !!!!!!!”

Just then a group of old women moved in between The two peaks heights Killers that Era had commanded so much respect with. THey put up the hands “You must not interfere.” Said the old women……

Bravo leaped over the women and close with his blades already thrusting towards one the men holding era, who let go as Eras turned screaming “No!!!!!!! Dont hurt them!”

The sparks were getting louder and the howling was accompanied by the grinding stone. Giant curtains billowed with air as the cavern filled with the entire cult robe chanting figures.

Gilby and the kids laughed a riot thing.

“They’re not hurting me look.”

“They Are protecting you era, see.”

Era burst into tears. As she saw the giant turn stone disc in the next room. Flashes of electric sparks increased.

“Please don’t hurt them! Its just my Uncle playing games.” Eras remember seeing bravo and Dillinger fighting with Mark and Adam the other night. And Realize34d what was really going here.Era began to Sob “ Oh my God that man, Jinx!” She had met him and would marry him if he asked, and he was protecting her.

“Jinx had you follow,us?” Adam braved a question as era pushed into them proving she was ok. “Their my family..” she cried into them and they stopped there advance. “Your mine? I mean your my protection? Your Protecting me?”

At that moment a calm went over the big room. The billowing curtains seemed to move in slow motion. the wind that swe[t the road died and all the sound in the room went quiet as a giant human looking eye on and giant invisible head Sprang open clutching the entire room in a deep trance.

—------

Era snapped out of her trance instantly remembering what she had dreamed. She had seen it all in detail. There was a Warehouse outside of peaks stocked full of pallets and the guard had left anticipating the arrival of an enemy troop of savage robbers, with automatic rifles on the way there with a few small trucks to steal the goods. She remembered that Jinx had them stack the goods there to be delivered across the river to a convent for orphans.

She knew what she had to do. The transport across the river would be too late and they would find nothing there. “Jinx You devil, there gonna take it. Your to much Jinx, where did you come from.”

If they could get there first and make it back with the goods they could use the river boats to take across to another truck and get those goods to help feed the poor orphans. It was one of the things that would thrust Era into what she was doing. Kids.in trouble.

When they returned Her uncle could call the Township police to protect them. If they needed it. She had seen just how deadly those two killers be in the coming days, and she cried a little as they exited the cavern into the light of day. The Cult members had removed their hoods and greeted everyone with cryptic words.

She walked up to a map under glass. It was a map of the caverns which went for miles along the rivers. The map read “River City”.

George and Jayne Mininvaw approached Era and her two guards smiling. “Its so good to see you Era.” Said her aunt Jayne.

“The Truck you saw earlier should be enough to carry those goods, it and your Lil Blue My brother gave you will be at the riverhouse.If your too late, come back, don't hassle with those Robbers the eye was confusing about the matter.”

“Ya” said bravo, tensing up with confidence.

Era snapped. “We gotta go now! Well take the train up and and get lil blue myself you two grab the Truck! Lets go!” She yelled as she ran down the path to the train. Era was go on a mountain of vivid eidetic dreams and her cohorts followed with their guard on their heels.

The kids and Gilby where already seated and strapped in. The train began to move as era jump in a seat the rest follow just in time as the train work its way up a hill and leveled out on a long track to the house. The return trip went the long way around the estate, it did that on a wide curving track that let out onto a straight away. They were going 60 miles an hour by the time.they reached the mansion .

The train didn't slow until it was almost there.

The kids laughed and Gilby turned back,”Quite a Ride huh.”

___________

They left Prince townships With the truck, lil blue and the Jalopy bravo and Dillinger had stashed in the orchard, Barrelling towards the warehouse outside of east peaks. It would take two hours, Dolo had fuel Lil Blue and the truck and he apologized to Bravo and Dillinger for being able to service their jalopy.

In amazement at the kindness Dolo Exhibited and the wonder of strength in His mechanics paws. He could crush a wrench with that grip. Bravo assured hm the Jalopy worked and they would return with Era for sure not letting her find harm if they weren't already dead.

That set Dolo to thinking. There wouldn’t be enough time in the day for sure now that he was set to thinking.

—---------------------

“Good thing too,” said mark. As he picked up two full packs of smokes from the glove compartment, Cause I couldn’t. find the rest of our chips we got the other night.” Lil blue had been stocked with everything new, maps, lights, food and provisions in the trunk.

“You wont.” Era said hustling over the hill first with the truck and the jalopy struggling at 30 mph. The Jalopy had a top speed of 38 but, they were going to stay with the truck until they got near the warehouse and race in to see if the robbers were there yet. “We don't have time to stop anywhere anyways.”

“Ok…”

“ I gave the rest of our chips to the poor mother we almost hit in peaks.” era blurted.

“Oh damn, thats one lucky momma.” said mark making era smile.” Avoid disaster to get a wind fall, its the contenetal dream I tell you”

—------------------

The pilot side window on Lil Blue Rolled down to reveal Eras Beautiful face. “ Ill drive in if I dont come back in 5 minutes get the goods if I come back turn around and we’ll head out of here.”

Without waiting The jalopy took off. Era grimaced watch Dillinger Roast his tires taking off as Adam in the passenger seat held on for dear life.

“What are they doing?” Era asked mark.

“They dont want you to go in there alone.” said charlie.

Mark stuck his head out the window and said . What era had said to dillinger to Bravo who was driving the truck. And era took off. The warehouse was only a few blocks away, and when era got there. Dillinger and adam were already opening the large Warehouse doors. Eras heart dropped when they revealed More goods then era had literally dream of.

“Theres too much!!. “ Era jumped out of lil blue after coming to a screeching halt. “ There too much.” Era lunged at the goods with Charlie on her six. Mark was already throw stuff in lil blue when Era Barked. “Fill the Autos till the truck gets here! Hurry!” and she threw herself into the work. After a couple minutes they heard the loud lumbering truck roll onto the street.

“There’s the truck!” Charlie yelped.

They stood prone with arm fulls of goods as the truck lurch to a stop. As they threw in there goods, they were stunned by the cracking sound of rifle fire.

“Thats a few blocks away, hurry up.”

They continued to load the truck, as the gunfire increased. Bravo counted at least five different calibers.

“Must be a skirmish. When were done….” Bravo pulled a military pistol and stuffed it in the back of Adam's pants. Magically Bravo produced an identical pistol and put it in Eras' hands, closing her grip on it. “Era you take the truck and charlie you take lil blue, Charlie get the fuck out of here! Now! Go back to Prince. Get Mr. Game and tell him we are on the way. Charlie.” He took Charlie's attention “Tell him we will be there.!”

Charlie dropped what she was carrying and ran to lil blue which was, stuffed full and wouldn’t hold anyone but the pilot anyways.

The skirmishes right around the corner. Six calibers now. Time was precious and they had to leave pallets full of good but the truck was full.

Bravo saw something down the street and turn to Dillenger . “I think I just saw a StreetPoke.”

That was good news. The StreetPoke Mob was small but they where Violent and to smart for their own good. Ugly too. And most of, years of war had brought a solid steele loyalty to the Peak Heights Killers and their ethics

“Adam and mark you get in the back of the truck, and drive home. Well make sure they don't follow you.”

And with that adam Jumped in a pulled mark up. They closed the dump gate and era gassed the truck and lurched out there, leaving the scene.

It was StreetPokes and they leaving the skirmish, The fire rate was lowering and like a old standard Bravo and Dillinger left the scene totally unnoticed if anyone survived the skirmish They would find a few pallets, not enough to fill a truck but a few bucks for the survivor.

—--------------------

After Charlie had left George Games' sight, George turned to minerva. Please tell My dear wife jayne to please make sure our gift to the orphanage is secured in the river boat. The trip will take over and hour, There will not be a Truck to meet the boat so you have to park the truck on the deck, and well have to take it to the orphans ourselves. It will fit.”

“Of course” Minerva said and left georges presence..

“Good work era.”” He said to himself.

______________

Technically this was the first time she had ever driven a truck. It wasn’t Easy like Lil BLue. It could do 30 but 25 was a nicer way to go about it. She was afraid she would lurch around the road too much and throw some of the goods off the truck or even worse one of the boys.. She didn’t want to stop at all if she could help it and she was really worried about highway robbers. She had never fired a pistol or even cocked one, But she knew if it came down to it she would operate lethally.

“Hey, guess what?” Asked Mark from atop the goods in the back of the truck.

“What?” Asked Era.

“I see our friends.” mark yelled over the loud engine that roared under Eras Seat. There was only one seat in one of these trucks. Era fumbled around with the cockpit window to get at the side view mirror that had been cocked so much she couldnt see anything behind her. After a minute she wrestled it into place and sure enough there they were, ramblin up the highway towards them in their wonderful little jalopy. And better yet no one was following them.

“Yes that was quick.” She was happy, even the sight of a small item falling off of the speeding Jalopy didn’t give her a reason to stop smiling. She kept going though. Her protectors were Brutal Looking.

After a couple minutes the jalopy pulled up to Eras left side, Bravo was sitting in the passenger seat with a big grin on his face , Era could see that the cockpit was lined with pistols, probably all cocked and ready to fire. He had the window down and was leaning out.

“They never even saw us.”Said Bravo “Good thing too, I would murdered them all you know.”

“Im going kill myself driving this thing. It works but really hard.” Said Era. “By the Way. We need fuel. I got chips for that.”

Their smiles and grins were replace by an instant frown. “We shouldn't stop until we get there.”

Instead of arguing bravo “ O.K. We’ll take the lead stop when we do. If even cut throats see that load there for sure gonna try to jack us. If they do, their finished.” with a smile they started to pull out ahead.

“Good to know!” Era wasn’t used to all this violence, her damn heart kept leading her to danger, exciting but ultra violent it seemed.

—--------

Era slowed the truck to 10 mph to pull off the highway to port fueling port. Era had to get out of the pilot seat so the caurotech could attach the fueling apparatus. Era concealed the pistol so the tech did not get nervous. Adam and Mark went in to pay and use the restroom, Era hadn't even taken a drink of anything since she had been elbow deep in grease rebuilding Lil Blue Engine. It had only taken ten minutes. When she got back in the pilot's seat she was lost going over the start sequence in her mind. But out of the corner of her eye she saw men, approaching the truck, She saw they both carry foot and a half long steel clubs.

It was easy to imagine robbers getting over on a trucker and taking off with the truck full of goods. Just as the men got within a few feet of the truck era poked her head out the window and popped the cab door open.

“Hey, what nice change in the weather!” The heat had dissipated and the sky was full of clouds.

One of the men looked over to era. Ignoring the comment about the weather. Lucky to see that the trucker was a woman, not even a big one, but a slender Beauty, and from her comment, too friendly.. “Is this your truck?” Ice came over Era. the man continued to notice Era did not have a scattergun, or club like most truckers. A sitting duck.

From around the corner Adam and Mark arrived Seeing the men they hustled up to the truck and without thinking. “Hey Era!!!!” Adam said. “ Where the hell is the safety on this damn thing!” He then produce the deadly military pistol and accidently pointed it at one of the men.

Instinctively Era produced her own pistol, saying “I couldn't find it either, do you think we’ll need a safety with all these cutthroats out there.?”

The two men turned on the dime and started walking the other way.

“‘That was nice. Were they trying to help you?” Mark asked jumpin’ up into the dump bed.

Even though statistically the chance of a Pistol fight in the Port was Common, era had never seen it, and chose to believe it really never happened. Except when they men got back to their ride they threw the clubs in and reached in Pulling out a rifle. And a scatter gun.

“‘Lets go.” Seeing the truck start after the tech replaced the cab over the engine compartment, the two men got in their ride and started it, maybe wishing to follow them. Dillinger and Bravo would see them in that case.

She tensed as Adam yelled “Ready.”

“Mark!” Era yelled “Come up here!”

Mark shimmied his way over the goods to the cab. “Here take this. I gotta work.” Era passed the pistol out the window and Mark gripped it. “You know how to use it.”

“Television no, pistols yes.” Mark assured her.

The two men didn’t wait for the era to take off, they sped away leaving the port fueling area. Got on the road and headed towards where the warehouse was located. The other direction! Relief came over Era

“They left, let's go!” Said Adam. Era Shifting the truck into First , It was difficult but worked well. The truck lurched at a few miles per hour. She looked around and didn’t see bravo or dillinger.

CRACK! CRACK! CRACK! CRACK! Came the sound of automatic pistol fire, followed by a crowd of screams and twenty more shots.

She knew what was about to happen and wasn't surprised when loud booms of crunch metal preceding the sound metal metal screeching, She saw tire smoke first and then the Jalopy drifted around the corner smoking its tires.

Bravo was hanging halfway out the window and had two pistols, one in each hand, and with a breath emptied both pistols, which was followed by more screams louder, more gun fire, but not from her boys..

The Jalopy Raced by the truck and bravo was pulling himself back in grinning, and blood soaking his shirt to the waist. He grinned even bigger “Lets Go. Roller Derby is on tonight!”

The truck lurched and they lit out at thirty miles an hour and didn't look back the entire way to prince.

—---------------------------

The television eye from Prince Township Pierced the Peak Metro area that day. There had been skirmishes all day, between The high Killers and the savage union of thieves, a loose union like always.

“Era Met Him in South Peaks, she loves him. He’s Moving into the fight, he's a high killer for sure. Over 40 Bodies today alone!” Minerva giggled.

George smiled “No one will miss them minerva. If they clear out the thieves, then what? Will they be the same?”

Minerva wasn’t discouraged, “Are they ever. Lets see this. Let's see what the high killers do when the killings are done.”

—----

Era was watching the inside of her eyelids, sitting in Lil Blue, Happy, really content for the first time since they all had met up in the cavern for a lark. She was sitting in Lil Blue parked on the deck of the River Boat, wedged between the wheelhouse and the Big truck they had used to haul the goods for the orphanage.

They had parked the Jalopy on the other side of the truck right on the stern of the boat.\\It was a big boat but they had removed most of the deck equipment to fit the vehicles. It was another 30 minutes to the dock to off load the truck and the autos, quick and easy.

George Game , Eras' good uncle, had insisted on driving the truck. It would be a quick trip from the dock to the orphanage. He wanted to help with the gift from the Cult Of Cathode to the Orphanage.

Eras Cousin Gilby Brought her two children with a crate full of toys. Matildafey and Buzzy had filled from their own stash, some really rare and expensive toys most kids never get.

On the trip back from East Peaks Bravo had stitched his would and changed his clothes. Era had examined the stitching and was very impressed how the man did it while rambling’ along in a slightly wrecked Jalopy. They Had bashed into an auto blocking the way twice to screech by it to drive away, with the jalopy looking even more like an elephant's ass.

Gilby and the children Rode with Bravo and Dillinger. Much to Gilbert's pure joy. She said they reminded her of her good husband who was so strong he could carry a dead elk over his shoulder while holding a rifle. What made it most ridiculous” is she had said “ He would then hike across the hills with it Singing the whole way, with a big booming voice!!!!” The Kids fell asleep easily listening to Bravo and Dillinger Bicker about everything.

Era was going to watch the back of her eyelids the who way to the docks, They would then take the goods to the orphans and be back for a late supper, which era could only imagine would be a giant buffett of entres, most of which she hadnt had a bite of in a long time. She ate like a fat kid she thought, never gained an ounce fat though, all brains! she giggled o herself.

“Hey era!!!! Said George Game from the Wheelhouse.

—------------

The Television was a gift from the the cult of Cathode Ray, aka, Her Aunt and Uncle and there Television loving friends, to the orphanage. Besides the goods which would feed and nurture the orphans They had brought a Heap of nice Clothing for the Kids to, much of it new out of the Box stuff. the television would show the Kids another world and help them dream, And it would show them Roller Derby!

The End

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