Dark Blue Monstropolis

“I have to leave, you know.”

Why was this so difficult for her? She didn’t know any of these people, but she felt as if she owed her life to this man. She owed her decks, yes, and those were singularly important but…why these feelings and why were they this strong?

“I know.”

And why did he have to be so understanding about it? She was sure that if he were to beg her to stay, it would be much easier for her to leave. Instead, he just sat there staring at the little patch of floor just in front of his feet.

“I…probably will never come back, you know.”

“I know.”

She gently put her hand under his chin and lifted his face to meet hers. She smiled.

“Can’t you say anything else?”

He didn’t reply. He just looked into her eyes. She cupped his face in her hands and kissed him gently on the lips.

“I never said ‘thank you’,” she whispered.

“You just did,” he replied.

She turned to gather her belongings and found that they had already been organized for her. She smiled and picked up her pack. It was decidedly lighter than it had previously been.

“Now that you are out of the city, you should probably put this on.” Easy was holding her pistol belt.

She nodded and took it from his outstretched hands. She placed it around her waist and positioned it low on her hip. She took the pistol from out of the holster, removed the magazine and saw that it was empty. She went into her pack for her ammunition and began loading the four 15-round magazines. When she had finished this ritual, she worked the slide on the pistol, placed a round in the chamber and pressed the lever that let the slide slam back home. She then placed one of the magazines in the grip and drove it home with a slap of her fist.

“9mm, right?” Easy asked.

“Yup.”

He smiled. She wasn’t sure what that smile was really about, but she figured it ultimately didn’t matter. She had to be moving on.

She went to pick up her pack and it was once again heavy. She shot a quick glance over to Easy.

“I thought you could use some more ammunition. I got you about five hundred rounds or so. I hope that’s all right.”

She opened her pack to see all of the boxes of ammunition sitting neatly at the bottom. She closed the flap and adjusted the straps for use on both shoulders. This added weight would be better carried across both shoulders on the journey she was about to take.

She smiled at Easy, gave him another quick kiss on the cheek and turned toward the opening of the tent. Her case was already locked again and the cassette decks were safely inside. She grabbed her case and turned to leave.

“We’ll see each other again,” he said.

She smiled. “With you, I have no doubt that that’s absolutely true.” And, with that, she made her way further west.

“You love her don’t you?” Margaret asked.

“Yes,” Easy replied.

“Why aren’t you going with her?”

“It’s not time yet.” He never took his eyes from the western edge of the tunnel, down which Ginger had vanished at least an hour before.

Margaret looked at him. She turned her gaze back to the tunnel and nodded. “Perhaps you’re right.”

With that, she made her way back to her tent, leaving Easy at his vigil.