Mexican Radio And Other Short Stories, Volume II: Mexican Radio And Other Short Stories, #2

Mexican Radio And Other Short Stories

Volume II

By

Jaysen True Blood

Published by Jaysen True Blood

––––––––

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. 

If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.

All Rights Reserved. This eBook may not be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission of the author.

All of the characters in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead is purely coincidental. They are product of the author's imagination and used fictitiously

Warning: the unauthorized reproduction, copying, sharing or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to five years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. 

©2014 by Jaysen True Blood

Contents

1. Bad Lands

2. Ghost In My Eyes

3. Old L.A. Tonight

4. The Duke’s Treachery

5. The Eleventh Hour

6. Thorogon’s Dilemma

7. When The Crowds Are Gone

8. One Shot At Glory

9. Narratives Of A Dry Vampire, Part 2: Of Wolf And Man

10. No Method To My Madness

11. She’s A Beauty

12. Right Next Door To Hell

13. Suicide Solution

14. Storyteller Blues

15. On The Road

16. Owed To Joe

17. Painkiller

18. Yesterdays

19. Headed For Destruction

20. Bad Obsession

21. Murder Rings The Church Bells

22. Vengeance Is Mine

23. One Wrong Move

Bad Lands

Shut up! Macy yelled.

Make me, taunted George, her older brother, but it’s true! I heard ma talkin’ about it last night!

Macy shrugged, walking away pouting. It hadn’t been all that long since they’d come to the colony so ma could find work. Their pa had died back on earth just before ma decided to move. There was no real explanation, just that she had to find work. George said it had something to do with their pa’s death. Ma simply denied it.

Whatever the reason, Macy had begun to settle in here. She’d found a handful of friends to prowl around with, and was starting to like life here. George had always liked it here, from day one. There were no real laws. He could go and do whatever he liked, within reason.

But now, George was saying that ma was going to move again. He had said there had been something frantic in her voice. She’d mentioned something about someone finding them. But who? And why would she be afraid of them?

Macy just didn’t understand it. Ma seemed to always be looking back. For what, there was never an explanation. Macy didn’t like not knowing the truth.

What had actually happened on earth? And why had they abruptly left? Why were they always looking back? Who was back there? What was back there?

And why were they going to be moving again? Was there something wrong? Was somebody after them? What if she didn’t want to leave? What if George didn’t want to go?

The questions flooded in like a raging torrent, making Macy crazy. She didn’t like change. At eleven, she wanted to settle and have friends. She wanted to go to the malls, the movies, the artificial beach. She was almost a teen. She wanted to act like one.

George was a typical sixteen year old. He had his friends. He had an after school job at one of the markets. He had his hobbies, his extracurricular activities with the school. But he was also at the top of his class. In a couple of years, he’d be able to go to the Academy. If he lived those years out.

Unlike Macy, George knew how their pa had been killed. He knew why his ma kept them on the run. He knew everything, and it had him scared. It gave him nightmares. Macy hadn’t been there when it happened.

Macy had gone to stay at a friend’s house. Ma was still at work. George and pa had been at home. That was where everything went bad. There had been a knock on the door. Two men dressed as patrolmen had entered. George had been in his room, but peeked out to see what was going on. He’d just picked the very instant when the men killed pa.

They’d scoured the house, searching for anyone else. But George had hidden under his bed. Not that it really did any good. They shot his mattress full of holes, and two shots from their laser pistols had hit him. But he bit his tongue, despite the searing pain. He didn’t want to die. And he hadn’t died. Badly wounded, he had been taken to the hospital by ma.

Unfortunately, nothing would bring pa back. Nothing. Nor could anything erase the nightmare from George’s brain. It replayed its self every night.

Macy knew he woke up in the night screaming, but had never understood the reason.  She just thought that it was nightmares like hers. She wondered why ma always took more notice of his, but never really got jealous. She simply accepted it. After all, George was the oldest.

****************

Dom had been searching for the family for years. The girl, he thought, should be about eleven. Old enough to sell into slavery. The boy...well, the boy had to die. He had been a witness. The mother would have to die too. Well, maybe not. If it was done right, she could be sold to slavers as well.

All he cared about was that all witnesses to his crime be taken care of in a way that they could not testify against him. The boy’s father had been a hit. Not that the guy had been involved in dishonest business, but his bosses were wrapping up all lose ends.

Dom had not asked why. Corrupt bosses had lots of reasons. Mostly, they wanted to make sure that any shady business that could’ve been discovered remained hidden. That was probably the case with this guy. He had probably found a deviation in the books and they figured he would go to the authorities with it.

Odd that the corporations paid the police. None of the reported corruption was ever investigated, and those who reported it became accounts to be taken care of by people like Dom. And business was good. Maybe too good.

Still, he had unfinished business. He was willing to track the loose ends to the ends of the universe. He always got his man. Always.

Hell. He’d even caused his partner’s demise to cover up his part in the whole hit. Even though the police were bought and paid for by his employers, they still seemed eager to hang his kind out to dry should such information be presented that pointed to him in any killing. Thus, he had to see this out to the end.

******************

We’re moving on to the Bad Lands, ma was saying, I’m being transferred there. I’ve been chosen to be the head of a new colony there and to organize every aspect of its overall planning and execution.

Aw, ma, Macy whined, why must we move? I mean, I’ve finally made friends here. And there’s nothing to do in the Bad Lands. Ever’body knows that.

Macy, ma continued, trying to explain, we’re being sent there to set all that up. Maybe you can help plan the malls and whatever you think the colony there needs. As for friends, you’ll be able to make new ones.

George remained silent. He knew the real reason they were headed for the Bad Lands, and it wasn’t to start a colony. He was the reason. Whoever it was that had killed pa must’ve found them. Ma and Macy, should he catch them, were doomed to be sold. And he, George, would be killed just as pa had been.

He slipped away, unseen. He had to go find some way to protect his family. Maybe he would see if one of his friends had a pistol they would sell him. Or maybe he would go into the pawn shops and see what they had to offer. He had enough money saved up for either option.

At the same moment, not far away from their home, a stranger had come to the colony. Tall and dark, he strode through the street with purpose. Yet he wasn’t ready for what fate was about to hand him.

As he walked, he took in the sights and sounds. It had been years since he’d last been in a colony. He’d left civilization to seek his fortune, but found only a hard life. People called him Pasha.

It didn’t matter that it wasn’t his real name, just that it seemed to stick...and he liked it better than the name he’d been given. He had come back to the colony for supplies he couldn’t get out in the Bad Lands. To the average colonist, he seemed to be a throwback to the wild west of earth legends. But he was always watching.

Amid his stroll, he found himself face-to-face with George—who literally walked right into him. The boy seemed to be nervously watching who was behind him, as if there was someone after him. Pasha could tell something was on the kid’s mind.

Whoa, boy, Pasha chuckled. watch where yer goin’. Ya act as if ya got the Devil on yer tail. What’s botherin’ ya?

Sir, George began, didn’t mean to bump into you. But I have to find a way to help my ma.

Y’all in some sort of trouble son?

I-I don’t want to burden you with our troubles.

Right at that point, someone decided to take a potshot at the two.

Ah, hell, Pasha sighed, either someone wants one of us dead, or they’ve changed their form of greeting around these parts. I’m wagerin’ the former, ‘cause the latter hasn’t happened. Mind tellin’ me now, since someone just took a shot at both of us?

My pa’s killer has caught up to us and wants me dead. If he gets to ma and Macy, they’ll be sold to slavers. I-I was out trying to find a pistol.

Come, son. Lead the way. No need fer ya to waste yer money on a pistol ya may have to fix. Might as well let ol’ Pasha take ya under his protection. Where y’all headed, anyhow?

Ma says we’re heading for the Bad Lands.

Ah. Home sweet home. Not an easy place to live, but it’ll hide any who don’t wanna be found. Come. You’ll be my guests.

Pasha had a big grin on his face. George realized that the Bad Lander wouldn’t let anything happen to any of them. Taking the lead, George headed home. Pasha followed close behind.

****************

Dom cursed his bad luck. He’d had the boy dead to rights. He’d even took the shot. But for some reason, the shot went wild. And now, there was the problem of the Bad Lander. Things couldn’t get any worse.

You couldn’t kill a Bad Lander. They were just too tough. And they always ended up getting you in the end. And the boy had taken the Bad Lander home with him! Of all the luck! Now the family had protection!

The Bad Lander only meant one thing. The family was headed for the Bad Lands. Not a good place to go if you were hired to kill someone. Or even for someone trying to finish up a job.

At the same time, the Bad Lands could do his job for him. They were the universe’s harshest environment. Those not used to them were doomed either to die or return out of frustration. They weren’t like the colonies. No amenities. The only amusement was to go out into the wastes and shoot drackens or diving air fish. Not easy...or fun.

Of course, if you were amusing yourself at the expense of a hired assassin, the Bad Lands were exactly the place you’d want to go. Bad Landers tended to love to torture people like Dom. It seemed to be their fondest form of amusement. Dumping them off in the wastes blind-folded, barefoot, nearly naked, and without food of water seemed the favorite method. There were variations of this, though, that made it more unlikely that the victim would ever get out of the wastes alive.

Dom shuttered at the memory of the skelwoulves, better known as star-wolves. The howl was more of a high-pitched shriek...like the Irish Banshee. It even signified, usually, the death of whoever heard it—as did sighting a pack of them.

And they were hideous to behold. Though hominid, they had deeply lupine features, glowing eyes, and bat-like wings that they used to aid them in their nightly hunts. And they ate just about anything they found, dead or alive. Their razor-sharp talons could tear a man’s heart out without any problem and punctuated long, slender finger-like appendages that could grasp a man by his head.

But he was already committed to finishing up this job. He had to follow them into the hell that haunted his nightmares. He knew this time could very well be his last. He might not come out of the Bad Lands alive. So he packed his gear and got ready to follow them.

************************

Once we get to the Bad Lands, Sasha was telling ma, so that Macy and George could hear too, "You’ll have to be mindful of a few things. First, there are the skelwoulves. They stalk the hours of darkness. Never go out at night. Not even to get firewood. Then there are the scurlach-ants. They look like huge ants, hence their name.

Scurlach is the native name for them. Avoid their mounds. Then there are the Layenwyrms. They are worms that inhabit the wastes, but sometimes strays into inhabited areas of the Bad Lands. They eat anything. Just avoid them altogether. Finally, there are shargas. I don’t know how to describe them to you except you’ll know one when you see it."

Is there anything to do out there? Macy inquired.

Well, little lady, Pasha replied, I ain’t sure what there is for a young lady, but I can always take anyone who’s interested huntin’ in the wastes and teach ‘em how to survive.

George was looking out of the window of Pasha’s ship. They’d loaded up sooner than they’d planned, with Dom’s arrival. They, ma and George, seemed eager to get on their way. But Macy wasn’t. Still, she had resigned herself to the fact that she had no other choice.

Still, she felt that since she had to go that she would make the best of it. She wanted to find out about her new home. She would glean what she could from Pasha, whom she had started seeing as a father figure, then explore the possibilities when she got there. She was determined to make her own fun.

As she sat in thought, something strange began to happen. The navi-board she’d been staring at began to float inexplicably. Twice, Pasha instinctively grabbed it and set it back down where it had been. But after the second time, he stopped talking and stared at it as it rose from its spot yet again. Macy realized, suddenly, that it was she who was causing it to rise.

Is that you doin’ that, little lady? Pasha asked, perplexed.

Grinning, Macy nodded. George looked over at her.

When did you realize you could do that?

Just now.

What else can you do?

Dunno.

She reached out to him with her mind. Slipping into his head, she suddenly saw all that he’d been keeping from her. What ma had been keeping from her?

Why didn’t you tell me?

Tell you what?

The real reasons we always had to move.

When it started, you were only five. You wouldn’t have understood.

"But you could’ve told me this time, you know. I’m not five anymore. I understand, though, about your nightmares. If I had gone through that, I would have them too."

"But you do have nightmares."

Not like yours. I’m not reliving the worst moment of my life. I just—

Wait a minute, Pasha broke in, what kind of nightmares do you have, Macy?

She sees things that haven’t happened yet. Things that might happen. Could happen.

I coulda warned pa, she said quietly, "I had dreamt that would happen, though I wished for it not to. But I didn’t say anything. I knew we’d meet Pasha. I even knew that he was coming, but I didn’t know why. He didn’t look the same without the patrolman suit on."

But you knew it was him?

Yes.

Want to have fun with him?

How?

"Well....you can get into peoples’ heads. Maybe you can cause him a bit of paranoia."

She smiled. Of course! Maybe cause him to inadvertently punch in the wrong coordinates. Or, perhaps, maybe trigger something that would cause him a nightmare or two. Oh, the possibilities! She looked at everyone around her to see what they were thinking. Pasha seemed to be reassuring her. Ma...well, ma always seemed so reserved. She seemed not to believe in such gifts. Oh, but pa did. Though he didn’t always take her dreams seriously. But the consensus was in, it was a go. So she slipped into the mind of their pursuer.

*****************

Dom sat at the console of his ship, dozing. He’d set the autopilot and was simply keeping an eye on things to make sure that his ship didn’t stray from the set coordinates. Then, the visions began. Horrible hallucinations. These were worse than the nightmares he had about the Bad Lands. Something was going on.

It suddenly dawned on him as he was batting at a non-existent assailant; he was under attack by a telepath. Damn! The girl was a psi-child!

Damned little psi-witch. Almost had me fooled there. Why don’t you go a bit deeper into my mind? Might find something there you’ll have to face in the Bad Lands.

As sudden as the attacks had begun, they were over. He smiled. Must not have liked what terrors she’d seen in his memory. Good. Psi-witches were dangerous, but only if trained in their gifts. She, apparently, had only discovered hers.

He corrected himself. Psi-witches were dangerous no matter what. Untrained, they could wreak havoc upon anyone’s psyche, leaving them a vegetable or crazy. Trained, they could kill you from inside your own mind.

Either way, the girl would have to die. Couldn’t let such a dangerous weapon get into the wrong hands. That meant that the mother would have to die. Couldn’t risk her being a latent psi-witch. Anything could trigger her into a devastating brainstorm that would kill any in her presence.

He looked back out his window. Their ship had vanished! Where’d they go? They weren’t at the Bad Lands yet. They couldn’t just disappear...could they?

************************

Macy returned to her own mind. She knew who had been behind pa’s death. She also knew what everything looked like that Pasha had warned them all about. She was intrigued. With her abilities, she could, very possibly, learn how to control the wild things that resided in the Bad Lands.

On a whim, she began spanning space with her mind, peering into the darkest recesses of the universe. As she did so, she took a look back and noticed that what she was doing had caused the ship to vanish from sight. She had masked their whereabouts from their pursuer!

Pasha, she called him mentally, can you make any adjustments to get us to our destination quicker?

I should be able to, he answered aloud, without thinking, why?

Our movements have been masked, she replied, by what I am doing. We need to reach our destination sooner, if possible. Don’t ask why.

She returned to reaching out across space. Seeking. Searching. Calling. For what, she wasn’t sure. She just knew that she was searching and calling for something.

At some point, her mind connected with that of a skelwoulf. 

Child, it mind-whispered, what do you seek?

Friends, she whispered back.

Child, you are special. You are a mind-talker like us. Come to us. We shall help you.

As shall we, another voice hissed, almost insect-like.

Always a good ally, those Scurlach, the skelwoulf commented, they have many hives where one can take refuge if trouble brews.

Not to mention us wyrms, a third voice chimed in.

You must be a Layenwyrm.

Yes, my dear, it replied, that is what they call us. But we must not forget the ones keeping strangely silent this night...the shargas. They must be included in everything that deals with the Bad Lands. They are the elders of our home.

We’re listening, a fourth voice hummed, and find our psi-friend quite intriguing. Continue on, child.

I need friends to protect my family, and Pasha, from the man who follows us. He killed my pa and wants to kill us as well. Pasha has promised to protect us, but he is only a man-after all-and can’t always be there wherever we’re at. We need protectors who can keep watch without being seen and give warning if someone not of our group approaches.

We shall. But first, we must meet with you. Alone. We give you our word that you shall be safe.

There had been others listening, but none had joined the conversation. Still, many who’d been listening had begun making things tough for Dom. Each attack, though minor, slowed him down until-finally-he was just barely moving. He cursed his assailants under his breath, though he knew that it did him absolutely no good.

*****************

Macy watched as the planet known simply as The Bad Lands came into view. It looked as rough and tumble as its name implied. The harshness had a kind of strange beauty. With two suns, days would seem to drag on, that’s for sure. With two moons, the night would possibly lighter than she’d ever been used to. Still, she knew she’d found a home she would come to love.

As Pasha brought his ship in for landing, he passed a mesa and Macy saw-for the first time- a skelwoulf. Its reddish eyes seemed to show a sense of recognition as it spotted her at the window. That must’ve been the one talking to me, she thought to herself. Outside, she saw the oranges and reds of sunset.

She watched as the skelwoulf headed for the very edge of the port city. She hoped that the people didn’t get too nervous. She wouldn’t want anything to happen.

Welcome to Aarderyth, Pasha said, the only town within hectares of my home. We’ll be home soon.

I’m already home, Macy replied without thinking, I belong here.

George looked at her. Had he heard her correctly? Or had it been a trick of words? Had she really called this home?

Pasha looked back at her too, a mystified look on his face. Ma, too, looked at her with a shocked expression on her face.

Don’t look so surprised. We all belong here. I already like it here.

How do you know that? Ma asked.

I can’t tell you. Not because I don’t want to, but because I don’t know how to put it into words. I will have plenty of friends here. Don’t worry. Just trust me and don’t worry about me when I do something Pasha said was not recommended. I must do certain things. Then, we’ll be safer than we’ve ever been.

They all stared at her, astonished. What did she know that they didn’t? Had she accomplished something no one else had ever thought of attempting? And why was she so calm?

Macy ignored their surprise and went back to looking out her window. On the ride to Pasha’s humble home, she looked out the window of the land crawler. She could see the skelwoulf in the distance, following them. As they passed what looked like a huge anthill with a crater in its center, a huge ant-like creature appeared at it top.

Our queen welcomes you, psi-child, it stated, When you can, come and I shall lead you to her. She wishes an audience with you.

Macy nodded in acknowledgment. The giant ant disappeared back into the hole. Macy continued to stare out her window. Then she spotted the sharga and smiled. Though it defied description, she thought it was a beautiful creature. The only creature not present, at least not at that moment, was the wyrm. Still, she felt she knew what to expect.

*******************

That night, Macy took a walk. No one saw her leave. She knew where she was headed, the Scurlach mound. She wanted to meet the queen. Along the way, the skelwoulf appeared at her side.

Call all your clans together, she told him, if you see the sharga, tell him to do the same. Meet me half-way between the Scurlach hill and Pasha’s house.

As you request, the skelwoulf replied, so shall it be.

She watched as he flew off, then continued on her way to the Scurlach hill. She climbed the powdery sides easily. At the top, the messenger awaited her.

Welcome, Psi-child, it said, follow me. Stay close. If you wish, climb upon me and I shall carry you down.

Yes, she replied, it would probably be best if I rode you down into your home.

Hold tight, then, the Scurlach stated, as she climbed on.

After she’d climbed on, she found a cluster of hairs that she grabbed to hang onto as they began the descent. Though the halls were dark, there was a sort of twilight that made it possible to see. The nearer they got to the center, the throne room, the light got brighter. In no time, they were in the presence of the queen.

The psi-child! Came a collective gasp.

Psi-child, the queen began, it was foretold in times past, that one such as you would come to lead all the nations of the Bad Lands. I don’t just speak of those of us who conferred with you as you traveled here, but I also speak of those of the other worlds in our realm. You see, the whole system is known as the Bad Lands. There are many here who are oppressed. Even hunted. We’re misunderstood, hated, and feared for no reason. We mean no one harm, but other beings believe otherwise. With one such as you to lead us, we can call for peace with men.

I would, Macy replied, only ask those men in the Bad Lands for a lasting peace. I wouldn’t worry about those on the outside. They are only filled with greed and will only steal your homes from you, then kill you.

That is why we need one such as you. You can see the hearts of those who come. You will be able to tell us who is good to their word and who will cause ill dealings. Will you lead us?

Yes. I will lead the nations of the Bad Lands.

Then, come, child. Touch my antennae. Become my queen. Become Queen of Queens. Bear the light of the Scurlach.

Macy stepped forward and accepted the light of the Scurlach. A psi-cheer arose from the whole population of the hill.

You shall be welcome in all Scurlach hives. None shall turn you away. And we shall protect you from all harm. This is our solemn collective vow. Ah, but now the skelwoulves and the shargas await you with the king of the wyrms. Go. They mustn’t be kept. Darkness shall soon be over.

The Scurlach that had carried her down into the hive carried her back into the cool night air.

Godspeed, my queen.

Thank you, kind messenger.

The Scurlach curtsied, then vanished back into the hive. Macy climbed down the side of the hive, back to the road at its base. Turning back toward Pasha’s, she headed home. Midway, she was met by the shargas and the skelwoulves, who took her to the king of the wyrms.

The overlord of the skelwoulves rose as she approached. So did the head chieftain of the shargas. Both came before her and knelt.

Please accept us as your lieges, oh Queen, they requested, do us the greatest honor and accept our servitude. Long may we protect you, until the end of our time.

Accepted, she replied, humbly.

The king of the wyrms slithered over to her. And I, my Queen, he began, ask for your acceptance, long may my nation protect you.

I accept you as well, dear king, she replied, touching him gently, and whoever comes to me as an ally. My enemies shall be your enemies, and your enemies shall be mine.

Behold, the skelwoulf said, motioning to the sky, the first light of night wanes. Soon, the second shall also be extinguished. Let us get her back to her home before the night is spent.

**************

Not far from the house, the skelwoulf stopped and knelt. Up until then, he had been carrying a staff which he treated with an almost religious fervor. This, he offered to her and she took it.

The great staff of leadership. May you pass it down to those you choose to follow you as queen.

The sharga handed her the hair-cloak that it had been wearing. The mantle of sharga chieftainship. Wear it proudly and may it serve you well.

Thank you, both. I shall send for you both when I have made all things ready. Then we shall build a fortress from which we can see to the needs of our people. For now, keep watch there are enemies about.

Pasha stood at the door watching all that went on a short distance away. He couldn’t believe his eyes. Neither the skelwoulf nor the sharga attempted to harm her. What hold did she have over those creatures? And what other surprises did she have for them?

Macy saw Pasha waiting for her. She saw the puzzlement in his eyes and smiled. She knew he had trouble believing what he was seeing. Still, she could not let him know all...yet. Nor could she tell George or ma. They wouldn’t understand.

A sharga cloak? And the totem of the skelwoulf? What else?

"I can’t tell you everything yet, dear Pasha.