Phoenix Salt&Sassy bar
It’s a bit later then an hour that we rise from our chairs. Sam rised more early and sat down on the bar, to watch when Deliah would dissappear.
The bar is now really crowded. Perfectly easy to dissappear into the masses and follow any business you have to strike.
It’s a also a sign how well organized Deliah must be, to be sure that she can leave the front for a while.
We step beside Sam who waits at the door. The three of us share a look, like so often we don’t need any other communication. It’s one for all, all for one to us. Always.
I nod at her and she knocks one time. We were told to come, but especially in a place where we are strangers, it’s better and wiser to be overly polite.
The door gets opened only with a small gap and we slide through, one after one.
storeroom Salt&Sassy
We stand in a room that is full of boxes filled with bottles, food, obviously more chairs and whatever might be needed in the bar. There are two oil lamps lit, tainting the otherwise dark room I to an eery light. Deliah stands, her back on the wall, Mike and five other big blokes around her. I knew she isn’t just a bartender. Not in the docks. Not in this obviously dangerous city.
“Are we asked to lay down our weapons?” Sam asks, already her hand on her whip to losen it. It’s normally common that in such talks, you are asked to take off weapons, to show that you are willed to behave and accept the standing rules.
But Deliah surprises us by answering “No. Better keep your weapons. If you keep yours, we can keep ours!” She lifts the skirt she is wearing and we see two small knives bond to her leg. Sam whistles “Handy…”
The guys don’t show any weapon, but now it’s clear they aren’t only big and muscular. There will be weapons on them too.
I eye Mike who still wears a friendly smile. Deliah grins “Mike is my gentle giant. He easily gains people’s trust and makes them talk. Usually…” Now Sam grins “Just not us… Instead that we told him a thing about us… We made him speak…”
“Exactly. And that’s why I think you’re worth my time. You aren’t just travelers who got lucky running into some hares and squirrels. That bow he is wearing… It’s not just an handcrafted hunting weapon. That’s a bow made by someone who learnt the craft from a master in the days before the virus. It’s not just for hunting, it’s for fighting. The questions you ask…Simple travelers would indeed ask where they can stay for some nights, where the fun things take place…and not about to expect dangers, tribes that live here…”
Kyle crosses his arms “Well…not every traveler is an idiot. We always check out the way a city is running, before we stay!”
Deliah looks at me. “Is it that?” She asks, signing with her hands. I can’t keep my indifferent face at that. Never since I was kidnapped away from here, a person talked to me without me teaching them first.
“How…?” I start to sign, but she at once answers “My mom was deaf…I think I remember enough to understand you. I guess you made a bit of your own sign language also over the years. With no teaching left…”
She uses the letters. It’s a slow way to speak in sign language, but a more foolproof way. I nod instead of signing back.
“You are a very good lip reader. You give the perfectly closed face, so one goes and thinks you are just not interested in talks and leave the deal making to your companions. People think you don’t need words to let your companions know what you want…”
I shrug and sign “People see what they want to see. As long as I have good deals to offer they don’t nudge me to speak…”
“Well…” She looks quietly at us a moment. “The question you asked… Is understandable. We live in times were we can’t be sure enough. Especially people like you and us… Traders, scammers…”
I pull a brow up “Bounty… Hunters?” She asks, using words and hands. Kyle makes a step closer to me. She grins “You are hunters? From the north? Or south?”
We look at each other and Sam answers “South…” “Ah…thats the more beautiful place… Mountains… Oceanside…”
Surprised I look in her eyes.
“I come from the south… After the virus I traveled some years. Not a blue eyes girl I am…” She winks with a grin, as she indeed HAS blue eyes.
Kyle and Sam stay silent, trying to not give away even more.
“You’re not here for business… I’d know Iif someone hired hunters…you said yourself you aren’t looking for fun… So…?” “That’s private!” I sign back to her.
A while she stares in my eyes, then she nods “I accept that…” “But…” one of the guys starts, but she just holds her hand up. “I am not prying into those guys private business. I want respect, so I give respect myself!”
She sighs and hops on a stack of boxes. “I hope whatever you reason you have… It’s worth a risk though. This town isn’t Disneyland.” She signs. It never was, I think to myself.
“Okay… Look… The reason why I had to interfere in your talk with Mike… The questions you were asking… They are dangerous either people lie at you or won’t answer at all. Or you meet someone like Mike who melts to the beautiful face of your girl here…”
“I wasn’t telling them! I kept my mouth!” Mike shouts “Yeah… But for how long Mickey boy? Holding back isn’t exactly your golden treat. I am not angry. It’s good we aren’t all closed up ice boxes…” She pats his cheek and turns then to face me again.
She uses her mouth and her hands now, probably so I gave double chance to understand.
"Mike told you about the… Normal tribes here. About the paradise addicts… And I think you agree that those junkies already are enough danger. Life has always been dangerous since the virus. Mostly because there are always those who see themselves above someone else. This city has gone through several wars so to say. There has always been someone wanting to be king or queen. But now… The City has… Let’s say… Kind of a Gray eminence. There is a tribe… The MORAIS. they stay in the background. No one knows where they live. No one knows how many people belong to them. No one knows if their leader is a woman or a man… "
I raise a brow and she stops talking, laughs loud “No don’t go thinking I am the leader. I don’t like the life in the shadows. I don’t like the tribal lifestyle.”
“But you ARE a leader anyway or?” Sam asks, Deliah gives her an appraising smile “God I do LOVE smart people! You three use your brain instead only your sexy asses! Yes. I am a leader. I lead the community of those who live the not so normal life. Who like to be on their own or maybe just a group of two or three. We don’t need leaders who ristrict us. We do our businesses. Everyone looks after themselves… But as it is… We always stick up for each other too. We keep the secrets of others. And we fight for our way of life if necessary. Not every scammer in town of course belongs here. The Serpents for example seem to like their settled down life in the mall. They, are protected by their useful abilities. I am here protected by my bar. Even evil subjects need a drink… Or some fun to relax. There are bars in sector 4…but those are more for the girly girls showing off their legs… Or the guys who like looking at them. But here… In the SALT & SASSY… a lot of deals are done. I don’t care if for good or bad. We don’t pry into people’s business.”
“Okay. But… What… Why are those people then dangerous? What to they actually DO?” I sign to her. “That’s the point. They don’t like if someone comes trying real changes. Two years back a tribe came along whose leader tried to encourage town people to do votes… Have a government… A school… Work on farms together…” “That’s not bad ideas…?!” “No it isn’t… But they made them dissappear. The whole tribe. People get mouthy to the wrong person? They are never seen again… They are like…”
“Mafia!” Kyle says. Deliah nods. “Even speaking about them can mean danger. So we don’t talk openly at last…”
“Clever. They, get the best of everything probably, spread fear, but stay hidden so no one would even know who to fight, how to rebel!” Sam says now. I nod “Being king without sitting on a throne… Getting taxes by getting all the big businesses kind of… Without doing anything for the city…” I sign to Deliah. She nods. “Yep…”
“So… You’re not afraid WE are Morais?” I ask signing Morais letter for letter.
“No. You know… There are of course rumors. The rumors you get is that whenever someone encountered a Morai he or she is described as normal looking. Like just every scammer, trader and whatever can look. But you three? You stick out. Kyle maybe not as much, though he wears this knife around his leg with more pride then people around here do. But Sam… With her blonde hair, clad in tight leather… Then a whip on her belt? And then you… Silver hair… A bow… I don’t think anyone would call you ordinary…”
I shrug, ignoring the heat that flushes my face. “We usually blend in into the trader and scammer scene…” I sign. " Probably. There are people who only see what they want… They see you three being armed and offering good deals and don’t ask. But I ask. I knew are different the moment my bouncer told me that you three offer us meat for just having a table. I understood that you three are independent. You don’t care to pay way more then the occasional traveler because you have more. But then you aren’t arrogant and ask for special treatment, but just a little privacy. That’s special."
“Okay. We are different. Got it. So… But that’s not the reason you got us here… Or are open to us…” I sign. “Indeed it’s not. Where are you staying?”
I blink at the sudden change of topic. “Nowhere by now… Why?” “What if I can offer you a place? It’s safe, considerably clean…” “What do you want?” “Just your services.” “You mean… I go hunting for fresh meat… And you let us stay in that place?”
“You’ll learn soon how much meat is worth around here! And I saw Sam giving that redhead some herbs? Medical treatment is rare those days…”
I look at my two, both look unsure back.
“How will you be sure I am not still a Morai? Maybe they decide its time to take reign openly? How do you know you can trust us? I understand that you are exactly what the Morais could consider a danger… With people following you…”
She grins and snips her fingers. Faster then I thought possible three of the guys attack Sam. One rips her whip away, the other grabs her arms tightly. Sam kicks backwards and the guy huffs off pain, but keeps a firm grib. I hold Kyle back “What’s that now?”
“Well… You spoke the truth. Actually I can’t really trust you. So here is a deal. You don’t need to work for me, you get the flat if I can keep Sam…” “What?” “She’s just a pretty girl… Guys like you can find a replacement. I saw her wrapping my bouncer and Mike around her finger. I am missing a blonde bartender.”
“I am not a whore!” Sam shouts. “I rather jump from the next bridge then selling myself to drunken asses!” “Don’t worry sweetie. My girls here all do it out of free will. I wouldn’t force you to that. Just bartending… A little flirting.”
“No way… Let her go. Look. I can’t tell you for how long we are here. We might have another place to stay soon…” Deliah sighs “Okay… But I’d like to get a payment for letting her free then… I want your bow!”
“That’s crazy. You want him to hunt… How should he without…” Kyle roars, struggling agai st my firm hold. “Guys like you don’t need weapons to hunt…” She says dismissive.
“What’s up silver? Sam or your bow?” “No… Phoenix… No!” Sam shouts “Go… Take Kyle and RUN!”. But I just smile at her “It’s just a weapon. Nothing is more worth to me then Kyle and you…”
I step forward and hold my bow out to Deliah. She must see my shaking hand. This is more then just a weapon. Its like giving my arm. But for Sam…
It’s silent a moment… Another moment… And then laughter let’s the room vibrate. Confused I watch as they let Sam go, who twirls around and makes sure to kick the guys groin. That sends the others into even more laughing fits.
“See? That’s how I know I can trust you. You give your pride… You’ll give whatever… For Sam. For Kyle… Sam not pleading you guys saving her, but telling you to search safety… I don’t need to know your secrets. Just your hearts…” She signs and slides from the boxes.
“Drinks on the house for you three. I’ll show you to the place later…enjoy the rest of the evening… I hope this little scene here won’t taint our friendship…”
She winks, while walking past me, pinching my rear in the process “You have good taste girl… Those two are a good choice!” She grins at Sam who now has now her whip back.
“Sorry… Deliah likes a show…” Mike whispers to us as he also leaves.
We look at each other. Sam comes close and snap Kyle and I hold a burning cheek. “Sam?!” Kyle shouts. “If I say leave it… Go…then you do! I am not a damsel in distress!” Then she leans to us and kisses our unhurt cheeks “But still… Thanks. Now…” She opens the door.
“This lady needs a drink… Who can help me there?” She shouts, attracting several guys who jump around her.
Kyle shakes his head at me “Women! Barking mad!” I nod wildly, while I follow him.
No one seems to have registered what was going on. I eye Deliah while she now serves again. I weirdly still trust her…
