“There it is,” Mildred said, pointing toward the back of the long hall of shops past the Bank of Freedom. The group peered down at a black monolithic slab that seemed to glow with a hidden radiance from within.
Everyone approached the Slab. From their earlier viewpoint, it had appeared to be rectangular, but now they could see it was triangular. The same information was on all three sides, a carefully lined map of the interior of Freedom with numbers and letters in each box or passageway of the grid. The code numbers corresponded to a long list of shops and services stenciled in below, each section with a different heading in alphabetical order.
“Upper level is split into two parts, Section A and Section B,” Dean said.
“And the lower level is also divided into Sections C and D,” Doc read. “We are currently in D, according to the You Are Here arrow.”
“Layout looks pretty basic, and each of the sections is split by a big store. Says here the old JC Penney is the link to either side.”
Mildred whistled softly as she looked over the listings. “Impressive. Someone in here has graphic-arts skills, and we all know how unusual that is to come across. This directory appears to be completely up-to-date. At least, there were no chain stores in the 1990s called The Gaudy Boutique or Mike’s Meats to my recollection.”
“Why glow?” Jak asked, speaking for the first time since they had entered Freedom. The albino had been scanning the visible rail of the level above them, keenly staring at any of the passersby who chose to look down. Unlike Doc, Jak found no peace or security in having a roof over his head. A roof could hide many things. The only way in and out of Freedom was crawling with sec men, but it also made a man stay wary.
Ryan felt the same way, but was more inclined to go with what was presented to him in front of his own eyeat least, for the moment.
Mildred answered Jak’s question. “The construct we’re looking at has fluorescent tubes on the inside with clear glass walls. I don’t know where the power source is. It could be batteries or hooked into the system somehow. All you have to do is make up your color-coded overlay on a plastic sheet of acetate this looks like it was generated by a computer laser printerand attach your listings to the back side of the glass so no one can get to it, and presto, you’ve got your very own mall directory.”
Dean pointed a finger at one of the headings with the listing Travel-Lodging.
” ‘Freedom Center Station,’ ” he read. ” ‘One night or one year.’ ”
“The place looks big,” J.B. said. “Takes up a chunk of the far end of the mall.”
“And it’s close by, too. We’ve walked long enough today,” Krysty added.
Ryan was in total agreement. “Bunks for one night seems about all we can afford right now. I held back part of our jack at the bank. My guess is some of the stores in here will take tender they don’t have to worry about reporting or running through the proper channels of exchange. After what we’ve seen, I’m sure the mall probably hits them up for a ten percent handling charge just like us visitors.”
“We’ve got some bartering power with the antibiotics I found. Medicine is worth a pretty penny, especially in a place like this,” Mildred noted.
“We’ll see about selling it or swapping it tomorrow,” Ryan said. “Tonight I just want to sleep.”
“And see about scrubbing that skin dye off,” Krysty teased.
Dean wasn’t listening to any of that. His attention was still on the inwardly lit mall directory and the maze of attractions and shops it promised. “Hey!” he suddenly yelled. “Look at this!”
“What?” Ryan asked, a little annoyed at Dean’s outburst. He’d almost drawn out his side blaster, thinking they were about to be attacked.
“Here, Dad! Dr. Michael Clarke, Eye Specialist.”
“By the Three Kennedys,” Doc agreed in a hushed tone. “It seems we’ve found a solution to J.B.’s eye problems in the timely form of this good optician.”