More screams and I whiffed something–stink I had smelled day I lost arm and knew with horror were not stun guns but laser beams. Shorty reached door and grabbed a guard with each big hand. Little redhead was out of sight; guard she had bowled over was on hands and knees. I swung left arm at his face and felt jar in shoulder as his jaw broke. Must have hesitated for Shorty pushed me and yelled, “Move, Man! Get her out of here!”
I grabbed Wyoming’s waist with right arm, swung her over guard I had quieted and through door–with trouble; she didn’t seem to want to be rescued. She slowed again beyond door; I shoved her hard in buttocks, forcing her to run rather than fall. I glanced back.
Shorty had other two guards each by neck; he grinned as he cracked skulls together. They popped like eggs and he yelled at me: “Git!”
I left, chasing Wyoming. Shorty needed no help, nor ever would again–nor could I waste his last effort. For I did see that, while killing those guards, he was standing on one leg. Other was gone at hip.
3
Wyoh was halfway up ramp to level six before I caught up. She didn’t slow and I had to grab door handle to get into pressure lock with her. There I stopped her, pulled red cap off her curls and stuck it in my pouch. “That’s better.” Mine was missing.
She looked startled. But answered, “Da. It is.”
“Before we open door,” I said, “are you running anywhere particular? And do I stay and hold them off? Or go with?”
“I don’t know. We’d better wait for Shorty.”
“Shorty’s dead.”
Eyes widened, she said nothing. I went on, “Were you staying with him? Or somebody?”
“I was booked for a hotel–Gostaneetsa Ukraina. I don’t know where it is. I got here too late to buy in.”
“Mmm– That’s one place you won’t go. Wyoming, I don’t know what’s going on. First time in months I’ve seen any Warden’s bodyguard in L-City.. . and never seen one not escorting vip. Uh, could take you home with me–but they may be looking for me, too. Anywise, ought to get out of public corridors.”
Came pounding on door from level-six side and a little face peered up through glass bull’s-eye. “Can’t stay here,” I added, opening door. Was a little girl no higher than my waist. She looked up scornfully and said, “Kiss her somewhere else. You’re blocking traffic.” Squeezed between us as I opened second door for her.
“Let’s take her advice,” I said, “and suggest you take my arm and try to look like I was man you want to be with. We stroll. Slow.”
So we did. Was side corridor with little traffic other than children always underfoot. If Wart’s bodyguards tried to track us, Earthside cop style, a dozen or ninety kids could tell which way tall blonde went–if any Loonie child would give stooge of Warden so much as time of day.
A boy almost old enough to appreciate Wyoming stopped in front of us and gave her a happy whistle. She smiled and waved him aside. “There’s our trouble,” I said in her ear. “You stand out like Terra at full. Ought to duck into a hotel. One off next side corridor–nothing much, bundling booths mostly. But close.”
“I’m in no mood to bundle.”
“Wyoh, please! Wasn’t asking. Could take separate rooms.”
“Sorry. Could you find me a W.C.? And is there a chemist’s shop near?”
“Trouble?”
“Not that sort. A W.C. to get me out of sight–for I am conspicuous–and a chemist’s shop for cosmetics. Body makeup. And for my hair, too.”
First was easy, one at hand. When she was locked in, I found a chemist’s shop, asked how much body makeup to cover a girl so tall–marked a point under my chin–and massing forty-eight? I bought that amount in sepia, went to another shop and bought same amount–winning roll at first shop, losing at second–came out even. Then I bought black hair tint at third shop–and a red dress.
Wyoming was wearing black shorts and pullover–practical for travel and effective on a blonde. But I’d been married all my life and had some notion of what women wear and had never seen a woman with dark sepia skin, shade of makeup, wear black by choice. Furthermore, skirts were worn in Luna City then by dressy women. This shift was a skirt with bib and price convinced me it must be dressy. Had to guess at size but material had some stretch.