PART II
THE OUTSIDE
Chapter 12
We enter the open
area near the circular cobbled drive and slow to a walk just in case someone is watching from a window. I casually look around. Kara does the same.
"I don't see anyone," I whisper.
"Me either."
We approach the car.
"The driver's eyes are closed."
"Is she asleep?"
"What are we going to tell her?"
"Just don't startle her," I say. "Slide in. Natural like."
Kara opens the door and slides in. I am right behind her. The driver opens her eyes and turns to look at us. She smiles. "Hello. I'm Dot. This Star Cab is reserved," she says. "Would you like me to call another for you? It can arrive in approximately"--she pauses briefly and bobs her head twice--"forty-four minutes."
"Mr. Jafari told us he wouldn't be needing this one anymore and we should take it."
"We're in a hurry," Kara adds. We both look around to see if anyone is coming for us.
"I'm afraid I cannot release the car without confirmation from Customer Jafari. I'd be happy to call another--"
"You heard us. Move it," Kara says between gritted teeth. "Now."
Dot's smile disappears, and she turns back to the console. She looks back at us through a transparent screen that spans the whole top of the windshield. It acts like a mirror so she can see everything behind her, but more important right now, so we can see her. "Your tone is hostile. Please exit the vehicle. Star Transportation policy does not allow for unruly passengers."
"We're not going anywhere. I have a gun in my pocket and if you--"
"Correction. You do not have a weapon. Star Security would have detected it within five meters of the vehicle. Please exit immedi--"
"Please," I say. I lean forward and put my hands on the back of her seat. "This is an emergency. We really could use your help. Can't you make an exception?"
Dot looks sideways at me. "I like your tone. And I would like to help you out, but if I don't follow company policy, I'm afraid I will be released, and this is all I have."
Seeing Dot respond to me, Kara leans forward too. "We'll make it worth it to you. Somehow," she says. She glances at me and adds a contrite "please." Her voice wobbles. I don't know if it is for effect or real desperation, but we are desperate.
"And your tone is improving," Dot says. "I will send another car for Customer Jafari. It will probably arrive before he even knows I am gone." Without any movement of her hands, the car makes a series of tones like a musical instrument, a message display reads ENGAGED, and we begin to ease forward. Dot raises her hands to what must be a steering bar. I look behind us and see Miesha coming out the front door. Hari is behind her.
"Hurry!" I say. And she does. Kara and I are thrown back in our seats. The gate is a half mile away, but we're there almost instantly. Dot slides her finger over a spot on the driving panel and the gate begins to move, but when it is only about halfway open, it begins to shut again.
"It's them. They're closing it," I say. "Go, Dot! Hurry before it shuts all the way!"
"The vehicle may incur damage if--"
"Screw the vehicle!" Kara says. "They want to kill us! Go!"
Dot makes the car move forward at incredible speed. The antique gate is what incurs the damage, iron bars flying off as we speed through it. Dot maintains her high speed for about two miles and then slows. "We will draw less attention if we proceed within the Norms. So, you're Escapees! What's it like?"
Escapees? Kara and I look at each other. "What do you mean?" I ask.