1- An Unexpected meeting.
The streets are filled with dirty and useless things. Broken and discarded like the people in The Brambles. Not fit for civilized society. Or at least that’s what they’d tell you in the clean and pretty parts of the continent. The residents of the Brambles knew better, everything had its own uses. Almost everything could be repurposed, recycled, and reused.
They got by growing their own crops. In whatever they can they had greens growing. All along the steel walkways were edibles growing. It’s what sets those here apart from the wealthy. They didn’t know what it was like to grow something, to nurture it. They never had to harvest crops or kill an animal to eat. So detached from the world they think the rules that keep their towers pretty and safe can do the same down below.
That’s not the way it works. Everyone struggling to eat knows that. What does a law mean to you when you are starving? In that sense, the Brambles is an oasis in the lower city. The streets and catwalks were lined with edible plants and fruits. They were breaking the law, of course. They broke open the concrete and asphalt and planted trees. Siphoned and collected water. Mothers and fathers hung all sorts of containers. They hung them from balconies and catwalks. Everyone shared what they could freely. It’s what Bill called balance. They had more to spend on what mattered because they didn’t need to buy the corp’s bio-crops.
Seedless crops were what most of the world ate. Illegal to grow unless you have a license. So they grew wild crops, ancient seeds, and plants of whatever they could find. Most of them were found in ruins from before the fall. Before the wars. Somehow they got them to sprout and thrive even in this land cursed by man.
In the Brambles there was a man. A decent kind man. His name was Bill Wilson. The Wilsons lived in the Brambles since back before it got its name. They were considered respectable and trustworthy. Even the law didn’t pay them much mind. For generations, they did even so much as cause someone to raise an eyebrow. So they avoided being on the grid. They avoided the registry. They were allowed to live undisturbed.
Half the people in the Brambles knew what Bill would say without asking him. Bill of course preferred that they didn’t ask him. He was never one for small talk and instead always sought for a means of quick escape.
On this morning Bill was outside cooking his food. He was doing his best to avoid the heat of the summer sun when Gaff happened across him. A strange man, who to those who were in the know avoided him. He was what was defined as an Evo, Gaff being one of the first. Taller than any man that Bill had met before. His eyes were ice blue. So light that if you didn’t know any better you’d swear they were white. But he wore glasses with mirrored lenses to hide that fact.
Bill had heard some of the stories of Gaff. Unfortunately, he did not know what he looked like. If he had Bill would have surely scurried inside abandoning his food to whatever may happen. Even on the outskirts of the city, Gaff was a man of legend, someone that was a magnet for strange doings and danger. Gaff had not been seen in the outskirts in a long time, not since Jordan Thompson died some years back. He was finally making his way to pay his respects and as he passed by Bill he was met with a greeting.
“Good afternoon! Hot one today, if you want some water help yourself.” Bill called happily. He meant what he said, Gaff was welcome to his water and it was indeed a very hot day.
Those who lived in the Brambles had all but forgotten what Gaff looked like. Also to be truthful his appearance had changed some since then. His hair was grown out and long now. His face sported a healthy amount of white scruff. When he was here last his head and face were shaved smooth as a baby’s backside.
Gaff stopped in his tracks and looked over at Bill, and what he was cooking. He was grilling watermelon and the water in the shade.
“Do you mind if I sit a while in the shade?” Gaff asked.
“Help yourself, it’s too hot today to be risking it, the shade is free just like everything else I offered.” Bill beamed while wiping the sweat from his brow.
“Don’t mind if I do,” Gaff said while passing by Bill, only then did Bill realize just how tall he was. Bill was a little shy of five foot three and this man stood taller than the doorway.
Gaff sat. The majority of his body out of the sun aside from his legs which were too long to comfortably keep from the sun’s gaze.
“So what brings you here today?” Bill asked while flipping everything on the grill.
“I’m here looking for someone to go on a job.” Gaff said matter-of-factly while removing his mirrored shades from his eyes.
“What sort of job? Bill asked absentmindedly.
“A dangerous one, but one that needs doing,” Gaff answered his voice stern.
“Well, we don’t like any sort of danger around here. I can tell you that. We like it nice and quiet. Peaceful-like as most would say.”
“Would you be interested in such a job?”
“Bill focused on the food and busied himself with whatever he could to act like he couldn’t hear the question.
“This job would pay well and would help people.” Gaff continued undaunted.
Bill knew that he couldn’t ignore him forever. “Maybe further into the city, try the Stacks or even the Nept docks. The people there travel for work and might be more open to leaving their homes.”
“Trying to get rid of me now? Scared?” Gaff asked standing up to his full height.
“No not at all, look the food’s almost ready and I don’t even know your name. Bill offered his hand and started to say “My name is Bi–”
“Bill Wilson.” Gaff finished.
“ — Yes.” Bill managed to squeak out, his throat turned to gravel.
“My name is Gaff,” Gaff announced quietly.
“No it isn’t.” Bill corrected.
“It is.” Gaff confirmed the hint of a smile forming at the corners of his mouth.
“Well, then you can’t be THE Gaff.”
“There’s only one of me as far as I’m aware of.”
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