Gateway Part Four

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“268? How do you plead?”

She had a gun raised. Kef had no idea whether it was loaded or not.

A flash of white light blinded Kef.

What a tragic waste, he thought. No...I’m thinking, that means I’m not dead...

Ned stood over his wife, gun in hand. She was shaking.

“You kill him and we’re both dead.”

The Killsquads, of course. Fear, the great motivator.

Ned threw Kef the gun.

“You need all the help you can get. Go to my room, change your clothes. Head east out into the city. Keep the gun. There are a few more bullets in my bottom drawer.”

Kef didn’t wait for further directions. Making it look like a burglary would make it easier on them. He blew the locks off the handcuffs first, dropping them to the floor, and then made his way to the cabin.

The door wasn’t locked, but Kef kicked it off its hinges anyway.

“Fuck it, this might save their lives.”

Ned’s probably burying the handcuffs, he thought.

“Right, t-shirt and jeans, that’ll do.” Green t-shirt, reasonable fit, tucked into the jeans. It was dark green. Not Kef’s favourite colour, but it was better than nothing. The jeans were reasonably worn, so Kef figured Ned wouldn’t miss them anyway. Hardly the height of fashion...but it made him think of Chad.

Kef found the bullets, reloaded it pistol and stuck the remaining bullets in his pockets. He put the safety on and pocketed the gun. He figured he’d get a knife somewhere in the city.

On his way out, Kef saw a picture-radio. There was a picture of him on it. They weren’t telepaths at all. There was no mystery, no more confusion. It wasn’t the handcuffs that had upset Ned’s wife. It was what the radio had told her. It was still broadcasting the same static image of Kef and screaming details about him. It was too large to take with him, so Kef put a bullet in it.

Ned was at the door as Kef was leaving.

“When you get to the city, go see Argyll. No other name that I know of, just Argyll.”

Kef figured he’d know who to ask. Chad always used to say that.

“Sometimes... you just know.”

Kef finally understood what Chad meant.