the getaway (17)

Been just a day since the quake

and the ground keeps on shaking

so nobody’s sleeping real well.

Henry’s up before sunrise,

and down to the kitchen

where Elena has pulled

two loaves of bread out

of the oven filling the kitchen

with their comforting scent.

a pot of coffee lends it’s notes

to the nose teasing aromas.

Henry! What are you doing

up so early? Even the roosters

are still snoring. Never mind,

I can see by the look on your face

you’re up to no good. It’s that

little colored girl, ain’t it? Well

I warned you, you obviously

aren’t taking my advice, so

I’m gonna pray for you, son.

You’re going to need it.

Thanks. Can I grab a couple

slices of that bread to take

with me? I gotta run.

I think you need to take four.

There’s a hunk of cheese

in the ice box If you want.

Take some of those peaches.

Have a nice picnic or whatever

mischief you got planned.

I know I can’t stop you so

so I’ll just say, be respectful

‘cuz she’s still a woman, ok?

The sun’s coming up when

he gets to the hospital. Still

half an hour before the end

of her shift, so he circles

the block trying to figure

which way she’ll come out.

Most people are leaving from

the tents to the street out front

so he parks down the block

and waits. At five minutes past

seven, she comes out from

the tents, walks down the street.

Ruthie sees him and hesitates,

but she doesn’t stop until

she gets abreast of the car.

Hands on her hips, she says

This ain’t such a good idea.

It’s already cost me my job.

You got fired? Why?

Because of me? yeah. That’s

what she said. It’s improper

behavior. Why did she have to go

and do that? I haven’t done anything!

This might seem like a shit job to you,

but I was learning how hospitals work.

Someday I’m going to be a nurse, you hear?

You men coming after me are messing it up..

Well that’s true, from more than just me.

More than you know. You got a real nasty

problem name of Bobby and Gus.

Like what? -I’ll tell you the whole

story, but we need to get out of here

now before Bobby gets here.

Bobby? He’s the trouble? I shoulda known

he would be. How is Gus involved in it? 

I’ll tell you the whole stinkin’ mess,

but we really do need to leave right now.

Okay, okay, I hear you. I’ve had enough

nonsense. I don’t have a job anymore,

not like I got something to lose.

Henry drives down two blocks 

and turns onto a side street.

I think you should duck down

in the seat, let’s try not to attract

any attention. -In this thing? Ha!

Yeah, I know, but it can’t be helped.

She slouches down below the narrow

side window of the chopped coupe.

How do you see out of this car?

These windows are so small.

Why are they so low?

I’ll explain it later if you really

want to know, but it helps it

go faster. Don’t you want

to know about the situation

you’re in? Yeah, tell me. Is it

really true or are you just

givin’ me a line? -It’s no line.

You know what Bobby does

don’t you? Yeah. He’s a pimp

and a hustler. He keeps on

trying to turn me out. But I

ain’t gonna fall for his bullshit.

I’m sure that you wouldn’t.

But what he’s got in mind for you

don’t involve any persuasion.

I saw him last night working

a deal to sell you to Gus Smith.

For real? where’d you see that?

I was leaving the Lucky Spot,

you know that place out Edison?

Yeah, I’ve seen it many times,

but I’ve never been in. Go on.

-He had that big old Buick

parked down the street

in the shadows. Then Smith

got out of the car. He’d been in

there with Loretta. She was

real drunk. So Bobby asked

Smith if he was satisfied with

what he’d done with Loretta

and Smith said he wanted

somebody fresher. And Bobby

said he’d arrange it. The way

he described his new girl, it was

clearly you he was talking about.

He guaranteed that Smith could

do whatever he wanted to you.

And that’s something you don’t 

want to experience. I think

Loretta has been put through

his sick filth plenty of times,

that’s why she was so drunk.

They’re meeting there tonight.

Bobby supposed to bring you

there for him. For a premium

price, he said, cuz you’re a

premium piece. Like you’re a

sixteen ounce porterhouse steak.

He offered me the same thing

a couple of hours before. He was

waiting for me at the hospital.

So what did you tell him?

I said you ain’t a whore and

I wasn’t interested in turning

you into one. Then he said

he’d find someone who would.

And that if I came round you

I’d be paying in blood.

So you decided to be my hero

again? Is that how it is? Take

care of the poor little colored

girl, cuz she can’t take care

of herself? That’s not it, it’s

just.... well maybe in the ER

th’other night, because I know

about Gus. And then Bobby

shopping you like some kind

of prize heifer. It just makes

me sick. You’re not a damn cow.

I know that’s how he sees

women. That’s how he treats

Loretta. It ain’t news to me.

He said it was time to 

make you contribute, that

Loretta is too worn out.

That bastard. He’s the one

responsible for that. He’s

the one who used her up.

Yeah. That’s what she said.

You talked to her too?

Twice. When I went to pick

you up and then later. She

got into a fight with Bobby

about his plans and he took

off and left her to walk home.

I was in a doorway where they

couldn’t see me, so after they

left I talked to her. That’s

why I’m here. We figured

the best thing would be for

you to stay out of sight.

At least til after Bobby and

Smith do their meeting.

If you ain’t there, the whole

deal could go sour. I don’t

think either of them has

much trust in the other.

And it gives us some time

to figure out some way

to deal with the two of them.

Uh huh. You and Loretta

going to plan out my life.

Don’t I have any say in this?

I’m not some helpless child.

No you’re not. But how were

we supposed to involve you?

Just let Smith pay to rape you?

I mean, whatta you wanna do? 

Okay. I understand. It’s just

how it feels, you and Loretta

making decisions about me.

It’s my life, you know? So what’s

you and my cousin’s brilliant

plan for saving poor little Ruthie?

I was thinking a picnic might be nice.

A picnic? Oh that’s rich. These dirty

fuckers dickering the price of my ass,

and your big idea is a picnic.

You’re a real funny boy, Henry.

You think so? -yeah, hilarious.

It’s not a dumb plan, we’ll be

out of town and out of sight.

You ever been up the Kern River?

No. never have. Is it nice?

Yeah. It’s real nice. That’s where

we’re going if it’s all right with you.

We’re out of town now, you can

sit up in the seat. That’s the mouth

of Kern Canyon straight ahead.