Энди Вейр: Rat

“She is doing no such thing. She is an invited guest.”

Cyfraith blinked a few times. So did Rat.

“What?” Said Cyfraith.

“That’s right,” said Glawyn, putting his arm around the stunned Rat’s shoulders. Her eyes were wide and her mouth was a thin line. Glawyn pulled her affectionately toward him, her head lolling as he did so. Only her eyes reacted, shooting right to look at Glawyn as if he were a madman. “As you can see, we’re busy… or plan to be soon if you catch my drift.”

“But—… can—… How… She was holding a knife to your throat!”

Glawyn smiled “We like to be a little… adventurous sometimes.”

Rat looked horrified.

“You mean to tell me you’re dating this,” he gestured to Rat, “this, this—”

“Careful how you speak of her, Constable,” said Glawyn, a deep tone of warning in his voice.

Cyfraith deflated, sheathing his sword. “Very well. Sorry for the interruption.” He sulked out the door.

Rat and Glawyn listened until they heard the front door close.

Rat stared at Glawyn, her arms limp at her side.

“Let’s see, now,” said Glawyn, pulling her dagger-wielding arm up to his throat. “Where were we? I think you your knife was about here, wasn’t it?”

Rat pulled her dagger away. “Why did you do that?”

Glawyn shrugged. “You must be pretty hungry to rob someone for food.”

“So?”

Glawyn shrugged again. “You seem nice… in a mean kind of way. Besides, I can’t really date you if you’re in jail, can I? Now, let’s get some food, shall we? I believe there’s a bit in the kitchen.”

They talked for hours. Mostly, he talked, and Rat listened. Suspicious at first, Rat ate as much as she could stomach. Eventually, she realized he had no intention of anything but talking to her, and she mellowed her pace. She learned that his family was gathering in Tordanal for a reunion, which explained why they had stocked up on food, and that he usually slept at his own hovel, rather than his father’s house, which explained why he was there when the house was supposed to be empty.

His parents had traveled to Maesfelin to join various family members coming in from afar. The reunion happened only once every five years. This year was to be a bit of a letdown, because many of the men were off at war with the Orcs. The War had taken its toll on every class of life equally.

Glawyn tended to talk to fill the silence, and Rat was not willing to offer much to the conversation. But, she had to admit to herself that he was an interesting if a little unusual man.

She further learned that his father was a wheelwright, and that most of his business came from travelers transporting goods from the port to inland cities.

“Wow! I’ve been rambling on for hours!” Said Glawyn.

They were seated across the kitchen table from each other. Rat was leaning forward, her chin on her hands, her expression one of rapt attention. “That’s ok,” she said. “Tell me more.”

“No, no. I can’t just talk about me. What about you?”

Rat shook her head. “I don’t want to talk about me.”

“Come on. You know everything about me, now. What about you?”

Rat looked out the window to see dawn breaking over the city. “I should go. I need to get home before my brother wakes up.”

“See! I didn’t even know you had a brother!”

“Now you do,” said Rat, standing and stretching her legs.

Glawyn watched appreciatively, standing as well. “Will I see you again? Maybe you could drop by and… I don’t know… rob the place again?”

“I think I’ll pass,” said Rat.

“There are some things around the house you could get good money for, you know.”

“No thanks,” said Rat, heading toward the front door.

Glawyn ran ahead of her, blocking her path. “At least meet me again. Anywhere, any time of your choosing.”

Rat deliberated internally. “I don’t know…”

“Come on,” said Glawyn, smiling his can’t-say-no-to-this-smile smile.

Rat rolled her eyes. “All right.” She could scarcely believe she had said it.

Months passed, and Summer was upon the land.

Rat woke up in Glawyn’s arms. They lay together in his tiny run down hovel in the Low Quarter. He was already awake.

“Good morning,” he said, kissing her forehead.

“Mmf,” she said. “How long have you been awake?”

“I don’t know. About an hour.”

“Why didn’t you wake me up?”

He shrugged, “I like watching you sleep.”

Rat looked out the window. “I’ve got to—”

“I know, I know,” said Glawyn as Rat got out of bed and gathered up her clothes. “You have to get home before your little brother Talfryn wakes up.”

“Right.”

“Why don’t we just go to your place tonight? I don’t even know where it is.”

Rat pulled her pants on. “That’s the way I want it,” she said.

“You’ll sleep with me, but you won’t tell me where you live.”

Rat pulled her shirt on over her head. “As long as nobody knows where I live, nobody can rob it. And Talfryn is safe.”

“If you’re so worried about his safety, why do you stay here at night?”

Rat scowled at him. “Do you know anything about raising kids?”

“No. I just—”

“Then shut up. He’s safe at home because nobody even knows my place exists. He knows not to leave at night if I’m not there. I can only work at night. So, I have to leave him to sleep alone. Don’t pester me about that, I feel bad enough as it is.”

“I wouldn’t tell anyone where you live. I promise. Why can’t we just stay there?”

Rat finished getting dressed and walked to the bed, playfully grabbing Glawyn’s chin. She gave him a quick peck on the lips and said “Because It’s a one room place, and I don’t want to have sex when my brother’s in the room.”

“That’s a damn good reason,” said Glawyn. “Will I see you tonight.”

Rat shrugged. “Working.”

“Why don’t you just let me give you some—”

“No!”

“But I have a little saved up from—”

“No!”

“I don’t have much, but if I can help you—”

“No!”

“Look!” Glawyn said, with a little more force than was necessary. “I don’t have a lot of money. But I have a few Nobles, and I want to help. It’d be a lot easier for you not to have to steal food. What is the problem?”

“I told you,” Rat sighed with the exasperation of a person who has had the same conversation too many times. “You can have me or give me things, but not both. For as long as we’re bedding together, you can’t give me anything. No food. No help. No jobs. No subtle ways of helping behind the scenes. And absolutely no money.”

Glawyn shook his head. “Just trying to help. I love you, you know.”

Rat blushed, looking down. “I know,” she said, quietly.

Glawyn reclined in bed. “Can you come by after ‘work’?”

Rat shot him a sultry glance. “Yes.”

“Excellent.”

Rat walked out in to the morning air. She hummed tunelessly as she made her way down the King’s road toward her home. She was in a good mood. Her brother was healthy, for a change. She had made a decent score a few nights ago, and another one was planned for tonight. And last night with Glawyn was better than ever. She was embarrassed at letting that put her in such a good mood, but enjoyed the feeling anyway.

She was about half way down the road when a man barreled in to her, knocking her over. He scrambled up and ran off toward the city proper. Rat got up and looked after him. He could have at least apologized. Then, she noticed that there seemed to be a lot of activity in the streets for this time of day. As she observed more carefully, she saw everyone was running quite fast. There was almost a panic in the air.