CAGES

By Ed Gorman

Copyright © 1994 by Ed Gorman

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review.

Cemetery Dance Publications

132-B Industry Lane, Unit #7

Forest Hill, MD 21050

http://www.cemeterydance.com

First Limited Edition Promotional eBook

Artwork Copyright © 2009 by iStockPhoto.com

Author's Note

"Cages" just happened. I'm not sure why or how. I'm not even exactly sure what it's about. But I do know that it's a metaphor for how I've felt most of my life. I submitted it to an editor I really admire and she really liked it and battled for months with the publisher to let her run it. But he said, "This story will cost us subscribers." And you know, I think he was probably right.

CAGES

He knows the bad thing will happen, the way it always happens, his father coming home late and all dreamdusted up and his mother shrieking and screaming how he spent all the money on the dreamdust and then the--

He knows when to put the pillow over his head so he will not hear when his father slams his mother into the wall and starts hitting her.

Sometimes he tries to stop it but it never does any good. He is three foot six and has only the one arm and is no match at all for his father.

Then in the room next to his, in the darkness, after the hitting and the screaming, there are other sounds now on the bed, grunts and sighs and whimpers and then

Sleep.

A dream.

His mother and father and himself in a new car riding down the street. People pointing at them. Envious. Such a nice family. The envious people do not even seem to notice his bald head or his lone shriveled arm or the way the sticky stuff runs from his ear and

Awake.

Late night.

Sirens.

Laser blasts.

Coppers hunting down dreamduster gangs.

He wants to kill the man who invented dreamdust. All the misery it causes. Mrs. Caruso's daughter letting all those men stick themselves up the slit between her legs. Mr. Feinmann smashing his wife's head in with a bottle because she wouldn't give him the tips from her waitress job. Little Betty Malloy being killed by the dreamduster who put a broomhandle up her backside and then cut her up with a butcher knife.

Night.

Hot.

Goes out on the fire escape.

Tomorrow it will just start again. The argument about you fucking cunt where'd all the money go? and her shrieking you dreamdust fucker you dreamdust fucker!

Always: money money money.

And then he remembers the commercial on the vid. Seen that commercial a lot the last five six weeks. And always has the same thought.

$

$

$

flashing on the screen and this real loud guy telling you how you can collect them.

All you gotta do see is

Be so easy.

So fucking easy.

And then they'd have plenty of $.

No more fights.

No more hitting.

He lies out on the fire escape thinking about tomorrow morning. His mother will be gone to work and so will he.

No trouble going in the closet where

And getting a sack

And

Going down to the place it says in the commercial

And

He can see all those fuckers who pick on him and hit him and call him faggot and mutant and all that shit

He can see them standing enviously on the corner when he cruises by in the back seat of his parents' new car

Fuck you

You're the faggot

You're the mutant

Not me

Fuckers

And yes yes won't they be sorry and yes yes won't they be envious

He wishes it was tomorrow morning already

***

Bitch can't even fix me any fucking breakfast? you know how fuckin hard I work on that fuckin dock you cunt?

Early morning battle

Father slamming out heading for the choppy dark waters on this muggy overcast day

Mother not long behind him

Coming in and leaning down to his bed and giving him this wet perfume kiss and still crying from the early morning battle and because she got clipped a good one on the right cheekbone even a little bruise there

And him going fitfully back to sleep

And dreaming the car dream again

And dreaming about going to see this doctor who fixes him up so he looks just like the fuckers who pick on him all the time

Hey Quasimodo they say sometimes

Hey hunchbacka Notre Dame little faggot

And is awake now

And in the bathroom taking down the underwear his mother always washes out at night him only having the one pair but no amount of washing taking the brown stains from the back or the yellow from the front

And then moving fast

Afraid one of them might pop back in and see what he's doing and with his sack he hurries from the apartment

Horns and exhaust fumes and perfume and farts and fat people and skinny people and people talking to themselves and dreamdusters and gangs and whores and faggots and

And he's hurrying fast as he can down his little street carrying his little sack and he makes it no more than half a block when he sees Ernie that fucking Ernie wouldn't you know

And nigger Ernie steps in front of him and says, What shit you got there in that sack?

Is scared. Isn't sure what to say. Ernie is real real tall with gold teeth and knuckles that feel like sharp rocks when they hit your skull.

Takin back some popsies. You know get the refund.

Popsies shit. That ain't popsies in that sack, you little fuckin mutant.

Then Gil then Bob then Mike are there all friends of Ernie two of them be white but no matter they're every bit as mean as Ernie hisself

And Mike grabs for the sack and says gimme it you little faggot

Hunchbacka Notre Dame Bob says

You heard him Ernie says give it to him

Just a plain brown sack but you can see stains on the sides of it now damned thing leaking from inside

Thinks he's gonna get a clear run for it starts to weave and wobble between them

But then Gil and Mike grab him by the shoulders and throw him up against the building and

Ernie grabs the sack from him

And smiles with his gold teeth

And holds the sack teasing up real high

And says you can have it faggot if you can jump this high

And he starts to cry but stops himself knowing that will only make it worse

Fuckin Ernie anyway

Nigger Ernie

Hey asshole Mike says look inside

So Ernie does

Turns away

And holds the sack down

And opens it up

Holy shit

What's wrong?

Man, you gotta see what's in this sack, man.

So Gil takes a look. And he makes the same kinda sick face that Ernie did. Aw God. I wanna puke.

He's afraid they'll do something to it. He keeps thinking of the place he saw on the commercial. He wants to be there now. Getting his money.

You just bring 'em right down here for more cash $$$$ than you ever seen in your life. You just ask for Smilin' Bob. That's me.

And reaches out to snatch the sack back.

And gets hit fullfist by Mike.

Please c'mon you guys please.

Doesn't want to start crying.

And then they start throwing the sack back and forth over their heads.

Fuckers you fuckers he cries running back and forth between them.

And then he sees the cop, an android, not a real person, android coppers being the only kind they'll send to a shithole like this one

And the android senses something wrong so he comes over

And of course Ernie and the others split because androids always want to ask a lot of questions being programmed to just that and all, and people like Ernie and Gil always having something to hide and never wanting to answer questions

They drop his sack on the ground and take off running

He bends and picks it up and then he starts running, too. He doesn't like androids any better than Ernie does.

He keeps his sack pulled tight.

By the time he gets to Smilin' Bob's, the rain has started, dirty hot city rain summer rain dirty summer rain, and he's drenched.

And there's a line all the way out the front door and all the way down the block.

People of all ages and descriptions holding boxes and sacks and bags. And the things inside them making all kinds of squeals and groans and moans and grunts and cries. And smelling so bad sometimes he thinks he's gonna puke or pass out.

And then this guy dressed all in yellow with this big-ass laser gun dangling down from the long line saying, If you got somethin dangerous, you let us know in advance, folks, cause otherwise we'll just have to kill the thing right on the spot unless you warn us about it. He says this in both English and Spanish. And then just keeps walking up and down and down saying it over and over and over again.

All the time raining its ass off.

All the time getting bumped and pushed and kicked because he's so little.

All the time his sack wiggling and wiggling trying to get free.

There's a lot of talk in line:

How this one guy heard about this other guy who brought this little sack to Smilin' Bob's and two days later the fucker was a millionaire.

How this one guy heard about this other guy he's waitin in line here just like now ('cept it ain't rainin in this here particular story) and this fuckin thing comes right up outta this other guy's sack and kills the first guy right on the spot, goes right for his throat and tears it right out.

How this one guy heard about this other guy said that he had two of them once that ate each other--just like cannibals you know what I'm sayin--but then they'd puke each other back up whole and start all over again. No shit. I swear onna stack of Bibles and my pappy's grave. True facts. Puked each other up and started all over again...

Finally finally finally the rain still raining and the thing in his sack still crying, he reaches the head of the line and goes inside.

***

First one this fat girl, they say no.

What you do inside is stand in another line and when you're first up they take your sack or your box from you and carry it inside this room that's bright with a special kind of lighting and they half-close the door and they talk among themselves except Smilin' Bob himself who stands at the head of the line sayin You folks jes relax we're getting to ya fast as we can. He's got up just like on TV big-ass ten-gallon hat and western-style shirt and string tie and downhome accent.

And when they're done with the fat girl's bag this tall pale guy comes out and shakes his head and says sorry ma'am just won't do us no good.

Fucker you fucker you know how bad I need this money? she shrieks.

But Smilin' Bob jes kinda leans back and says No call for talkin that way to Butch here no call at all.

And the fat girl goes away

And a black kid steps up and they take his box and they go inside the blinding bright room and lights flash and male voices mutter and they come back out and hand him the box and the tall pale one is wiggling and waggling his hand sayin that little fucker bit me you want me to I'll kill him for you kid. We got an easy way of doin it kid won't hurt the little fucker at all.

But the kid snatches the box back and takes off all huffy and pissed because there's no money in it for him.

And next and next and next and next and finally

his turn.

Is scared.

Knows they're not going to take it.

Knows he won't get no money.

Knows that his dad'll beat the shit out of his mom tonight soon as they start arguin about money and dreamdust and shit like that.

Smilin' Bob takes the sack and peeks inside and makes the same face Ernie did and says Well well well and my my my and I'll be jiggered I'll just be jiggered and then hands the sack over to the tall pale assistant

Who takes it inside the bright room and starts all the usual stuff lights flashing meters clicking voices mumbling and muttering and

Holy shit

That's what the guy inside says:

Holy shit. Lookit that friggin meter.

Smilin' Bob he hears it too and he looks back over his shoulder and then back at him and winks.

Maybe you dun brung Smilin' Bob somethin special.

I sure hope so Smilin' Bob.

And Smilin' Bob smiles and says: I give you a lotta money, what y'all gonna do with it anyways?

Give it to my dad and mom.

Well ain't that sweet.

He's a dreamduster and they fight all the time and I'm scared some night he's gonna kill her and maybe if I get enough money and give it to my mom maybe they won't have to argue any more and

The door opens

Tall pale guy comes out

Walks right over to Smilin' Bob and whispers something in his ear

And Smilin' Bob real solemn like nods and then comes over and puts his hand on his shoulder and leads him away from the line

You know how much we're gonna give you? Smilin' Bob asks.

He's excited. How much?

$500

$$$$$$$$$

Just like on the commercial

That's all he can think of

$$$$$$$$$

How happy his Mom will be

How proud his Mom will be

No more arguments

No more beatings for anybody

$$$$$$$$

Oh thank you Smilin' Bob thank you

***

One hour and twenty-eight minutes later he's on his way home. No sweat with Ernie and those fuckers. Rainin too hard. They're inside.

Wants to beat Mom home.

Wants to be sittin there this big grin on his face

And all this money sittin right on the table

And wants to see her face

See her smile

And say oh honey oh honey now me'n your dad we won't have to argue no more

Oh honey

Which is just where he is when she comes through the door

Right at the table

And which is just what he's doing

Counting out the money so she's sure to see it

$$$$$$

And at first she's so tired she don't even notice it

Just comes in all weary and all sighs and says think I gotta lay down hon I'm just bushed

And starts draggin herself past him into the little living room with all the smashed-up furniture from the last couple of fights

And then she notices

Out of the corner of her eye

Says: Hey, what's that?

Money

Aw shit honey them cops they'll beat you sure as shit they catch you stealin like that

Didn't steal it ma honest

Comes closer to the table and sees just how much is there: Aw honey where'd you ever get this much money?

And he tells her

And she says: You what?

Sold it

Sold it! It ain't an "it" for one thing it's your sister

Ain't my sister he says (but already he's feeling hot and panicky and kinda sick; not turnin out the way he planned not at all) ain't nobody's sister she's just this little--

And she slaps him

And he can't believe how terrible and rotten everything has turned out

Where's her smile?

Where's her sayin they won't argue no more?

Where's her sayin what a good boy he is?

She fuckin slaps him

Slaps him the way the old man always slaps him

And after he did so good too

Gettin the money and all

Slaps him!

Then she's really on him

Shakin him and slappin him even harder

Where is she? Where is she?

Smilin Bob's got her he says

Who's Smilin Bob

He's this guy on TV ma

SHE'S YOUR SISTER YOU STUPID LITTLE BASTARD! CAN'T YOU UNDERSTAND THAT SHE'S YOUR OWN FLESH AND BLOOD! Now you take me to this Smilin' Bob

Never seen her like this

Not even when the old man beats her

All crazy screamin and fidgetin and cryin

Grabs him and pulls him up from the chair and says: Take me to this Smilin' Bob and right now

And so they stumble out into the early night

And

On the way she explains things again even though he can't seem to understand them: sixty years ago bad people put bad things into the river and ever since then some of the babies have been strange and sad and sometimes even frightening creatures, some babies (like his sister) being born so ugly that they had to hide them from the government, which is why they kept his little sister in the spare room because word would get around the neighborhood and government agents might find out and would kill the little girl

But she isn't a little girl he says she don't even look like a little girl

(His mother hurrying down the streets now, hurrying and jerking him along)

And these Smilin' Bob fuckers (she says) what they do is they take in these babies and the ones they think are telepathic (or something else worth study) they sell to the government or private labs to study. They wouldn'ta paid you no $500 unless they thought she was gonna bring 'em a lot back.

The rain has stopped. Night has come. A chill night. The neon streets shine blue and yellow and green with neons. The freaks and the geeks are back panhandling.

As she hurries hurries

And (she says) You was lucky and don't you ever forget it. You was lucky, the way you was born I mean, you wasn't normal but you wasn't like your sister. Nobody wouldn'ta taken you away like they woulda her.

And then she starts crying again

Which is the weird thing as they hurry along

How she keeps shifting in and out of sobbing and tears and curses

One minute she'll be all right talking to him and then she just goes crazy again

You shouldnt'a fuckin done it you shouldnt'a fuckin done it over and over and over again

***

Without the long lines (and in the night) Smilin' Bob's looks very different, long shadows and soft street light hiding the worst of the graffiti

And

You show me the door you went in

Right there ma

And she goes up and peers inside

And then goes crazy again

Banging and kicking on the door

And screaming you gimme my little girl back you fuckers you gimme my little girl back

And is crying again of course

Sobbing screaming keening

And banging and kicking and banging and kicking and

Just the darkness inside

Just the silence

You gimme my little girl back

And then

She runs around the back and all he can do is follow

Alley very dark smelling awful as they pass a dumpster

She opens the dumpster lid and peeks inside and

Screams

Freaks and geeks of every kind inside the rejects that they thought they could sell but couldn't

half-cat half-baby things things with one cyclopean eye in the middle of their forehead things with a flipper-like little arm sticking out of their sternums things that are doll-like little replicas of human beings except in the open eyes (even dead) you can see their stone madness

And every one of them had been hidden by their mothers till some stupid family member decided to earn some extra money by coming down to Smilin' Bob's or some place just like it and sell off the family shame

And you didn't have to be legal age because the Smilin' Bobs all got together in Washington and had a bill passed sayin any family member at all of any age could bring in these mutants and

They lay like fish piled high in a net these dumpster mutants moonlight glistening on their bloody faces and limbs and the stench

Then she runs to the back door which doesn't even have a window to peer in and starts banging and kicking again

You fuckers you fuckers

And him going up to her now and sayin

Ma I'm sorry ma please don't be like this it scares me when you get like this

And she turns on him and shrieks

She's your little sister! Can't you understand that!

And then she turns back to the doors and starts banging and kicking again

And then something startling happens

Door opens

And Smilin' Bob is standing there and

Evenin ma'am he says (in his Texas way) help you ma'am?

You bought my little girl today. You give my boy here $500. I wanna give it back to you and take my little girl home.

And Smilin' Bob takin off his white ten-gallon hat and scratchin his head says Well now, lemme get a better look at this young 'un here

And he opens the door and looks down and says 'fraid not ma'am 'fraid I never did see this here kid before and I'd certainly remember if I had, givin him $500 Yankee cash and all like you said

Tell him (she says) tell him

And so he tells him

How he waited so long in line

How everybody ahead of him got turned down

How he got $500

But Smilin' Bob he just looks down at him and nods his head and says Oh yeah, now I remember you. You brung that teeny-tiny girl with three eyes.

She pushes the money at him.

Please take it.

'fraid I can't ma'am. Deal's a deal, least where I come from.

I just want her back

'fraid she's gone ma'am.

Gone?

Lab guy, he just happened to pop by and we showed her to him and--well, he took her.

You liar.

No call for that kinda language, ma'am.

You fuckin fuckin liar is what you are. She's in there ain't she?

And suddenly hurls herself at Smilin' Bob and tries to get past him

And he flings himself at her tryin to get her off Smilin' Bob but as he grabs out he feels Smilin' Bob's arm and

Smilin' Bob is an android!

But Smilin' Bob is also somethin else besides--a very pissed off citizen hitting an alarm button to the right of the door

She just keeps tryin to get inside

Kickin scratchin hittin even bitin (but with android flesh bitin don't matter much)

And then footfalls in the night

Jackboots

Two three four of them maybe

Comin real fast

And then surrounding them there in the alley

Four android coppers, lasers pulled and ready to blast and

Two of the coppers go up and pull her off Smilin' Bob

Sure glad you boys got here

She hurt you Smilin' Bob?

Little lady like that? Not likely (Smilin' Bob smilin about it all) But sure would appreciate it if you'd get her out of here so I could get some work done

You bet we will Smilin' Bob (and some kind of look exchanged some kind of murky android look that no human could ever understand) and the coppers pull her even further away from the door as Smilin' Bob goes back inside

She your ma (one of the coppers says)

Uh-huh.

Then we're gonna put her in your custody. You understand?

Yessir.

We're gonna give you a pill.

A pill?

(Android nods) She gets all crazy again, you give her this. You understand?

Yessir.

You think you can handle this?

Yessir.

We already gave her a little juice with a stun needle.

Yessir.

So she's calmer now. But if she should happen to get--

Yessir. This here pill.

The coppers nod and leave.

***

Halfway home the rain starts up again but this time it's just a mist and the black streets shine with blue neon and red neon and yellow neon and in the shabby little rooms and holes and hallways you can hear the human music of conversation and laughter and crying and sex.

His mother walks in silence

The stun needle having curbed her tongue

Her fingers touching her stomach

Remembering what it was like to have the little girl in her womb

And not until it is too late does he realize that as they've been walking

His mother has been letting the filthy useless money fly from her hands

And leave a trail of dollars behind them

In the long sad night

The long sad night.

THE END