Station, стр. 8

color of a drowningvictim, a pale blue with white scars crisscrossing his bare chestand face. He wore sturdy, calf-high boots into which were tuckedpants that seemed to sparkle with starlight. He wore a jacket ofthe same material that was accented with a fur collar. Noundershirt, of course, that would detract from the effect. Tocomplete the look, his long hair was held tight atop his head in anodd ponytail, which fell to the side to tickle his cheek.

If Hadder weren't about to shit himself, he wouldhave had to admit that he sat before a striking specimen of thehighest order.

Miles began to giggle from above and behind, anannoying high pitch laugh that sounded more witch than man, a breakfrom his projected poise. "I'm so sorry. I should have told youabout the guardians of Station. Most are gentle giants, really, aslong as you do as they say. And they rarely say anything at all.They don't bite unless you're truly unruly. Then they leavepermanent marks." Miles lent Hadder a hand and helped him up. "Thisone's Galba. He's an alright fellow. Some of them can be real thugsat times, but Galba's courteous enough." Galba stared down atHadder.

"You mean there's more than one of him?"

"There used to be twelve of them. Now there'seleven."

"What are they?"

"They guard the Skirt and maintain a general peacehere in Station."

Hadder caught the use of "general peace," butthought better of asking about it. "What's the Skirt?"

"We're getting a little ahead of ourselves. Let'sget moving, and I'll try to explain along the way. We haven't had anew resident in a long, long time. Many are going to want to meetyou. Many are going to have questions. Best that you're somewhatinformed about your surroundings before the bombardment commences.This way…Marlin? Or do you prefer Hadder?"

"Either is fine."

"Well, just so you know, you can call yourselfanything you want here. This place is a hard reset, in more waysthan one. We were all obviously unhappy out there, so we've beengiven the gift to rebuild ourselves in Station. Here, you canbecome the person you always wanted to be but were unable tobecome. But make sure you select a name quickly, or some humoristin the group will christen you with a name you may find unbecoming.He or she will place it around your neck like a garrote, and thereit will sit uncomfortably for the entirety of your time here. Pickone before it gets picked for you."

"Is that how you became Miles? Or is that your realname?"

Miles hesitated a moment, his face betrayingsomething deep beneath those calm waters. "You have to understandsomething before we continue. Out there is no more "real" than inhere. The Before - time prior to arriving at Station - is now thedream, was the nightmare. Station is real. Station is the now.Station is the reality."

Hadder involuntarily flinched at the small rant, thespeeding up towards a mania buried deep within the otherwisecomposed man who called himself Miles.

Miles took a deep breath in and straightened hisalready immaculate clothing. "But to answer your question, I gavemyself the name Miles. It is mine now, and it is who I am. Who areyou? Who do you want to be?"

Hadder needed no pause. "You can call me Hadder. Inever hated who I was, just what I was."

Miles delivered a smile that was not quite easy norforced. "Up to you, my caucasian friend. And we continue." Milesmotioned around as he walked. "So, this is Station, Hadder. Do youknow what that is?"

Hadder shook his head in the negative. "Still tryingto process."

"It's the end of the line. Well, it's the end, or itcould be the beginning depending on your perspective. Some look atit as an opportunity, others as a curse. Which of those it will befor you will be of your own making."

As they walked, the two began passing shortbuildings on the left, the size of small restaurants. The names ofthe buildings had similar themes, ranging from Live Againand Energizer to Good Vibes. Outside of several,people in loose white garb performed a kind of bastardized Tai Chi,chanting as they went through ridiculous motions.

Miles shook his head. "I see you've spotted theHaight-Ashbury section of Station. These gentle souls are stillsearching as if Station isn't already the end of their quest.Crystals and energy and wavelengths and whatever other flavors ofthe month. Happy as heck to be here. Tiresome, but they can be agood time if you're in the right mindset."

One of the white-dressed figures, a middle-agedwoman with wild gray hair, ran up to Hadder excitedly. "Your aura!It's all fire. Wait, no! It's blood on fire! Who are you? I thinkStation has big plans for you. Or maybe you for it! Here, take thiscrystal; it will help focus your chakra."

Miles intercepted her. "Please, Miss Star, let theman settle in before you hit him with your mumbo jumbo. Come on,Hadder."

They walked on. Star continued to stare; Haddercould feel her eyes burrowing into his back. She shouted afterthem, "I see you, young man! And Father sees you, too!"

Hadder shouted behind him. "I'm not that young, butthanks!" He turned back to Miles, "Father? Some Station deity, Ipresume?"

Miles continued walking, staring straight ahead. Heseemed to get a bit more rigid, but it was hard to tell. "In someways. But don't get me wrong, Father is quite real, in the physicalsense. That's what some call Mister Rott, creator of Station.Others consider him a god or a devil depending on your take on thecity."

Hadder almost tripped on a loose cobblestone in thewalkway. "So, some don't like it here, I gather. Seems pleasantenough." And it really did. The footpaths were clean, the buildingsin good repair. The air was crisp and clear. Looking around, Hardercould see workers dressed in tight black skin suits tendinggardens, fixing structures, and carrying loads. All in all, itseemed the sort of charming town that one might find in Canada,that wondrous land to the North, brimming with beauty andhealthcare.

Miles thought for a long moment. "Station's like apartially filled glass. Some say its half-empty, others half-full.Up to your outlook, I guess."

"Looks like summer camp to me."

"Only if summer never ended. And there were