Windvane book1

Bk 1 Ch 2 Department Housing

Llatoya had set herself up with some cartridge and pencils on one of the benches, drawing the 'park' as it may have been fifty years ago... actually grass, clipped hedges and true flowing water. She was adding a scarlet and white koi when Jarad found her.

"Heeey....Girl! Over here."

"I have a name you know," Llatoya replied. She didn't look up. if he was going to be rude, so would she.

He came over at that same long strides March as before. "Sorry, I forgot to ask your name."

Llatoya closed the drawing book and stood up... "Jared..."

"Yes?"

Gawds he was so dang earnest about it.

"My name would be all over those documents you are carrying."

"True...I guess I figured those were personal and I wanted to respect your privacy."

"Thank you." That was genuine.

Jared passed her the documents. " Here I am ... You're supervisor... and I am absolutely the last one to know about you. Housing has already arranged temporary accommodation... security has already provided your access card and payroll has already charged it with your relocation bonus..."

Llatoya gave him a disbelieving frown as she flicked through the parcel of papers... "That was fast..."

"This is Sorrento City... everything moves fast ... until it doesn't."

Llatoya held up her new ID..."You said they'd charged it.."

"Correct. Your ID is your bank access card here." He pointed upwards to the emblazoned Bishop logo overhead, "Each company uses different currencies and they work in different ways... discounts, tolls and tithes, rewards points, special deals... things like that.... rather than carrying multiple cards, and multiple currencies your ID does it all for you via the city's Artificial Intelligence services."

"So... what you are saying is... 'Dont lose my ID .. gotchya."

"Don't worry, the card is only active when your fingerprint... see the circle on the back... is acknowledged... no one can use it but you."

"Why did they give me three?"

"Because everybody loses their ID in their first week, easier to set you up with spares now." He paused when her Facial expression hardened... "What's wrong?"

"So they are absolutely coordinated enough to set all this up ahead of me... but they can't organise the actual painting of a murel?"

"Welcome to City Council."

Llatoya flicked through the documents again until she found the one with the Department of Housing header. She studied her new address, unit 404... Windvane Overlook, Sorrento East.

"Where will I find Windvane Overlook?"

"Really?" he said, leaning in to get a good look at the papers that were only moments ago considered private. " Windvane Overlook is the name of your apartment building. Judging by the name it's over near the collapsed section, gets dang windy over there ... good thing this is only temporary." Jared readied himself to leave. "Step one - get yourself settled. Step two- get a good night's sleep... Step three is mine... I'll think up a proper induction for tomorrow."

Llatoya made her way back to the train station taking her time to look over the city that was going to be her new home. She was actually pretty disappointed. She had come from City beach... carved into what was once an underground aquifer of limestone. When she'd found out she was headed for Sorrento she was excited to be under the sky... in the sunshine. Instead, the sky was full. There was always something to block out the sunlight.

A chilled breath of wind kissed her cheek. She turned to the sound of flapping fabric. Coming down the sidewalk towards her was three immense figures... tall broad men dressed in an obscene amount of fabric. Robes the colour of vellum underneath bullet proof vests... and more robes, sandy yellow -brown loosely fitted over the top. They flapped loudly as they walked. Llatoya was stuck like a deer in headlights... knowing she should move but utterly unable to pull her eyes away. Someone had the sense to help her, grabbing her wrist and pulling her aside. The lead figure saw it... and smiled.

After they had passed Llatoya finally looked at the woman who had helped her. Llatoya raised a hand and pointed, not quite able to string words together. The lady, cafe owner maybe, was looking amused.

"Well then... someone is new. Welcome to Sorrento."

"They were..." two words... was that seriously the best she could do?

"Those were." the cafe owner was still amused."Private security officers for Bishop Company... they call themselves the clergy."

"What?"

"The city has six primary companies, each has a private security force... each has their own ... flavour."

"Flavour is a good word for it." Llatoya stepped away. "Thank you for the help." She turned to go then remembered, "If I could ask one more favour?"

The woman had returned to get duties, clearing tables, and didn't look up as she answered, "What do you need?"

"What's the best way to get to Windvane Overlook?"

"How much money are you prepared to spend?"

"Err... not much... I guess... I live there now, but I work here."

"Ohhhh. there's probably a bus but honestly, if you're commuting every day you'd be better off buying a bike."

"A GoFast? are you serious?"

She laughed... "Of course not. I mean a peddle bike".

"Yeah, that does make more sense."

Llatoya paused at the luggage locker. How exactly was she planning to get her luggage to her new unit. She pulled out her ID and placed her finger in the circle to activate the card. the little screen on the front displayed 24000 credits... it sounded like a lot... maybe it was a lot .. she had no idea. Deciding to wait for now she headed over to the ticket booth instead.

"Is there a bus to Windvane Overlook?"

"Nope."

Llatoya looked at him, taking in his aged eyes, flat face and the scent of over- chewed gum.

"Is there a bus that will get me near to Windvane Overlook?"

He paused as if deciding if he could be bothered. With a sigh and an eye roll he remembered it was his job. He reached forward and pulled a pamphlet from the front of the counter. It unfolded into a city map. It took him a moment to find what he was looking for...

"Here it is, East Street meets Meadowbank road... Nearest stop is down East Street about 100 metres." He refolded the map and handed it to her. "Bus E35, Stand C... one way?"

"yes."

"swipe your card here..."

"How much will it cost me?"

"Depends on your currency."

Gawds,could the man be any more boring.

Llatoya swiped her card...."a receipt please "

"A what?"... he fumbled badly... "What sort of person wants a receipt these days... geez... where is that thing?"

A whole 20 minutes later she found out that a one way ticket was worth 43 credits... that seemed excessive but maybe it was further than she thought. She retrieved her luggage from the locker and made her way to stand C to wait. Across the street from stand C was a concrete skate board park. She watched the rookies for a while, remembering what it was like when she was first learning. Beyond them something else caught her attention... the same skate park but supersized... She could see skaters sliding a raised rail. She stood up for a better look but a bus pulled up and blocked the view... her bus.

The driver was nice enough to help with luggage and she showed him in the map where she wanted to go.

"I don't know the way," she had explained briefly, he simply dipped his hat and nodded.

Llatoya took up a seat on the side facing the skate park. They were a slightly bigger board then she rode, wider... then she saw the real feature... every single board using the larger skate park was a GoFast board...

"Oh, yes." She knew right then exactly how she was going to be commuting every day... once she could afford one... if she managed to afford one.