“Did ya see that on the left? Don’t look, you fool! Look without looking. I swear you’ll get us all killed.”
“No. No. Not that movement in the bushes. That was a deer… <sigh> The two pinprick lights. In the shadow of that oak we passed? The big one. Did ya notice that?”
“Noooo. It wasn’t sunlight on no leaves. This your first trip on this route isn’t it? And no one told you about this bit? No one mentioned Mother?”
“Ok. Did you not stop and wonder why the pay is so good on this run versus the one to Ko? Yeah it is longer, but that ain’t it. Bosses don’t care about distance. This is the Mother run, son. That’s why the pay on the back end is so high.”
“I can’t believe they didn’t tell you. Must be getting hard to find folks to do the run. I think Eslena in the first car is the longest timer on this trip. Not many of us do more than one, less they desperate… or crazy.”
“She ain’t either though. She’s just stubborn and will cut you from your balls to your bullshit’n mouth if you say a cross word to her. Believe me.”
“Any road. This is the Mother run. Takes us on the edge of her territory. Or what we think she thinks is her territory. Cross that border, and her kids will come for you. You do not want that.”
“No. Look at me. You do. Not. Want. That.”
“No. She’s not so much of a who as a what. Maybe even an idea. I ain’t never seen her. I’ve done this run, what? Thirteen times countin’ this one? Yea…”
“Thirteen. Damn. I am getting too old for this shit.”
“Yeah, her kids. No they ain’t little kids. You flat brained? Little kids scare’n me? Eslena? Say that shit ‘loud again and you are going to find yourself walk’n this route. Believe me.”
“The kids I’ve seen. You’ll catch glimpses of them for the next few days and that is all if you’re lucky. Shit. If we all lucky.”
“We unlucky though? Shit. One word. Teeth. Rows and rows on them orange skinned little monsters. Nasty smell on ‘m and finger nails like razors.”
“But you pretty, so they won’t kill you. Heh, no. My old ass ‘ill get the dirt nap, but you? You too pretty. You get the bag. Seen that happen.”
“The bag? Heh, how you think she makin’ them kids? Heh. Yeah, the bag be your fate son. Believe me.”
~ From Taubha’s Lesser Book of Names
