“All the antibiotics I have left in the store. It’s not like anyone else is coming for them. You can have them and use them as you wish. My wife, bless her heart, had horses all her life. I wish I could tell you they didn’t end up on the black market. That I somehow saved them before I moved away from our farm and into the city.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
He shrugs. A halfhearted smile crosses his face. “I guess that’s not my biggest regret. I wish I did a lot of things. And left some undone.”
“Don’t we all, grandpa. Don’t we all.”
Kaarina reaches for the bag, opens it to peek in: At least thirty pill boxes, enough to cure Rocky three times over, if it ever came to it. The man sighs again.
“I should have seen it coming. She withered away to nothing, shying away from me and even from Toni. My wife was always so upbeat, so full of life. Not a cranky stress ball, not like me. I should have gotten help when she changed, instead of telling her to cheer up and snap out of it.”
When the images of her mother, dead in the middle of the ocean of pills, rush through her mind, Kaarina lets go of the bag and places her hand on his. Tears fill his half-blind eyes. Back hunched on the bench, it seems as he’s trying to wrap himself into a tiny ball and roll away from life.
“What was her name?”
Surprise shadows his face, but only for a second. His eyes search for hers; his back straightens an inch.
“Helena. Hm.”
His warm smile vanishes as quickly as it appears.
“And Toni was your son?”
“Is… Toni is our son. He got stuck in West-Land during The Great Affliction. Someone told me he’s living with the Unchipped somewhere in City of California. I would give anything to hear from him, just to know he’s okay, that he’s breathing.”
He has to stop and clear his throat before continuing.
“I didn’t do much with my life, but Toni is something I did right. Something I can be proud of. I never had the guts to travel, let alone move abroad. I became a pharmacist because my father was a pharmacist. I married my high school sweetheart, because that’s what my parents did as well. I worked from eight ‘til four, all my life, because I always assumed that’s what you’re supposed to do. Toni and my Helena were all I had, but they were enough. With both of them gone, I didn’t have anything left.” He looks at her. “But I’m not letting them plug me in one of their capsules,” he says sternly. “Not until I know my Toni is okay out there.”
Bill? Are you hearing this? Bill?
“If I only knew he was okay, maybe I could forgive myself.”
Her eyes fixed on the old man, Kaarina continues her silent search for Bill. You could look for him, ask around. Maybe you can even tap him?
Bill’s sigh reveals his presence. “Yeah, sure I can. We all know that the Unchipped are trusting and social people. They’ll let any stranger tap them, no questions asked.”
Kaarina blinks to stop herself from rolling her eyes. Could you just once agree to something, without being such a dick?
“Oh I’m the dick? Just because you’ve started some sort of an escort service in your little digi-village, doesn’t mean that I can do the same.”
What if I asked nicely?
“That would be a first.”
Please, Bill. I’ll owe you one. Anything you need.
When Bill stops arguing with her, she knows he has given up. Bill will help her find the old man’s missing son. Kaarina gives him a half-smile. “Listen, sir…”
“It’s Raino. Just call me Raino.”
“Okay, Raino. I can’t tell you exactly how, but I might be able to help. I’ll have someone look for your son in City of California. I can’t promise you they’ll find him, but we can at least try.”
“Oh, so that’s how it’s going to be? A dick and an errand boy?
The old man’s face lightens up. His posture straightens in front of her, eyes still teary but now filled with hope. He holds onto Kaarina’s hands, squeezes them hard, leans forward and says, “That’s all I need. All I ever wanted.”
“You said something about them plugging you in a capsule? What does that mean?”
Raino slumps again, but he doesn’t let go of her hands. “We’re not supposed to talk about it, I think. Not that any of us really talk to one another about anything anymore. Maybe about the gloomy weather. But that’s it.”
“You’re not supposed to talk about what?”
He lets go of her hands to fidget with the headband again. Hands shaking, maybe because of his old age, maybe because of this forbidden conversation, he looks away from Kaarina. Their conversation is over.
Blue suits emerge from the nearby apartment building. The old man stands up, takes the paper bag and places it on Kaarina’s lap.
“I must go now. People may not talk to one another, but they’re loyal to the city. They’ll go to the guards if they see any suspicious activity. I don’t want to risk my deal with them.”
He places the AR-glasses on his head. “I’ll look for you, through the window. If you hear from my son, you know where to find me. Next time I see you, I’ll have another paper bag for you. No—I’ll have two paper bags. All the medicine you and your equine friend may need.”
Kaarina hesitates, but only for a second.
“Sir… Raino. I don’t need more medicine. But my food stock could really use some filling.”
The old man digs into his pocket and pulls out three vegan granola bars. He places them in Kaarina’s hands, holds them firmly.
“They may taste like mouthwash, but here. I’ll have more for you when we meet again.”
“Did I leave you with any? Here,” Kaarina hands back one of the bars, “Two is enough to get me back home. There’s Yellowfoots left in the woods.
