Plastic sheet

CASE WOKE, LATE into the sleeping period, and became aware of Molly crouched beside him on the foam. He could feel her tension. He lay there confused. When she moved, the sheer speed of it stunned him. She was up and through the sheet of yellow plastic before he’d had time to realize she’d slashed it open.

“Don’t you move, friend.”

Case rolled over and put his head through the rent in the plastic. “Wha . . . ?”

“Shut up.”

“You th’ one, mon,” said a Zion voice. “Cateye, call ’em, call ’em Steppin’ Razor. I Maelcum, sister. Brothers wan’ converse wi’ you an’ cowboy.”

“What brothers?”

“Founders, mon. Elders of Zion, ya know. . . .”

“We open that hatch, the light’ll wake bossman,” Case whispered.

“Make it special dark, now,” the man said. “Come. I an’ I visit th’ Founders.”

“You know how fast I can cut you, friend?”

“Don' stan’ talkin’, sister. Come.”