Six Of Foxes (Six Foxes)

Christ 2

When Krista entered Lady Lois' salon, on that night long ago, Ken Lunark was waiting, in a dark gray garment, resting on a black fox's wand. Salon decorated with gold and bluish green, one side of the wall patterned peacock feathers. Krista hates every inch of Cerveny-the living room where she and the other girls are forced to wander and apply eyelashes to potential customers, her room is styled to resemble a fake Zemeni caravan decorated with purple silk and incense-scented pungent-but Lady Lois' salon is the worst. The room was a beating ground, where Lois vented her most become-so anger.

    Krista tried to escape the first time she arrived in Moontown. He had only two blocks from Cerveny, still dressed in silk, dazed by the bright light and bustle of Western Kharfa, running in an indeterminate direction, when Cobbet clenched his thick hands at Krista's nape and dragged her back. Lois takes Krista to the salon and beat her all out so she can't work for a week. A month later, Lois shackled Krista with a gold chain, not even allowing her to go down to the living room. When Lois finally opened Krista's shackles, the woman said, "You owe me a month's income. If you run again, I'll throw you into Raregate for breach of contract."

    That night, Krista enters the salon in horror and, when she sees Ken Lunark there, her horrors double. Dirty hands must have been complaining about it. The young man must have told Mrs Lois that she spoke without excuse, that she was acting out. (Games 20)

    However, Lois leaned back onto the silk-lined chair and said, "Well, Little Katsi, it seems like you are now someone else's problem. Apparently Lin Ginger had an interest in the Zemeni girl. He paid a lot of money to buy your contract."

    Krista gulps. "I'm moving to another house?"

    Lois waved her hand. "Ginger did have a brothel - if it could be called so - in Krisbow to the south, though, but you're not going to return her capital there - instead you're probably going to feel for yourself how good Mrs Lois has been to you all along. No, Ginger wants you for herself."

    Who is Lin Ginger? That important? His heart said. He's the guy who buys the girl. That's all you need to know.

    Krista's anxiety must have been obvious, because Mrs Lois laughed lightly. "Don't worry. He's old, but he doesn't seem dangerous. Of course, we never know for sure." The woman shrugged her shoulders. "Maybe he'll spin you with his beloved lackey, Mister Lunark."

    Ken turned his cold eyes to Madam Lois. "It's over?" Just this time Krista heard Ken talk and she was aghast at his head.

    Lois snorted while correcting the neckline of her shiny blue dress. "Here, you sonny bedeb*h." He heated the peacock blue-colored candle and affixed the seal to the document before him. Then, he got up and observed his reflection in the mirror hung above the mantelpiece. Krista notices Lois straightening the diamond necklace around her neck, the precious stones sparkling brightly. Even though the thread was complicated, Krista had thought, The grains looked like stolen stars.

"Goodbye, Little Katsi," said Mrs Lois. "I doubt you'll last more than a month in that part of Krisbow. "Ken's Glances. "Don't be surprised if he runs away. He's more agile than he looks. But, who knew Lin Ginger enjoyed that as well. Please come out yourself."

    Lady Lois breezed out of the room waving silk and scented the perfume, leaving a dumbfounded Krista behind.

    Ken slowly crossed the room and closed the door. Krista stiffened to welcome anything, her fingers twisting onto the silk cloth of her clothes.

    "Lin Ginger leads Geak" said Ken. "You ever heard of us?"

    "That's your gang."

    "Yes. Lin Ginger my boss. Your boss too, if you want to."

Krista musters up her courage and says, "If I don't want to, how?"

    "I'll take my offer and go home like a fool. You can stay here with Lois the monster."

    Krista's hand was raised to her mouth. "He was listening" whispered Krista, terrified.

    "Leave it. In Krisbow there are many monsters and some are even beautiful. I bought information from Lois. It costs money, even. But I know exactly who he is. I asked Lin Ginger to redeem your contract. Do you know my reason?"

    "You like Zemeni women."

    "I don't know many Zemeni women, so I don't know." Ken went to the table and picked up the documents, which he then slipped into his suit. "That night, when you spoke to me--"

    "I don't mean to be rude, I---"

    "You want to offer me information. Perhaps in return, as long as I help you? Send letters to your parents? More pay?"

    Krista squeaks. That's exactly what he wanted. He had heard rumors regarding the silk trade and was considering to bid. Action toll, rash.

    "Is Krista Censes your real name?"

    A strange voice came out from Krista's throat, half sobbing and half laughing, a disgraceful shrill voice, but she had been hearing her own name, her surname.

    "Yes" Krista said.

    "Is that the call you want?"

    "Of course" Krista said, adding, "What is Ken Lunark your real name?"

    "Original lumayan. Last night, when you came to me, I didn't know you were around until you spoke up. You're not the first person to surprise me, but you are." (Games 20)

    Krista frowned. He didn't want to make a sound then that's what he did. Why why anyway?

    "The bell on your ankle" Ken said, pointing to Krista's costume, "but I didn't hear you. Purple silk and pictures of freckles on your shoulders, but I don't see you. I saw everything." Krista shrugged her shoulders while Ken turned his head. "Are you educated as a dancer?"

    "Acrobatic player." Kritsa. "My family's all acrobats."

    "Trap queen?"

    "And jump over the swing. Juggling. Salto."

    "Are you working with a safety net?"

    "Good, there's no net in Moontown. Ever fought?"

    Krista shakes.

    "Killing people?"

    Krista's eyes widened. "Never."

    "Have you considered it?"

    Krista fell silent and then crossed paths. "Every night."

    "It was the beginning."

    "I don't want to kill people, actually."

    "That's a good policy until someone wants to kill you. And in our line of work, it happens often."

    "Our work?"

    "I want you to join Geak."

    "Working what?"

    "Gathering information. I need spiders to climb the walls of Moontown homes and businesses, to eavesdrop from windows and balustrades. I need someone who can be invisible, who can be a ghost. Do you think you can?"

    Now I'm a ghost, Krista thought. I died in the hold of a slave merchant ship.

    "I think I can."

    "The city is full of rich men and women. You have to learn their habits, their activities, their dirty deeds at night, the crimes they try to cover up during the day, the size of their shoes, the combination number of their safe, and the number of their shoes, toys they loved as children. And I'm gonna use that information to steal their money."

    "How about you take their money and you yourself become a rich man?"

    The corners of Ken's lips lifted slightly upon hearing that. "If so, you can steal my secrets too."

    "Is that why you bought me?"

    The full expression of humor disappeared from Ken's face. "Lin Ginger didn't buy you. He bought your contract. That is, you owe him money. Much money. But the contract letter is real. Here," Ken said as he pulled Lois's document out of his suit. "I want you to see something."

    "I can't read Kalterville."

    "No problem. See these numbers? This is the price that Lois thinks you borrowed from her for your transportation costs from Juwel. This is the money you earned as an employee. And here's your debt to him that's not done yet."

    "But it is impossible. My debt is now more than my debt when I just got here."

    "Rubber. He's quoting your pay for your room, lodging, self-care."

    "He bought me" said Krista, his anger rising inevitably. "I can't even read the agreement I signed."

    "Slavery is illegal in Kalterville. Contract work is not. I know this is a shady contract and any reasonable judge would agree. Unfortunately, too many reasonable judges were made moons by Lois. Lin Ginger offered you a loan-not more, not less. Your contract will be written in Juwel. You'll have to pay interest, but the amount won't choke your neck. And as long as you deposit the percentages to him every month, you're free to go anywhere you like."

    Krista bobbing heads. The offer seemed impossible.

    "Crista, let me reiterate. If you run away before you pay off the contract, Ginger will send people to hunt you down, people who will impress Ms. Lois like a loving grandmother. And I'm not gonna stop him. I personally risked my life to make this deal happen. Not a pleasant position for me."

    "If your words are right," said Krista slowly. "I should be free to refuse."

    "of course. But, you're obviously dangerous" Ken said. "I'd rather you didn't harm me."

    Dangerous. Krista wanted to embrace that word. He's pretty sure that this young man is crazy or maybe delusional, but he likes the word and, unless he's mistaken, Ken offers him a chance to leave the brothel tonight.

    "It's.. It's not a trick, is it?" Krista's voice was slower than she wanted.

    A dark shadow crossed Ken's face. "If it's a hoax, I'll guarantee your safety. I will promise you happiness. I don't know if it's in Krisbow, but with me, you won't find salvation or happiness."

    "All right," said Krista. "Where to start?"

    "Let's start by getting out of here and finding you some proper clothes. One more Krista," said Ken as he led the girl out of the salon, "never come at me quietly again."