To Escape From Gravity

Chapter Six

Sometimes Reed wished her trips up were done through the comfy transit cars. But as it were, her back was pushed up against a chilled metal wall, and large piles of food sacks lined the opposing edge of the steel container. Most carts would be filled to the brim, but Diagon ordered this one filled at 85% capacity, allowing for just enough room for Reed to sit atop a shorter pile of sacks. The upper rim of the container landed about two feet above her head.
The smell of barley was overwhelming. Reed resolved to not go near it for a week after this trip. It was better than the time Diagon stuck her in that supply cart of fish, though. The stench of it clung to her and made it impossible for her to get close to her target. She ended up spending three days in an abandoned housing unit on the east side of Miasten, trying to lose the scent so she could accomplish her job.

It only took about ten minutes for the supply cart to get pulled up the metal transit tube. For all the talk of the glory of Miasten, it was a rather lackluster approach to the metropolis. Serenaded by the sounds of creaking, cranking metal, Reed spent the brief ride shuffling through her knapsack in preparation.

Her primary goal for every job was to complete it as discreetly as possible. People didn't pay her to bring attention to what she was doing, which is why she had to take great care to not look or act like a grounder. Those who lived among the clouds had a very perceptive sense for someone who didn't belong there. So Reed's ability to fade into the backdrop of the city was incredibly valuable to people who wanted to work outside the view of prying eyes.

The first step was wiping away the evidence of living close to the earth. From her knapsack, Reed pulled a square linen cloth and rubbed it all over her face, neck, and hands. Her skin was naturally a deep tan, but the layers of dust added a few shades and a reddish hue that was far too telling of her origins. Then, shedding her knit hat, she released her hair from its tight, high bun. The hat served as both a source of warmth, and a barrier between her hair and the filth that swirled on the ground. Dirty hair was a surefire way to stick out in a high-profile crowd. After loosening the wavy ginger hair, she wove it into two flat, thick braids that started at each temple and ended just beneath her shoulder blades.

The citizens of sky cities were very peculiar about clothing and fashion, and tended to aim for a more militaristic, simple style. Brightly-colored clothes weren't overly common and most often were reserved for special events, or in certain sections of the cities that sought to be more avant-garde. For this particular job, Reed was going to have to blend into a group of politicians, military officials and prominent citizens. Her palette of neutral tones was a perfect match.

A loud, abrasive screeching halted the supply cart momentarily. She was nearly two thirds of the way through the ascension. With a quicker sense of urgency, Reed momentarily removed her gray jacket, exposing a thin, woven black sweater. Having her pistol in its normal place at her hip would be far too visible in Miasten. She unclipped the holster, rearranged the two leather straps that had been around her waist, and reattached the holster so it sat at the intersection of the straps. Pulling her arms through the loops, she quickly had the pistol sitting higher up on her right side, where it would be concealed by her jacket. It was very risky bringing a gun into any sky city, because the Elected condemned sky citizens brandishing weapons. It's why the security industry was so prevalent up there.

While the hazards on the ground were never far from sight, Miasten's danger lurked invisibly in the shadows. So taking her pistol with her was a necessary risk to Reed, she feared what would happen to her without it, more so than she feared the politicians and officers.

An ear-shattering roar of the turbines was quickly approaching. Nearing the depot station in the underside of the city, Reed's final preparation was concealing a wrapped package in the inner pocket of her jacket. It was square in shape, roughly the length of her palm. Tightly encased in thin cow-hide, this parcel was the sole reason behind her presence in Miasten. Reed wasn't picky when it came to jobs. She was a hired hand, simply carrying out whatever she was paid to do. And since it took special skills to covertly move between the ground and sky cities, she most often was hired to deliver or receive these special items.