Escape to New Atlantis

13 Catwalk

Sawyer

"Your building sank."

I hear the words come out of Benedict's mouth, but it takes a moment to process them. He, Catalina, and Saanvi are looking at me like maybe I'll faint or go into hysterics. But, hey, I just shrug it off. I tell them, "When we came to New Atlantis, Mom and I had to leave 99% of what we had behind. What's 1% more?" They're not getting it. "Look, it's just a toothbrush, toothpaste, and a few clothes. It's an outrigger like the school probably gives every new student. Same way with my tablet and watch. Mostly, I'm sorry to lose the VR gear you gave me, Benedict. That and a New Orleans Saints sweatshirt frazzled around the sleeves."

Benedict says, "I'm sure you and your mom have lost more than that, but at least the building insurance will cover everything. Well, I guess not the sentimental stuff. You can order a new sweatshirt, but somehow I'll bet what made it important was how the sleeves got frazzled."

"Yeah, my dad loved that shirt. He would've eventually worn the thing out." I admit coming close to losing it, but I hold myself together. Tough man? Nah, as I tell them, though I'm not sure they understand, "The pandemics taught me about losses and, frankly, this is a small one."

Catalina gives me a hug, then Saanvi hugs both of us. Benedict puts his hand on my shoulder and says, "The stores are closed until the network mess gets straightened out, but I think I can provide you and your mom enough to tide you over."

He searches through the wall of equipment outside the VR chamber and selects a royal blue pouch. "This Korean gear is really top notch." He puts the pouch on top of the clothes I'm carrying. "Next stop, the safe room."

I wasn't aware "safe room" is a thing, but behind a closet-looking door is a small, self-contained apartment wrapped in steel. Benedict goes to a wall of cabinets, searches for a moment, then opens one stacked with what appear to be shoeboxes. He removes two of the boxes. "These are toiletry packs. They should give each of you the toothpaste and stuff you'll need for at least two weeks." He adds them to my pile. "As for the other items you listed, I expect your mom's OK—she'd have her tablet and such with her. But for you, my friend, let's swing by my room."

Benedict's "room" is as overblown as you'd expect. He takes us to a door and says, "Welcome to my toy closet." It's nerd heaven—shelves and shelves of drones and robots and, of course, a crossbow. He grabs a box and tears it open. "This is basically the same tablet I use. I got it before they offered the double-memory version and I certainly don't need both. Oh, good, here's its mating watch too." Thanks to the city's constant wave movement, both are fully charged and, to the extent possible without a functioning network, we set them up for me.

He reaches up on the top shelf and pulls down a black outrigger. "You can keep this too. It looks ordinary, but it's a prototype from my dad's defense company." In a stage whisper he says, "Bulletproof!"

He leads us back to their starboard porch. "Can you think of anything more you need right now?"

I shake my head. "I really appreciate all this stuff, man, and think I'm good."

"Extend my apologies to your mom for sinking her home. Let her know if either of you need clothes, you're more than welcome to use our garment oven." Benedict reaches out to shake my hand but sees that's not possible. Instead, he gives me a deep bow. I return it with a head nod that barely endangers my pile of, well, everything I own.

Once we're through the gate and the guards, Saanvi leaves us to go back to her apartment and Catalina and I head to hers. It's amazing how much faster you can travel with proper shoes.

Only Mom is there to greet us. She gives each of us a hug and I show her my loot. "Honey, I'm so glad you're finding good friends like Benedict and Catalina. And it's certainly a relief to get my 'toiletry pack.'"