Lines

Crawfords

They're called crawfords. It's a shortening of several words, I think the consensus is something like crack fodder, crawford.

Why are they crack fodder?

Well, yasee here there's these cracks on the sides of the wall and floor. They're small, they fit in there.

They're more gaps, not cracks. Vent and spacer gaps.

I know that, but people here call 'em cracks, and these tiny buggers dwell in them. Thus the name is born. There's one there.

Looks diminutive, are they dumb?

Nah, they can understand you and if they like you they might talk too. They're not dumb.

Do they bite?

No, not me anyway. I wouldn't piss one off though.

You're just picking him up?

Sure. Most of them down here know me. I sometimes just have 'em ride on my shoulder to keep me company.

Is that safe?

You ask a lot of question yanno? It's fine, if anything happens I'll reassess.

Ok. First time I've been on this low of a deck.

The city toppers never come down here. But if you're gonna work the grinder you gotta be able to navigate the various decks.

I miss the Noonstar already.

Yeah it misses you too, bud. Anyway here's the grinder for this deck. Go on little fella, get back to your home.

That one in particular seems to really like you.

How d'ya figure?

He watched you as he left. The grinder looks pretty standard.

Yeah you just crank this one most of the time. So-ometimes this one needs a crank too, but that's pretty rare.

Do you come to this deck often?

Often enough, because it's not Floored but still deep down, it gets a lot of this gunk that seizes up the cogs.

Is it your favorite deck to go on?

Nah, but it's close. Nothin beats the Noonstar hitting me after so many days without it.

I already miss it, I think.

C'mon, let's go to the next deck down. Maybe it'll actually have some junk for us to do instead of me pointing.

Maybe. I do like the atmosphere down here. It's almost Romantic, with the lights and the shadows dancing around. It feels primitive and yet raw. Visceral.

Yeah something like that, let's get down to Floor #3 'fore you get us a Dweller on us.

Do they ever give you problems? Wow, the elevators here are loud.

Yeah a lot of pistons and steam and hydraulics. You get used to it. The Dwellers, not so much. They're tough and know how to fight most of the time. If you see one eyeing you up, draw your shit and don't be afraid.

I'm often afraid.

Yeah? That's alright buddy, me too.

Sometimes I feel it when I'm not even thinking about it.

What, fear?

Yeah. It never leaves me, it always feels like it's there, lurking, seeped into my core, holding my mind and my body in vice.

I know what you mean, bud. But you can't let fear win. Ain't no Grinder been got by any Dweller fuck, yanno?

Really channeled your inner Floorman there, but you're right.

Damn right I'm right. Now c'mon, we got ourselves a deck to sort.