FOLLOW THE LEADER Chapter 4

Chapter 4


The man in the buckskin jacket turned away and gazed into a store window.
         His pretty companion quickly checked her appearance in the same window.  There it is, she thought. The fucking scar. Shit! Her nearly perfect features were marred by a long scar on her right cheek. There was no covering it up unless she went to a plastic surgeon.
         There was one up-side to her ugly scar, though. It might cause someone to ask about it.
         Get’em talking, Jason always says.
         Here was another chance to test her charm. To persuade. Hell, everything was a test with Jason.
         She left Jason and headed up the sidewalk. She approached the young vagabond, closely observing her. Soon she picked up the scent of smoke. They had camped out somewhere. Oregon, maybe. Maybe even Canada. Their backpacks were big and they were stuffed.
        She smiled and said, “You guys been camping?”
        Rhonda started, caught off guard.
        “Some law against camping?”
        “Depends on where you do it.”
        “Duh. We can read signs. We’re not stupid.”
        “I’m a camper, myself.”
        Rhonda took her measure and sneered. “You sure don’t look like one.”
        “Our camp has tents but we also have showers and toilets. Oh, and a kitchen, as well.”
        Rhonda pictured a pristine campground full of school kids. She wondered if the longhaired woman might even be a counselor in a Y.W.C.A. camp. No, she decided. She was part of some religious group.  However, her beatific aura did not match the gray scar. The scar shouted: Street! Knife fight! Then she remembered. Everywhere she went, it didn’t matter where, she was approached by young men and women with the same damned sappy look.
        “Are you a Mormon?” Rhonda asked.
        “Hell no!” the woman laughed. “Hey, have you guys had breakfast?”
        Just then Rhonda’s friend emerged from the deli with a sack and two Cokes.
        “This is our breakfast,” Rhonda chirped, as if she were proud of the fact.
        “Who are you?” asked Rhonda’s friend.
        “Just passing by.”
        “You want meth, weed or spare change, we ain’t got it,” said Rhonda’s friend.
        “On the contrary...” Digging into her tote bag now.
        The two friends exchanged a weary look.
        The woman in the silver necklace held out two pieces of candy tightly wrapped in waxy paper.
        “Taffy?” asked Rhonda.
        “Elixir. This will produce a way better high than whatever shit you’ve been hyping or snorting.”
        Now she had their complete attention.
        “I want to know what I’m ingesting,” said Rhonda.
        “How much is it?” asked her friend.
        “It’s not dangerous and it’s free. Here.”
        She gave each a piece. “Ciao,” she said and walked away.
         Rhonda and her friend hesitated for a moment, then ate the candy.
         The man in the buckskin jacket was watching them and smiling.
         He dug out his cell phone and punched some numbers.

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