Sweet and SourSour

When they emerged through the front gates, Nicolo looked up from where he had been busying himself with something under the raised hood of one of the armored black Land Rovers. He finished whatever he had been tweaking and then jumped up to catch the truck’s hood and slam it closed. The mechanic had already folded down the heavy mesh screen from the windshield in preparation for the captain’s trip, as well as removed the side-mounted grenade launchers he had rigged up a while back. Good, no need to overdo it yet. The mere bulk of the ancient battle-ready Snatch itself, when the townspeople saw it, would be intimidating enough.

Nicolo walked over as he wiped his hands on a grease-stained red cloth. “She’s ready, Capitano.” The Italian stuffed the rag into his back pocket. “But watch the third gear, it keeps popping out.”

Ethan gave him a nod. “Thanks, Nic.” He stepped aside to let Vanessa climb up into the vehicle.

She stared at Nicolo, who was a few centimeters shorter than she. He grinned as he tipped his grimy cap at her and then tossed Ethan a wink. She returned his smile before noticing Ethan waiting for her.

“He’s a spritely little guy, isn’t he?” she said to Ethan in a whisper. She put her foot on the doorframe to haul herself up and plopped herself onto the seat. She paused. “Not that I’m an expert, but isn’t this on the wrong side?” She indicated the steering wheel in front of her.

“It’s UK-made, meant to drive on the left side of the road over there. But all you need to worry about is putting your ass in the other seat.” He made a shooing motion with his hand. “Move it.”

She pressed her lips together at him petulantly—a mannerism he was coming to enjoy—and then laboriously crawled over the center console to the passenger side. She caught her long skirt on the stick shift and threw Ethan an extra scowl as she yanked to free herself.

Ethan stepped up into the truck and looked at her as they both settled in. “Have you ever been in a vehicle before?”

“When I was little, but I don’t remember much,” she admitted. “My parents and the others all had to stow away in big trucks to get here. I’ve seen vehicles pass through this area over the years, though. Usually because someone got themselves lost.” She glanced in the direction of the remote town they were about to investigate. “Really lost.”

“Well, then. Time to pop your cherry.”

“Excuse me?”

He smiled to himself and wiggled the shifter to see if it was in neutral. “Enjoy the ride.” He stomped one foot on the brake and twisted the key to bring the engine to life.

Vanessa grabbed the sides of her seat as Ethan pressed the clutch to the floor with his other foot and knocked the stick shift into first gear. He feathered the clutch initially as he gave it some gas, but then purposely released it faster than he normally would have. The vehicle lurched forward with a roar. Vanessa squeaked at the sudden movement and gripped the seat. Ethan smiled to himself again.

It was a fairly rocky ride down the road to Achterwaartsstad, but not a bad way to go, since the way it made Vanessa bounce on the seat near him was very easy on the eyes. He draped his right wrist over the top of the wheel where the hard rubber had worn down into a perfect cradle to accommodate his yearslong habit.

“So why am I along on this outing, anyway?” Vanessa’s hands clutched the sides of the seat again as another bump jounced the Land Rover.

“In case I need to ask questions. I don’t speak Dutch.”

“Join the club.”

He turned his head to her with a frown. “You barely have an accent, but I thought you could at least speak your native tongue.”

“Boy, are you in for a letdown.” This time she grabbed the door handle strap as the vehicle jolted again. “I mean, I used to know it as a child, and I can still remember simple stuff. But you should have seen me prattling away at five years old. It was ‘koekje’ this and ‘mooie bloem’ that and ‘Mama, kijk naar de eekhoorn!’ I was very talkative back then.”

“How times have changed,” he remarked dryly.

“But now most of it’s gone, probably because my parents decided to switch to English exclusively, once I started to use it. I can understand a little Dutch when I hear it, but most people around here know both, so it’s not an issue. I don’t think you’ll need me for much.”

He tapped his fingers against the stick shift. He could relate. He’d spent his formative years speaking Welsh, due to his mother’s influence, but lost that ability after their move west across the pond. And now only fragments remained. Regardless, what the fuck was he supposed to do with her now? Why even bring her along? He ought to turn around and drop her back at the compound.

Her body bounced in his peripheral vision as he swerved around a pothole.

Probably not worth backtracking. Might as well keep an eye on her.

“How can you see through these…grate thingies?” She pushed her face near the passenger window to examine the metal mesh screen.

“You get used to it.”

She looked around at the stark, battered interior. “All the stuff you guys have seems kind of old.” She wrinkled her nose at him. “I mean, it’s 2066. There’s got to be more modern equipment out there.”

“New technology costs more money than we’re willing to spend. And your pockets have to be especially deep if you want it scrubbed clean.” He leaned forward over the steering wheel to peer at the sky when a shadow moved over the Land Rover’s hood. But it wasn’t the right shape for a bird. He tapped his fingers against the stick shift knob.

“Scrubbed?” Vanessa repeated.

He glanced at her. “Every government controls all weapons production. They can embed heat-resistant circuits in the makeup of the materials themselves. Those weapons can be tracked anywhere they go. Older tech means no numbers, no trackers. Same goes for vehicles.”

“Well, why do you need all these guns and big, tough machinery anyway? It can’t take all that much to subdue a bunch of unarmed civilians like us. It’s like you guys are constantly ready for war.”

“We are.”

“Oh.”

She went quiet, which made him glance over at her again. She was probably imagining what exactly a war would be like. Another jarring bump rocked her on her seat.

With any luck, she’d never have to find out.