Pickers 2: The Trip Read Free Page A

naked and climbing into the hammock was outside her comfort zone. When they were on the road, she tended to sleep at least partially clothed. If there was an alarm in the night, she preferred to be running around wearing something. That Chloe was watching as she shed all her clothes gave her a strange thrill as well.
    Maxine stood naked at the foot of the hammock, letting Chloe look at her. The low light hid more than it revealed, touch would be a better way to find out her shape. Chloe's arm reached out, but not too far, she didn't want to tip herself out of the hammock. As Maxine started climbing the racking, both Chloe's hands went out to the side to brace the unstable bed. Maxine slid across the taut fabric, and they settled the swinging platform into a new equilibrium.
    Chloe pressed her skin against Maxine's, and ran her fingers over the other woman's body. "Been lying here thinking about you. I couldn't sleep." Her knee moved up, squeezing between Maxine's legs. Clasping Chloe's thighs between hers, Maxine ground against it. She closed a hand over a lovely breast, testing and savouring the weight of it. They kissed.
     

Zaragoza was rebuilding itself from the river Ebro outwards. The heart of the redevelopment was the centuries old basilica, now given over to secular use. The traders hadn't moved in, but the bureaucrats had.
    They had entered the town slowly, escorted by armed cyclists, and parked up on the space between the basilica and the river. The cyclists sat on the wall above the water and watched- not threatening, but with their weapons at the ready- as two transit officials walked from the cathedral to the wagons. This was the greeting every traveller received when they entered Zaragoza, so there were no nerves in the wagons.
    The family left their weapons behind as they dismounted. Remy sauntered toward the officials, meeting them halfway. "Hola Jorge. Nothing to declare, of course."
    "Ah, Remy, you tell us that every time. We shall check your wagons the same as every time, as well."
    "Of course. And then some wine."
    "Manuel," Jorge told his colleague, "Remy is a regular trader. A picker, he calls himself. He gets me terribly drunk every time he visits, then he sleeps with my poor, widowed sister. Then he leaves, and she has a strange smile for weeks. You would think his behaviour would break her heart, but, no. Because of his immoral behaviour with a member of my family- and the blasted hangovers- we always check his family's vehicle thoroughly when he comes here to trade. Get to it."
    Manuel wavered for a moment, then nodded and strode off to the nearest of the wagons. "You put my relationship with your sister in a bad light." Remy said.
    "My sister is as bad as you. She says she will only ever love one man, and he has been dead for years, but that she has physical needs that you satisfy." Jorge tutted theatrically. "You have one more than normal." he observed as they walked toward the wagons.
    "Let me introduce you to Chloe. She may be interested in settling in your city."
    "We do have a number of single men at the moment. Including my own son, as it happens. A pleasure, Miss Chloe." Jorge offered his hand. When Chloe took it, he bowed forward to kiss her knuckles. "There are formalities for anyone wishing to settle here. We can deal with them once Remy has settled his trading levies." Jorge spread his arms wide to take in the whole family, and said, "Come inside and I shall give you drinks and you can tell our intelligence ladies tales of life in the bad lands."

* * *
    There was still water in the river, though the level was low. There had been years, Maxine remembered, when that had not been the case. A pool had been dug out and partitioned from the main flow and they could look down on children splashing in it.
    Chloe leant in so that her shoulder rubbed against Maxine's. "I've been given the keys to a place to stay. I'm told it's quite large and rather nice. Would you help me move in? And we