The Ghost Lights of Marfa Read Free Page B

I don’t know.” She sighed. “I guess for now. Maybe I can get a job soon and get us a better place.” She leaned closer to the woman. “How much is this monthly allowance?”
    “Twenty thousand a month in your currency, American dollars, I believe.”
    Kristy crossed her arms. “Ma’am, I think there may be some mistake in that calculation.”
    “If it is not enough, we can offer more.” The woman pointed to a thin, blue man. “He will escort you to your new home and see that you have everything you need.”
    “I’ll go with the blue guy . But if it’s a bad place or dangerous, I’m not staying. I have my son to think of. ” Holding Cody’s hand, Kristy followed the man out of the building and down the street.
    “Why are we stopping here, Mommy?”
    The square-headed man flashed a wide, rectangular smile. “This is your house.” The man pointed to a huge mansion, which took up a whole block.
    Kristy’s jaw fell open. She stared, speechless.
     

 
Chapter Four
     
    Cody let go of her hand and darted inside. Before Kristy reached the door, he dashed back out and ran to her. “Mommy, I think it’s a mall.”
    The slender, blue man led them into a marble foyer. “Your house, and all that is in it, has been fashioned after a nice Earth home.”
    “How many people live here?” she asked the blue man. ”Do we have our own room?”
    “This home is just for you and your son, of course. You have all the rooms.”
    Kristy glanced up at a glistening crystal chandelier.
    “I hope the home and all the furnishings are satisfactory.” Their guide gestured to her to follow him. “We’ve added toys and novelties to accommodate your child.”
    “Oh, good, if it’s not too much trouble, he needs a plastic sword.” Kristy took Cody by the hand as they trailed behind the blue man.
    “I left my sword in the car, Mommy.”
    “Yes.” Kristy gasped as they entered the first room. Her gaze scanned the video games, pool table, and an air hockey table.
    Cody dashed to a racing game and spun the steering wheel back and forth. “Look Mommy, you don’t need tokens or money, it’s free.”
    Her senses reeled as she left Cody to play, and followed the blue guy into the other rooms, which held a full basketball court, an indoor swimming pool, a bowling alley, a skating rink, and a skateboard ramp.
    “Cody’s playrooms take up the entire first floor.” She took a deep breath.
    “Mommy, I won the game.” Cody ran up to her.
    “Good, punkin.” Kristy had to ask her guide the obvious question. “What’s upstairs?”
    The blue man led her and Cody up the winding staircase and into a movie theatre. She stared wordlessly at the huge screen and rows of seats. Next, he showed her a dining room as large as most restaurants. Her heart hammered as they entered the library, lined with shelves, crammed with books.
    When she glanced at her guide, he nodded his head, anticipating her question before she asked it. He said, “They are earth books. In English.”
    Her mind spun with excitement as she followed their guide to the bedrooms. Both of them had large closets full of clothes and shoes. Hers included a salon area with makeup and a cosmetologist’s table and chair.
    “A hairdresser will come once a week to do your hair and nails.” The blue man smiled.
    “Wow.” She couldn’t even speak, then a disturbing thought crossed her mind. “But no blue nails and no blue hair.”
    “If that is your choice.”
    “Yes. And no dying our skin blue.”
    “As you wish.”
    The man called forth, and introduced her to, a staff of twenty servants.
    Cody pointed to the row of blue servants. "Mommy, are they going to watch me while you go to your new job?”
    Kristy rubbed his head, gently tousling his soft, black hair. “Right now, here on In, I get to stay home with you. I don’t have to go to work.”
    “Mommy, that’s the best thing in the whole word.”
    “Getting to spend time with my little man is the best thing in