The Star Plume Read Free Page B

it’s always open.
I’d say ‘24/7’ but that doesn’t mean much out here. No 24 and no
7.”
    As she walked the last seats on the bar,
Princess Cressida sensed others. She looked at the bar stools but
saw only half-empty glasses being lifted and set down. There must
be either Infrareds or Gammas, she thought, but she wasn’t sure
which. Always hard to tell until they spoke.
    No bartender manned the bar. People helped
themselves by pushing a button. A glass descended from the ceiling
and on its way down, was filled by the stream of liquid from a
large central unit.
    Princess Cressida followed Wrangler to a
square table in the back, with a clear view of the bar and the
door. As Wrangler walked he glanced side to side at the seated
patrons. He spoke quietly, with a nod of his head to the right.
“There he is, the fella who told me the Night Prism rumor. I
thought he was foolin’, tellin’ tales, like you do. I'm gonna find
out where he heard those rumors.”
    Princess Cressida looked at the man. He
looked average in most respects, human like she was. His eyes,
which she could see from a distance, were ice blue and slightly too
large for his face, like he was constantly surprised. Something was
off. She looked again and saw he had no whites to his eyes. Just
the blue. He looked familiar.
    A bosomy middle-aged waitress appeared at
their table, all blond curls, long red nails, pink uniform, and
chewing gum. Her nametag read, "Flo," in curly cue script.
    “What do you want, Wrangler?” she barked.
    “Hey Flo. Nice to see you too. It's been an
age. How's the boss?”
    “You know Per, he's the same grumpy old
goat.” Her voice dropped to a raspy whisper. “Only now he's older
and grumpier.” Flo snapped her gum in protest. “So, come on. I got
other customers, so whaddaya want?”
    “Two Solara punches.”
    “Coming up.” She waddled away to the bar,
ignoring a Grass Man who pinched her ample bottom as she passed
him.
    Wrangler Zav turned to Princess Cressida.
“Have you got anything to trade? Any jewelry you can part with? A
bangle? I’m going to talk to our rumor-mongerer over there but I’m
running low on Celestial Coin. This fella drives a tough bargain
and if he knows anything worth telling, I’ll have to pay for
it.”
    Princess Cressida touched her gold earrings.
“Well, I have these.” She looked at her simple skirt and shoes. She
wasn’t much for flash. Then she had a thought. She put her hands on
her burlap bag. “Of course, I have the colors, do you think he
might like any of those?”
    She opened the burlap bag and rummaged around
inside. “Here’s a bright blue.” The blue cloud billowed around her
and Wrangler Zav before she got hold of both corners. Wrangler Zav
shook his head ‘No’ and Cressida stuffed it back inside the
bag.
    She rummaged deeper. “Or a dark red. He might
like that.” Color billowed out around them as she pulled out a few
more options. Wrangler Zav shook his head no each time. A heard
trader had little need for colors.
    Then she remembered how she had gotten lost
in the first place. She reached toward the bottom of the deep bag,
pulling forth the silver color cloud she had wandered so far to
collect.
    Now, freed from the burlap bag, the silvery
cloud billowed like a sail in the dim bar, catching all the
available light. It seemed to grow in size and shape, the cloud
taking the shape of a castle, then a mountain, then a sun. It
shimmered just as Princess Cressida remembered.
    Seeing the silvery cloud, Wrangler Zav
gasped. He glanced at the bar and saw several heads turn in his
direction, people jabbing elbows at each other as they caught sight
of the metallic sheen. A few patrons stood up. The bar owner pushed
his seat back from his table to head their way.
    “Put that away. Now,” Wrangler Zav hissed.
His lips were set in a straight line, pressed against his teeth as
if he might bite.
    “My goodness.” Princess Cressida eyes grew
wide at Wrangler’s tone. She