she laughed bitterly almost snorting
her head was tilted back
laid in the crook of his elbow
her hair spilled onto the rear dash
he put his arm up across the back seat to hold her close subtly trying to stabilise her shore up her listing sanity
laid in the crook of his elbow
her hair spilled onto the rear dash
he put his arm up across the back seat to hold her close subtly trying to stabilise her shore up her listing sanity
I think Im going mad she said
she took a drag off the
cigarette she bummed from him
exhaling
the smoke boiled up against the darkened glass above her face
the smoke boiled up against the darkened glass above her face
passing under amber coloured streetlamps it was laced and exaggerated with noir shadows cast by the cursive
font
of a death decal that celebrated someone he didnt know and didnt bother to try and read their name in reverse
of a death decal that celebrated someone he didnt know and didnt bother to try and read their name in reverse
Maybe Ive
got a death wish
Baby he said
nobodys got a death wish They might think they do But
anyone whos been close to it dont want it
You say as if you have
I have
How
Thats in a trash heap Ive
left behind Youll have to take me at
my word
she reached up to the decal with her free hand as she took another drag
she picked at it with her fingernail
So strange isnt it
It is
Why did he apply it
he said quietly I wouldnt ask now Hes been cool offering us a ride to your
place Asking might offend him and I aint
keen to walk in this neighborhood with you under my arm in your state
In my state Whats my state
Oh Goin mad Got a death wish Maybe its two states presenting as one and
Im misreading them
Hes letting you smoke in his car
Hes smoking
Its his car Aint his brand Some
guys I know better would have say no
at the edge of a shimmering cone of light they passed a
busted up tin garbage can on the curb
a big black bird sat on top of it
thumbing for a ride
We shouldve stopped
We shouldve stopped for the bird That could be like answering
a knock at a door and opening it finding
nobody there Except you welcomed death
in
Superstitious
Not particularly But the decaled
death year just ran across your face backwards like a fat bug
Jesus
she went to swipe at her face and
smeared hot ash on her forehead Jesus
he quickly brushed it away
the red embers croaked went black in midair before landing on her pale yellow blouse or the leather seat
the red embers croaked went black in midair before landing on her pale yellow blouse or the leather seat
FUCK the driver said swerving to avoid the
wreck of a tubular metal display heaped on the street
The shit people pull Fuck with a guys ride Whad Da Fuck Anyways
Animals
The shit people pull Fuck with a guys ride Whad Da Fuck Anyways
Animals
then on occasion off to the side of the street lurking in the deft shadows between the evenspaced lighted posts were thrown retreads like lazy coiled straps or ruptured black alligators seals or lizards
animated by hints
or ones sullen imagination
or ones sullen imagination
positively after
0000, Sunday, 15
11.15
0056, Twoday, 17 11.
15
“She laughed bitterly, Maybe Ive
got a death wish.
Nobodys got a death wish, he said.
They might think they do. But anyone whos been close to it dont want it.” pg168
The Water Knife Paolo Bacigalupi
