Page 39 of Relyn
Relyn wanted her to stay on board. She’d practically laughed at him when he’d suggested it. Nora had a credit stick and she planned to use it. Surely it would smooth her transition back home if she came bearing presents. Bright assured her therewere retail shops if she stuck to the commercial side of the station. The part where Bright was going was rougher. Nora had volunteered to go with her, but Relyn had absolutely put his foot down. It was decided they would split up into two groups: Nora and Wendy would go shopping with Grom tagging along as their bodyguard and Relyn and Bright would go looking for specific supplies that they needed.
God, she really hadn’t thought about how her mother would react. She’d been teleported away and hadn’t even received a bride price. Her parents had often jokingly spoken of what they planned to do with the money if she was ever matched. It was enough for them to retire and live comfortably for the rest of their lives. The money did a lot to salve the wounds of tearing families apart.
The five of them exited the ship at the same time, and Bright closed it up. She’d quietly changed the code again and given it to everyone except Grom. Nora thought that was a good idea. As much as they’d touted to Grom that he was bodyguard, it was more like they were his babysitter.
At the exit to the hangar, Bright and Relyn took a left, while the rest of them went to the right. The first shop looked quite familiar. It was just like one of those souvenir shops in downtown and New York City, filled with silly trinkets and mini Statues of Liberty and Liberty Bells. Even space had tourist traps. Nora couldn’t help but walk in.
She had no idea what half the stuff did or what the little symbols meant. The way Wendy was browsing, she didn’t have much of a clue either.
“Ever been off planet before this?” Nora asked.
“Nope. Hell, I’d never been out of Canada before this,” Wendy said.
“I’ve been to Canada. It was lovely. So many trees,” Nora said.
“We’re lousy with them.”
They wandered a bit aimlessly through the aisles before heading to the next store. This one seemed to sell clothing, and it was quite entertaining to browse the samples, some with extra arm holes or holes for tails. The salesman saw them browsing and marked them for suckers. He didn’t know he was dealing with a girl from Philly.
“This one, this one’s quite nice. It’ll go with your eyes,” he said, throwing a robe-like garment her way.
“It’s a little flimsy. Not sure I like the construction,” Wendy said.
“True. I can sew a straighter seam than that one. And space is fricken cold. I’d freeze in a hot minute,” Nora said.
The salesmen took a step back, but didn’t miss a beat. He grabbed the garment and tossed it on the counter.
“I see you are the more discerning type of customer. For you, we have the best of nanothermal wear. It will keep you warm in freezing temperatures and cool in the heat.”
“Does it wick away moisture?” Nora asked.
“But of course. Here, try it on,” he said, handing her a black vest that kind of looked like a fancy neoprene leather combo. It was way too big for her, but she put it on anyway. Without asking he grabbed the sides of the front opening and stuck them together. Magically, it seemed they stayed put and the whole garment began to mold to her body until it fit perfectly.
The salesman rotated her around to a mirror in the back. Jeez, it made her go from teacher to some Lara Croft cosplay, but it was definitely badass. Give her a duster and she’d feel like a read space going adventurer.
She looked at Wendy who nodded nonchalantly. “It’s better than the other one,” she said. Nora continued to slow play him.
“Yeah, not sure it’s my look though,” Nora said.
“But you haven’t seen all the features. This activates the body core analysis. It senses your species median temperature and then heats up or cools to maintain core temperature.”
“Yeah, and how much is that?”
“It’s quite a deal. Only four hundred and ninety nine credits.”
“So they play the same game in space that they do on Terra, I see.”
“Games?” The salesman asked coyly. His skin was kind of a blue rubber, and wearing a very purple spangly shirt that showed off his lopsided arms that seemed to have multiple elbows in them. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Five hundred credits? Does he think you just walked out of space yesterday?”
“That’s a very good deal. A very good deal.”
“Funny, I just had a friend tell me she got one for three hundred,” Wendy said.
“Do you know where? It’s nice and all, but I don’t know if it’s five hundred credits nice,” Nora said, ignoring the salesman and his flailing arms.
“Four ninety nine credits, not five hundred.”
