The day begins to bustle, but not here.
I can hear the cars and buses moving, the start of traffic into the
workday. Earlier than I expected, but I hear more of horns and
idling than I do of actual movement. Makes me think of the fish
ladder I saw once. All that effort to go almost nowhere, for almost
no reason.
I finish the rat and climb up to the
roof. Standing in the day, I consider my options. I think I'll keep
the body, at least for now. The hair needs to be longer, though. I
let it stream out in the wind until it is most of a meter in length,
then pull it together and fake a hair tie to bind it into a ponytail.
My clothes become pink and black, cute little sweats with
nondescript pseudo-logos on them. And a backpack, to complete the
disguise.
The next building is about ten meters
over. I step back from the edge of this one, take two steps, and
jump. I land in a long stride. Running feels good, sometimes. Just
pushing whatever passes for muscle in my legs and feeling the world
go by. Rooftop to rooftop, up and down, climbing when necessary,
leaping almost into flight where the opportunity presents itself.
Soon I am downtown, coffee and pastries
filling the air. I like these smells. They mean that people feel
like they are comfortable and safe. Smells like this lure. Soft,
padded smells for small, padded people. Sheep and cattle that are
moved through their lives by fingers they won't bother to see.
None of them ever knew a Gretchen.
Gretchens don't exist here. Maybe there's only one, anywhere, and I
was fortunate enough to be raised by her. Someday I will find her.
I come out of the alley, bouncing just
enough to look young. This is an English street, only a few accents
coloring the air. Good for listening and honing the local accent.
Being able to fade is important. Accents, while sometimes useful,
mostly draw attention, even if it's only subconscious. People
remember 'foreign' more easily than 'person'.
There are a thousand little places
serving cups and plates. If I follow them north, I'll end up at the
zoo again. But if I bend eastward, I'll find myself near the port.
Many opportunities there for interesting information.
Eastward it is.
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