31 Chapter 28 – Hess – Iteration 144 (2/2)
”Told me what?”
”That he stayed behind on that first world,” Jerome said.
Elza met his eyes. ”You went back to the tent.”
”I had to. We left things unsaid.”
Jerome spread his hands. ”And does the sound ever stop? I only get a summary, Hess, not the actual memories.”
”It ends after five minutes or so,” Hess said.
”Then I wish the two of you the best.” Jerome vanished.
All around them, the horrible sound reached a crescendo and ceased. ”I like him,” Elza said.
Hess took her hands in his. ”Elza, I am so, so, so sorry for turning them against you. I never meant for you to be hurt.”
She placed a finger over his lips. ”I will face imprisonment a hundred times, Hess, but you can never forget me.”
”Never. I swear.”
Elza looked around the empty farm. ”So what are we going to do with this world? There's no one around to stop us from any insanity you can conceive.”
”This might sound crazy, but I just want to watch them.”
”Before we get to that, I have a stolen car with my prints all over it.”
Hess held her handgun out to her. ”How does this sound for a plan? Find a key for these handcuffs. Meanwhile I berate you for carrying a revolver instead of something with a clip. Then we wipe the car for prints and abandon it in a bad neighborhood with the doors unlocked.”
”You know that clips jam.” Elza pulled a universal handcuff key out of her pocket and released him as she talked. ”Usually at the worst possible moment.”
”That happened once in a hundred and forty-four Iterations.”
”It happened the first time I needed to shoot someone,” Elza said. ”And it wasn't my fault I had to charge into a gunfight today. So drop the issue. We need to take care of some things and then I want to eat real food. I've been eating out of vending machines for days now.”
Hess looked in the direction the others had carried Lacey's body. ”We're not doing any good here.” As they walked towards the car, Hess placed an arm around her shoulder. ”Considering Jerome's revelation, I think it's time to tell you something.”
”Let me guess.” Elza waved at her figure. ”This body is your favorite.”
He nodded. ”I was going to say that. But I want you to know why this time.”
”Because it's flexible?”
”Because this body is the one that's with me.”
Elza raised up on her toes to place a soft kiss on his lips. ”Are you sure that's the only reason? I know you are partial to curves, but this body is flexible.”
”How flexible?”
She flashed a smile. ”I'll show you later, Hess. We have to dump a stolen car and get some food and maybe a drink or two or ten.”
Hess snapped his fingers. ”I know just the place to eat. The Penn Brewery is just half an hour away. Their food is supposed to be good and I know their beer is amazing.”
”Is that a microbrewery? You're a beer snob, aren't you? It's Iteration twenty-six all over again.”