Relic Read Online Free PDF Page A
Author: Renee Collins
can I do for you? We charge a fair price for identification. And we’ve got competitive shipping to Denver or Wichita, if you’re in the market for selling. Or are you perhaps looking to make a purchase?”
I swallowed a bitter laugh. One only had to glance at my ratty dress and rough, working-class hands to know how unlikely it was that I could even afford a relic chip. “No, I’m not here to buy anything.”
The expert nodded, and I squirmed at her expectant pause. Suddenly, I felt foolish for coming to the refinery. I knew well the years of training that experts had to go through. It was folly to even approach the hope of working there.
My feet itched to turn away, but something in me refused to give up without at least asking. “I’m actually looking for work,” I said, biting down the shame.
The expert’s brow furrowed. “I—I’m real sorry, miss, but we aren’t fixin’ to hire—”
“I’m not asking much. I’d sweep floors and wipe your windows. I’d do anything, really.”
“I’m sorry, but there’s nothing.” The expert sighed. “We’ve had to let all our apprentices go as it is.”
“I see.”
“It’s tough here in Burning Mesa. Lots of folk are pulling up roots and heading east. There’s just not enough work to go around.”
I nodded through the pain. “Thanks, anyway.”
“Grace?” A small man peeked his head out from one of the back rooms. “Can you spare a minute?”
“Coming,” the expert called back. She turned and shot a final sympathetic glance my way. “Sorry again, miss.”
After she’d left, I lingered for a moment at the counter, wanting to soak in as much of the magic as I could. Who knew when I would be this close to so many high-quality relics again? I peered down the hallway toward the safe, hoping to feel the pulsing energy or hear the windy, whispering voices. But there was nothing. Clearly it had been my imagination running away with me. I turned to the exit, a persistent lump squeezing at my throat.
A shadow fell over me, and I looked up. The heavyset man with the fancy vest and cruel eyes now stood between the door and me. He folded his arms across his chest. “I think you and I need to have a little talk.”
Chapter Three
My body stiffened. Did he mean to cause trouble? The man may have been finely dressed, but something about him seemed coarse and rough. I took a step back.
“I didn’t mean any harm,” I said. “I was only looking.”
He smirked a little. “Oh, that? Never you mind that, miss. I’d like to speak with you on a different matter, if that’s all right.”
I frowned, unsure what he could possibly want to discuss.
“Name’s Percy Connelly,” the man said with a strange grin. “You see, I was just waitin’ for my employer here to finish up, and I couldn’t help but overhear your inquiry.”
Was he going to mock me for seeking work in a refinery when I was so clearly unqualified? Warn me to leave town and not try to take any jobs? Something about this man made me uneasy.
“See, it just so happens that my employer has a job opening,” he said, “and I think you could be the perfect gal for it.”
I straightened.
“A fine job,” Mr. Connelly went on. “Well payin’. Room and board included, with enough extra money for your needs, plus stylish clothes and other such things you women like. Why don’t you and I take a walk, and I’ll tell you all about it?”
I looked again at Mr. Connelly’s rich apparel and for the first time noticed the jeweled rose pinned to his lapel. A desert rose…
“Where do you work?” I asked sharply.
“I’ll be happy to explain as we walk.”
I started to back up. “If you’re offering what I think you’re offering…”
Mr. Connelly chuckled, following me, closing in. “Come now, miss. You strike me as a real mature gal. Almost a woman. You understand the way things work. It’s good for the men to have some pleasant company. These hot desert nights can be mighty
I swallowed a bitter laugh. One only had to glance at my ratty dress and rough, working-class hands to know how unlikely it was that I could even afford a relic chip. “No, I’m not here to buy anything.”
The expert nodded, and I squirmed at her expectant pause. Suddenly, I felt foolish for coming to the refinery. I knew well the years of training that experts had to go through. It was folly to even approach the hope of working there.
My feet itched to turn away, but something in me refused to give up without at least asking. “I’m actually looking for work,” I said, biting down the shame.
The expert’s brow furrowed. “I—I’m real sorry, miss, but we aren’t fixin’ to hire—”
“I’m not asking much. I’d sweep floors and wipe your windows. I’d do anything, really.”
“I’m sorry, but there’s nothing.” The expert sighed. “We’ve had to let all our apprentices go as it is.”
“I see.”
“It’s tough here in Burning Mesa. Lots of folk are pulling up roots and heading east. There’s just not enough work to go around.”
I nodded through the pain. “Thanks, anyway.”
“Grace?” A small man peeked his head out from one of the back rooms. “Can you spare a minute?”
“Coming,” the expert called back. She turned and shot a final sympathetic glance my way. “Sorry again, miss.”
After she’d left, I lingered for a moment at the counter, wanting to soak in as much of the magic as I could. Who knew when I would be this close to so many high-quality relics again? I peered down the hallway toward the safe, hoping to feel the pulsing energy or hear the windy, whispering voices. But there was nothing. Clearly it had been my imagination running away with me. I turned to the exit, a persistent lump squeezing at my throat.
A shadow fell over me, and I looked up. The heavyset man with the fancy vest and cruel eyes now stood between the door and me. He folded his arms across his chest. “I think you and I need to have a little talk.”
Chapter Three
My body stiffened. Did he mean to cause trouble? The man may have been finely dressed, but something about him seemed coarse and rough. I took a step back.
“I didn’t mean any harm,” I said. “I was only looking.”
He smirked a little. “Oh, that? Never you mind that, miss. I’d like to speak with you on a different matter, if that’s all right.”
I frowned, unsure what he could possibly want to discuss.
“Name’s Percy Connelly,” the man said with a strange grin. “You see, I was just waitin’ for my employer here to finish up, and I couldn’t help but overhear your inquiry.”
Was he going to mock me for seeking work in a refinery when I was so clearly unqualified? Warn me to leave town and not try to take any jobs? Something about this man made me uneasy.
“See, it just so happens that my employer has a job opening,” he said, “and I think you could be the perfect gal for it.”
I straightened.
“A fine job,” Mr. Connelly went on. “Well payin’. Room and board included, with enough extra money for your needs, plus stylish clothes and other such things you women like. Why don’t you and I take a walk, and I’ll tell you all about it?”
I looked again at Mr. Connelly’s rich apparel and for the first time noticed the jeweled rose pinned to his lapel. A desert rose…
“Where do you work?” I asked sharply.
“I’ll be happy to explain as we walk.”
I started to back up. “If you’re offering what I think you’re offering…”
Mr. Connelly chuckled, following me, closing in. “Come now, miss. You strike me as a real mature gal. Almost a woman. You understand the way things work. It’s good for the men to have some pleasant company. These hot desert nights can be mighty