Page 23 of Nearly Roadkill: Queer Love on the Run
To: Editor, They/Them magazine
From: D.I. Drew
Subject: Gwynyth the Cyberwitch
Hi Asa,
So, Toobe is on the run. Enter Gwynyth, a longtime friend of Jabba’s. Jabba describes her as a “cyberwitch,” solitary, a brilliant thinker and engineer, albeit eccentric and entirely self-taught.
You can see how G. talks.
I love her!
—D.I. Drew
GWYNYTH DIARY ENTRY: 12TH OF MARCH
Dark of the Moon in three days.
I got a message from Jabba out of the blue. “Expect ‘a friend’ to stay for some time.” I’ve made up the spare bed. Hope this visitor isn’t allergic to pusscats.
Ninkip fares much better. Tossed a colossal hairball right into the center of my altar (good omen) and looked at me as though to say, “Fine now, Mom.”
GWYNYTH DIARY ENTRY: 13TH OF MARCH
Dark of the Moon in two days.
Blackbird perched on the thrift store awning. Found the perfect straw hat for the coming Equinox. My Guides are having a field day.
Jabba has also requested I look out for and protect one Scratch and Winc online.
Thank goddess I don’t have to put them up too.
But I am curious. On my way home, I passed several street vendors selling Scratch and Winc merchandise.
What am I getting tangled up in? I need to find a way to lure these two into the safety of my crystal cavern.
GWYNYTH DIARY ENTRY: 14TH OF MARCH
Dark of the Moon tomorrow.
The young charge has arrived, now firmly ensconced in the spare room, directly beneath the primary gearbox. I’ve issued him earplugs.
He had a particularly virulent trace attached to each of his log-ons.
I removed them, of course; he’s quite safe now.
But who would seek a child so doggedly? He has more intelligence than I gave him credit for: he asked to see my hardware.
By the time we reached Room Five, his tongue was hanging out.
The new trace (who in heaven’s name called it “Typhoid Mary”?) is more powerful than I suspected. Must warn that pup to stay away from logging on for the next day or two.
GWYNYTH DIARY ENTRY: NO IDEA
Who cares what day it is, the bloody Moon is dark!
?????!!!!!!! The child logged on without my knowledge or permission, using Safesmudge. If it weren’t against my principles, I’d chop him up and feed him to the cats.
Note to myself: buy cat food.
END GWYNYTH DIARY ENTRY
NARRATIVE ENTRY, JABBATHEHUT
Lieutenant Wally Budge is happy: he’s finally found a solid link from Toobe to Scratch and Winc.
“Gotta add corruption of a minor to the charges,” he mutters almost protectively as he types. Until a message pops up:
To: Ms. Budge
From: Henderson, Enforcement
Subj: Perp Toobe
Wally,
We got lucky today. The kid signed on long enough for us to trace him. The perp is in New York. You won’t believe where we traced him to. We’ve got a network of 20 uniforms closing in, but we need you to make the collar…
“DAMN THEM,” he roars in his empty office. Furious, he punches in REPLY.
To: Henderson, Enforcement
From: Ms. Budge
Subj: Perp Toobe
What the HELL is going on? I never authorized a close-in! This kid is directly connected to both Scratch and Winc, and you’re sending UNIFORMS? What IDIOT authorized THAT? CANCEL CANCEL CANCEL the plans. We need to walk QUIET here.
—*Mister* Lieutenant Wallace Budge
He stares at the screen.
And then: Wally Budge finally gets it.
“They went right over my head. I’m alone on this one.
“Time to play the cards close to my chest. Real close.” He deletes the unsent memo.
END JABBA NARRATIVE ENTRY
PERSONAL LOG, JABBATHEHUT
Of course I have tapped into Budge’s computer in every way conceivable, and a few ways inconceivable. Naturally I intercepted Henderson’s message concerning the imminent arrest of our heroes. I must say that I am finally officially concerned. Do they think refusing government orders is a game?
END JABBA PERSONAL LOG
GWYNYTH DIARY ENTRY
Oh dear. Scratch invited Winc into the room where they were supposed to talk about the impending peril.
Guess what they did instead. Couldn’t help themselves?
END GWYNYTH DIARY ENTRY
SCRATCH JOURNAL ENTRY, CHAT ROOM EXCERPT
Online Host
*** You are in room “Scared” ***
Winc: I’m starting to see that we really may be in danger based on Jabba’s messages to me.
Scratch: Yeah?
Winc: ::hurriedly explaining:: Jabba sent each of us a piece of the puzzle—we need to put them together.
Scratch: Whatever the hell that means.
Winc: Steady, darling. Let’s merge the files. One… two… three…
Scratch: ::uploading::
Winc: ::uploading::
Scratch: Oh.
Fine. That makes a whole lot of sense.
Winc: Maybe I should have picked “Confused” for the room name?
Scratch: What’s this “clue” supposed to reveal, anyway?
Winc: Toobe’s location?
Scratch: Oh, yeah, right.
Winc: ::puzzling over picture:: Hey! It’s an erector set!
Scratch: That’s all I got, too.
Winc: Wait! It’s a close-up view of something.
Winc: *I* know!
Scratch: You know what it is?!
Winc: No, I mean I know what I should do!
Scratch: What?
Winc: I’m gonna go ask Jabba what it means!
Scratch: Uh, Winc? Doesn’t that go against—
Winc: Let’s see, I exit this room to use the #2 bypass… ::muttering:: Be right back!
Winc has left the room.
Scratch: Winc, don’t you think we ought to try to… and I’m just typing to myself here.
Winc has entered the room.
Winc: I couldn’t find her, but I figured it out all on my own: it’s a password!
Scratch: You could warn me when you disappear, you know.
Winc: Oh, I’m sorry! I was excited! It gets us into…
///ANYTHING I CAN HELP YOU WITH, CYBERFOLK?///
Private Message to Winc
Scratch: Christ! It’s an Eye!
Go back out for a minute.
Not many say “cyberfolk.” I think I may know this one.
Please leave me to it?
Winc: ::petulant sigh:: OK.
Winc has left the room.
END SCRATCH JOURNAL ENTRY
GWYNYTH DIARY ENTRY
These are the nation’s leading scofflaws? America’s most wanted? Jabba has asked me to care for them. Is Jabba’s heart beginning to thaw?
I shall assist, for reasons still vague to me: This is a safe haven, by Code and by Craft, and all rules will be respected. So be it.
Note to myself: Thaw out the portobello mushroom steaks for dinner.
END GWYNYTH DIARY ENTRY
COMBINED SCRATCH AND WINC JOURNAL ENTRIES
Scratch joins Marie, the Eye, in a room called “14Lounge.”
///SCRATCH, LET’S GO TO 14LOUNGE.///
Online Host
*** You are in room “14Lounge” ***
Scratch: O.K. I’m here. What’s the significance of “14Lounge”?
Marie: Just an EYE lounge. It’s secure.
Scratch: More secure than the private rooms the rest of us use?
Marie: Let’s not talk about work. I don’t have much time. Want you now.
Scratch: Good. I’m running water in the tub, I’m supposed to be lovingly drawing you a bath, but…
Marie: I’m being bad.
Scratch: I’m taking—right. You’re a bad girl. I grab you around the waist, half lifting you up, grabbing your crotch.
Marie: Y-y-y-ess.
Scratch: You’re wet already, little girl.
Marie: I’m sorry.
Scratch: You’ve been thinking nasty thoughts.
Marie: Yes.
Scratch: My hand is rubbing your clit, my other sneaking around behind you, teasing. But I refuse to go in.
Marie: ::whimpering::
Scratch: I put two fingers just inside, but you want it—
Marie: Deeper.
Scratch: Yes, but I won’t, you know, not until you open way up.
Marie: ::Opening::
Private Message to Winc
Scratch: You won’t believe what’s happening. Guess what the “way powerful” want?
Winc: ::dryly:: To be dominated?
Scratch: Yep.
Winc: Scratch? Make it short, OK?
Scratch: Aw, don’t be jealous.
Winc: It’s not that. Darling, we’re in the middle of rescuing someone.
Scratch: I haven’t forgotten! Do you know how weird it is to be having sex at a time like this?
Winc: ::patting your little head::
Scratch: Not yet. You writhe in the water, spreading your legs as far as the tub will let you. How dare you lift your ass that way!
Marie: I’m sorry, I…
Scratch: I climb into the tub, clothes and all, my boots tromping your bare feet, trapping you.
Marie: Please—
Scratch: I lift your ass against me, lift you high, my hand working furiously on your clit. Your cunt begins to open. I take my hand away.
Marie: Oh!
Scratch: I slide it up to your breasts, pinching.
Marie: Yessss.
Scratch: I’m straddling you, lifting your ass against me, pushing my crotch into you. I dip your head down into the water.
Marie: ::sputtering::
Scratch: Yes. I lift your head out, then dip it in again.
Marie: My pussy is pouring, opening.
Scratch: I slide my hand down your back, around your ass, to your pussy. I plunge in with three fingers.
Marie: Yes!
Scratch: I turn my hand, and slide in another finger, then cup my hand, pushing in.
Marie: ::very still, lifting my ass::
Scratch: Slowly, I lower you down back on your knees. My hand makes slower circles on your clit. I turn my cupped hand, reveling in the juices. And then, quickly, I slide my whole hand in.
Marie: Yes, please!
Scratch: I close my fingers together into a fist.
Marie: Ohhh, pain!
Scratch: Yes. I hold my hand very still.
Marie: Please, yes just a minute. Hurts. Deep, but touching me so deep.
Scratch: My thumb is tucked inside my fingers. I expand just a little.
Marie: Oh yes, just a little…
Scratch: My other hand concentrates on your clit. The water swells up over my boots. It laps your thighs, warm, touching you everywhere slowly as it rises.
Marie: Your hand moves inside me.
Scratch: ::laughing:: yes, moving.
Marie: It feels so good.
Scratch: ::gritting my teeth:: This isn’t for you, girl, it’s for me. What’re you doing with your ass up in the air like that? What kinda horny girl are you?
Marie: ::whispering:: Very horny. All day, keeping it inside.
Scratch: I start slowly pumping my fist in you, turning it around inside you, fast, then slow.
Marie: Oh, god, no don’t.
Private Message to Scratch
Winc: ::brightly:: How ya doin’, Scratch ol’ pal? ::doing a little dance on top of your computer:: Having fun, are you?
Scratch: :X
Winc: ::gleeful chuckle::