 | A Felony of Birds
by Harris Tobias | The Greer Agency
by Harris Tobias | Assisted
by Harris Tobias | Hold The Anchovies
by Harris Tobias | Alien Fruit
by Harris Tobias | Peaceful Intent--Stories of human/Alien Interaction
by Harris Tobias | CHRONON--Time Travel
by Harris Tobias | The Stang
by Harris Tobias | |
The Arms Dealer by Harris Tobias
Like I was telling my buddy Zeke the other night, “considering all the risks we take, you’d think the Buggers would be a little more generous.” Zeke’s an old friend and if you can’t gripe to your friends who can you gripe to? Besides, griping about money is the oldest gripe there is.
Zeke’s an arms dealer like me. I have no idea where he gets his stuff. Nobody in this business asks. It’s not considered good manners. Not that I’d believe him anyway. I get my stuff from my brother in law who gets it from a guy who gets it from a guy in the army. It’s first quality merchandise and the Buggers should be glad to get it. It’s all fresh and in grade-A condition. I don’t ask too many questions either. In this business sometimes the less you know the better. I just wait for the sign and pick up my shipment.
One thing I can say about the Buggers is how reliable they are. They never miss a rendezvous. I make the call and there they are waiting. Always the same Bugger too at least as far as I can tell. All of ‘em look alike to me but this one always says the same things in the same way.
“Do you have the arms?”
“I do,” I answer.
“Were you followed?”
“No. I was very careful.”
“How many?”
“Sixty pair,” I say or however many I have.
Then he counts the shipment. I watch, impassive as he handles the bloody things. Finally he counts out the bills and that is that. No thank you for risking so much or good job just a cool dismissal. Does he even realize how many laws I’ve broken? I’m tempted to ask what the hell he does with them. And why arms? Why not legs? Not that I expect an answer. Some things it’s better not to know.
2013-10-19 07:08:18
micheledutcher - I know it's a play on words, but it's creepy when you think about it. Body parts are being sold in china, taken when prisoners are shot in the head. I like the army connection in the story. If anyone could get a boatload of arms, it would be the military. Creepy!
2013-10-14 13:31:43
mark211 - While I have to confess my initial reaction on reaching the conclusion was a mildly exasperated groan, I then spent the following couple of minutes thinking that while the pun itself didn't quite do it for me the actual idea of a secretive world of this kind of dealer has great potential - who are the clients? Where does all this take place? What do they do with them all? And (as he says) why not try alternatives - up to you of course but I think you could go somewhere with this in a longer story.
Read more stories by this author
   
 Did you enjoy this story? Show your appreciation by tipping the author!
|
We shamelessly accept handouts!
Give generously to the United Wa - uh, we mean Quantum Muse. It keeps Mike off the streets from scaring small children and the Web Goddess from spray painting Town Hall - again.
|
| A Felony of Birds
by Harris Tobias | The Greer Agency
by Harris Tobias | Assisted
by Harris Tobias | Hold The Anchovies
by Harris Tobias | Alien Fruit
by Harris Tobias | Peaceful Intent--Stories of human/Alien Interaction
by Harris Tobias | CHRONON--Time Travel
by Harris Tobias | The Stang
by Harris Tobias | |
Do you like this site?
Recommend it to a friend by pushing the button below!
|
