Life in the Seventh Star
Part Six
Part Six
Deep into the centre of Aspel lies Picturehouse Street. Its name is a giveaway; historically the street has served as the centre of Sameba’s cinema industry and hosted the nation’s biggest classical cinemas. A lot of the older landmarks had been damaged or destroyed during the war. Not Lucio’s Silver Screen though. The eighty year old cinema had survived everything from bombing to a major fire. It also happened to be where Arabella had suggested her and Mateo go, although he’d had to pop home first. Initially his mother was furious at the idea that he intended to go out on his own after getting in a fight at school, but she relented when she realised Arabella would be there. In fact, she started obsessing over making sure he did go. ‘…and remember, stop picking your nose.’
‘I know Mama.’
‘Tuck in your shirt. And where did you get this shirt from, a beggar? Go and change!’
‘Fine, just leave me alone for a bit so I can actually get ready!’
Eventually he got out of the house and on his way, walking to the bus station and meeting Arabella there. There she was – smiling as she saw him come around the corner, wearing a cosy looking hoodie and some ratty jeans. He felt overdressed. ‘Hey Matty! You look nice. Going somewhere?’ He went red. For fuck sake Mama! ‘I just put on something warm myself.’
‘Yeah, well, this suits my jacket so that’s why I’m wearing it.’
‘Uh-huh.’
‘What?’ She could barely stifle her laughter.
‘Nothing.’ They were on a bus before long and treated to the various sights of central Aspel on the way. A couple of scruffy looking older men in front of them were smoking something that definitely wasn’t tobacco. Behind them, a young woman scratched relentlessly at her head, trying badly to keep her cool with what looked like a bunch of money in her bag. And either side of them, to complete the trilogy of discomfort, were older teenagers in various stages of inebriation.
It was an unusual assortment of vagabonds and young people sharing the bus together, that was for sure. Sameba was a chaotic place these days a pair of 14 year olds going into a megacity, alone, on a bus full of common criminals and drunks wasn’t as unusual as it should have been. As the bus rolled along its busy route, a question that had been bugging Mateo freed itself from the back of his mind. ‘Bella, why did Sova call you a Southie earlier?’ He’d anticipated she might find the question a bit sensitive, but instead she pivoted around and answered without hesitation. ‘My Dad. He’s Euran. And I guess I am a bit too.’ Mateo had a double take and shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He turned away slightly. ‘I see.’ He didn’t have any Euran friends. Not knowingly, anyway.
‘You don’t mind, do you?’
‘No! No, it’s all good.’ He couldn’t hide the hesitation in his voice easily.
‘That’s ok, I get it. I heard what you said about your own Dad earlier. Just don’t be like those twats from school, ok? There’s discomfort and there’s, you know, hatred.’ Mateo relaxed a bit and smiled back at her. ‘Don’t worry, I won’t.’ When they finally arrived Arabella had another surprise in store.
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’Mr Duke, you listen here and you listen close. I know what you’re thinkin’. You’re thinkin’, maybe I can get to that door if I’m quick. Maybe this mean son of a bitch won’t see it comin’. Let me tell you son, you ain’t gonna’ make it to that doorway before my lead makes it to your heart. So, go ahead. If you’re feelin’ fortunate. But just know I’m gonna’ stop ya.’
A gun is cocked. Two guns in fact.
’Well, looks like we disagree then.’
‘So it seems.’
‘Mhhmmm.’
Gunshots rang out. A hustler and thief crashed to the floor, smoke breathing from another man’s gun.
’Anybody else want to get in my way?’
Total silence.
’That’s more like it. Barman, pour me a whiskey.’
Arabella stared intently at the screen as Mateo chomped down on another mouthful of popcorn. They were at a half empty Lucio, watching a classic piece of Euran “outlaw” genre cinema – set in the wild, lawless east and south of Eura during the age of federal consolidation, where bandits and bounty hunters roamed freely in a golden age of crime. Mateo couldn’t remember the name of it. By the Gun, For the Gun or some shit like that. Either way he loved it. He looked over at Arabella, and noticed she was looking at him. She leant over and whispered. ‘Are you ok? You looked like you glazed over.’
‘Yeah, it’s really good! I’m just paying attention.’ Like most Sameban’s, Mateo had no issue understanding Euran movies or television, but this film was pretty old and the dialogue wasn’t always the clearest. Another violent scene rattled on, followed by some beautiful panning shots of the Reach region of eastern Eura, doused in sunset.
The movie was now nearing its thrilling conclusion. A beautiful bit of period music cut in, with a recognisably Sameban twang. She whispered an explanation to him. ‘That’s the music of Leo Parella, its really famous. Have you heard of it before?’
‘No.’
‘He was from Aspel too.’
‘Cool!’ A final duel beckoned. The mysterious villain and gruff lawman faced each other down. ’You get out of my way, sir. Or you’re in for a world of pain.’
‘Son, you don’t understand. The only way either of us is leaving here is in a casket. I’ll guarantee you that.’ They reached for their revolvers slowly. Out of nothing, Mateo felt Arabella clutch his hand. He felt that familiar fluttering in his stomach again. ‘Pull yourself together, Mateo’, he said under his breath, almost audibly enough that she could hear it. She hadn’t noticed and was absorbed into the world of the film. As the two fictional enemies went for their holsters, he soaked up a moment he’d want to remember forever.
