Pc Perk

Cotton Slim: Episode 5

Episode 5:

Samuel was with his crew.  The rain had moved the meeting inside, in an abandoned building on the Southside.  The Southside connected the city to the port.  It was a rundown area with its share of crime.  Samuel’s crew ran Southside drug trafficking.  There were a lot of dealers on the Southside.  There were also a lot of homeless, humans and animals which made the Southside almost as dangerous as the north, but it was un-organized.  The Southside was more of a free-for-all.  There were really no homes or apartments on the Southside.  There was no reason to be there unless you were homeless and lived in an old, abandoned building, or sold drugs.  Dead bodies were never found, either the wilds would eat them, or even the homeless would eat the body, or the body would be dumped off in The Swamps.  Some people would say, the reason you wouldn’t find the bodies, is because they were given to the Unseen Queen.  Some say that she resides there.  There were enough abandoned buildings, that it would be hard to find her, but nobody had ever seen her, and if they did, they wouldn’t talk about it.

 One day, somebody would take over the Southside, and when they did, they would be a force.  Trafficking on the Southside was essential.  They had access to the city and the outlying areas.  The Swamps, which were only a few miles outside of the city and were only accessible by flying you didn’t want to walk through, unless you had a pass. The area was a key area for distribution, because a lot of the drugs were smuggled from the swamps.  The Swamps were a scary, lawless area, police would never go there, and either would other gangs, so whoever ran The Swamps, ran the drug game in Porte City. 

The Swamps were ran by Jean Paul Bedaux, known as J.B.   He was the gator king of the Swamps.  He had taken power last year, he was a mean, but a fair boss.  He had even tamed most of the wild alligators and snakes to do his bidding and serve as guards along the entrances of The Swamps.  He had only one area he didn’t control.  That was run by a crocodile crew.  They had a small piece of the pie.

They were savage.

            They were ruthless, and sloppy.

They killed, and raped and did whatever they wanted, and as of now were the only threat to J.B.

 The croc’s, had their own drug game.  They distributed, a meth like drug.  It was dangerous to make, and dangerous to take.  Samuel’s crew didn’t work with them.  In The Swamps, you dealt with either J.B.  or the Croc’s.  Not both.  It was said that the Croc’s worked with The Unseen Queen, and if it were true, meant they had more power than J.B., and that was scary.

  Samuel’s crew were meeting up to discuss their trip to the Northeast.  They had a regular pickup from J.B., that they had to deliver to the Northside.    

Samuel looked at his phone.  “Okay, we need to start.”

            The birds were on the top floor of what used to be a food packaging factory.  It had been abandoned for years but still had some of the equipment scattered around.  There were holes in the roof, and puddles of water everywhere.  Samuel and his boss, a huge blackbird named Cesar, who had been in charge for years were standing together in front of the flock.  Cesar was a business minded killer.  He was smart, and methodical.  He would outwit you and outpower you.  He had been a good leader, but he would lose a lot of birds because he would forget that not every bird was as powerful as him.  He would sometimes put the group in compromising situations, because of his nature. 

Cesar stood next to Samuel.  “Okay.  Let’s begin.” 

            Ceasar turned towards the flock. The respect the birds had for Cesar instantly made them quiet.  “So, we will leave for the Northeast, on Sunday night.  It will take us a few days to get there.  So, bring some warm clothes if you decide to.   We also will be bringing back a lot of product, so bring your backpacks.”  Cesar paused.  He looked at his crew, a crew of about sixty black birds.  They had all their eyes on him.  He stood with authority and confidence.  “Make sure you have your knives on you.  I want them tied up to both feet, and the top of your head.” 

            The birds in the flock, were used to strapping up like that.  They usually flew around like that when they were transporting.  They watched their leader as he stepped down from the make-shift stage of a half-broken countertop he and Samuel were on.  Cesar walked through his birds.  “We are only taking forty birds with us.  Some of you must stay back, we are heading to The swamps for a pickup tonight, and some of that will have to be taken up to the Northside.  Cesar walked to Lawrence.  He stood in front of him.  Lawrence and Clyde will be in charge when Samuel and I are gone.”  Cesar looked at Lawrence.  He nodded, and Lawrence gladly nodded back.  “Lawrence has some work to do for Samuel, so Clyde will be in charge of the runs, but if you need anything Lawrence is available.”  Cesar then walked over to Clyde.  Clyde was nearly as big as Cesar, but young.  He was a tough bird who had done his share of dirt and was respected by all the birds.  He had an attitude, but he knew his role and didn’t push the higher ups.  “You think you are ready Clyde?”

            Clyde nodded his head, then looked at Lawrence, and nodded his head at him too.  Lawrence nodded back.  “I am ready boss.”

            Cesar flew back up to the countertop.  “On our trip.  There will be two groups of twenty.  The first group is with me, the Second group will be with Samuel, both groups flying in triangle formation.  We will let you know who is flying with who, and who is staying.”  Cesar looked at Samuel.  He nodded his head to Samuel to talk.

            “Okay.  We will be heading out in about an hour to the pick-up in The Swamps.  Strap up.  You know who you are.  So, the rest of you, if you have some work to do, you know what you have got to do.  If not.  Go rest.  It’s going to be a long week for all of us.”  The birds took that as their queue, to leave.  Lawrence flew to the countertop.  “What’s up uncle?  Scared I am too fast to fly with you.”  Lawrence said as he moved closer to Samuel. 

            Samuel lit a cigarette.  “Nah, you will be with me tonight, you have to go to a meeting with my other crew.”

            Lawrence shook his head in agreement.  He knew it was serious job, when Wilmen and Cotton were concerned.  “Okay, no problem, whatever you need uncle.”  He then looked at Samuel, and when he did, Samuel already had a cigarette out for him.  Lawrence leaned in and grabbed it with his mouth.  Samuel lit it for him.

 “Thanks Uncle.”

            “Thanks, my ass.  After you finish that, go to the store and buy me a pack.”

            Lawrence looked at him.  He smiled, “No problem, Uncle.”

            Samuel then had money hanging from his left wing.  “Buy yourself one too.” 

            Cotton was sitting at the edge of his bed.  Raquel kept going through his mind.  She was stunning, Cotton was mesmerized, to the point he hadn’t even looked at his new sniper rifle, it was sitting next to him on the bed, un-opened.  He stared at his wall for a few moments until a loud thud came from next door.  The noise shook him back to reality.  “Fucking roosters’ man.”  Cotton said as he stood up and grabbed his case.  He opened the case.  The black steel looked sleek, he took piece by piece out and laid it on his bed.  He slowly put the gun together.  He laid the rifle on his bed when he was finished.  He stood over the gun.  Names raced through his head, then like a red light at an intersection, everything stopped.  The name he saw flashed in his head and it was the only name that had been in his had all morning.  “Raquel.”

            Wilmen was serving at his bar, it wasn’t that busy tonight.  He enjoyed the slow nights.  “Must be the rain.”  Wilmen said out loud.  Wilmen turned from the bar, and as he did he noticed a human sitting in Cotton’s seat.  Wilmen walked up to the man.  He had never seen this human before.  The man looked to be in his mid-forties, heavy set.  His blonde hair looked greasy, and he was showing signs of being intoxicated.

 “Excuse me sir.  Can you move over to the seat next to you?”  Wilmen asked politely.  The bar only had a few patrons sitting, so there was plenty of room, for the man to move. 

The regulars who were there knew that stool was Cotton’s seat and was only to be sat in by Cotton.  They watched with intent as the man put his drink down and look at Wilmen.

“No thank you, I like this seat.”  The man said with a slight slur.

A regular, at the end of the bar, an old Bulldog shook his head.  “Hey buddy.  It would be smart to move.” 

The human wasn’t fazed.  “Nah I am okay.  I am comfortable.”

Wilmen, a little distraught, put both of his huge arms on the bar top.  “I didn’t ask if you were comfortable.  I asked you to move.”

The man laughed.  “I will sit where I damn well please.  No animal, especially one who isn’t from this country is going to tell me to move.”  The man said as he looked around, at the other patrons.  “I am a hum—-“

Wilmen’s hand’s went across the man’s throat before he could finish his sentence.  The man had fear in his eyes and couldn’t talk, couldn’t move as Wilmen picked him up off the stool.  The man’s feet were off the floor, and Wilmen now started to drag him across the bar. 

The bulldog at the end of the bar laughed and shook his head.  “I told you.”

The human still couldn’t talk; his face was turning purple.  His hands were gripping Wilmen’s huge hands.  Wilmen walked to the door, opened it with his other hand.  He threw the man out on to the concrete sidewalk.  The man laid on the ground for a few seconds, to regain his thoughts.  He slowly stood up.  “I am going to the Police.”

Wilmen, who was still standing at the front door, let out a deep growl.  He jumped towards the man, not to attack, but to scare him.  The man screamed, and fell back down, then quickly got up and ran away.

Wilmen watched the man run for his life, then he noticed the Rabbit, Cotton was walking down the street, towards the bar.

Wilmen stayed at the door, he held it open for Cotton.  Cotton smiled at Wilmen as he walked by.  “I am glad you have been working on your customer service skills.  They seem to be getting better.”

“Bumbaclot.  That man pissed me off.”  Wilmen said as he followed Cotton back in. 

            Cotton wasn’t five steps in the bar when Wilmen ran past him.  Cotton didn’t know what was going on. 

            Wilmen ran to the bar, he jumped over the counter. 

            Eddy, a regular, who was a racoon, was behind the bar stealing a drink.

            Cotton laughed.  “Oh shit, this is going to be good.”

            Wilmen grabbed Eddy by the back of the neck and held him up in the air.

            The bulldog at the end of the bar, laughed loud.  “I told him it wasn’t a good idea Wilmen.”

            Wilmen looked at the bulldog.  “Thanks George.”  Wilmen said in a condescending voice.

            Wilmen, threw the racoon across the bar, to the back wall near the door.  Cotton almost had to duck as the racoon flew by him. 

            Eddy, the racoon hit the wall.  He fell to the floor. 

            Cotton slowly walked towards him.  He pulled out goldy.  He kneeled.  He put the gun to Eddy’s head.   “If I ever see you trying to steal from my friend again, I will kill you.  If I ever see you in the streets.  I will kill you.  So, two things.  Never steal from my friend.  Never let me see you in the streets.”  Cotton paused.  “Do you understand?” 

            Eddy looked up at Cotton.  “Yeah I understand but be careful.  You know who I am?”

            Cotton cocked his gun, then put it back to the racoon’s head.  “Do you think I give a shit?”

            “Cotton!”  Wilmen yelled out.

            “Not in here.  Let him go.”

            Cotton shook his head.  He looked back at Eddy.  He put his gun away.  He stood up, and even put his paw out, to help Eddy up. 

            “Smart choice.”  Eddy said as he used Cotton’s paw to stand up, then wiped himself off.  Eddy turned and left the bar.

            Cotton stared at him as he walked away.  Cotton usually didn’t let a comment like that slide.  Cotton looked at Wilmen.  Wilmen threw his hands up in the air to say, “Forget it.”

            Cotton walked to the bar.  He sat down at his stool.  Wilmen walked up to him. 

            “Who is that racoon.”

            “Man, he comes in sometimes.  He is a racoon; I expect that shit from him.”

            “Why is he acting like he is a boss or, connected?”

            Wilmen grabbed a glass and made his famous “Orange Turkey.”  He slid it over to Cotton.  “Eddy is with that Thieves Crew.  He isn’t shit; he just talks big.”   

            Cotton shook his head. He thought to himself, next time he sees that racoon, he is dead on sight.

            Wilmen interrupted his thoughts.  “You are here early?  Meeting is not till later.”

            “Yeah had to get out of the house, going stir-crazy.” 

            “You get the rifle?”  Wilmen asked as he started to clean a glass?”

            “Yeah.  I saw Smiley’s nervous ass.”

            “He still acting paranoid?”

            “Always.”  Cotton said as he sipped his drink.

            Samuel was standing on the dock.  He hated The Swamps.  He knew he was safe where he was, but the sounds, the smells just made him nervous.  He watched as his birds were getting packed up.  He lit a cigarette.  He watched Lawrence and Clyde organize the transport with the other birds.  He took a drag, he felt the vibration on the dock, of something big walking up behind him.  He turned around. 

            “Samuel.  My friend.  How are ya?”

            Samuel looked up.  He smiled.  “J.B.  how you doing?”

            “Good.  Good.”  J.B. replied in his deep voice. 

            “I am just watching the young ones.  Seeing if they are going to be cut out for this.”

            “That one over there is your nephew, right?”  J.B. said as he pointed to Lawrence.

            “Yeah.  Him and the big one over there are going to start running these pick-ups.”

            “I see.  So, I don’t get to see your pretty face ‘round here no more.”

             “Nah you will see me.  Just not as often.”

            “I see, I see.”  J.B. said in his swamp-draw.  “Call the young ones o’here.”

            “Hey.  Clyde, Lawrence.  Come here.”  Samuel said as he took another drag from his cigarette.

            Clyde and Lawrence walked over to Samuel and J.B. 

            J.B.  led them to a shack at the end of the dock.  They walked inside.  Samuel, walked in and took a deep breath, the smell of the water was left outside, and Samuel just wanted some regular air. 

            “Hey young fellas.  I am J.B..”  He held out his clawed hand, Lawrence, and Clyde shook the huge claw. 

            “If Samuel here, believes in y’all, then I do too.  Just a couple things.  When you come in, always call first.  I don’t want nothin, to happen by accident.  Always ask for me.  Whoevea, answer, jus ask fa me.”

            They both shook their head in agreement.  J.B. continued.  “I will call ya a couple days before they pick-up here, and we arrange everything.”

            J.B. looked at Samuel and nodded his head, to let Samuel know he was finished. 

            “Alright guys.  Finish up out there, I will be there in a few minutes.”

            They both walked out.  Samuel looked at J.B.  “Everything good around here?”

            J.B. sighed.  He looked out the window.  “I suppose.  I think we gonna have a war here soon.”  J.B. walked to a window that was close to the door.  He looked out.  “Those crocs over there are jus stirren up shit.  I am going to have to handle dem.”  J.B. paused.  “I can count on y’all for back up?”  J.B. said as he turned around.

            “Yeah, I mean I would have to discuss it with Cesar, but we have always had your back.”

            “That’s good.  I would hate to have to kill your whole crew right here, right now.”

            That statement shocked Samuel.  He forgot how J.B. would kill you with kindness, then show his psychopathic side in a drop of a hat.  “Geez J.B.  You don’t have to go there.”  Samuel knew, all he had to do was one chirp, and all his birds would fly away.  He looked for a quick exit, if it came to it.  He prepared himself.

            “I’m jus sayin.  I expect you to be loyal.”  J.B. moved close to Samuel. 

            “J.B.  How long have we been cool?  We got you bro.  We are on the same side.”

            J.B. smiled, not in a, I am happy smile, but a, do what I say smile, that had hidden implications.  Samuel, now, wanted to get out of the room.  He felt very uneasy.

            “One more thing my friend.”

            Samuel wanted to sigh.  He knew if he did, the way J.B. was, he might get ate right there, so he held it inside.  “What’s that J.B.?”

            “I know you have connections.  Connections to a hit man.  I might need your services.”

            “Okay.  Contact me.  I will be gone for a week, but when I get back, I will call you.”

            “You guys making a run?”  J.B. asked.

            Samuel knew he had to answer the question, he knew J.B. already knew.  “Yeah.  Up to the Northeast.  Have to bring something back to The Town of The Bay.”

            “Fetanyl?  Yeah?  Good luck.”

            “Yeah.  You know.  This line of work.   Always busy.”

            “You guys be careful.  Those Pigeons, and humans up East, dey shady.”

            J.B. looked at Samuel.  J.B. didn’t like them doing other runs, but he knew it was about money with the black birds.  He didn’t take it personally.  He really wanted to see if Samuel would lie to him.  J.B. felt better about his relationship with Samuel.  Samuel passed the test.

            Samuel knew he had to play the game.  He knew J.B. had heard about the run.  The Town of The Bay bordered the southern part of The Swamps, even though that area was run by the Crocs, J.B. still knew everything about the Swamps as a whole.

            J.B. opened the door.  Samuel walked out.  The smell of The Swamps actually smelled good.  He knew it smelled better than the inside of J.B.’s stomach, so Samuel was happy to have the sour, pungent smell hit his nostrils. 

            Samuel saw that his birds were ready.  He let out a low chirp.  Then they all took off, and left The Swamps, as the moon lit the night sky.