One Day in a Small-Town Desert, chapter 1, page 2

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Fírí Parızada jabbed the eject button and the audio cassette popped partly out, leaving the couple in silence except for the high-pitched engine and the chilly wind swirling in through her boyfriend’s window.

The blonde repeated herself. “Don’t be a Koro-brain. If they were chasing us, they would’ve caught us by now. And they could’ve had you easy at the portal.”

They could not have arrested Fírí, though. She’d ridden the portal train through from Narakamíníkı separately--and clean. Mostly.

Zhíno scratched his beard-stubbled cheek with the gun and snarled, “Who’s the Korutuzho-brain? They want to get us at the drop-off, so they can arrest Umo and whoever else Gogzhuè has there.” He shoved the music cassette back in the player and toneless acid filled the automobile.

The road ahead of them leveled off, exposing reflectors on the pavement to infinity. On either side, weird desert plants and strange-shaped boulders ghosted by in the darkness. Fírí didn’t know how she’d survive out here. She needed trees, shade, winter! She should’ve just left Zhíno at the portal station like she’d planned. Then she wouldn’t have to put up with either his Koro-brained shit or this Rívorí-damned desert.

Fírí glanced back, her chin-length hair whipping slightly. The trailing auto wasn’t visible yet over the curve of the hill, but its headlights cast cones of white through the night sky. “What if they’re just tourists or something?” She turned to face forward and noticed a mailbox flash past.

Zhíno grunted. “We’ll see about that.”

He slammed on the brakes. Fírí’s seat restraint hit her hard in the shoulder and between her breasts, pinching painfully.

The little auto fishtailed to a halt, but before Fírí jerked back against the seat, Zhíno spun the wheel and gunned the little engine. They bumped off the road across gravel and dirt and then back on the highway, hurtling toward the other auto.

Fírí grabbed the safety handle, her large eyes opened wide.

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