Editing Getting the Band Together (section)

====Squatting====


She finds the pipe and knocks on it. Waits only a few moments till Holden peeks his head out.

“We were worried you were followed.  “

“I was but its ok.  Lets go inside.”

She follows Holden down a short alley to a pried open side door to an industrial building.  The interior shows a lack of traffic.  The path makes several turns before ending at a dead end.  Above are large pipes passing through.  Water pips probably.  
On the west wall is a concert poster in a language Gadget does not know.

Those huddled near each other are Eddie, Tiffy and Jax.  A single candle puts out light if not warmth.  They shiver under blankets and their breath comes out in fog.   

They look up as Gadget enters.  
Eddie says, “Glad you made it.  We were worried.”  They look at the pizza boxes in anticipation.  

Eddie goes on, “Cali is usually between Jax and Holden, if you don't mind."

Gadget moves close to Holden, between him and Jax.  She wouldn't tell herself yet but her pack nature was already forming, even after so little contact.  Holden might be the lucky one. 

Gadget nods, taking the top pizza box with the missing pieces, slipping the other 3 to the group.  She pulls out a large bottle of Tabasco that she liberally puts on her pizza.  The others eagerly grab the other boxes. They relish the pizza, a good meal for them.  Jax reaches for the Tabasco looking to gadget for permission.  She smiles and hands it to him.

Looking around the dead end has much to recommend it.  Defensible but without and escape route.  Out of the elements sort of.  Frigidly cold.  Too cold as she thinks about it. Its winter but the weather outside was hardly cold enough to warrant the cold inside.

“Whats on the other side of the building?” 
  
“Meat packing plant.  Its why its so cold in here.  But the squat is too good.  Out of the elements and deep enough not to be easy for takers to ffind unless led here.  Holden used to squat here before.”

She reaches into her pack and pulls out a small backpacking ring of stainless steel to curious eyes.  Popping the lid she pulls a lighter out and a bit of newspaper. She wraps coal with the paper and lights it, starting the stoves fire.   The flickering fire catches and warms the area slowly.  

They turn to huddle around the fire in gratitude and surprise.  “I've been camping a lot.” She explains.

The small area began to heat as they returned to eating.  Silence fills the room as they eat. She looks around the space.  A bright poster on the wall is in Russian she thinks.  Rafe might know what it says.  Being a music aficionado he might know the band anyway.  Maybe someone else in the huge Adventure's Society would know.  Time will tell. 

While they huddled under blankets that had seen better days their over coats were neatly hung for drying.  The candle putting out light but little heat.  Looking up the ceiling must have vents somewhere.  Its why the space has so little heat.  This place wouldn't do.  Not for seven or eight people as  her plans as the group develops.  

Gadget stands after they finish eating.  “Eddie?  Can I speak to you for a moment?"

The two walk out to turn down the hall, out of sight of the others.

“I spoke to Waldo.  He tried to tax me and we came to an understanding.  He says Cali is at someplace called the ''Station''.  Strung out and in trouble.”

Eddie curses, “Damn... damn.  The Station? Shit... SHIT!.... That's an abandoned gas station at the edge of the industrial area. There's a huge dog pack that lives there.  Used to be security dogs that went wild when the plants closed.   Abandoned warehouses mostly.  No one squats there because the dogs are vicious.  probably a hundred of them.  The city gave up on that whole part of town.  South of the railroad and the freeway. Shit... this sucks.”  

“Dogs, you say?  Vicious ex-guard dogs and their get I imagine.  Good to know.  How many people would he have there, this Wart guy.?”

“Five maybe, a couple more. Depends where they are in their raiding.”

“How do they handle the dogs.  Will you show me where this is? “

“Carefully i imagine. Sure, i can show it but why?  Do you have an idea?  If we could get them to come out chasing me you might be able to get her out.”

“Do any of you people fight?”

“Holden can land a punch.  Jax can fall down and take them for awhile.  Tiffy, not so much.”

“How tough are these guys? How long have they been around?”

“Tiffy and I have been here about 6 months.  Holden a couple years.  Not sure about Jax and Cali.  Wart and his guys have been terrorizing people since grade school I hear.  He's beat us up several times.  Beat Tiffy and I pretty bad when we first got here 'cause she wouldn't put out.  Holden hates them.  I think he had run ins with them before.  I know some of the businesses in the plaza lock their doors when they wander in.  One of their parents is a cop.”  

“Ok, show me this station.”

“ah..ok...if you're sure.”

She nods and follows him as they cross town.

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