Ebony Scales

“Actually, that was some of the stuff I wanted to show you. We’re packing it up to take it to the new village, and I wanted you to see it first. Sorry, I was going to show you earlier, but we kept going in different directions. I showed Longwei earlier, and he thought it was pretty cool.”

“Oh?” Joy asked, sitting up and paying attention. Longwei, while warming to Billy’s help after watching him work so hard for the past few days, was not one to be impressed easily. “I guess I need to see then. Give me a hand up, though? I’m so stiff right now I think all I can do is roll back and forth.”

With a grunt of effort on both sides, Billy helped her to her feet, and they walked out to the street. Billy’s truck was parked in front of the temple, most of the back filled with materials. There was a big gap though, and next to the bed of the truck a wooden crate sat, the top off.

“Here you are,” Billy replied, waving her over. Inside was an assortment of electronic items, and a rolled up tube that looked like some sort of tarp. Joy could identify some of the parts, but not all of them.

“What is all this?” she said, afraid to poke around too much so as not to break something.

“Well, most of it is communications equipment of various types. In addition to the scrambled walkie talkies, which your guys on the mountain have, there’s a long range dual band radio, and a satellite linkup that can do both voice and data transmission. Best of all, that thing that looks like a roll of cloth is actually a solar panel, the product of new flexible solar technology. Unrolled, that becomes a ten square meter solar collector, which can produce enough power on a good day to power not just the satellite linkup, but trickle charge your computers as well. If you jack it into a normal car battery array, you can power a desktop computer for two hours a day off of this. When the sun is out, of course.”

“Of course,” Joy said, impressed. “How much did all of this run?”

“Nothing,” Billy replied. “A lot of it is surplus items, produced by an electronics firm that supports our cause. The solar panel is actually a beta test product, and officially we’re only product testing the device. Of course, we get to keep it after product testing, although we’ve been politely asked to send in feedback to the manufacturer, via e-mail at least.”

Joy shook her head. “Billy, you went into the wrong line of work.”

“Oh? Why’s that?”

“Because you’re a much better supply and acquisition man than anyone I’ve ever met. Seriously, this straight up old style American military work. Next you’ll tell me that the satellite linkup comes with free Internet.”

“But of course,” Billy said with a smile. “Encrypted, and outside China’s firewall at that. It’s good to have connections.”

Joy nodded, and patted him on the shoulder. “I’m impressed, Billy. But go get some sleep. If you’re leaving at midnight, you need to get some rest. Who are you taking with you?”

Billy blushed slightly before answering. “Yingtai and one of her friends. Yingtai will be my backup driver, now that you guys taught her how to drive.”

Joy smiled, and patted Billy on the shoulder. “That’s great, Billy. Don’t be embarrassed, she’s a great girl, and she likes you too.”

Billy’s mouth opened and closed a few times, as he searched for the words to say. Finally, he gave up, nodded his thanks, and headed to the doctor’s office, where some temporary beds were set up. Joy looked up at the sky, whispering her thanks to whatever was looking over them, before turning to help the two men who were loading the crate into the back of Billy’s truck. She could still get some sleep tonight, after the caravan was ready to go.

*****

Joy woke up to the sound of horrible electronic squealing. Rolling out of her bed, she blinked twice in the semi-darkness before her mind registered that Longwei wasn’t in bed with her, but was holding one of the walkie talkies Billy had left behind. There was eight radios in total, one at each lookout location, one for Longwei to use, one for the caravan, and two spares that were packed in Billy’s truck. Now, Longwei’s was squawking, although Joy couldn’t understand what was being said.

“What is it?” she asked, pulling her t-shirt over her head. She had slept in pants, being so tired, but had at least taken her shirt off.

Longwei held up his hand, silencing her questions, before replying into the walkie talkie. “How many? How far back? I understand. I will assist.”

“What’s going on?” Joy asked again, as the radio went silent. Longwei scrambled to his feet and started to take off his clothes.

“Triads have attacked the caravan, about fifteen kilometers outside the village,” Longwei replied. “I’m going to assist them in getting away.”

“Not without me you aren’t!” Joy said, heading for the closet where the assault rifles were stored. “Two are better than one here.”

Longwei looked at her levelly before nodding, pulling his pants off. Joy grabbed the Kalashnikov from the closet, along with the three spare magazines in a harness they had salvaged from the last attack. Turning, she saw Longwei nude, ready to transform. He had a set of goggles in his hand, ones that the villagers normally used when they were working in dangerous or dusty conditions. “Put these on,” he said, tossing them to her. “I’m going to be going pretty fast, and if you want to keep your eyesight, you’ll need protection. And grab the radio, you can talk with Billy while we go.”