Peds

By James S. Dorr

In a near-future world where the car is king and the people are divided between those who ride on a network of highways connecting the glittering hubs of the city, and those left on foot -- the lowly "Peds" -- who inhabit the lands that lie between them, Robert Balkoner has always believed these latter, even if disadvantaged, are well cared for by the city as a whole. These beliefs are shattered, however, when a freak auto accident thrusts him among the Peds, and he discovers a system more varied, complex, and sometimes horrific, than anything he might have imagined. Yet even here Balkoner also can find love, as well as a handful of rebels willing to barter their lives in a quest to improve conditions for themselves and their fellows. A novelette.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Untreed Reads
• Release date: Oct 18, 2012
• ISBN: 9781611874563

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Peds

By James S. Dorr

Copyright 2012 by James S. Dorr

Cover Copyright 2012 by Ginny Glass and Untreed Reads Publishing

The author is hereby established as the sole holder of the copyright. Either the publisher (Untreed Reads) or author may enforce copyrights to the fullest extent.

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This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to the living or dead is entirely coincidental.

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Peds

By James S. Dorr

Islands.

That’s what Robert Balkoner thought of as he drove through the night-dimmed city. Islands of brightness. Faerie towers that pierced the sky.

Julie beside him, green-robed and glossy, from one of those islands and, on the horizon, the rose-lit arches and minarets of the castle that was their destination.

Jesus, he whispered. Ahead, a flash of white.

What is it, Robert?

He wrestled the car into manual drive, swerving it out of its preassigned course just in time to avoid smashing into the running figure. He watched as the figure spun back into darkness—the dark of the vast crumbling lowland ocean that surrounded the city’s bright islands.

Nothing, darling, he said as he felt the car give itself back to computer control. He tried to relax in his foam-padded seat, stretching his arm to gather in Julie.

Nothing, he said again, nuzzling her hair. We’ll get to the party in plenty of time. It was just a pedestrian.

Just a pedestrian. Trying to make it across the expressway. The figure had seemed to freeze for a moment in the automobile’s rear viewscreen. A female figure, slim and blonde—not red-haired like Julie—who made a point of whirling and flashing an obscene gesture as Balkoner sped by.

Just a lousy Ped, Julie murmured, nuzzling back. She sighed, then kissed him. Hope you ran over the bastard, she said as she pressed her body closer against his.

* * *

Julie’s remark still bothered Balkoner, especially since, when Julie told about the incident at the party, most of the guests expressed similar thoughts. Even the host, just reelected City Councilor Andrew Tolan, took him aside later in the evening.

Listen, he said. "You should have run over him—or her—whatever it was. You’ve got to remember these Peds are just leeches—welfare people. If they wanted to work for a living, they could afford cars. They could make payments just like we do and live in a decent part of the city instead of the slums. They’ve made their choice, Balkoner, part of which is that they’re supposed to stay off the highway."

I don’t know, Andrew, Balkoner said. "Some of them must have had cars before—before whatever it was that happened to make them Peds. But when they had to apply for public assistance, doesn’t the law confiscate their