VI
(Twenty-three minutes before launch)
(One hundred twenty-six minutes before impact)
She was late on purpose. She knew there'd be a crush, and her friend's nervous nagging didn't bother her.
"Ana, it's almost midnight, all the guys will be taken."
Ana looked her companion over.
"If you don't manage to catch anyone, I'll treat you to lunch on Monday."
The girl adjusted her very short miniskirt, which kept riding up, revealing a bit too much. Ana knew from experience that the girl would spend the whole evening adjusting it. If she stayed sober — and if she got drunk, she wouldn't care.
"Promise?" The girl looked at her, and Ana nodded.
"Of course, it's been a while since we hung out anyway."
The girl agreed with a shrug.
"I wonder why so much time goes by without my seeing or hearing from you."
"Work, life — I can barely grab any time, even for the gym."
"Yeah, I've noticed you're not around ours as much. We miss you."
Ana nodded, keeping to herself the fact that she'd slept with the dance instructor employed there.
"Tina, tell me instead how your brother's doing, I heard he's in Berlin."
The girl brightened as they walked through the tunnel toward the entrance to the shelter.
"Yeah, he's got clients from all over the world, and he does the whole job off a laptop in his apartment. He moved to Berlin from Bali. Says the internet connection is better, and that he got sick of the sand."
"Yeah, he's never in one place for long," Ana agreed. "A restless spirit."
Tina nodded in agreement.
"At least he doesn't have to bother with the paperwork and the taxes like I do."
"Now that I understand — the levies keep getting worse, it's becoming almost impossible to run a business."
They moved through the entrance area toward the elevator in the middle.
Ana waved toward the platform on the upper floor.
She knew Tomi was inside, probably busy with the electronics now.
And who knew what else. She took hold of the safety railing on the elevator frame and peeked into the depths.
She always wondered how no one had fallen in, but seeing the security guys keeping vigilant watch, it became clear to her.
She reached into her purse and took out a badge that read VIP. The security guys nodded.
"Sometimes I wish I could be like Dino," Tina went on chattering as she sized up the security and handed them the ticket Ana had given her. "Pack a suitcase and work on some sandy beach, somewhere far away."
The guard by the elevator railing casually took the offered ticket, tossed it into the trash bin by his foot, and handed Tina a wristband, which she promptly slid onto her wrist beside a pricey gold bracelet.
"Tina, cut the crap." Ana looked her over, appraising the worth of the gold. "You love sweaty bodies too much in that gym of yours." She laughed.
"Of course — where else would I find beefed-up males getting all sweaty." Tina thrust her chest out toward the nearest guard, who flushed faintly at the sight of her not-exactly-small breasts.
The elevator stopped and they stepped onto the cold metal.
They could feel the faint vibrations of the party on the floors below them.
Adjusting the miniskirt once more, as it had ridden up to her clearly defined cheeks, Tina provoked a whistle of approval from a group of gathered young men. Pleased, she asked:
"And that friend of yours, Nick's his name…"
"What about him?" Ana looked at her friend as the elevator began sinking toward the ever-stronger vibrations.
"Is he seeing anyone?"
Ana thought about it.
"As far as I know, no. I don't think he's in a relationship right now."
"Hmm…" Tina's eye gleamed. "Interesting."
"Well, knowing Nick, I think you'll have to stand in line and take a waiting number."
Tina thrust her chest out again and swayed her backside sensually. Some guy made to approach, but stopped when he caught Tina's uninterested look. He wasn't well-built enough for her, and Tina kept such types at a distance. He returned to his group.
"I don't think so — I don't wait, they wait for me," she replied smugly.
Ana looked her over. Tina drew stares wherever she appeared.
A thoroughbred blonde of perfect natural proportions, she worked out hard and starved herself to keep her looks.
She was aware of what she had and knew how to use it.
Sometimes too much, it seemed. More than one rumor had reached Ana's ears that Tina worked as a high-priced escort.
And where there's smoke, there's fire. Tina's gym could hardly have turned a big profit, yet every year it was freshly painted and stocked with the newest equipment on the market.
The money came from somewhere, but Ana didn't care.
"You're always worth the wait, my dear," she replied calmly as the elevator came to a stop.
The floodlights blinded her, but luckily she had her sunglasses and so spared her eyes from the glare.
"Where to?" asked Tina, who wasn't so lucky and fluttered her eyelids, careful not to smudge her makeup with her fingers.
The large space was packed with people standing and talking in a cacophony of sounds.
"I'm heading toward the metalheads, want to come with me?" Ana replied.
You see, in keeping with current research on the younger population, Nick had designated several specific spots to please, if not everyone, then at least the greater part of the invited guests.
The larger part was reserved for fans of electronic music, but there was room for other subcultures too, like RAP or fans of POP.
They even had a section where the concrete construction blended with the living rock, and the minerals, in contrast with the laser lighting, created a surreal picture of glittering and glow.
The party's security was run by Ana's acquaintances from the biggest motorcycle club in the city, and they listened piously to the liturgies of various Heavy Metal bands.
And that was why they had their own special section, where the drums and the biting guitar riff, along with a small bar serving nothing but draft beer, invited everyone to join.
And to head off any fights, several bearded strongmen were stationed at the entrance to bar the way to any would-be troublemakers.
People respected the strength and authority of the bikers.
And they, in return, wouldn't abuse it and ruled their space fairly.
It was toward that very entrance that Ana headed. Tina pulled her by the arm and stopped her.
"You know I don't like metal," she complained. "I'd rather meet someone over there." She nodded toward the pop zone. "By the way…" she looked over the bearded men at the entrance, "these guys are a little too spread out in the waistline zone."
Ana looked at her and shook her head.
"In that case we part ways, my dear. Because it's precisely with the bearded ones that I find the greatest peace of mind."
Tina accepted Ana's explanation and pecked her on the cheek in farewell.
"Wish me luck — maybe some prince on a BMW steed will sweep in for me today." Then she turned cheerfully toward her desired destination.
Ana stayed put for a moment, watching the blonde all but flutter off through the wide doors.
Tina would never change. Always on the hunt, and always for someone with enough money in the bank.
Tina was a luxury only a few could afford, while the bikers and punks were the city's poor.
Understandable. After a moment's thought, she headed toward the bearded men at the entrance. She waved cheerfully.
"Hi, Dean. Hello, Erik."
The bearded men smiled, showing white teeth.
"Hey Ana, how's it going?"
"Oh, getting by — how's your wife, Erik?"
The younger of the two shifted and answered cheerfully.
"Well, she's in her sixth month and sitting inside at the bar. Taking it out on that kid who's trying to pour beer."
"Six months pregnant? Are you people out of your minds?" Ana was shocked.
"Oh nooo, she's not drinking, just juices until she stops breastfeeding. That's what she decided," Erik reassured her. "What bothers her most are the swollen joints and going to the toilet every hour."
"Understandable, I'll go say hello to her."
"Go right ahead, she'll be glad to see you, and she's got something to show you, too." Erik grinned.
Ana gave him a questioning look, but apart from the grin, Erik offered no further information.
She shrugged and pushed her way past the hulks who literally blocked the wide entrance.
A foyer opened before her; loud drumming and guitar riffs rang out.
Some band unknown to Ana was straining with all its might to heat the already boiling atmosphere even further.
People in leather jackets shoved in front of the stage, headbanging and splashing beer.
The space gave the impression of a small club, which only deepened the sense of belonging, and the makeup and multicolored hair mixed with leather recalled tribal dances from the distant days of the past.
Though she didn't listen to such music much, judging by the greetings as she passed, Ana was a familiar face with plenty of acquaintances among those present. She headed toward the small round bar.
"Hi, Vlasta!" she cheerfully greeted a smiling blonde with a mohawk and a load of piercings on her face.
"Oh, Ana, you look phenomenal!" Vlasta whistled in approval.
Ana had put on the matte-black skirt she'd bought, and her semi-sheer blouse made it plain she wore no bra.
The pattern on the fabric covered tactically, leaving imagination free to picture what lay beneath.
The high-heeled leather boots fit in perfectly, as did the extra-small purse that barely held a phone.
She leaned against the bar beside Vlasta, who sat on a tall bar stool.
"How are things with you?" she asked, waving to the bartender to bring her a drink. It didn't matter what she'd drink; she didn't intend to stay long at the bar anyway.
"Oh, same old. Belly bigger, bladder smaller." Vlasta sipped a little of something that looked like orange juice.
"Everything okay with the baby?"
"Oh yeah, developing normally, and I found out the sex. But let me ask you…" Vlasta looked at Ana. "Should I tell Erik?"
Ana thought for a moment. A sad guitar riff tore through the hall.
"Does he want to know?"
"I think he'd like to know, but he's traditional under all that facade he hides behind."
"Well, my opinion is you shouldn't tell him — you'll keep a dose of mystery."
Vlasta thought for a moment and finally replied:
"Works for me, I'll let him keep guessing, but I'll suggest light colors when we paint the apartment — nothing too pink, so he doesn't figure it out on his own." She laughed and took a sip from her glass.
Ana joined in, taking a sip of the craft beer the bartender had brought her in the meantime.
She leaned her back against the bar and watched the crowd swaying to the rhythm of the drums, except for the few in front of the stage who shoved, carried away by the song.
But there was no malice in it, just part of concert culture.
"On the hunt today?" Vlasta snapped her out of her thoughts.
"Yep, I don't plan on going home solo."
Vlasta nodded and grinned.
"My cousin came to visit from Rijeka. I hadn't seen her in a long time, but I thought of you right away."
"Ohh?" Ana grew interested. "Why?"
"Well, let's say Dijana stirred up the spirits in the family." She was still grinning. "You know, my folks are traditional and somehow don't approve of her lifestyle."
"And you thought of me right away," Ana caught on. "What are you, my pimp now?" She feigned annoyance.
Vlasta froze and stopped grinning. She looked at Ana questioningly, but when she saw her companion laughing, she breathed out with relief.
"Ugh, you scared the crap out of me, I thought…"
Ana cut her off:
"Come on, don't dream up nonsense. We've known each other too long."
Vlasta nodded in agreement. She pointed toward the crowd, out of which a young girl was approaching them:
"Anyway, Ana, this is Dijana. Dijana, meet Ana."