Knock the Three

This story is set in Terri Windling's Borderlands shared-world. Knock The Three Thomas Harlan, 1992 The singers voice was pure gold, piercing the thick, throbbing air of the Snail. Karli was dancing hard, his body shocking to the heavy riff laid down by the guitar-man on stage. His long blonde hair whipped back and forth to the hammering beat, and he spun and whirled faster and faster. Thray smashed into him from the side and they sprang apart, crashing into the surging crowd. Adrenaline hissed in Karli's blood and he spun around and around again. With each twirl he and Thray struck apart, sparks flashing from their gear, studs and spikes ringing. The guitar-man's axe shrieked down into a low, whistling, flourish and faded away, leaving the voice of the singer was hanging in silence, clear and pure. The crowd cheered and stamped their feet, swaying back and forth to the rippling pitter-pat beat that the drummer laid down on the edge of his set. Karli and Thray pushed off the floor through the laughing crowd, drenched with sweat, ears ringing. Smalls and Lax were already at the table, grinning ear to ear. Karli fived Smalls and got the put-back from Lax behind his back. They crowded into the alcove around the table. Karli felt light, his whole body was echoing the last chords off of the guitar-man. "Kickin' song," yelled Lax in Karli's ear. Karli nodded and waved down a waitress dressed in velvet and lace. She off loaded some beers and slipped away into the crowd. The band had come back up and a sitar was beginning its droning buzz to backup the singer. Karli pushed himself up on his seat and caught sight of her across the dancing crowd, over the bobbing heads and upraised hands. She was pale and gossamer, swaying from side to side as her honey-voice worked the floor mike at the edge of the stage. Her hair fell around her in waves, burnished silver and gold. Her hands cut the air as she ran up the scale into the end of the first chorus. Lax and Thray, perched on the back of the alcove bench-seat whooped and whistled. Karli laid back against the dark smooth oak paneling. Sweet sound filled the air around him, the beer went down cold and fresh. His compadres were here. Life was good, he thought, and made a hand sign of blessing to the powers. Smalls reached over and ruffled Karli's hair. He nodded to the floor, shouting something. Karli heard only the wavering voice of the singer, but he turned to look. Two eastside girls in slick forest green leather and spidernet were waving at them from the edge of the dance floor. Karli laughed, feeling joy bubble up from inside him like a rushing wave. He and Smalls broke for the floor, catching the girls and spinning them around as they faded into the dancing press of people.

The cold air bit at Karli as he stumbled down the cracked concrete steps of the Snail. Lax and Smalls grabbed at him and pulled him upright. Everything was very clear, like crystal. The moon rode high in the sky, yellow and huge over the soaring towers and crenellations of the city. Looking up from the spilling dusky light at the door of the Snail, Karli could see the lights of the buildings, yellow, red and bronze against the night sky. He grabbed Thray and Lax and Smalls and