Download first five chapters - John Trevillian

THE A-MEN | 7but underpinned. Not in this gravity. Lucille herself is just applyingthe finishing spray. Piling it on. Hand pumped dispenser looking teenyin her mammoth hands. It’s a pity. The rest of the surgery’s beenpretty successful so far, but there’s always the hands and neck.Me and Lucille are going to be stars. Straight to the top. I goaqua-boxing on Mondays, trim and tone before work on Tuesdays,Shotokan karate on Wednesdays, circuit before work on Thursdaysand progressive dance on Friday. That leaves Tuesday and Thursdayevenings for am dram. And the weekend for getting laid. We singtoo. And I also do men. More clients. Mainly as a sideline to payfor all those bloody courses. And all the A’s I’ve been popping.Supposed to be studying Astrogations. To keep the parents happy.Spend more time on my knees. Anyhow the lectures mess with mynight job. Still I need the cash. Lucille says you can’t knock havingmoney and I agree. Of course money can’t buy you love, but therest is pretty much negotiable.“And I can plan faerie tales in the empire city. I can build a web ofwonders in one home. Fix picnics at volcanoes, conjure marvels in the dark,but I just can’t spend another night alone.”I cringe at the thought that I’ll be here in another year. I have toget out. That’s what makes it such a big day. This evening’s the tryoutfor Che Castella. Some new action horror flick. He needs a sidekickfor a major major star. My money’s on Cutie Kuzushi. Lucille thinksit’s Vadge Tears. We could both be wrong. But only one of us could beright. Of course I worship street trash turned superstar, Babs O’Neill.Only woman in the world to have ever made the front cover of Eternitymagazine twice. She’s a real benchmark. And no one, but no one’s gotbetter boobs than Babs.“And what I want is still a dream and what I want is just a prayer –a snatched glance, a stolen touch – and the end seems so soon. There is nothis. There is no us. Just a black, black star in a white universe.”One-fifteen is done and I get rid of her quick. Swipe her card.Stuff her in her furs and hold open the door. She doesn’t tip, so I letit go just as the cow’s halfway through. Just so it catches the back of