Free Spare and Found Parts by Sarah Maria Griffin Page B

than the heat inside the building. The sky was black and clear and pocked with a clatter of white stars. Nell didn’t stop, despite hercuriosity. She headed straight for the bike racks, taking Kodak in her arms so as not to dislodge him from his perch as she marched.
    â€œOliver, I’ve seen glass eyes before. So you found a whole load of old limbs. You—you shouldn’t even be in the hospital; you have no idea what’s still in the air. You’re healed, and you’re taking stupid risks. What is the point in telling me this?”
    â€œNell, I’m going to start selling them. I’m going to test them to see if they’re contaminated, clean them up, then run them as a special service. Roll them out as vintage. A lot of them are beautiful, with handmade casings. They’d be worth a fortune, especially to folks who don’t like machines. I’m going to—”
    Folks who don’t like machines . Nell busied herself placing Kodak safely into the basket on her bike, threw away the question. “Have you been talking to Ruby about an eye?”
    Oliver went quiet for a moment. “Yes. And—”
    â€œShe didn’t tell me.”
    Nell held the chain lock from the bike in her hands and squeezed, the metal pressing into her flesh. She breathed steadily. She wasn’t going to show Oliver she was upset; the ticking gave her away enough as it was.
    â€œShe also said”—Oliver was desperate—“that it would be good for me to tell you; that the time’scoming up for your contribution, and you don’t have one; that you’re on a straight track to end up halfway up Kate’s stony armpit. Look—”
    Nell cocked her head to the side. “When did she say this to you?”
    â€œOh, we went for a drink last night to discuss pricing—”
    Nell’s surprise crystallized into something that rang deep like hurt but had all the volatility of rage. She was just about ready to storm back inside and pull Ruby from her tangle of friends and give her a piece of her mind.
    â€œI’ve heard enough, Oliver. I don’t care. You can go risk your life in a burned-out old hospital, make profit out of artifacts belonging to the dead, and give my best friend an operation she’s been refusing for her entire life all you want; just please leave me out of it. I have my own work to do.”
    â€œDo you, though?” he asked her. “Do you really? Nell, come with me and see the workshop I’ve made. Nobody even knows it’s there yet; it’s brand-new. I built it myself. There’s real enterprise to be had from passing these old limbs on; it’s a real contribution. If you band with me, you’ll be spared the statue. You’ll get a second chance. To get involved, you know? Really contr—”
    â€œThe next person who says the word contribute anywhere near me is liable to get physically injured. Don’t you dare turn this into another proposition. I am leaving.”
    Nell kicked the stand up and hopped on her bike. Oliver reached out to touch her arm, but she gave him a look so dark that he retreated.
    â€œBut Ruby said—”
    â€œRuby apparently says a lot of things, Oliver.”
    Nell put her foot down on the pedal. Her whole body was on fire, and somewhere in the blaze a small voice asked if maybe Oliver was on to something. A chamber of possibility, a way to quiet Nan. A suitable partner whose contribution aligned with her own. Maybe, ugh, it wasn’t wise to blow him out of the water yet—just in case. He was so desperate. Cruelty wound its way up Nell’s throat, and she said, “Let’s talk in a few days.”
    She didn’t even look at him.
    Oliver gasped with joy. Nell rolled her eyes and began to cycle away.
    â€œGood night, Nell! I’ll see you soon!” she heard, echoing down the path behind her. She didn’t look back.
    Nell waited until she was