Free Dreams Ltd by Veronica Melan Page B

in my head but overall the place looked more than credible: flowerbeds, parking space for a couple of dozen cars, a few benches along the sides of the driveway. I was thrilled to see all this after having some truly dark thoughts on the way here - I was afraid to see a narrow shabby hut with a barred window and a miserable woman inside, and even less pleasant characters hunting for their next victim outside.
     
    I exhaled with a sense of relief, paid the driver and got out of the cab.
     
    The hot air was filled with a smell of grass and a huge variety of flowers growing in the flowerbeds around the bank. I couldn’t see many customers though and only met one man in a suit by the entrance. I pushed the glass door and entered the main hall. Booths selling coupons were situated along the right wall; I selected the nearest door and slipped inside.
     
    The woman behind the glass welcomed me. I replied and asked:
     
    “What is the buying rate for one point now?”
     
    The question was a bit silly as I’ve never dealt with “point” currency before but the woman replied without any hesitation or even the slightest hint of embarrassment.
     
    “The rate is always the same; it’s remained stable over the past fifty years.”
     
    I silently thought to myself “How long has this shithole been around then?”
     
    “And how much money is it for one point?”
     
    “We sell one point for one thousand dollars.”
     
    Holy cow! I nearly started a coughing fit from the shock. One thousand dollars for one point? One bloody point!? This isn’t just a robbery it’s…. it’s…
     
    The woman watched how the mask of politeness came off my face with an admirable composure.
     
    “How many points you would like to purchase?”
     
    I inhaled loudly.
     
    Did I really think that it would be possible to keep any “leftover” money for myself? How bloody wrong I was! It’s only possible to buy fifty points with all the money I’ve got. And fifty points is nothing here! A couple of weeks’ worth of bus rides and a few trips to the supermarket, and that’s if I am lucky because I still have no clue about the cost of food here…
     
    “Erm… I’d like to buy fifty points.” I handed the cashier the whole pack of my precious bank notes. Ultimately, I can earn more money later but I will never be able to get out of Tally without finding Laroche first, hence it is necessary to use all the means possible.
     
    The cashier quickly counted the notes using the counting machine - they zoomed through it with a swishing sound, and then stared at me.
     
    “Is there anything else I can help you with?”
     
    I stood there motionless.
     
    “Are you going to give me any coupons?” I knew I sounded sarcastic but I couldn’t help it.
     
    The woman blinked at me with her black eye-lashes layered with mascara.
     
    “The points are already on your counter. Please take a look at your bracelet.”
     
    I raised my hand and looked at the small screen - and so they are: instead of a zero there was now a fifty. I looked at the woman again and asked in a total bewilderment:
     
    “But what about the paper coupons? I used them to pay for the taxi and I’ll need them in a shop later…”
     
    The cashier explained to me in a friendly tone:
     
    “You do not need them. The paper coupons are inconvenient and short-lived. All taxi drivers and vendors can simply scan your bracelet, subtracting the amount required.”
     
    A silence hung in the booth. Her heavily made-up eyes were piercing me patiently waiting for new questions. Still confused and amazed, I could not think of anything to say and I had nothing left to do but to simply thank the cashier and leave the booth.
     

     
    As I stepped out onto the hot street I looked around, wondering where to go now. How big is this city and how hard will it be to find one particular person amongst all the others? Surely there must be an information desk somewhere, but where is it?
     
    Once I