Section 24 was a crowded block of apartments located at the northern end of Axia, in it lived almost a third of the population of the city; after the southern blocks had been evicted, because of the great concentration of the mist, almost all its inhabitants had been moved there, its initially wide corridors were now almost impassable, because of the merchant stalls offering their wares and the immense swarm of its inhabitants.
It was the largest section of the ten still active and the last to be built, its spacious apartments were initially dedicated to the new settlers, who were transferred from another industrial city, which had been closed for exhausting the resources it exploited, but because of the need to close sections 1 to 14, it had been necessary to house up to three families in each apartment; since then sections 20 and 24, which had received most of the evictees, were not good places to live.
-Axia is growing like crabs, - said Isaiah to Abdel, as they made their way through the people flooding hall 45, section 24.
-How is that? -Abdel asked.
-It is breaking out of its shell to make room -Isaiah answered.
-But instead of making space, it seems to be running out of it- said Abdel as he squeezed between two women who were standing in a line in front of a stand selling vegetables.
-Yes, maybe the comparison is not very good- concluded Isaiah.
After making their way for a few more minutes through the corridors of section 24, they found themselves in front of the door of one of the apartments, they had the number 433 almost illegible in front of their eyes, -this must be it- said Abdel, and then knocked on the door.
There was a clatter behind the door, followed by a clearing of the communicator, -What do you want?-, a voice was heard in the door speaker.
-Hello, my name is Abdel, I am a friend of Peter Hilbert, we work together- answered Abdel shouting into the microphone.
-Please let him in, Mrs. Ogawa - a distant voice was heard over the loudspeaker.
After a brief rattle of latches, the door opened, revealing a tiny old woman with long blonde hair and a pleasant smile - come in young people - she said cheerfully, stepping aside to make way for them - can I offer you some water? -The old lady said smiling while she squeezed her eyelids to focus on Abdel and Isaiah's faces.
-Yes, thank you very much ma'am, it is very hot in the corridors- answered Abdel leaning towards the old lady.
They both entered the apartment, it looked just like any other apartment in section 24; things piled up everywhere, people peeking through the doors to see who had arrived and an intense stale smell, typical of any place with poor ventilation and many people accumulated; above all this, there was also an intense but pleasant smell of spicy food, which must have come from the kitchen. Isaiah guessed that it was the lovely old lady who had welcomed them, who must be cooking dinner for her family, one of the three that lived in that apartment.
Near the large window overlooking the canyon, through which the yellowish light of the reflectors, placed on the walls, was entering to complement the scarce light that came in because of the mist, was Peter, leaning back in an old armchair, his face drew a wide smile when he saw Abdel.
-Hello Pig, how are you doing? - Peter asked him, extending his hand to greet him, - Sorry I don't stand up, but I'm still not good at balancing - he removed the cushion he had on his legs to show the stump of his amputated leg a little below the knee. -Who's your friend, pig? - he asked pointing to Isaías.
-I told you not to call me pig, you lame bastard, he is Isaias Lopez, you must know him from the factory, he operates one of the cranes- said Abdel in a jovial tone.
-Hello Hilbert, how are you recovering? - said Isaías, solemnly.
-I'm fine, but don't call me Hilbert, that's what they only call me at the factory and Mrs. Ogawa, I don't know why I've never been able to get her to call me you," he said while smiling, -Call me Peter, now that I see you well if I know you from the factory. And what brings you here pig? -
-You call me a pig again and I'll cut off your other hoof, - Abdel said as he raised his fist in a threatening tone in Peter's direction while he laughed loudly- I came to bring you the things you left in the locker room - he extended to Peter a large cloth bag that didn't seem to contain much inside. - So, what are you going to do? Are you going to stay at the boarding house or are you going to find something to do? -.
-My father told me that we would sell the food stall and move to Alessia, my aunt lives there, I think that with the pension I can be quiet for a while, at least while we put a food stall in Alessia again - Peter made a helpless expression while he pronounced those words.
-I hope you do well in Alessia, old man- Abdel turned his face to Isaiah, and pointing his finger at Peter said: -Lopez, did you know that this brute, he is royalty or something like that -How is that?
-How so? - said Isaiah wrinkling his forehead.
-His family is descended from rich people, isn't it Peter - Abdel squatted down in front of Peter. - Explain to him, you fool.
-He says that a long time ago, before the great catastrophe, our family was the richest in the world, but that was just a rant that my grandfather told him - Peter looked down at his amputated leg, at the same time he lifted it up with his hands - In any case, what good does that do me now - his face darkened.
-Don't be a fool, besides, you're going to get a prosthesis, aren't you? - asked Abdel.
-Yes, they already made the mold, I had to put the stump in a cold viscous thing for ten minutes, while it hardened, I swear I thought my skin was going to fall off when they took it out- he answered, he looked at Isaiah's feet and taking the bag Abdel had given him, he asked: -What size boots do you wear Isaiah? -
Thirty-six I think - Isaiah answered dismayed.
Peter threw him the bag - Here, these should fit you, I think you need them - he said, pointing to Isaiah's feet, encased in a pair of worn brown boots - besides, I have one left over, there are also some socks - and I'm wearing a pair of socks.
They were talking for half an hour more, until Abdel said he had to go back before the transport to section 21 left, they started to say goodbye to Peter, when they were about to open the door Mrs. Ogawa appeared in front of the kitchen door - How are you young people, can I offer you some water, - she said squeezing her eyes and smiling a beautiful smile.
Abdel and Isaiah saw each other's faces and held back a laugh, - No thanks ma'am, we have to go now, my partner will be dropped off by the transport, - said Isaiah, as they left the apartment.