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The city of Los Angeles is huge. I've never seen anythin' like it. Buildings rise up out of the ground what looks like miles high. Your neck hurts looking up at them. Some seem to blot out the sun. That sun is so warm, and you can smell the salt in the air. Danny is right about the lack of horses. I am so used to seeing and smellin' them all the time that this is the strangest thing to behold. They have stables near the bank and you have to pay to keep your animal there. I take care of that, it is the least I can do. I was smart and kept my money close when I was working and now have a couple thousand. Not that anyone needs to know that. It won’t last very long, though, in a place like this. We grab the bags and strap them to our backs and are off.
There are bars and food places all over. And the shops! Oh my! So many shops! I didn't know that there were places that just sold shoes! What's more is those shoes aren’t made in the shops, they have shops where they make them elsewhere. Who knew? This is a whole other world, and yet some things seem to be the same. If you don’t have the coin, flesh can be traded or used as currency. They take things like hair and body fluids if you don’t want to go for a romp. This information is posted on the shop doors. Places have rules like ‘No Savage Wilds,’ ‘Please Don't Shout at the staff.’ Or ‘If you've been drinkin' you be walkin'.’
Danny finds a bank and we go inside. She is cautious but friendly, we are dirty and stuck out some. But Danny holds my hand and leads me to the counter.
***
“DANNY JOHNSTON, HERE is my account identification number. I don't have a photo with me, it was lost on the road. But you'll see from the one on file that I am who I say.” She squeezes my shaking hand all reassurin' like, I am nervous as hell. What if they did freeze the account and are lookin' for us? Would that Marshall guardin' the door shoot us? His gun is big enough. In our scrape with those wolves, I lost Danny's guns. She wasn't happy about it, but it was better than gettin' myself killed. So she forgave me. I wish she had them now. I am too busy lookin' ‘round to know what is goin' on with her and the clerk, so I jump a bit when she tells me everythin' is fine and we can go see about the hotel. Apparently the clerk recommended the White Narwhale. So we are gonna check it out.
***
CATCHIN' THE RIGHT trolley isn’t easy. There is a map and you have to get the numbers to match the trolley for the one you want. Glad Danny can read or I'd have been totally lost for sure. Education wasn't high on the list for a girl like me. Anyhow, we jump on the trolley and are zoomed off toward our destination. It is wild, to be standing and moving without a horse! We hop off at this giant building with the sign hangin' outside showing this weird animal with a horn.
When we go in, the place is spotless. I mean you can eat off the floors it is so clean. There are big, tall ceilings with paintings on them of fisherman and huge hard waves. Everything is paneled and shines like a hot penny. The man at the desk looks us up and down and instantly frowns. That is until Danny produces the cash. Then it is all yes ma'am, right this way. I think being called ma'am throws Danny for a loop. She seems genuinely confused for a moment before realizin' he is still talking to her.
It is adorable.