Peds by James S. Dorr

Description:

In a near-future world where the car is king and the people are divided between those who ride on a network of highways connecting the glittering hubs of the city, and those left on foot -- the lowly “Peds” -- who inhabit the lands that lie between them, Robert Balkoner has always believed these latter, even if disadvantaged, are well cared for by the city as a whole. These beliefs are shattered, however, when a freak auto accident thrusts him among the Peds, and he discovers a system more varied, complex, and sometimes horrific, than anything he might have imagined. Yet even here Balkoner also can find love, as well as a handful of rebels willing to barter their lives in a quest to improve conditions for themselves and their fellows. A novelette.

Excerpt:

Julie’s remark still bothered Balkoner, especially since, when Julie told about the incident at the party, most of the guests expressed similar thoughts. Even the host, just reelected City Councilor Andrew Tolan, took him aside later in the evening.

“Listen,” he said. “You should have run over him—or her—whatever it was. You’ve got to remember these Peds are just leeches—welfare people. If they wanted to work for a living, they could afford cars. They could make payments just like we do and live in a decent part of the city instead of the slums. They’ve made their choice, Balkoner, part of which is that they’re supposed to stay off the highway.”

“I don’t know, Andrew,” Balkoner said. “Some of them must have had cars before—before whatever it was that happened to make them Peds. But when they had to apply for public assistance, doesn’t the law confiscate their cars?”

“Along with whatever else they have that can be sold to help pay their keep, yes. That’s just the point.” Councilor Tolan was a man of Balkoner’s height, of about the same age but already starting to show the paunch that betokened a rising career in government. “Look,” he went on. “Part of my job is to deal with these things. I’ve heard the arguments. Nevertheless, the bottom line is that your and my tax money supports these Peds. Allows them to live anywhere they want in their part of the city—which, I might add, means most of the city. Gives them free food in the robot kitchens. And, in return for which, they don’t have to do one damn thing.”

Balkoner nodded—he’d heard the arguments too, but he’d never been really convinced. “I guess you know more about it than I do,” he finally said. “Still, what if one of them had a job offer? Maybe in some other part of town that was too far to walk to. Suppose….”

Tolan waved him off. “I know, Balkoner. Some do get jobs too. But—and I have the statistics on this—it’s only a small fraction of the total. Because, like I say, the vast majority of these people like to be leeches. They like to live free, off your and my taxes. And that’s why I say, too, that if you killed one accidentally out on the highway, there isn’t a cop in the whole damn city who’d even ask any questions about it.”

“What’d I tell you?” Julie said, giggling. Balkoner turned—when he’d last seen her, she’d been trying a new inhalant with a pair of women she’d just met. From the sound of her giggle now, he knew she hadn’t stopped at just one.

“Julie,” he said. He took her hand—let her lean against him. “Have you met our host yet, Councilor Tolan? He and I went to school together and….”

“Glad to meetcha,” Julie said. She giggled again. “Liked whatcha said about hitting Peds—one less person to have to take care of—’cept Robert here, he tries to miss ’em.”

Balkoner took her home shortly afterward—something else someone said bothered him too. About how motorists ought to be more aggressive driving because some pedestrians tried to get them.

He tried to imagine. What could a Ped do against a car? But then he thought about the blonde figure, how close she’d been to him. Maybe, if she’d had a gun or something. Although, of course, any firearms people might have were taken as well when they went on assistance.

He shrugged it off—then he felt the car swerve.

He blinked—looked at Julie—saw her twist the wheel to the right. Saw that she’d reached across the dashboard and already punched the car into manual.

“Julie, what…?”

He heard the thump, felt the car slewing—first farther to right—then back to the left. He wrestled with Julie for the wheel, then shifted it back to computer drive.

“Julie, we hit something!”

Even on automatic control, the car seemed to wobble.

“Just some kind of goddamn animal,” Julie mumbled. “Like maybe some kind of dog or something.”

He looked at the viewscreen, turned up its distance and set it to rear scan. He saw, in the road behind the car, a large, sprawled-out lump. Maybe a large dog, as Julie had said. Or….

“I wanted to hit a goddamn person.”