Mardock Scramble

–Maybe. I remembered what the girl said back then at the Show. “It’s like being embraced.” Oh, by the way, she died in the end, that girl—some time after Queen Bee was arrested. The M girl was on drugs, getting paid to be tied up by this guy. He was high and strangled her to death. There was a trial then, too, even though they ended up deciding that the man hadn’t done anything wrong.

“And were you there at that trial?”

–Yup. The manager of the brothel—the woman who gave me my name—brought the prosecution, but in the end she lost her case. As a result the Broilerhouse put a mark on us, and the Hunters came and arrested all the clients on our books, that’s what she told me. Those people—and that shop—weren’t really that bad. There were plenty of places that were much worse. In particular the video work—there was a guy who could film it really well—and everyone was clean and gentle. I heard of plenty of places that were terrible, but no one the manager introduced us to was that bad. I was even told that if I could remember how to smile I could become a legitimate actress, areal star. Well, that production company went bankrupt, but still…and have you seen any of the videos that I was in?

“No.”

–Would you like to?

“I’m not sure… I don’t really know. But let’s go back a little—you said arrested? Why was Queen Bee arrested?”

–Flashbacks.

Balot stopped to think for a moment. About how she could best explain the gravity of this word.

–We’re talking about a girl who earned a thousand, two thousand a night. Very beautiful—in face and body. She could do anything and would let anyone do anything to her. She never sold herself short, but on those rare occasions when she did have to go cheap she did so cheerfully, without fuss. Even though most people are very worried, both before and after the deed. Do you understand? Yet this girl ended up killing one of her customers. With a concealed gun. Premeditated. After tying him up she shot him over thirty times, apparently. In a soundproof room, the sort you often get in specialist hotels. She kept on firing rounds into him long after he was dead.

“Why?”