Barkley's Body Swap and Pawn Shop Read online

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  Lester sat nervously, in a hidden room at the back of the pawn shop, watching a small plasma screen. His head was at its usual contorted angle, making him have to look up sharply through his eyebrows to see the screen clearly. It was something he did as second nature, very few people had the good sense to adjust display screens for his comfort.

  Barkley, the pawnbroker, was conversing with a nervous looking customer who had just entered the store. The fellow was scrawny, fairly short and sporting a moderate covering of colourful and mostly vulgar tattoo’s. Barkley made a covert signal with one hand behind the counter and Lester’s heart raced. This was Mr Black, the guy who was currently in his soon to be new body.

  Mr Black was obviously desperate and in a hurry. He was also by all accounts the type of street scum that nobody would lose sleep over when he disappeared. Lester tried to adjust himself in his chair with his twisted arms. It took considerable concentration and effort to manoeuvre his elbows to the point that he could shift his weight to adjust the angle of his head and allow his eyes a better view.

  After a short exchange of words Barkley and Mr Black disappeared into the back area. Lester’s mind raced with excitement at the prospect of actually having a body that did what he asked of it. He had always shied away from that type of dreaming in the past. A fast descent into depression that way lay.

  It seemed like an eternity before he heard Barkley and Mr Black enter the procedure room. When the moment came to reveal himself, seeing Mr Black’s reaction was almost worth his life savings and inheritance, which is exactly what it had cost him to set up this exchange.

  “Whagt hh-abbins nnow,” said Lester after Barkley had rendered Mr Black unconscious. Even trying to speak clearly was a challenge in concentration and persistence.

  Barkley squatted down to inspect Mr Black and ensure he really was out cold, then he stood up and pointed the stun gun at Lester.

  “Now you also go sleep for a bit.”