Little Mouse

(This story first appeared in the science fiction fanzine Pulsar years ago; long before, in fact, anyone on 30 Rock, said “fellow kids.” I mention this lest you think I was making some kind of reference. Also, two of my books are 99¢ this week!)

My name is Muknik, which means Little Mouse, and I am being paid forty bucks to kill the last twelve surviving Lutherans on earth. Muknik is not my real name; William the Bastard gave it to me. Muknik means Little Mouse in Lutheran.

I don’t know who put up the money. I do not know who would pay forty dollars for twelve dead Lutherans.

“It doesn’t work that way, Muknik,” William the Bastard will tell me. “Ten bucks a head, times twelve, divided by the five of us. That’s forty for you.” He’s right. He sounds like he is wrong, but he’s right. But I still do not know who put up the hundred and twenty dollars.

“You don’t have to know, Mousey,” William the Bastard will tell me. He’s right. He closes the suitcase with the hundred and twenty five dollars in it. I do not know what the extra five are for. There are five of us. There have been as many as eight. People come and go. I would like to go, but who would let me? This is not a job I want. This is a job I got roped into, long ago. And one time I almost escaped, so now they keep checking up on me, whatever I do.

That was in a karaoke bar. That was also long ago. And also long ago was when I got shanghaied, through clever machinations.

“Keep your mind on your work, Little Mouse,” William the Bastard will tell me. “You’re dreaming bitter thoughts again.” He’s right. And I am important today. That is why I will get a double share. That is why the math is right, although it looked wrong. I, Little Mouse, will get a double share. I knock on the door of the movie theater. They are holed up in a movie theater, old and abandoned. They know there is danger. They are the last twelve. They are Lutherans.

“I am Little Mouse,” I say. “You absolutely must let me in.” I act serious.

“Go away, Little Mouse.” They say, “There will be no movies showing today.”

They are ...