Ginny Sweethips' Flying Circus
By Neal Barrett Jr., first published in Asimov's Science Fiction
In a dystopian world, Ginny Sweethips' traveling roadshow profits off of sex, tacos, and drugs has a run-in with aggressive men who ask who for more than Ginny's affection.
Author
Published in
Words
Availability
Plot Summary
Ginny Sweethips leads a roadshow with her two companions Del and Possum Dark. Del is an android carnival barker and Possum Dark is a possum who is eager to shoot threatening figures. The crew approached a dilapidated church and refinery. They perform the show and sell sex, tacos, and drugs to the men. Ginny presents herself in multiple different characters to entice the men. The men make sure that Ginny is real and not selling plastic affection.
They leave the church and drive into town. They stop at Moro’s Repairs. Ginny tells Del that she wants the place to look at the gears in their van. A man, Moro, appears behind a six-foot dog. Ginny finds him attractive. He says he does electric work. Ginny asks if he does his work in confidence. Moro explains that he does but at a price. Moro doesn’t want to let the Possum. He allows them to come into his shop if Possum stays outside the fence that guards the gated shop.
Moro insinuates that Ginny will be paying him for sex. Ginny says that sex is just software to her. She explains that she can’t help that men like looking at her. Moro enters the van.
Ginny explains that the sex work is all artificial and that the men who are enticed by her outside the van, are under the influence of software and tape recordings of women who look like her. She needs help with some of the sensory equipment. Ginny explains that she has a Possum for protection if anyone is ever on to her.
Ginny and Moro banter while they talk about her work. He wants to take her out to dinner. She playfully declines.
Outside, Possum talks to Dog as he waits for the van to be repaired. Dog explains that he worked in a theme park before the war. Dog says he doesn’t like Possums. Possum reiterates the sentiment. They play cards.
Later, Moro showed up at the place Ginny was staying in town. They argue over how many gallons of gas that Ginny owes him for his work. The conversation is flirtatious.
The roadshow leaves the next morning. Moro had warned them about going any further south. The crew proceeds south despite his warnings. They end up at Fort Pru. Fort Pru advertises games of chance and amusement. Five men bare to the waist except for ties and collars, carrying guns, approach the van. They inquire if the roadshow has a prostitute. The men of Fort Pru are business folks themselves and do not want to hear a sales pitch from the roadshow. Fred identifies himself as the head of the group. He says they will exchange reams of white paper and pencils for the goods offered by the roadshow.
Del, the android carnival barker, is suspicious of the men. He believes they want the gas in the van. He reminds them that the gas is not for trade. The men of Fort Pru say it is no problem and inquire after the girl. Del tells Ginny that they ought to leave. Ginny says no. Ginny begins her work. It seemed to be going well until customers began emerging from the van with physical injuries. Ginny and Del exchange remarks on the side that something is wrong with the tapes.
Fred wants to try having sex with Ginny. Del warns him not to, as he knows the tapes are hurting people. Fred insists. He emerges with his arms disjointed and other severe injuries. Fred attacks Del with a sawed-off barrel. Del’s arm explodes. The crew makes it to the van and a chase ensues through the desert.
The Fort Pru men shoot the tires of the roadshow’s van. Del, Possum, and Ginny are out of ammo and an escape. Suddenly, a familiar pick-up emerges and begins picking off stragglers in the area. Dogs on motorcycles joined in the fight. The Fort Pru men fled the scene.
Moro was among the group who saved the roadshow crew. He helps them to recover and explains that his Dog is the reason for the trouble. The Dog who disliked Possums sped up the artificial sex tapes as the Possum beat him in a game of cards during their time at Moro’s shop. Moro agrees to fix the van and Del. Moro tells Ginny to pick out something nice to wear to dinner.
Tags