The Transmigration of Bodies by Yuri Herrera

rest of the body failed to turn at the same speed and you could clearly hear how his wrist went snap before the whole heap of him slammed against the sidewalk.
    The Neeyanderthal looked happy, as tho just bathed, or even born.
    Maybe it’s not that he wants to die, the Redeemer thought, but that what he wants is not to stumble.
    Damn, Neeyan, he said, We ought to get you on TV.
    Nah, the Neeyanderthal replied. No point being famous; then they’d just say I never existed.
    The Redeemer got to his feet and said to the two bruisers: Go.
    The heap crawled a few feet, then pulled himself up and quickly scampered to the corner. Little slick sat still in his own world, exploring the insides of his arms. Finally he stood and went to the Big House door. On seeing him Three Times Blonde slammed it shut.
    You think you’re coming in here? Look at you!
    What?
    There’s an epidemic out there and you got nothing on. I bet you’re already sick.
    I had a mask on, whined her beau. But that bastard smacked it off.
    There ensued a brief silence. Three Times Blonde cracked the door for a sec and stared him in the eye.
    That’s what they all say, she said.
    And closed it again.
    The minute Not-so-slick took his leave, Vicky turned up. She saw them all in the distance, standing before the Big House, and surveyed the terrain on approach. Before saying a word she followed him with her eyes, then looked at the Neeyanderthal, then at the bloody splash-up on the sidewalk, and finally at the Redeemer.
    Want me to tell you about it? asked the Neeyanderthal.
    Vicky scanned the scene again with something like a surplus of sadness and began to examine the Redeemer, feeling his neck, looking at his eyes, the cut above one brow, the split lip. The Redeemer’s ribs were still shaking but she didn’t think they were broken.
    Open your mouth, Vicky said. The Redeemer opened his mouth and Vicky prodded a canine with one finger.
    This tooth’s done for, she said. But the rest of the prick’ll survive.
    One more thing, said the Redeemer: Check and see if I have anything here.
    He pointed to his neck. Vicky tilted his head a bit and looked. She stood back, looked at him again.
    What do you think you have there?
    You see a welt?
    Vicky looked again.
    I see something, but it could be a heel mark. If you were going to die you’d feel awful by now. That’s what I’ve been seeing at the hospital. Things don’t usually escalate this quick, but sometimes these fuckers can remember if they’ve been in a certain place before, and that makes them really hard to stop. Things do more damage the second time around.
    If it was merely a question of feeling awful, the Redeemer was infected as shit, but for now he felt the contamination was contained to the places he’d been kicked.
    Let’s go look at Baby Girl, he said.
    I’m staying here, the Neeyanderthal said. More fun.
    He opened the door and at that moment a call came in. Vicky went ahead.
    Friend—it was the Mennonite—all good over there?
    All good, why?
    Just got word the Las Pericas place is on fire.
    What the… ? he thought. How would the Mennonite even know to associate Las Pericas with Dolphin?
    The place is on fire… And you’re telling me the Castros aren’t behind it, the Redeemer said.
    I’m saying the Castros aren’t behind it, the Mennonite replied. Been here the whole time. All the father wants is his daughter back, and at a time like this his boys aren’t about to do anything without his say-so.
    Got it. All good here. Anything happens I’ll give you a call.
    They hung up. It was time to try Gustavo again. He dialed and found him in. Come on over, the man said.
    He walked into the Big House. Inside his apartment, Vicky was washing one of Baby Girl’s arms with a wet rag. Some bodies need to be assessed; this one needed to be dressed.
    I’m leaving you here with her, he said. Won’t be long.
    Vicky nodded without turning to look, and the Redeemer walked out.
    Be right back, he said