“Hey, Mav, check this out, “
Maverick, tired of pinging stones at Al as he tried to get some sleep, slouched over to Alex, stationed at the door, peering intently through the gaps between the three metal bars.
“What. “ hex said. Bored. He threw a final stone at Al who grunted and curled himself further into a ball.
Alex said nothing but instead tilted his head. Maverick looked through the metal bars to see an argument developing between Thiebert and the geeky looking guy with the glasses. They had chosen to have a debate in the centre of the semi-circle of prefab buildings and shacks, yellow-orange light from four high-stationed lamps throwing multiple shadows around the dusty group as the two characters pointed this way and that. As gesticulations went it didn’t give the impression of togetherness.
“What are they arguing about?”
Alex shook his head. “Don’t know. The Thiebert fellow literally dragged out the other guy from one of the shacks and started pushing him around. As far as management motivation goes I’m not impressed. “
“As long as he doesn’t take it out on us I’m happy for it to stay that way, “ Mav replied. They both stopped and paused while raised words filtered through the dusty and swirling air. The words ‘idiot’ and ‘disappeared’ and ‘replacement – now’ came through the clearest.
“uh oh” murmured Alex.
As if on cue both men reached the tail end of their conversation, which ended with two sets of heads twisting and looking towards the cave entrance. Both men approached with intent, fishing in belts for guns. One, the geeky fellow (who Alex vaguely recalled was called Padres, the one who had some control over the bugs) pulled out a radio and muttered urgent words into it.
“uh oh” replied Mav.
By the time the men approached the door and threw it open [1] two others had joined them; Jean Luc and Monkey Bob Aka Dyfedd, [2] both looking mean and moody with equal maleavance. Each clutched point-able weaponry, and used them thus.
“Your friend “ said Thiebert, jaw clenched with barely controlled anger, “has taken it upon himself to – “
“Well – “ babbled Padre nervously, a sheen of sweat across his forehead, “we’re not certain of that. The bug could have gone wild or the electronics shorted out – “
Thiebert fired Padre a glance that if looks could kill he would be six feet under whilst a weeping white haired old mother laid flowers at his grave. His blustered words fell to a halt.
“Your friend, “ Thiebert repeated, “has disappeared. How or why I do not know, nor care less. What this means for you is that one of you must replace him. “
“You know…“ said Al from behind Maverick and Alex, startling them both – “I’m curious as to why everyone amongst you thinks this is a bad idea except you. Seems odd.”
Thiebert’s eyes fell upon Al amongst the intense, unreadable silence that quickly developed. “I only need one of you. It seems like you’ve volunteered. “
“Boo fucking Hoo.” Al replied.
While the pistol whip wasn’t completely unexpected Alex and Mav found that Al was actually kind of asking for a smack. He went down and they both watched with a growing sense of helplessness as Al’s groaning form found itself dragged by both ankles out of view. The door slammed without warning. They both retreated to the back of the cave, chewing nails and muttering.
Alex was first to find the note, laid on the ground, a page from Al’s little notepad he carried everywhere [3]. On it he had written:
Have a plan. Speak to the white haired woman – she wants out. You all owe me a beer.
[1] after unlocking if naturally. Otherwise they would have looked idiots.
[2] although nobody had asked him for this and he hadn’t offered it. If it’s any consolation he only appears once more at the end
[3] convenient yes I know. But he does. Some guys are like that. Oh please yourself.
