“Yeah.”
“Don’t have much luck do you girl?”
“Guess not,” she thought regretfully. “Hey … speaking of it, where were you when this all happened? We were actually trying to track you down.”
“I was on mission to find the device.”
“Oh, that’s right,” Catlin remembered. “We tracked you to that apartment after the event happened, I was looking for you and the …”
“So, is it true Catlin,” he paused. “That everyone left you there?”
“What? Where?”
“Destiny, the news it says you stood up to make a great speech and that all the people, they left you behind, abandoned you.”
Catlin hung her head as he reminded her of the speech, swallowing hard. She’d tried not to think about it, but as he reminded her she felt like a dagger had been thrust into her heart, just as it had been when Ursula mentioned it earlier. She thought she would’ve inspired everyone with her speech in the hopes they would stay on and help her resolve things, despite the government intervention.
The feeling she had back then on the floor, when everyone piled out, filled her chest now and threatened to cause tears, if not for the Viper standing opposite she might’ve let it slip. Instead she said defiantly, “I’m still standing … and I’m still fighting!”
“That’s my girl.”
“What?”
“I said, oh, that’s funny …”
“What?”
“I was just wondering what you are doing here?” he looked around, hoping to change the subject.
She was about to answer when a thought struck and she stuttered to find an answer for him, he was right, she wasn’t sure what she was doing anymore. Or more to the point, she felt she didn’t understand any of it.
Catlin’s own intentions had been selfish, she wanted to correct a few wrongs that’d happened back when she took hold of the reins at Destiny. Finding Suni and her team and the black man was her priority but also in the back of her head were several other issues that she wanted to resolve, issues she wanted to change when she first started at Destiny.
After her first night in charge she could hardly sleep as she dreamed of the opportunities her situation presented her. She could pre-empt a multinational corporation and stop them from interfering in a global environmental issue, or she could stop a chemical attack from happening, geez she could even stop a whaling vessel simply by accessing its electronic console remotely.
The power she had within her grasp was taken away from her before she had any time to make a difference in the world.
“To be honest with you Mr Viper I don’t even know. I thought I was onto something, but it seems that’s not my path, it seems I’m on another journey.”
“Please, call me Sousa.” He bowed as he said it, an awkward movement for him as he was not used to any form of social play. She could tell he was interested in her, just by the way his hips were thrust in her direction, but tried to remain ignorant to it.
“Sousa, is that South African?”
“I’m a Boer,” he retorted, with more than a little arrogance in his voice.
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“Your people and their persecution at the hands of the British.”
“What would you know of it?”
“I’ve spent a lot of time on the dark continent. I know the plight of the Boer, how the English invaded and almost decimated your people. The things they did …”
“Ja,” he reflected. “Well, that was a long time ago. But yes, you are right, damn the English to hell.”
“So, what happened to you anyway, Sousa? We couldn’t find you, we lost you?”
“I was in some makeshift hospital.”
“Oh I had no idea … sorry.”
“I am ok, I had a friend help me.”
“A friend?”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
“Just some … prick.”
Catlin seemed intrigued, “Is it Samuel? Did you find him?”
“Samuel has gone crawling back to the government shitheads to kiss their asses.”
“You found him?”
“He found me hey!”
“Oh, why would he do that?”
“He was told to.”
“Oh, by your friend …?”
“Ja.”
“Who is he?”
“Ha!” he guffawed. “A butt-muncher if you ask me, so full of his bloody self. I met some people in my time but that idiot, he has the biggest ego of them all.”
“Sorry, I don’t understand.”
“Ah never mind yourself hey! You lost your friend too huh?”
“Yes, how did you know that?”
“I have eyes you know … can’t you see them?”
“Excuse me!”
“And I have ears too! You two bloody girls carry on and everybody on the street can hear you. You’re lucky there was no gangs around hey!”
“What gangs?”
“These bloody gangs are everywhere man. There’s no law here anymore and the streets are no longer what they used to be, it’s a jungle again. Two pretty young ladies out in the street make for a nice target you know. I saw and heard you both but didn’t care … someone else though ...”
Catlin didn’t shirk at the threat of violence. “Whatever, I’m not afraid of any man.”
“Well maybe you should be.”
“I can handle myself,” she replied, sticking her chin up at him.
“Ja, ja, whatever hey. I don’t give a shit.” Sousa turned and decided he had enough of the conversation and started to walk off.
“Hey wait!”
“What?”
“Can I come with you?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t have time for you anymore little girl.”
“I am no little girl.”
“Ja whatever, I don’t have time to look after you.” he turned again and tried to leave.
“Your friend? Is he the black man?” she called after him.
He stopped at the mention of the black man. “What?”
“The black man.”
“He’s not my friend.”
“Well who is he then?”
“What do you know about Smith?”
“Who?”
“Smith, he is the black man.”
“Oh, I know plenty about him,” she over compensated, trying to sound like she knew something of use to him.
“And what about the pretty one? Do you know about him also? I saw you talking with him.”
“I know him,” she lied.
“Do you really want to help me?”
“Yes.” She didn’t hesitate, he obviously knew more about what was going on than she did and if she was to make any in roads into the story she was going to have to take advantage where she could.
“What do you know of the pretty one?”
“I know he sweats profusely and smells like he took a bath in perfume, he stinks of it.”
“Huh, that’s weird.”
“How?”
“Fahwad, he stinks and sweats too.”
“Who’s Fahwad?”
“Nobody … what were you talking to the pretty one about?”
“Oh, he was being all coy and messing with us, I don’t know why, but I don’t trust him. He did say that he was looking for someone.”
“Who?”
“You.”
“Me?”
“Yes, we asked who he was looking for and he said your name, Sousa.”
“Hmmm …” he mused. “Right, come along then.”
“Huh?”
“I said come along, ja.”
“Where are
we going?”
“We need to get some food into you, you look half-starved woman!”
“What?” She replied, scratching her head.
“Come,” he said, gesturing for her to follow him. “You can come with me.”
Harrison
It had been three days and nights Smith and Harrison had sat upon the mountain, neither moving during that time. They did not break for food, nor for water and they did not come down the mountain. All they did was sit and occasionally communicate, never rising, never wavering.
Truck tried several times over the past few days to come up, but had cowered before reaching them. But after three days he finally worked up the courage and stomped himself determinedly up the mountain to where Harrison and Smith were sitting.
“Huh hum,” the voice of Truck croaks in the background. But he’s not met with a response from his friend, or the man named Smith who sits by his side, all he gets is silence on the top of the mountain.
“Gents, I know you’re doing your thing together, but I have to interrupt you, I have some news that I think’s important.”
Truck stands there waiting awkwardly and is surprised when Smith’s the first to move, turning slowly where he sits to look up at Truck. His eyes open, convey a sense of peace and indicate, ever so slightly, for Truck to join them.
“No thanks,” he holds up his palm. “I’m good champ. You both are going to want to see what’s happening in the world though ... I apologise for the interruption, but I wouldn’t have done so if I didn’t think it was important.”
Harrison, seemingly oblivious to all else, doesn’t move during the exchange. He sits stoically and silently as Smith stands to speak with Truck.
“Join … please?” Smith asks.
“Nah, its fine mate, honest. I just wanted to …”
“Truck,” Harrison says softly, still not moving.
“Harry?”
“Truck join ... take seat.”
“Best you come and see for yourself little buddy.”
“See as seen Truck.”
“What?”
“Know already … news.”
“Yes? How’d you know that?”
Harrison breathes in and sighs heavily, but sensing Truck feels his news is important he answers, “Truck, what is it?”
“Destiny. The news is reporting that a man called Samuel has requested clearance from the United Nations to re-open the special facility. That he’s also asked for assistance from several nations to continue the search for the terrorist known as Lucinda something and …” he pauses, “… and the unknown black man … substantial rewards are being offered.”
“I thought you should know that this Samuel has made a claim that if he regains access to the facility he intends to re-open it and … ‘begin operations to prevent any further terrorist attacks’. The U.N haven’t made a ruling yet but I feel our position here isn’t safe anymore. If they give him what he wants he’ll have access to the world.”
“Smith?” Harrison defers.
“Don’t know.”
“We should finish what we started and get out of here, quick.” Truck gives his opinion. “Before anyone realises what we’re doing up here. I’ve made the light down there accessible now, let’s just do what we need to do and bail.”
“Leave, right now?” Harrison asks, turning around to look at Smith.
“Truck not ready.” Smith responds.
“Who is …?” Truck asks, surprised to hear his name mentioned.
“Will be, see as seen.” Harrison reassures Smith. “Must leave.”
“Not finish … not learn everything …”
“Know enough,” Harrison argues. “Said already, just need time to learn rest, but otherwise know what come next.”
“Harry, why are you talking funny?” Truck cranes his neck.
“Must speak Yonas … need help.” Smith continues speaking with Harrison.
“Do you know where he is?” Harrison asks.
“Melbourne … search for Sousa.”
“Guys, what the hell is going on?” Truck interjects, standing there completely confused as the conversation drifts between the two.
“Truck there something must tell.” Harrison looks up at him.
“Ok, tell me.”
“Please sit.” he indicates to where he and Smith have been perched, holding out his hand for Truck to take.
“I said I’m fine.”
“Truck, take hand … please.”
“Harrison, you sound funny …?” he looks slightly confused. “You sound like Smith when you talk.”
“Please … Truck …” Harrison insists.
Truck tries to refuse, but he’s always had a soft spot for Harrison and looking into his eyes atop the mountain he finds he cannot refuse him.
He lifts his hand and allows Harrison to take it. “Oh shit!” he exclaims, his hand going tense in Harrison’s as soon as they touch.
“It ok,” Harrison tries to calm him. “Sit, please.”
“Sit? Yeah, ok champ, I’ll sit.” He lets Harrison lead him.
“Truck, please see … as seen.” Harrison says, sitting on the ledge hand in hand with Truck.
“Oh what the hell champ?” Truck reacts violently to the touch. Almost as soon as he’s seated visions enter his consciousness.
“Truck … sit still … best way explain.” Harrison soothes calmly.
Truck tries to do as instructed but visions flash across his mind, threatening his very sanity. Harrison’s somehow delivering images to his mind, images that scare Truck greatly.
“What the hell champ!” he backs away and stands up, only to have two plain faced men looking back at him. Truck’s a simple man and whatever Harrison’s just done, terrifies the hell out of him.
“Truck, it ok,” Harrison pleads.
Truck’s face is a mix of emotions and he can’t face the two of them, quickly turning and retreating down the mountain. Harrison tries in vain to call him back, but Truck only ignores the pleas, choosing instead to flee the scene, one hand clutching the other.
“Smith?”
“Yes.”
“Is Truck going to be ok?”
“Ok, man.”
“He looks like a crazed fool running down the mountain.”
“And?” Smith responds.
“And what?”
“See?”
“Well, yeah, I tried show him something by touching, just the way you show. But he freaked out when I tried to make him see.”
“Truck big boy … will make peace.”
“What if not want help?”
“Not matter. All road lead same direction.”
“Do they?”
“Truck scared … fear make run … soon peace come.”
“I hope so.”
“Harrison?”
“What?”
“‘Me’ …?”
“Sorry, I can’t help using the pronouns,” he apologises. Having three days of inner silence has strengthened him to it, but once Truck came up he’d inadvertently reverted back to his former speech. “I know, but it’s been like that my whole life. I will try better but sometimes I just get a little lost in between the old and the new.”
“‘Me’ … dead.”
“I know, my ego is no longer, so cannot give it a name. But when …”
“No but … just be.”
“Ok.”
“Now,” Smith claps his hands, satisfied. “Now try something new.”
“New?”
“Yes … going give.”
“Give what?”
“Everything.”
“Huh?”
“Share everything … now, Harrison see all Smith see.”
“Oh man … don’t think that good
idea.” Harrison frowns.
“Take hand friend … for last time.”
- -
Truck
Truck was sweating profusely down in the darks of the shaft they’d been excavating on the small Greek island.
Each morning they’d been on the island, at dawn, he would rise, dress and make his way to the main tent. Once there he would prepare a large pot of coffee for the day, storing it in a thermal flask that he took with him as he left the mess tent for the shaft.
After taking a light breakfast, he and the three Aboriginal men would walk up to the headframe, complete a quick safety brief and use the hoist to get to the ground level of their excavation. There he would spend his day, down in the dark, save for thirty minutes at lunchtime.
His days were occupied thus and soon the three native Australian workers took him on as an apprentice of sorts, impressed by Truck’s size and strength. Down in the shaft they would often give the toughest of tasks to their new giant friend, the challenges entertaining them greatly.
Smith and Harrison proved absent on several occasions, more frequently as their time on Santorini wore on. But after Alison had left, taking the three natives with her, Truck had nobody left to talk to. Nobody left to distract him, it was just him and the shaft.
Truck had learnt many things required in shaft mining and it proved to be the perfect distraction and means for him to vent his frustrations out on.
Since he’d left the army all those years ago, he’d searched for a reason to stay motivated in life, eventually finding it when he first met Suni.
Then Harrison had come along and joined the team, Truck grew fond of him very quickly. The two had bonded like brothers over the years, having shared many adventures. Now as he pounded the rock wall with a pick axe, it seemed to Truck that this had come to an end.
Ever since that night in Melbourne, things had never been the same.
With the growing feeling he’d lost his purpose, as he had all those years ago, Truck had taken to working the mines with more than just plain enthusiasm. The others mistook it for passion, but the truth was Truck was taking out his frustrations by working himself as hard as possible.
A day earlier Harrison had showed him something and it’d frightened him even more.
He didn’t know how Harrison had done it, but he knew what he saw when they touched hands, the visions that leapt inside his mind. The truth revealed in those visions forced him to flee, back down to the shaft as he contemplated the message Harrison had given him.
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