Chapter 62 - A Traitor’s Return
Anthony Stack walked into Ellis LaPorte’s office, a bit haggard from his journey south. The roads over that mountain range were piss poor at best and were even worse when he was returning. Ellis LaPorte looked up at Stack upon his entrance and actually stood his rotund body up.
"Welcome back, Anthony," LaPorte told him, "How was your trip over the mountains?"
"Miserable," Stack grumbled, tossing some documents on LaPorte’s desk, "I met with Facie and he’s ready for us to do it as well."
"Good," LaPorte said, "We just have to hold on until that conference starts. Probably another month."
"Six more days," Stack told him, "Facie used his pull with the Siraqi king to speed things along. The conference is in a week."
"Outstanding!" LaPorte said, "I can handle that."
"You know that Facie intends on slaughtering a large portion of the population," Anthony told his old friend, "He asked me to make sure you have the troublemakers labeled and ready to go."
"I’ve started that process already," LaPorte told him, "I have some interesting things planned on that score too."
"We’re really doing this?" Stack told him, "I mean… We’re going to be killing innocent civilians."
"Gotta break eggs," LaPorte shrugged, "There are too many people in this blasted city. Better to start again with the young who know nothing but my rule."
"Right," Stack nodded, "Did that Mullinix Representative report my presence back up north?"
"Kinda hard for him to do that in a cell," LaPorte said, "He and his late guard tried to break in to my radio room. Mr. Tally will be spending his remaining days in the prison downstairs."
"I’m sure Facie will love getting him," Stack said, almost joking, "How are you holding off Massimaferro?"
"I’m not," LaPorte told him, "He’s up north with the whelp that screwed you over. I’m talking to Insegniferro and claiming that we don’t know where he is. The nonexistent search parties have still found no trace of him. I will probably have them find some clues that they’ve gone north again in a couple days."
"Be careful," Stack warned, "Insegniferro isn’t as good at tactics as Massimaferro, but he’s no slouch either."
"He can be as good as he wants," LaPorte said dismissively, "In one week it will no longer matter."
"Right," Stack nodded, "Well, it’s been a long journey. I’m going to head to my room and get some sleep."
"Go ahead," LaPorte nodded, "I’ve got plenty to work on. I’ll catch you at dinner, Tony."
"Right," Tony Stack nodded as he got up and started to walk out. He was almost out when LaPorte said something else.
"We’re almost home free Tony," LaPorte told him, "Buck up. The hard work is about to pay off."
"Right," Stack said again, nodding as he walked out the door.
He wasn’t so sure.
The Mullinix Book 1: Ascension Page 65