The Mullinix Book 1: Ascension
Page 82
Chapter 79 - LaPorte’s Wrath
"That guard better be lucky someone knifed him," LaPorte growled, "I want search parties put together. Paulus Tally needs to be found!"
"He could be anywhere by now!" the younger man said, "How did he get out anyway?"
"That idiot Stack," LaPorte said, "He’s not on the base, so he has to be heading north. Get people searching every house between here and Taliaferro village. I want him found."
"Yes Colonel!" the young man said, glad to get out of the Colonel’s presence.
Ellis LaPorte was supremely pissed that morning. He was on the edge of his final triumph and almost ready to gloat on it when he gets a morning like this. It was enough to make a man go insane, he thought. The fact that he was already certifiable didn’t even cross his mind, however.
He walked back to his office and sat down behind his opulent desk, enjoying the feel of the smooth wood as he tried to think of a fall back plan. It was a few minutes before he even thought of anything to do at all. He rang for one of his adjutants to come in to the room.
"Yes Colonel?" the man said.
"How soon before you can begin the camps?" LaPorte asked him, "Have you got all the troublemakers identified?"
"Nearly," the adjutant said, gulping, "But we need a few more days to finish indoctrination."
"You have two," LaPorte said, "I can’t wait any longer than that in case that idiot lapdog of Massimaferro’s gets his message out."
"I’ll try," the adjutant said, "but I don’t know…"
"You’d better know," Colonel LaPorte told him, "Because I’m going to give the transfer order in three days. So have your lists ready and get your trustworthy people the hell out of the way."
"Yes Colonel!" the adjutant said, snapping off a salute, "I’ll be ready."
"You’d better," LaPorte said quietly, "And find Paulus Tally! If you don’t, we may well not make it."