scared?” she asks.
“Not
really.”
“Did
you ever think that you may die?”
“Not
at first, but toward the end . . .”
Another
knock on the door and this time it’s James, looking exhausted but relieved to
see Lathan well.
“Lathan,
I can’t imagine another soul in the world more thankful for anything right now
than I am for you having done what you did. On behalf of all of us here, thank
you.”
“I
really don’t know what to say, James.”
“You
don’t need to say anything at all. Simply relax and have a successful recovery.
Are you comfortable? Is there anything I can do for you? Anything
at all?”
“I’m
good, thanks. I took a couple of pain killers a while ago and Taya is going to
get me something to eat soon, so I’m already looked after quite well. But thank
you.”
James
smiles on his niece. “Taya’s a good girl, I keep
forgetting she’s no longer a little girl. She’s all grown up.”
Taya
rolls her eyes and says, “I’m going to get you some food. And when I get back,
visiting hours will be over. Understand, uncle James?”
“Understood.”
Taya
winks at Lathan as she goes out the door.
James
brings Lathan up to speed on what took place after he rescued Stan and Jonsey . Those who weren’t near Lathan or the explosions had
either run off or began charging and shooting at the gate. Most of them were
shot down by the gate guards and those who weren’t got away in the few vehicles
that weren’t damaged by the explosions. The next morning an armed guard
clean-up crew went out to haul in what could be salvaged and burned the dead
bodies in the incinerator.
“It
was a mess, but a mess that we were more than happy to clean up. Only one thing
though, there was no sign of Vincent. Did you see him out there?”
“Up close and personal. I cut off a couple of his digits.”
Lathan holds up a hand and wiggles his pinky and ring finger. “But a man
wearing a mask came out of nowhere and saved him before I could finish him off.
Know anything about that one?”
“Mm, yes, Vincent’s personal body
guard. No one’s
sure what his name is, we refer to him simply as ‘The
Masked Man’. They say that he will follow Vincent into hell itself if need be.”
“How
do you know so much about them?”
“ There’s a few men here who’ve infiltrated Maddick as spies.
One of our men was eventually discovered, and Vincent sent him back, piece by
piece. We no longer risk lives to spy on them.”
Taya
shows back up with a bag full of food. She empties its contents on a table next
to the bed.
“Everyone
sends their love and respects. I got some baked chicken from Mrs. Dobbs, our
poultry and rabbit keeper, some goats milk from Mister Markum ,
the goat man, some bread from Mrs. Floyd who runs the bakery, and . . .” she
brings out a Tupperware bowl filled with a mix of colorful green, red, and
orange, “Fresh salad with dressing.” She holds up a bottle of dressing.
Lathan
gives her a knowing grin, remembering what transpired between the two while
making a salad the day before.
James
says, “I guess I’ll leave you two to it. I’ll drop in on you sometime tomorrow,
if that’s all right.” Before leaving out the door he turns back to Lathan and
says with emotional sincerity, “Twice you’ve put yourself in harm’s way to save
the lives of others. First you saved my nieces life and now you saved our
people’s lives. Complete strangers to you. You are a rare breed, Lathan. And a complete mystery. But I hope we will get to know each
other better. This is your home, whether you take it or leave it, you will always have a place with us.”
29
“Jacko!”
The
pumpkin faced man scuttles into his King’s chamber like a frightened mouse.
“Yes?
What is it, sire?”
Clinching
teeth, Vincent says, “My hand is killing me. Summon Jizell and tell her to
bring me the best dope she’s got. Quickly!”
“Yes,
sire.” Jacko bows and leaves as fast as he came, eager to
“Not
really.”
“Did
you ever think that you may die?”
“Not
at first, but toward the end . . .”
Another
knock on the door and this time it’s James, looking exhausted but relieved to
see Lathan well.
“Lathan,
I can’t imagine another soul in the world more thankful for anything right now
than I am for you having done what you did. On behalf of all of us here, thank
you.”
“I
really don’t know what to say, James.”
“You
don’t need to say anything at all. Simply relax and have a successful recovery.
Are you comfortable? Is there anything I can do for you? Anything
at all?”
“I’m
good, thanks. I took a couple of pain killers a while ago and Taya is going to
get me something to eat soon, so I’m already looked after quite well. But thank
you.”
James
smiles on his niece. “Taya’s a good girl, I keep
forgetting she’s no longer a little girl. She’s all grown up.”
Taya
rolls her eyes and says, “I’m going to get you some food. And when I get back,
visiting hours will be over. Understand, uncle James?”
“Understood.”
Taya
winks at Lathan as she goes out the door.
James
brings Lathan up to speed on what took place after he rescued Stan and Jonsey . Those who weren’t near Lathan or the explosions had
either run off or began charging and shooting at the gate. Most of them were
shot down by the gate guards and those who weren’t got away in the few vehicles
that weren’t damaged by the explosions. The next morning an armed guard
clean-up crew went out to haul in what could be salvaged and burned the dead
bodies in the incinerator.
“It
was a mess, but a mess that we were more than happy to clean up. Only one thing
though, there was no sign of Vincent. Did you see him out there?”
“Up close and personal. I cut off a couple of his digits.”
Lathan holds up a hand and wiggles his pinky and ring finger. “But a man
wearing a mask came out of nowhere and saved him before I could finish him off.
Know anything about that one?”
“Mm, yes, Vincent’s personal body
guard. No one’s
sure what his name is, we refer to him simply as ‘The
Masked Man’. They say that he will follow Vincent into hell itself if need be.”
“How
do you know so much about them?”
“ There’s a few men here who’ve infiltrated Maddick as spies.
One of our men was eventually discovered, and Vincent sent him back, piece by
piece. We no longer risk lives to spy on them.”
Taya
shows back up with a bag full of food. She empties its contents on a table next
to the bed.
“Everyone
sends their love and respects. I got some baked chicken from Mrs. Dobbs, our
poultry and rabbit keeper, some goats milk from Mister Markum ,
the goat man, some bread from Mrs. Floyd who runs the bakery, and . . .” she
brings out a Tupperware bowl filled with a mix of colorful green, red, and
orange, “Fresh salad with dressing.” She holds up a bottle of dressing.
Lathan
gives her a knowing grin, remembering what transpired between the two while
making a salad the day before.
James
says, “I guess I’ll leave you two to it. I’ll drop in on you sometime tomorrow,
if that’s all right.” Before leaving out the door he turns back to Lathan and
says with emotional sincerity, “Twice you’ve put yourself in harm’s way to save
the lives of others. First you saved my nieces life and now you saved our
people’s lives. Complete strangers to you. You are a rare breed, Lathan. And a complete mystery. But I hope we will get to know each
other better. This is your home, whether you take it or leave it, you will always have a place with us.”
29
“Jacko!”
The
pumpkin faced man scuttles into his King’s chamber like a frightened mouse.
“Yes?
What is it, sire?”
Clinching
teeth, Vincent says, “My hand is killing me. Summon Jizell and tell her to
bring me the best dope she’s got. Quickly!”
“Yes,
sire.” Jacko bows and leaves as fast as he came, eager to
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