Chapter 17 Gif (1/2)
There had been too many shocking things happening to Laz as of late that he thought he was immune to it. He now found out how wrong he was.
”Grandpa Bill, your... eye?” Laz mutter in total disbelief.
”Oh ho ho, so it's Grandpa Bill now huh? Not asshole, or whatever?” Bill snidely remarked, putting the eye patch back into place.
”I um..” Laz was at a loss for words. He felt this old man was strange, somewhat crazy, and not exactly friendly, but he didn't seem to hate him.
”Let's not talk about that for now. I'm not about to go to a doctor for this as I don't want to become a guinea pig for the little time I have left.” Bill brought out some metal plates from the small bag that he was carrying the spices in.
”The thing you need to know is that if this is happening to me, then there are other things happening to other people. Whatever you got seems to not be visible on the surface. Fucking congratulations. But that doesn't mean it won't be. That also means that others might have something like this too. For me, it's a small thing that I can easily hide. For others, it won't be.”
Cutting out a large helping, Bill handed the plate over to Laz and cut some for himself. Apparently, he didn't consider forks or knives were needed as he just ate with his hands. At this point, Laz was so hungry that he didn't say anything and just started eating.
One man and one boy sat there and ate, not saying a word to each other. The heat from the fire and the smoke rising into the air on the cloudy yet slightly warm day was a different experience for Laz. He felt comfort in the simplicity of it.
After Laz and Bill finished, Bill cut up the rest of the roast and split it between the two again, not saying a word. Laz just silently accepted it and continued eating. He didn't think he would be this hungry, but he seemed to have burned more energy than even he was aware of.
”Come by next weekend for some more running, punching and whatever else I can dream up,” Bill said at last, breaking the silence.
”Why?” It was a simple question, but it was probably the biggest one on his mind. Although Bill had shared his thoughts on these things, he still didn't understand what Bill and his Grandpa expected from him.
”The times we live in are way too peaceful. Most kids like you will never know the ugliness and chaos of war. Normally, we old guys would be grateful for that, but not this time. Me and your grandpa have talked these last few days when he has been ok. We don't want you to end up like another Ziggy, or like me for that matter. When the time comes, if everyone else freezes or fucks up, we want you to react first.” Bill didn't hide this matter from Laz. He knew he was a smart kid, albeit naive.
”Lazarus, when the time comes, you might have to face things alone. You need to be ready. It's our last job to make sure you are. You know, me and my wife along with your grandpa and grandma used to be really close. There was this one time that we all got drunk at the beach and me and your grandpa decided to switch ladies for the hell of it. Ah, what a wild ride your grandma was. And god damn she had amazingly large bouncing breasts that put even my wife's to shame. We...”
”OK. NO! FUCKING NO! KEEP IT IN YOUR PANTS OLD MAN.” Laz bellowed, not even wanting to picture whatever was going to come out of his mouth next.
”HAHAHA,” Bill roared with laughter. ”At my age, sometimes the only things you have left are memories. Anyway, I treated your useless father like a son and therefore, no matter what you think of me, I will treat you like a grandson as well. I never had kids of my own and even when my wife passed, I just didn't give a damn about finding another one.”
”That's why, even though we only met when you were younger and you probably don't remember me, I don't want to see you die before me. Follow me over to the little shed over there. I've got something for you.” Bill pointed at the small wooden shed by his house that sat open with the 4-wheeler sitting in front of it.