Part 7 (2/2)
”I'm not certain but from what I know of him, he can do it.”
”Are you doing anything to stop him?”
”I'm afraid I can't share that information with you.” If there was any chance this was was Gaza I didn't want to put my friends in danger. Gaza I didn't want to put my friends in danger.
”I understand.” He paused.
The pause lasted too long for my comfort. ”h.e.l.lo?”
”I'm sorry, Robert. My a.s.sistant was asking a question. We were discussing who that person could be.”
”So you are aware of the others?”
”Yes. There are ten of you.”
”Who are we and why are we here?”
Again there was a long pause.
I began to lose my patience. ”If you don't tell me who I am and why I'm here right now I'm going to cancel this communication!”
It was a bluff and he called it. ”You don't want to do that, Robert. You need answers as much as we do and you know deep in your heart that I am your friend. I know you are confused and believe me I am sensitive to that. But there is too much at stake to go blindly ahead. I'll tell you what. I'll give you half of what you've asked for. Perhaps it will help you to remember. Your name is Dr. Robert Helm. You are a scientist and a programmer. Unfortunately, I can't tell you where you are or why you're there just yet. We don't know what that information would do to your psyche. We have a psychiatrist here and we are consulting...”
”Jason?” That was Thana's voice.
”Gotta go.”
”Robert, we need... ”
The web vanished and I stepped out of the bushes. Thana was standing in the campsite with her back to me.
”Over here!” I called.
”Where did you go?” She sounded concerned.
”I just stepped into the bushes to... well, you know.” I gave a crooked smile.
”Next time could you let me know?”
”You looked so peaceful. I didn't want to wake you.” I feigned a stretch. ”Well, it looks like the sun is coming up. Think we should get started right away?”
”Yes. I think we'd better.”
It was nice we were actually talking now but as we chatted my mind kept wandering back to the conversation in the web. Who could I trust? Everywhere I turned, there seemed to be a conspiracy.
I was beginning to feel like Rath.
CHAPTER 8.
THE BRAVE KIND SNEAK.
001001011001110.
We continued our journey to Humphrey's, this time side by side. My rapport with the young lady had completely changed. We shared some pleasant conversation and even a joke or two.
”I don't know,” I said. ”I give up. What is is a dyslexic agnostic insomniac?” a dyslexic agnostic insomniac?”
Her eyes twinkled. ”Someone who stays awake all night wondering if there really is a dog.”
It took me a second but when I got it we both broke into a roar of laughter. ”Did Humphrey tell you that one?”
”Yup. He had to explain dyslexic to me though. He was always teaching me lots of new terms. When he told me what that one meant I thought I would never stop laughing.”
”Humphrey sounds like a good man.”
”Oh, he is. The two things he loves most in the world are making people laugh and arguing. What's really fun is when he's arguing with one person and making another person laugh at the same time. He used to have fun twisting my father's words around. Then he would smile at us when Daddy became fl.u.s.tered. Humphrey's quite the character.”
”Is that the village up ahead?” I pointed.
”Yes, that's Ristol. We should stop there and replenish our supplies. We'll need them for the second half of our journey.”
”Good idea. Lead the way.”
Ristol had definitely seen its share of hard times. The buildings, most of which were made of barn board, were worn and lacked maintenance. And the people didn't look much better. They appeared tired, weathered, and very poor. But their eyes reflected strength and determination. Life was tough on them no doubt but I sensed that they stood strong and faced life's challenges together.
I should have put my blindfold back on, but it was too late. The news of my arrival spread like wildfire. People came out and stared as we pa.s.sed through town.
A woman came running out of a building. ”Lord, wait! I beg of you! Wait!”
I slowed my horse and looked down at her filthiness. Her appearance was haphazard, as if she had lacked the proper time to get ready for the day. She was aged beyond her years. Desperation marred her otherwise pretty eyes.
”Lord, my son is very ill. I have given everything I own that he may be cared for but he is slipping away and I can't afford to pay for an expensive doctor to come in from the city. Please help me. You've got to help me!” Tears ran down her dusty face.
My heart hurt to see her pain. I looked at Thana. Her expression was one of sadness. ”Can I help her?” I asked softly, not wanting to put Thana on the spot.
”If there is a physical way I will help too.” She dismounted and approached the woman. ”Shesu, where is he?”
”He is inside.” She looked up at me, her eyes silently pleading for help. I sensed she did not welcome Thana's presence but she did not voice her thoughts. I gave her a shrug.
We entered the hovel where the woman's son lay on a cot. The room looked like a medical combat zone. Jars, pillows, dishes, ointments, and other various articles littered the floor and counters. She had indeed been very busy. I stepped over to the cot and looked down at the ashen face of her son. He was visibly sweating. His pillow was damp. ”Do you know what caused his illness, ma'am?”
She moved to my side. ”He was running in the field behind our house when he stepped on a metal spike. Soon after he began to get sick.”
I went to the base of the cot and lifted the blanket and was shocked to see the piece of metal still protruding from the boy's foot. I looked at Shesu, my mouth gaping. ”Why has this not been removed?”
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