ADULT: Meeting Of Minds - Part 15b of 24+
Dana Short (DanaShort@aol.com)
Mon, 10 May 2004 01:42:11 EDT
This story may be concidered PG-13 due to both the situation, and=20
the occasional use of profanity (Chapter 11) when a char was upset.
Please direct flames/comments to DanaShort@aol.com=20
Please note the story title in the subject line, or your message will=20
be lost to my SPAM filter.
Legal Disclaimer: See first post, or visit the URL below for full=20
disclaimer. Just let it be known I don't own this universe.=20
Archive only according to rules mentioned in full disclaimer.=20
I hope you enjoy the story.=20
Fully formatted text of Chapters 1-15 available at:=20
http://www.DanaShort.com/HL-MOM.htm
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
And now the conclusiuon of Chapter Fifteen - "Rollin=E2=80=99 Home (And Then=
=20
There Were Four)" Begun on 5-07
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
This time, Cassandra took the lead, and with Sue and Patrick=20
following, headed towards the outskirts of Memphis, and the=20
Winchester office of the First Practical Bank of Memphis, about=20
fifteen miles away. While in-route, Sue called Joe and told him=20
where Paxton Motor Coaches was.
Once there, Sue and Patrick headed on over to the RV dealership,=20
Paxton Motors, to start looking around while Cassandra went into the=20
bank it=E2=80=99s self to arrange for the funds.
Sue walked along the rows of motor homes, feeling a bit overwhelmed. =20
There were at least as many models of RVs as there were cars at a=20
regular Auto dealership. There were huge ones, small ones, ones=20
who=E2=80=99s sides popped out, ones who=E2=80=99s tops opened up, and so on=
.
=20
=E2=80=9CCan I help you Miss?=E2=80=9D Came a voice from over her shoulder,=20=
as she=20
stepped up to peer into the interior of a particularly large=20
Winnebago.
=E2=80=9CUm, just looking for the moment.=E2=80=9D She replied, turning to l=
ook at=20
the gentleman who stood behind her, melting in a full suit and tie=20
under the afternoon Memphis sun.
=E2=80=9CWell, what are you looking for? Perhaps I can help you find it. M=
y=20
name=E2=80=99s Jack. Jack Summers.=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=9CHi Jack. Sue. And I suppose you can help us, if you can be a bit=20
patient. We are actually here I believe to get a new RV of some=20
sort. I have one friend running around here somewhere, and the=20
second, who will actually be buying it, should be along shortly,=20
she=E2=80=99s at the bank across the street getting the funds.=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=9CAh. A joint project. Very well, have you ever had or used a Motor=
=20
Home before? This one is an Itasca Sunflier, built by Winnebago. It=20
features two separate slide-outs, one in front, which expands the=20
lounge/galley, and a second one in the rear, which expands the=20
bedroom, and moves out the wardrobe, giving the interior more space. =20
How many people total are you planning on sleeping, do you know?=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=9CI don=E2=80=99t know. There are three of us, possibly four. Mostl=
y we are=20
looking for transportation, I believe not sleeping accommodations=20
though.=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=9CWell, this particular model has three sleeping positions, each of=20
which can accommodate up to two people. There=E2=80=99s the main bedroom, o=
f=20
course, then there is the kitchen table, which folds down into a bed,=20
and finally, the couch here opens up into a third bed as well.=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=9CThat=E2=80=99s nice. I don=E2=80=99t think the expandable parts wi=
ll work well for=20
us though while we are driving. I=E2=80=99m not positive, because this=20
really isn=E2=80=99t my show, but it seems to me what we would want is=20
something which we can all be comfortable in while we drive to=20
California. We=E2=80=99ll probably continue to stay in hotels when we stop=20
for the night, I would assume.=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=9COk. What price range are you looking for?=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=9CWhat=E2=80=99s the Entry Level?=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=9COh, we could probably set you up with an older 2003 Fiesta or Tioga=
=20
for around sixty.=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=9CThat=E2=80=99s all?=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=9CYes, but those really are entry level. Only two sleeping areas, an=
d=20
one is the table, which is your second seating area as well. If you=20
plan on spending a long time in it, you might really want to consider=20
something larger.=E2=80=9D
At that moment, Patrick came rushing up the isle between the various=20
parked RVs, looking concerned. When he spotted Sue, he suddenly=20
looked a whole lot better. He headed over, with a glance over his=20
shoulder.
=E2=80=9CSue! Is Cassandra here yet, perhaps in the office?=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=9CI don=E2=80=99t think so,=E2=80=9D Sue said, looking across the str=
eet, and seeing=20
Sue=E2=80=99s car still at the bank. =E2=80=9CWhy?=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=9CSOMEONE is in the office.=E2=80=9D he said, with excessive stress o=
n the=20
word someone.
=E2=80=9CSomeone you know?=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=9CNo, someone you might have kept an eye on. And I think they may=20
have noticed me. I was hoping it was Cassandra.=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=9CNo luck.=E2=80=9D Sue said, casually reaching under her coat, and l=
oosening=20
the handle of her Katana, just in case.
=E2=80=9CWhat=E2=80=99s going on?=E2=80=9D Jack asked, confused.
=E2=80=9COh, Jack, this is Patrick, the friend I told you was wandering=20
around.=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=9CWhat=E2=80=99s this about watching someone in the office,=E2=80=9D=20=
Jack asked,=20
reaching up and casually running his left hand through his hair, and=20
not necessarily accidentally exposing a faint blue tattoo on his=20
wrist.
Sue=E2=80=99s heart leapt in her throat for a moment, then she steadied=20
herself. =E2=80=9CI don=E2=80=99t watch people any more. It would be too m=
uch of a=20
conflict of interest.=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=9CYou know, I actually had a call a short time ago, about you and you=
r=20
party specifically. I hadn=E2=80=99t realized it was you though. They=20
didn=E2=80=99t send any pictures, and you didn=E2=80=99t give me your full n=
ame.=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=9CSue. Sue Danning,=E2=80=9D she said with a smile.
=E2=80=9CPleased to meet you, Sue. I may not agree with your choices, but=20
Joe filled me in on some of the circumstances, and while the one I=20
have is a waste of protein, I could understand how Hunters can mess=20
with your choices, and from what I was told, things have sort of=20
snowballed from there. I was told not to give you any information,=20
but when they heard where you were heading to be as helpful as I=20
could. That said, I think it may be wise if both your friends stay=20
far away from our finance office, but I can=E2=80=99t say why.=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=9CJack, please don=E2=80=99t take this the wrong way, but Joe is more=
subtle=20
than that!=E2=80=9D Sue said, with an honest laugh, her tension suddenly=20
draining away, to be replaced by a sudden chill, as she realized=20
SOMEONE was going to have to go into the Finance Office to pay for=20
the motor home, unless they went to a different dealership. =E2=80=9CUm,=20
Jack, not to blow your sale or anything, but is there a different=20
dealership you could recommend?=E2=80=9D
Jack looked relieved for a moment, then got a sad expression, and=20
shook his head, =E2=80=9CNo, I=E2=80=99m afraid we are the only dealership h=
ere in=20
Memphis. If you went on, passing through Oklahoma?=E2=80=9D he asked, and a=
t=20
Sue=E2=80=99s nod continued, =E2=80=9CThere=E2=80=99s a dealership in Oklaho=
ma City. That=20
would be the only alternative I can recommend, unless you come in to=20
sign everything yourself. Anything else, could be, well, it might=20
have bad consequences.=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=9CI understand.=E2=80=9D Sue said. =E2=80=9CAs soon as Cassandra get=
s here, we=E2=80=99ll see=20
what she wants to do.=E2=80=9D
Patrick=E2=80=99s sudden tensing gave Sue the brief moment=E2=80=99s warning=
she=20
needed NOT to react when she felt the edge of a Quickening brush=20
against her mind. Looking across the street, she was relieved to see=20
Cassandra=E2=80=99s car was gone. Leaning out the door over Patrick who was=
=20
looking behind him now, she saw Cassandra=E2=80=99s form walking their way=20
amongst the other RVs. =E2=80=9CCassandra!=E2=80=9D she called, waving from=
the=20
doorway.
Cassandra let out a brief wave to acknowledge she had heard Sue, and=20
continued their way, more swiftly now.
Stopping before Patrick, Sue and Jack, she looked at Patrick, and=20
said softly, =E2=80=9CWhat troubles you, Patrick?=E2=80=9D
Patrick looked at Sue, and Sue looked at Jack, and said =E2=80=9CCassandra,=20=
I=20
have a reason to think this may not be a healthy place to buy a RV=20
from. There could be unwanted problems from some of the staff.=E2=80=9D
Cassandra looked at Sue and Patrick, then again at Jack, and nodded=20
her head as if concluding something. She reached out and softly=20
grasped Jack=E2=80=99s left arm, and slowly turned his wrist over, exposing=20
his Tattoo. =E2=80=9CI am not surprised. I will not ask the identity of th=
e=20
one you Watch, Chronicler, I know of your oath, and would not make=20
you break it.=E2=80=9D
A sudden tingling caused Patrick, Sue, Cassandra, and at their=20
movement, even Jack to jump, and Patrick looked wildly around until=20
he spotted a figure standing a bit away, watching them. =E2=80=9CUm, it may=
=20
be too late.=E2=80=9D
Jack looked out the door, and added, =E2=80=9CMight be. Sorry.=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=9COh well, in that case, let us conduct our business, then if there i=
s=20
any more business to be conducted, we can handle it while the=20
paperwork is prepared.=E2=80=9D Cassandra said, loudly enough that the other=
=20
party could hear her as well.
Jack shook his head, and said =E2=80=9CI suppose so.=E2=80=9D
The other figure moved off again in the direction from which it had=20
come, never having come into clear view, nor having said a word.
=E2=80=9CSo, it is the three of you, and possibly the fourth if the=20
authorities grant permission from what I was told, is that right?=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=9CYes.=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=9CAnd price range?=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=9CLower mid-range. I was thinking something like my Caravan at home.=
=20
It=E2=80=99s about 200 feet inside, about 30 feet long.=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=9COk, we have several models in that general size. I was just tellin=
g=20
Sue about the Fiesta and Tioga models, but those are more entry level=20
units, A good =E2=80=9803 I could recommend would be a Fleetwood Bounder I=20
have, 31 feet long, 12 feet high, and 8 1/2 feet wide. Sleeps seven,=20
in four areas. It has a regular queen bed in the rear bedroom, then=20
the couch and the kitchenette convert into doubles, and on this=20
particular unit, there is a drop down bed over the driver and=20
passenger seats, as well. Fully equipped, with microwave,=20
television, surround sound audio system, even has a mobile video &=20
data satellite system which hooks up through Direct TV, but service=20
would be extra. It was a custom build, but the person who ordered it=20
had to back out at the last minute, and forfeited the deposit. I=20
could make you a good deal at eighty five. Want to see it?=E2=80=9D
Cassandra nodded, and stepped aside. Jack exited the RV, Sue=20
following him, and all four of them made their way deeper into the=20
lot, until they stopped before a large, white and tan RV. Opening=20
the side door, Jack motioned them all in, then followed them inside.
The interior was slightly cramped with all four of them standing in=20
the lounge area. The inside walls were basically white with light=20
wood grain fixtures and cabinets. The stove, oven, and microwave in=20
the kitchen across from the door were white, as was the large=20
refrigerator to the door=E2=80=99s left.
Looking past the fridge, Sue could see a large bed in the room in the=20
back. To the front, there was a couch, with a booth type table=20
opposite it, and the driver=E2=80=99s and passenger=E2=80=99s seats, both of=
which=20
were currently turned facing the interior. The passenger=E2=80=99s seat was=
=20
also reclined, with a footrest extended.
A television was mounted in the overhead compartment above the table,=20
where it would be easily viewed from both the couch, and the=20
recliner/passenger seat.
=E2=80=9CLooks a lot better than the back seat of my Geo, I=E2=80=99ll give=20=
you that=20
Cassandra.=E2=80=9D Sue said.
=E2=80=9CI=E2=80=99m glad you approve. After all, it will be yours, and reg=
istered=20
in your name, Child.=E2=80=9D Cassandra answered, nodding.
=E2=80=9CWhat?=E2=80=9D Sue asked?
=E2=80=9CWell, I can=E2=80=99t very well ship it back home with me when I le=
ave,=20
besides I already have a Caravan at home. This will be my gift to=20
you, an amends for doubting you earlier.=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=9CI, I can=E2=80=99t take this.=E2=80=9D Sue complained.
=E2=80=9CCan, and will, unless you wish to offer me an insult.=E2=80=9D Cass=
andra=20
said, suddenly looking stern.
=E2=80=9CUh, Ms. Danning?=E2=80=9D Jack offered softly.
=E2=80=9CYes?=E2=80=9D Sue said, still a bit upset by being forced to accept=
=20
Cassandra=E2=80=99s gift.
=E2=80=9CTake it. I don=E2=80=99t think it will get you in any more trouble=
than you=20
are anyhow.=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=9CFine. Put it in my name.=E2=80=9D Sue said in exasperation.
=E2=80=9CVery well. Now that that is settled, Sue, is your car front, or=20
rear wheel drive, and is it an automatic or a stick shift?=E2=80=9D Cassandr=
a=20
asked.
=E2=80=9CWhat? Why do you ask? I can drive all of them, if that=E2=80=99s=20=
what you=20
are wondering.=E2=80=9D Sue answered.
=E2=80=9CNo, for the trailer.=E2=80=9D Cassandra explained.
=E2=80=9CFront wheel, automatic.=E2=80=9D Sue answered.
=E2=80=9CA Two wheel nose trailer would probably work well. We have those i=
n=20
stock even, so no delay waiting to get one shipped here. That way,=20
assuming we can get Service to work right away on check-out and=20
detailing, you can be out of here tomorrow.=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=9CWhat?=E2=80=9D Sue, Patrick, and Cassandra all said at once.
=E2=80=9CI don=E2=80=99t understand. I thought you knew you can=E2=80=99t j=
ust pick out a=20
motor home and drive it home. It=E2=80=99s not like a car, there are a lot=20
of complicated parts that make up a motor home. The orientation=20
usually takes an hour or two to walk a new owner through the basics,=20
like dumping and filling the tanks, hook ups, maintaining the=20
generator, auxiliary batteries, how to run the air conditioners,=20
changing the refrigerator from AC to DC or Gas, lighting pilots,=20
filing the propane tank, setting up the beds, couches, and such. The=20
list goes on and on. And some mistakes you can make can kill=20
people.=E2=80=9D He said, then looking between Patrick and Cassandra, he=20
amended, =E2=80=9CWell could kill Sue at least.=E2=80=9D
Cassandra muttered something about all Patrick needed was more ways=20
to get killed, but Sue couldn=E2=80=99t quite make out what she said. =20
Neither Patrick or Jack heard a thing.
=E2=80=9CWell, is there any way we could accelerate it? Cassandra already=20
has a motor home, so she should know most of that stuff, and I don=E2=80=99t=
=20
care as much about double checking that everything works as I do=20
about getting moving again. If anything comes up, we can have it=20
fixed later in L.A., if we can only get there.=E2=80=9D Sue said, looking at=
=20
Jack imperatively.
=E2=80=9CLet=E2=80=99s start the paperwork, and I=E2=80=99ll see what I can=20=
do. It may=20
take =E2=80=98till tomorrow to move it out of here. You know they have to=20
move all the other vehicles in this row to get it out, don=E2=80=99t you?=
=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=9CWe do now.=E2=80=9D Patrick grumbled. =20
They filed out of the RV, and made their way into the office=20
building. As they walked down the hall to the Finance Department,=20
Sue felt the telltale tingle of the other Immortal shortly before=20
they passed what she assumed was his office. As Patrick and she=20
filed by, she noticed his eyes widen, and a sudden gleeful expression=20
come over his face. An almost evil expression.
Cassandra and Jack talked to the Sales Manager, while she and Patrick=20
were left to look over the office. Growing bored, Patrick turned and=20
headed back to the lobby in the front of the office. Sue had to=20
stay, however because they needed information from her, such as her=20
driver=E2=80=99s license, her birth date, her home address in Los Angeles,=20
her insurance company, and other details like that.
Once she had finished, Cassandra had handed them a cashier=E2=80=99s check=20
from First Practical Bank, made out for eighty thousand dollars, and=20
added another five thousand in cash. When the Sales Manager=20
mentioned taxes, Cassandra said something about them covering any=20
additional costs themselves, since she was paying cash, and something=20
about her voice made both men agree without argument. =20
Sue and Cassandra headed back to the lobby to find Patrick, while=20
Jack and his manager went about getting the RV moved and prepped for=20
immediate release. Sue made a mental note to bring Cassandra along=20
if she ever faced an important negotiation in the future.
In the Lobby, they found Patrick staring at a water cooler with a=20
hurt expression, a paper cup in his hand, and a puddle of water at=20
his feet, along with the circular bottom of the paper cup.
Before they could say anything, a cold voice spoke from the hallway=20
behind them, =E2=80=9CI believe it is time for our, business.=E2=80=9D
Cassandra turned, and looked at him. =E2=80=9CAnd you are?=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=9CI am Douglas Walters, and there can be only one, me. I challenge=20
you=E2=80=9D He said, looking Cassandra over with vague interest.
=E2=80=9CI really doubt it.=E2=80=9D Cassandra said, sounding bored, =E2=80=
=9CHere, in the=20
lobby? Isn=E2=80=99t that a bit, public?=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=9CNo, bitch. Don=E2=80=99t be stupid, you=E2=80=99re not a blonde, d=
on=E2=80=99t act like=20
one. In the maintenance yard, behind the building. Now.=E2=80=9D
He led the way for the three other Immortals back outside the=20
building, and behind a fence to a somewhat open asphalt area, closing=20
the gate behind himself.
=E2=80=9CI will kill you first, then your two students. I'll have you know=20
I've already taken six other heads before. Three more should be a=20
snap." He said looking at Cassandra, and pulling a roman short sword=20
out from under his sports coat, which he hung carefully on the fence,=20
right over the =E2=80=9CNo Smoking=E2=80=9D sign.
Cassandra frowned, and pulled out her own rapier, handing her coat=20
and purse to Sue. =E2=80=9CTry to keep it clear of the fireworks, please. =20=
I=20
have quite a bit of cash in there still, and would hate to see it=20
burnt.=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=9COk=E2=80=9D, Sue said, then froze, as she suddenly felt the touch o=
f ANOTHER=20
Quickening.
Douglas looked around, and said, =E2=80=9CWhat is this, a Gathering?=E2=80=
=9D
Cassandra looked around as well, then turned to Sue. =E2=80=9CDo you know=20
anyone else who should be here?=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=9CNo. Not that I=E2=80=99m expecting, other than Sally, and somehow=20=
I really=20
doubt she brought an Immortal with her.=E2=80=9D Sue replied.
The gate creaked open, and Adam was revealed standing in the=20
opening. =E2=80=9CSue?=E2=80=9D he asked, peeking his head around and takin=
g in the=20
scene.
Sue turned at the familiar voice and said =E2=80=9CAdam?=E2=80=9D
Cassandra went white upon seeing Adam, the blood draining from her=20
face and her sword tip dropping to the ground, but her eyes narrowed=20
in what appeared rage, as she whispered one word, =E2=80=9CDeath.=E2=80=9D
Patrick went white as well, looking back and forth between the new=20
arrival and the two women, and just repeated them, =E2=80=9CAdam, death?=E2=
=80=9D
Adam looked at Cassandra and said flatly, =E2=80=9CHello Cassandra.=E2=80=
=9D
=E2=80=9CMethos.=E2=80=9D Cassandra said, her voice now devoid of all emotio=
n, but=20
the color coming back into her face, and her rapier lifting back up=20
into a more usable position. =E2=80=9CWhat are you doing here?=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=9CMethos?=E2=80=9D asked Douglas.
=E2=80=9CMethos.=E2=80=9D Said the still pale Patrick, edging away for a mom=
ent=20
towards Douglas, then apparently rethinking his actions, and instead=20
standing where is was.
=E2=80=9CChecking up on Sue.=E2=80=9D Adam said. =E2=80=9CWhat are you up to=
, and I don=E2=80=99t=20
mean in general, we can get to that later, I mean right now, here?=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=9CMeeting this fool=E2=80=99s challenge=E2=80=9D, Cassandra said, mot=
ioning at Douglas=20
with her rapier.
=E2=80=9CYou challenged Cassandra?=E2=80=9D Methos asked Douglas.
=E2=80=9CI challenged her, and her two students.=E2=80=9D Douglas said.
=E2=80=9CWe=E2=80=99re not her students.=E2=80=9D Patrick said, trying to co=
rrect Douglas for=20
some reason, =E2=80=9CI=E2=80=99m Sue=E2=80=99s Student.=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=9CWhatever, it doesn=E2=80=99t matter, soon you=E2=80=99ll be dead.=
=E2=80=9D Douglas said,=20
returning his attention to Adam and raising his Gladius, =E2=80=9CUnless you=
=20
are planning to interfere in my challenges=E2=80=9D
"Oh, I won't interfere in your challenge, you can kill yourself=20
however you chose, but I do have to warn you, if you should somehow=20
win, your head will roll right after my Student's. You'll never get=20
near the Younglings." Adam said, looking at Douglas meaningfully.
=E2=80=9CI=E2=80=99m NOT your student.=E2=80=9D Cassandra hissed at Adam.
=E2=80=9CIf you don=E2=80=99t want to claim me, that is your choice, Cassand=
ra. We=20
can talk about it later, after you take care of this idiot.=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=9CFine. I=E2=80=99ll kill the bitch, then I=E2=80=99ll kill you, the=
n I=E2=80=99ll kill your=20
students.=E2=80=9D Douglas said.
=E2=80=9CWe=E2=80=99re not his students=E2=80=9D Sue said.
=E2=80=9CWhatever!=E2=80=9D Douglas shouted, finally losing his temper and c=
harging=20
at Cassandra. =E2=80=9CI don=E2=80=99t care who=E2=80=99s students you are,=
=E2=80=9D he said=20
swinging wildly, Cassandra merely stepping to his left and out of=20
range of his first attempt, =E2=80=9CI will kill you all.=E2=80=9D He said,=20=
swinging=20
again at Cassandra, and again missing as she stepped to her right=20
this time, =E2=80=9CAnd there can be only one!=E2=80=9D he said, taking a th=
ird swing=20
at Cassandra, which she again avoided, this time by taking a step=20
backwards. =20
=E2=80=9CWell, it won=E2=80=99t be you,=E2=80=9D Cassandra said, bringing he=
r sword around in=20
a single swipe, and slicing neatly through Douglas=E2=80=99s neck.
As Douglas collapsed, and the energy of the quickening started=20
leaking out of the body, Patrick stared in awe.
Bolts of blue white energy shot out of Douglas=E2=80=99s body and into the=20
ground, into the fence, into the lights, and mostly into Cassandra. =20
Lights exploded, glass rained down, and the gate opened as Sally=20
stuck her head in to see what was happening.
Sally watched as powerful currents arced from the headless body on=20
the ground into Cassandra. She watched other bolts arc into the=20
wooden slats woven through the wire mesh of the fence, setting them=20
and the jacket hanging off them on fire, and into the light pole with=20
its bulb which overhung the small enclosed space. Raining down glass=20
on Patrick who stood beneath it. Finally, she watched as a final=20
bolt shot out and hit the base of the light pole, and it toppled,=20
crushing Patrick beneath it as it fell.
Looking around at the devastation, she simply said, =E2=80=9CAch, an I misse=
d=20
the fight!=E2=80=9D
Adam moved to help Sue pull Patrick=E2=80=99s dead body from under the=20
collapsed pole, while Cassandra collected Douglas=E2=80=99s pitiful sword an=
d=20
carried it back towards Adam and Sue, a blade now in each hand. =20
Seeing Sally however, she hissed at him, =E2=80=9CWe will deal with this=20
later,=E2=80=9D and walked on past Sally and out of the yard, leaving the=20
fire to burn behind her.
Sue and Adam pulled Patrick out from under the wreckage, and managed=20
to carry him through the gate, which Sally continued to hold open for=20
them. =20
Once through the gate, Adam looked around, and said, =E2=80=9CLet me carry=20
him.=E2=80=9D=20
Sue set down Patrick=E2=80=99s feet, and Adam draped Patrick=E2=80=99s right=
arm over=20
his shoulder and supported him as though he was drunk, dragging him=20
through the lot towards where the cars were parked, Sue and Sally=20
following along behind.
=E2=80=9CSue, go open your car, and we=E2=80=99ll put him in the back seat,=20=
=E2=80=98till he=20
revives.=E2=80=9D
Sally looked at Adam, and said, =E2=80=9CYou know he is Immortal. Don=E2=
=80=99t you=20
see this as a violation of your Oath?=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=9CI don=E2=80=99t see how,=E2=80=9D Adam replied, =E2=80=9CThe oath s=
aid I would not interfere=20
with their lives. It didn=E2=80=99t say I couldn=E2=80=99t interact or even=
help on=20
occasion.=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=9CIt also said ye would nae let them ken yer existence.=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=9CNo, it said that I would observe and record without interfering or=20
letting them know I was there, if you want to be specific. Since I=20
obviously can=E2=80=99t be invisible, that is impossible, therefore it=20
doesn=E2=80=99t count. But the letter is not the important part of the oath=
,=20
it is the intent behind it. Watchers should watch, and record. Not=20
participate. That was the intent. Remember, three thousand years=20
ago when the oath was first formulated, it wasn=E2=80=99t even in English or=
=20
French, neither language existed. I have read and retranslated the=20
actual oath, sworn by the first Watchers, and supposedly handed down=20
to their successors. It was quite a bit longer than the three liner=20
used by the Society today. Roughly translated, it would go more like=20
this: =E2=80=98I am a watcher. I swear to observe and record the=20
interactions between Immortals without judgment, and without taking=20
any action or providing any information which could alter the=20
outcomes of their battles. To this I swear my life.=E2=80=99 Granted, that=
=E2=80=99s=20
how I translated it, but the key difference is that the original oath=20
is FOLLOWABLE, the current one is more LAUGHABLE. How many Immortals=20
do you think have no idea we are out there? They=E2=80=99re a paranoid lot,=
=20
do you really think they wouldn=E2=80=99t notice someone actually spying on=20
them? Read the chronicles, and look specifically for Immortals who=20
have confronted their watchers, telling them to back off, or=20
interrogating them. Look at the watchers who have disappeared,=20
supposedly killed by their subjects when they were discovered.=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=9CBut,=E2=80=9D Sally said, =E2=80=9CThat means that they all know?=
=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=9CNo. I bet the idiot Cassandra just dealt with had no clue. But I=
=E2=80=99m=20
equally sure Cassandra has told all her students, and probably this=20
one here as well.=E2=80=9D Adam said, laying Patrick down in the back seat o=
f=20
Sue=E2=80=99s car.
=E2=80=9CAnd what makes you such an expert in ancient watchers?=E2=80=9D Sal=
ly=20
challenged.
=E2=80=9CI don=E2=80=99t believe I introduced myself,=E2=80=9D Adam said,=20=
=E2=80=9CAdam Pierson,=20
researcher, historian, and linguist, currently assigned to the Methos=20
project.=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=9CMethos?=E2=80=9D Sally asked, =E2=80=9CIs he real?=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=9CI just heard Elvis is alive, so why not Methos. Cassandra is over=20
thirty five hundred years old, Sue=E2=80=99s Immortal was almost four=20
thousand, so that means he could still be around. Plus, from what=20
Sue said, Cassandra and Duncan, who I know personally, apparently ran=20
into him in Bordeaux a few years ago.=E2=80=9D
As they turned back towards the Office building, the propane tank=20
behind the burning fence finally exploded, throwing a huge fireball=20
into the late afternoon Memphis sky.
=20
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
=20
To be continued in Chapter Sixteen - "Five For The Road" Comming 5-14