The light reflecting through the shards of broken beer bottles was like sand in Brick’s eyes. As the gorge came up in the back of his throat, Brick realized that the grits of which he’d been dreaming must have been the vomit and blood he’d swallowed during his lights out.
Spitting ferociously, Brick came fully awake and found himself still bound, though the hood had been removed. He was lying on rough, sandy ground, his back to a warm, misshapen body, apparently Humphrey.
He didn’t know how long he was out, but he noticed that the campfire had been rebuilt, by someone who knew what they were doing.
A voice from across the flames greeted him: “Hello, brother -- so good to see you again after all these years. I’m not particularly impressed with the company you’ve been keeping, Clarence. Where did you find this hunch-backed dummy? I’ve been trying to have a civil conversation with him and all I can get is grunts.”
“Silvio,” muttered Brick, “imagine finding you here alive and well. I’d believe you came to rescue me but for the ‘welcome’.”
“I’m truly sorry I had to whack you Clarence, but the NSA folks are still paying the bills. I had to convince them you were a national security risk before they’d even spring for a charter down here. At least I had the decency to wait for you to wake up.” Silvio burped as he finished his latest beer and crashed the bottle on a rock.
“NSA...So that’s who you’ve been working for?” asked Brick.
“Indeed,” replied his long lost brother.
“And that’s who sent you?”
“Yes.”
“And you’re on an assignment?? Give me a break -- what possible interest could the NSA have in finding me?”
Silvio chuckled, “I convinced them you had joined the Churromatsu terrorists and the only way to capture the cell was to find you and convince you to bring them to justice. The NSA has a BIG interest in stopping terrorism these days.”
“Have you lost your mind? There are no Churromatsu terrorists - Churromatsu is a treasure fable,” Brick replied sarcastically.
“Ah Clarence, you’re so naïve. I know there’s no terrorists, but you have to remember the world we live in. Talk about terrorism and it gets the boss’s attention. Talk about a terror threat and it gets the money for expenses flowing. Well listen, I’d love to reminisce with you about the family these last few years but...I’ve got an itch for gold. Let’s roll. YOH, HARLEY!!”
A ramshackle pick up truck soon backed up to the campfire and a heavily tattooed man hopped out. Harley and Silvio tossed Humphrey into the back of the truck. Brick could hear the hunchback's head thump. “Oh shucks, I’m sorry, dummy -- feel free to tell me how much it hurt,” said Silvio. Harley chuckled menacingly at his boss’s little joke.
Turning to Brick, Silvio said, “Okay brudder, up you go. Once we get along farther, you’ll get to ride up front with the adults. But for now we’ll let you relax with your hunch buddy.” Silvio and Harley tossed Brick into the back with Humphrey, this time facing each other. As the truck pulled away, Humphrey managed a clandestine wink. At least Brick thought it was a wink. Humphrey only had one eye, so it was hard to tell.
