Brick sat up quickly, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. He was expecting the chief and his mind was racing. The three of them hadn't talked about what they would do once the chief came to his dump site. He looked at Sylvio and Harley and they both looked back at him and each other knowing full well what the other was thinking. No one knew what to do once they had the chief in his spot.
Suddenly Brick heard a familiar voice from the bottom of the tree. "I thought I'd receive a warmer welcome.”
"Humphrey!" Brick smiled in relief, as the hunchback climbed into the tree with the three idiots.
"How did you find us?" asked Sylvio with fear in his voice.
Harley looked like he was ready to attack Humphrey. "We can't trust him!"
"Please don't hurt me. I have some information that may actually help you," replied Humphrey.
"When the Russians came for me, I thought they were finally coming to my rescue and taking me out of this jungle. I thought I could finally go back to England with my family and enjoy some tea and crumpets. But they told me that wasn't going to happen and that I would have to help them out or they'd kill me."
Brick was confused. "Why would the Russians, of all people, rescue you and take you home to England? That doesn't make sense. What's your connection to them?"
Humphrey ignored him. "It's a long story but the Russians are on the tribe's side and they'll do anything the chief asks them to." Then he looked Brick right in the eye and said quietly, "The chief knows you're after the gold so he's asked for reinforcements to protect it." All of a sudden Humphrey's mood lightened. "But get this...it's an entire cave of gold!"
Sylvio and Harley started drooling almost immediately.
Humphrey continued, "I don't know exactly where the cave is located. Only the chief knows and he will take the army of protectors there as soon as they arrive. Oh, there is the minor detail I forgot to mention, Brick. Heh heh."
"What is it?" asked Brick.
"Well, the chief told the Russians you killed his wife so now there's a reward for your head."
Brick, frustrated at the direction this day was going in, remained silent. No one said a word for a few minutes.
Then Humphrey broke the silence. "Well, I best be on my way. I told the chief I was going out to take a dump. I don't want him to send the Russians out looking for me."
"WHAT? You're working for them now?!" yelled Brick.
"No, I'm not working for them. My loyalty is still with you. I just don't want them to kill me. They wanted me to give them some information about you but I said I didn't know much. Meet me at this spot same time tomorrow and I'll tell you what I find out, if anything." And with that, Humphrey jumped down from the tree and ran off.
"We must kill him." Sylvio said in a low, determined voice. "We can't trust him anymore."
Monday, January 31, 2011
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Part 11 – FROM S.C. IN RANCHO MIRAGE, CA
As Brick, Harley and Sylvio rode along, they discussed a plan about how to find the treasure. Brick was sure the village chief held the key to finding the site. They decided to snatch him and make him talk.
“I’m still not sure of the safest way to grab him without getting everyone after us,” Brick said. “He’s heavily guarded except when he takes a crap. Somehow he can’t go if people are nearby.”
“Oh great, we’re gonna tackle a half naked fat man in the middle of taking a dump,” Harley growled. Everyone paused while picturing this.
“Well, it bloody hell better be worth it!” Sylvio finally said, as they continued toward the village. They still had a while to go.
In the ensuing hours, Brick and Sylvio talked about what each had been doing for the last 20 years. By the time they arrived at the outskirts of the village, they were laughing so hard tears were flowing. They covered the truck with brush and decided to get a couple hours' rest. Brick sat up and watched them while they slept. He dozed off some as well.
Early the next morning, they slowly moved toward the village. “How will we know when the old bugger goes for a dump?” asked Harley.
“Good question. I guess we could sort of hang out in his favorite site to do his business. Down by the cattails downstream is the only place I’ve seen him go,” Brick stated.
Off to the stream they went, trying hard to keep quiet. When they arrived, a place had to be found for lying in wait. Three large men hiding in a Banyan tree was a recipe for disaster for sure. Many a “Be quiet!”, “Stop stepping on me!”, etc., was heard. Finally, they settled down and even snoozed a bit.
A sudden noise of approaching footsteps woke them with a start.
“I’m still not sure of the safest way to grab him without getting everyone after us,” Brick said. “He’s heavily guarded except when he takes a crap. Somehow he can’t go if people are nearby.”
“Oh great, we’re gonna tackle a half naked fat man in the middle of taking a dump,” Harley growled. Everyone paused while picturing this.
“Well, it bloody hell better be worth it!” Sylvio finally said, as they continued toward the village. They still had a while to go.
In the ensuing hours, Brick and Sylvio talked about what each had been doing for the last 20 years. By the time they arrived at the outskirts of the village, they were laughing so hard tears were flowing. They covered the truck with brush and decided to get a couple hours' rest. Brick sat up and watched them while they slept. He dozed off some as well.
Early the next morning, they slowly moved toward the village. “How will we know when the old bugger goes for a dump?” asked Harley.
“Good question. I guess we could sort of hang out in his favorite site to do his business. Down by the cattails downstream is the only place I’ve seen him go,” Brick stated.
Off to the stream they went, trying hard to keep quiet. When they arrived, a place had to be found for lying in wait. Three large men hiding in a Banyan tree was a recipe for disaster for sure. Many a “Be quiet!”, “Stop stepping on me!”, etc., was heard. Finally, they settled down and even snoozed a bit.
A sudden noise of approaching footsteps woke them with a start.
Part 10
Brick wasn't really sure yet, but he figured between the three of them, they could figure it out.
"Let's just keep driving for now."
Brick resituated himself so he was sitting in the middle and facing forward, but he kept his arms folded in his lap with the guns still pointing at their targets, just in case.
"Let's just keep driving for now."
Brick resituated himself so he was sitting in the middle and facing forward, but he kept his arms folded in his lap with the guns still pointing at their targets, just in case.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Part 9
That was it.
Brick was cold, tired and hungry. His broken nose was throbbing with almost unbearable pain. And a man had just winked at him for the second time in one day. He had had enough.
Knowing that Sylvio and Harley would be more concerned with getting as far away from the Russian helicopter as possible, he didn’t bother to be subtle as he rolled onto his back. Never very flexible, he brought his knees up to his chest as far as he could and forced his zip-tied hands over his feet and to the front of his body, nearly dislocating his shoulder in the process. Then, with a determination that can only be accomplished through the power of spite, he chewed through the zip ties.
His hands finally free, Brick turned around on his knees and saw Sylvio and Harley arguing through the back window of the cab of the truck. He spit, cracked his knuckles, and then in one swift motion punched through the glass and pulled out the parking brake, bringing the big truck to a screeching halt and sending him flying into the cab.
Both Sylvio and Harley were thrown forward with the jolt and sat there, stunned. When they finally realized what had happened, Brick was facing them, covered in broken glass, his back against the radio, his legs sticking out of the gaping hole in the back window, and his nose dripping fresh blood. But he had a gun in each hand, one pointed at each of their faces. They both instinctively reached for their empty leg holsters at the same time.
“Now listen to me very carefully,” said Brick, his voice level and his hands perfectly steady. “First off, Happy Thanksgiving. Secondly, I want that gold. No more distractions. No more running around. I just want what I came here for. You can either help me, or I can kill you both right here.”
Sylvio grinned. “Just tell us what you want us to do.”
Brick was cold, tired and hungry. His broken nose was throbbing with almost unbearable pain. And a man had just winked at him for the second time in one day. He had had enough.
Knowing that Sylvio and Harley would be more concerned with getting as far away from the Russian helicopter as possible, he didn’t bother to be subtle as he rolled onto his back. Never very flexible, he brought his knees up to his chest as far as he could and forced his zip-tied hands over his feet and to the front of his body, nearly dislocating his shoulder in the process. Then, with a determination that can only be accomplished through the power of spite, he chewed through the zip ties.
His hands finally free, Brick turned around on his knees and saw Sylvio and Harley arguing through the back window of the cab of the truck. He spit, cracked his knuckles, and then in one swift motion punched through the glass and pulled out the parking brake, bringing the big truck to a screeching halt and sending him flying into the cab.
Both Sylvio and Harley were thrown forward with the jolt and sat there, stunned. When they finally realized what had happened, Brick was facing them, covered in broken glass, his back against the radio, his legs sticking out of the gaping hole in the back window, and his nose dripping fresh blood. But he had a gun in each hand, one pointed at each of their faces. They both instinctively reached for their empty leg holsters at the same time.
“Now listen to me very carefully,” said Brick, his voice level and his hands perfectly steady. “First off, Happy Thanksgiving. Secondly, I want that gold. No more distractions. No more running around. I just want what I came here for. You can either help me, or I can kill you both right here.”
Sylvio grinned. “Just tell us what you want us to do.”
Friday, November 12, 2010
Part 8 - From Mario E. in La Quinta, CA
Thoughts were racing through Brick’s mind. It’s not like his brother and him were ever the best of friends, but he had always thought that they were at least there for each other. But now he was riding in the back of a pick-up truck, in a truck bed that seemed ravaged by countless wars and years of rust, tied up and feeling like the end would come fairly soon.
Humphrey already looked like he had a plan about to hatch. The rust on the broken pieces of the truck looked like they could EASILY cut through the zip-ties that were on their wrists. No sooner had Brick thought this than Humphrey showed him his un-zip-tied hands in triumph. Brick started cutting the zip-ties with his own side of the mangled truck, when the truck suddenly stopped.
Silvio walked out of the car with his goon to the back of the truck. “You didn’t think I was THAT stupid, did you little brother?” Brick looked at him with a blank look on his face. Humphrey exchanged the look, hoping along with Brick that Silvio had not figured out their plan to break free of their captives.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Silvio,” Brick replied in his low voice.
Silvio responded with his cold calculating tone, “Little brudder, you didn’t think I wouldn’t have been able to tell that you stuck this tracking device on the bottom of the car, did you? I work with the NSA, remember? We know aaaalll about tracking and finding information.” With that, Silvio took out his switchblade and cut a tiny transponder off the bottom of the truck.
“Okay, Silvio. I know in my current situation, with being tied up and all, I don’t really have any clout in trying to convince you that it wasn’t me. But in all honesty, I’m a little afraid, because even I don’t know who put that there,” replied Brick.
“Then who could’ve possi-” Silvio was suddenly cut off by the sound of gunfire raining down around them from a Havoc attack helicopter.
“Now the fucking RUSSIANS are involved?!?” exclaimed Harley. “What kind of shit ya’ bringin’ me into boss?”
Suddenly the firing stopped and a booming heavily accented Russian voice thundered down onto the ensemble below. “Give us the hunchback, and you will be allowed on your way. Failure to comply will result in immediate termination.”
Brick stared dumbfounded at Humphrey, who could only manage a wink before a rope dropped down and he grabbed on while the helicopter took off. Then the truck peeled out and took off with Brick still in the back. They drove around a bend in the crude jungle road, and his friend was obstructed from his view.
Humphrey already looked like he had a plan about to hatch. The rust on the broken pieces of the truck looked like they could EASILY cut through the zip-ties that were on their wrists. No sooner had Brick thought this than Humphrey showed him his un-zip-tied hands in triumph. Brick started cutting the zip-ties with his own side of the mangled truck, when the truck suddenly stopped.
Silvio walked out of the car with his goon to the back of the truck. “You didn’t think I was THAT stupid, did you little brother?” Brick looked at him with a blank look on his face. Humphrey exchanged the look, hoping along with Brick that Silvio had not figured out their plan to break free of their captives.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Silvio,” Brick replied in his low voice.
Silvio responded with his cold calculating tone, “Little brudder, you didn’t think I wouldn’t have been able to tell that you stuck this tracking device on the bottom of the car, did you? I work with the NSA, remember? We know aaaalll about tracking and finding information.” With that, Silvio took out his switchblade and cut a tiny transponder off the bottom of the truck.
“Okay, Silvio. I know in my current situation, with being tied up and all, I don’t really have any clout in trying to convince you that it wasn’t me. But in all honesty, I’m a little afraid, because even I don’t know who put that there,” replied Brick.
“Then who could’ve possi-” Silvio was suddenly cut off by the sound of gunfire raining down around them from a Havoc attack helicopter.
“Now the fucking RUSSIANS are involved?!?” exclaimed Harley. “What kind of shit ya’ bringin’ me into boss?”
Suddenly the firing stopped and a booming heavily accented Russian voice thundered down onto the ensemble below. “Give us the hunchback, and you will be allowed on your way. Failure to comply will result in immediate termination.”
Brick stared dumbfounded at Humphrey, who could only manage a wink before a rope dropped down and he grabbed on while the helicopter took off. Then the truck peeled out and took off with Brick still in the back. They drove around a bend in the crude jungle road, and his friend was obstructed from his view.
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