FRIEND OR FOE?
Chapter 8-They're Back
Humphrey and Jason traveled for another week. It was miserable. Nothing but walking, eating, and sleeping for 168 hours. Humphrey and Jason were getting along even better than they were before now that they knew they were both trying to overthrow Jerry, a task that, no doubt, would be difficult. Not to mention Jerry had Carl and Eric as his top bodyguards. Carl was crude, intimidating, vicious. And Eric, he was just plain weird, but that's what him dangerous.
After a week, Humphrey and Jason found themselves outside the hideout just outside of Jasper Park.
"Here we go," said Jason, braving his entrance. Humphrey did the same. They were greeted almost immediately by a cold-faced Carl.
"Well, it's about time you two showed up."
"Nice to see you too, Carl," said Jason.
Carl shot him a look of irritation. "Don't get smart with me, Jason. Anyway, Jerry wants to speak with the two of you."
"This should be good," whispered Jason, as he and Humphrey walked through the tunnel that lead to Jerry's room.
They entered, and Jerry, who had been sitting and thinking about something, looked up.
"Ah, they have returned," he said. "Sit down, you two. We need to discuss something important about the plan."
Humphrey and Jerry sat down, now getting slightly worried.
"Well, first of all," Jerry began, "what happened in Bismarck? I thought I made it clear stealth was the key."
"Just helping a brother," said Jason. "He asked me for some assistance, and it was that in which I provided."
"I see," said Jerry, turning to Humphrey. "And what was this assistance you required?"
"There was too much security," Humphrey stated simply. "I asked for a little help. Jason happened to be near the fuse box, so I figured a little darkness would help."
"I don't call an explosion helpful," said Jerry.
"That was an accident," said Humphrey. "Had that not happened, we wouldn't be having this conversation right now."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, if it had gone as planned, the lights would've gone out, but nothing else would have happened. We would've succeeding in stealing the generator."
"Perhaps," said Jerry. He turned back to Jason. "And why is it that you didn't return with the rest of us?"
Jason looked at Humphrey, then looked back and said, "You don't ever leave a brother behind."
"Ah, rescue mission, eh?" Jerry said. "Alright, you two, don't let something like this happen again, alright?"
"Yes, sir," Humphrey and Jason said simultaneously.
Jason left. Humphrey made to follow him, but Jerry spoke again.
"Hold on, Humphrey. I need to talk to you about something."
"Yes, sir?" Humphrey said, turning back to face him.
"What's your opinion on friendly-cleansing?"
Humphrey was confused. "I'm sorry, what?"
"Friendly-cleansing," Jerry repeated. "There are rumors that Jason may be a traitor. Would you happen to know anything about that?"
"No," said Humphrey immediately. He wouldn't sell Jason out.
"Hmm," said Jerry. "Well, keep your ears open. I'd hate to see him go, but if the unfortunate revelation of him being a traitor presents itself, I'll have no choice by to act accordingly."
Humphrey nodded and left, though he could tell Jerry was watching him suspiciously as he left.
Humphrey returned to the main clearing. It was nearly empty. Everyone was probably outside eating lunch or joking hysterically.
Movement to his right made Humphrey glance over. Someone had just walked down a tunnel he hadn't been down before. Having nothing else to do for the time being, Humphrey followed whoever it was down to a room. It was Carl.
"Son of a bitch thinks he can take my job?" he muttered angrily to himself, snapping a branch in half. "Stupid Humphrey. Screws up, shows up a week later and is off the hook? What a lucky little bastard!"
Humphrey simply watched from the shadows.
Carl stopped, sensing something. Humphrey backed away slowly. Carl approached Humphrey's position and looked out. He sniffed.
"I knew it," he muttered. "Come on out, Humphrey. I know you're here."
Humphrey slid closer and closer. Carl looked at him, though he couldn't exactly see him due to the darkness. Out of panic, Humphrey quickly knocked Carl in the back of the head, knocking him out.
Humphrey took this as an opportunity to investigate Carl's room.
It was large, larger than everyone else's, even Jerry's. Why would the leader's chief have a bigger room than the leader himself? Humphrey looked around. It had a few small accessories in it. One was a small crate, no doubt full of Carl's personal belongings he owned when he joined the Black Assassins. Inside was a newspaper that showed Carl's face on the front page, beneath a headline that read: DERRANGED WOLF SPOTTED IN CHICAGO. WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE.
Humphrey continued searching. He found nothing, though. He decided to explore elsewhere. Further down the unfamiliar tunnel, he found another vacant room. Inside was nothing. Humphrey was beginning to get annoyed. He was still inside when he heard footsteps behind him. A quick dive into a dark corner hid him from the wolf who entered.
"That's weird," said Eric. "Hey, Jerry," he said into his earpiece. "I think someone's been in my room."
"Go and check up on Jason," said Jerry's voice.
Eric turned and left. Humphrey followed him and placed a paw around his throat. The darkness prevented Eric from identifying Humphrey.
"Why are you so suspicious of Jason?" Humphrey asked in a deep voice to keep his identity a secret.
"Who are you?" Eric choked.
"Answer my question," Humphrey said. "Why are you so suspicious of Jason?"
"He's been acting really weird lately," said Eric. "Jerry thinks he might be a traitor. He sent me to keep an eye on him."
"Found anything?" Humphrey asked.
"No, not yet, but Jason's really unpredictable, so anything could show up at any time," Eric said.
"Hmm," said Humphrey. "Interesting."
"Now, would you mind telling me who you are?" Eric asked.
"Sorry, that's classified," said Humphrey.
"Wait, are you Jason?" Eric said, his eyes growing suspicious and anxious.
"No," said Humphrey. "One more question: what's the plan?"
"I don't know!" said Eric.
"Are you lying to me, Eric?" Humphrey snarled.
"How do you know my name?"
"I can see everything, everybody, what they do twenty-four, seven," Humphrey dramatized, deciding it would be best and the least-suspicious to do so.
"Huh?"
"So, are you lying to me?"
"No!" said Eric. "Jerry hasn't told anybody the plan yet! He wants to keep it a secret until it's time to execute it! If you can worm it out of him, then whoop-dee-dee for you, but if you can't you're out of luck!"
Humphrey punched Eric hard in the back of the head. He decided to return to his and Jason's room before anybody else came and caught him.
Back in his room, Humphrey laid down, resting, thinking about how he could find out the plan before it was too late.
