Chapter 10 The Red Light
"Just let me talk to him," they heard a man's voice and turned toward it. It was the older man, the last hostage, the one who had offered to sacrifice himself for Bogg. He knelt beside them.
"How's your son?" he asked Bogg.
"He'll be fine. Listen, thanks for your offer, to let me leave," he said holding out his hand.
The man took it and they shook warmly. "You know, it's easy to get cynical, especially in the city, and when you deal with charity." He paused, "I want you to know that your actions have inspired me to continue with my work. I was about to dissolve the Foundation, but you've reminded me how much good there is in regular people." He paused again, "I know you didn't know any of those people you helped get out of here. Why did you put yourself in front of that gun?"
Phineas stared at him, then back at Jeff, unsure what to say. "It needed to be done," he said finally.
"Who are you?" Jeffrey interrupted.
"Nelson Rockefeller," the stranger answered, extending a hand to Jeffrey, "and I hear you had a hand in our rescue too."
Jeff smiled, "I just did what they asked me to do," he replied.
"Well," he handed his card to Phineas, "if you ever need anything, give me a call." Then he got up and left.
"Drink," Phineas told Jeff, handing him another glass before he could make a comment.
"Bogg, he's one of the richest men who ever lived. His family gave money for lots of good works all over the country," Jeff said after he drank the water.
"Do you think he was the red light?" Bogg asked doubtfully.
Jeff shrugged, "it's too bad we can't know how many red lights there were here, isn't it?"
"I guess as long as it's green now, I'm okay with it, but I do want to get you to a cooler room for a good long rest. I'm sorry I didn't make sure you drank enough after our last voyage. I should've made sure you drank enough," Phineas admitted shaking his head.
Jeff stared at him in disbelief, then concern, "right now I think you'd better drink," he said as he poured another cup of water and handed it to Bogg.
Phineas drank, then poured another and drank that. "I guess we both need a rest, let's get out of here."
They stood up and Jeff started walking into the room, but Phineas moved in front of him, blocking the way. "Oh no you don't."
The man in the shadows straightened up, paying close attention.
"Hey, I wanna see what happened," Jeff told Bogg in annoyance.
Phineas shook his head, "not this time," he whispered, thinking of how the bullets blew the bodies apart, and how the odor was getting stronger by the minute in the back corner of the room.
"But, I helped in the rescue, I've got a right to see what happened," Jeff argued, his curiosity peaked by Bogg's unwillingness to let him see farther into the room.
"No way. There's no reason for you to have a scene like that rattling around in your memory," Bogg said firmly.
"I'm a Voyager, I've got a right," Jeff began.
"I said no, that's final."
Jeff glared at him, then sighed loudly, "then this isn't really an equal partnership, is it?" he said sarcastically.
Phineas paused, "not this time kid, you gotta trust me on this, okay?"
The man standing quietly in the shadows couldn't take his eyes off them.