Chapter 8
While the rascals were outside playing, the adults got down to business.
"So, I heard that you know something about that abandoned mine, the one with the red glow, said Riza.
Suddenly, Ed, Al, and Winry stopped smiling. Edward had a sullen look on his face, and his eyes grew cold and serious. He had that look he constantly has when he's ready to tap into the alchemy. If only he had it now. Now at this critical junction.
"They've been workin' something terrible in that place for years. Entire families have been destroyed in the process, and I bet plenty more will be. And it's all the fault of that Bradley!"
He breathing quickened, tinged with rage, and he slammed both his fists on the flimsy table. Maes flinched backwards a little, for he thought that the little one wasn't capable of such emotional power. I'll have to keep that in mind, he thought. However, Riza's face was painted similarly to Ed's, her orange-tinted eyes gleaming with anger. She stood up slowly, tightening her gloved fists. The metacarpals cracked in rapid succession, like they were about to break. One could here them outside. Almost inaudibly, she mumbled the name Bradley.
In all her years of service, of all the criminals, low-lives, and psychos that had the bad luck to feel the metallic bite of her revolvers, that name boiled her blood the most. Bradley. It was once said that a couple of the military boys were standing around aimlessly one afternoon in the office, discussing the recent release of the wily criminal. There was a rumor that he actually bribed the jury and judge in order to get a "not guilty" plea, and had escaped stealthily into the night once again. It was Hughes, Havoc, Armstrong, Mustang, and a few other FMA military dogs all chuckling and joking about how he ran from justice again.
Hawkeye had come in, obviously enraged that Bradley was still untouchable. The gentlemen's club quieted down, since they all knew that she didn't tolerate anyone joking about any wanted criminal, especially him. But ole' Jean Havoc, wising cracking hyena that he was, had to say something. Always one in the crowd.
"Say Riza, did you hear about Bradley running again?"
He fished out one of his trademark cigarettes, stuck it in his mouth, and lit the tobacco. He dragged that thing rather slowly, to savor the flavor. Hawkeye just kept going. Armstrong had stopped smirking. Maes half-hid underneath his desk. They knew it was coming.
"Heard he bribed the judge and the jury. Still can't catch him. He didn't bribe you, did he?"
She stopped right there. In one lightening pivot that no one's eyes perceived, the Colt already fixed in her palm, she squeezed off one round, right at Havoc! The bullet rocketed past the air, and broke into that cigarette, snapped it like a twig. It was so close to him that he could feel it brush past his lips. Then it exited into the back wall. Jean's face morphed into sheer terror. His pants were thoroughly wet and muddied now. No one ever talked about Bradley in front of her after that.
Back to the present, she glued her eyes onto Ed, with that same murderous gaze. Maybe she would kick out the rest of her teeth. Instead, she rushed forward and grabbed him on the collar.
"TELL ME ABOUT BRADLEY! NOW! EVERYTHING!"
"He's forcin' us to work in the mines to manufacture some sort a' stones. Red, glowing stones. It reddens the water, too."
Now Riza was completely flabbergasted, as she released her grip on Ed. Red, glowing stones? Now it did sound like something out of Jules Verne.
"What are the stones used for?" asked Maes quizzically.
Al continued: "Nobody knows."
"We don't mess wit' things we don't understand," interjected Ed. "They might be used for some sort a' witchcraft, and the Lord frowns upon that."
He pointed to a portrait of Jesus Christ on the wall, giving the thumbs up and grinning. Thank you Dogma. There was also a Bible resting on a pedestal underneath, with Christ in His underwear, drinking beer and sitting on a couch. The hillbilly version.
"Besides, mama don' want us to mess with the stones. Mama said that everyday. Mama said that if we used them for evil, then we be damned to Hell! Mama said that she'd beat us till' the white meat shows, then pour salt on it. In fact, she's watchin' us right now. She knows ALL."
As he said this, Ed's eyes grew in size, even larger than his standardized anime form. Red veins were popping. Maes couldn't help but bust out in laughter at that, tears running down his cheeks. He stepped outside so as to not get the crap beat out of him by Riza.
"Where is your mother now?" she asked.
The entire room fell into silence. Ed lowered his eyes to the ground. They were watering with anguish. Al and Winry knew this wasn't the time, and comforted him. Winry held her husband tight in a loving embrace, then placed her arm around Al, whom was weeping quietly. She was the only one that had the courage to speak.
"She, uh, passed away 'bout three years ago."
Riza grew solemn.
"I'm so sorry to hear that."
Edward's head lifted a little, staring off into space, his memories of her being re-jumbled back into his mind. He smiled a little somehow feeling her love returning.
"She was a beautiful angel. You should'a seen her, Hawkeye."
Actually, she wasn't an angel, as seen in the series. She was a 430-pound blob of fat that never arched an inch and that seemed forever cemented onto a pancake mattress that was caked with dried foodstuffs. She was constantly shoving that food down her cavernous and blubbery mouth, her quadruple-chin quaking up and down. And she was yelling at the poor Elric brothers, barking orders madly.
"Boy, you got ma' chicken yet?"
Alphonse had spent the entire day stealing chickens from the mine's farmhouse, stuffing him into a sack he always carried to the inside tunnels.
"Yes'm."
She snatched up the birds by the necks, greasy grip crushing their throats, and just crammed them into her mouth. Blood was squirting out, and feathers were floating. She spit out the bones on the ground rapidly in the fashion of a Howitzer gattling gun.
"Boy, this crap is two hours cold!"
"Sorry miss."
Ed was behind her, his entire figure obstructed by her massive form. Since Mama Elric was too fat to bathe, the boys had to brush her off with a wet broom daily. He was digging in her fat folds, getting all the gunk out. One time he found gold.
"After you's done that, go and fix up the opium den! I got a new shipment that goes out tonight, and I's wan' it CLEAN!"
The bad guys came every few weeks in order to get that fresh opium out and released for mass consumption. They wanted a piece of the action. Sadly, when Edward was twelve, Mama Elric's heart exploded in a massive heart attack. Her fat ass broke through the casket at the funeral, and she rolled down a steep hill, knocking down an entire train. No one went to get her.
Strangely enough, Hohenheim, Ed's father, never married her. He had something else. You'll see why.
When Ed had finished the retarded tale, his eyes were wavering and glowing, and his lips were quivering. Maes was outside rolling on the ground, bellowing with laughter. He had heard the whole thing. Riza cocked an eyebrow.
"And what about your father?"
Ed craned his head downward again.
"He disappeared 'fore I, or any of us, were born. I ain't seen him in all my years. Mama said that he's dead, but I don't believe it. There is a rumor that he's workin' for Bradley, but I don't believe it. He'd never do something like that, hurt so may people, 'specially his own kin."
His fist pressed together, and he kicked over a chair.
"Jim Bob, is that you?" asked grandma in that crazy voice. "You ready to play stickball yet?"
"If Bradley hurt my daddy in any way, I'll break his neck!"
The tension in the room was thick and foggy. Riza had to clear that up. She placed a reassuring hand on Ed's shoulder.
"Don't worry Ed, we'll stop him."
Grandma shot a bony and wrinkled finger at Riza, shaking it wildly. Her eyes seemed to shock back to life.
"NO. DO. There is no try!"
With that, she sank back into oblivion. Winry was looking around, needing something to break the ice. Her eyes lit up in some realization.
"Say, wanna meet the rest of the people?"
Maes was still peeing his pants in laughter.