Keeper of the Truth
Disclaimer: I do not own The A-Team movie or television series or any of the delightful characters found on The A-Team.
Chapter 20
B. A. motioned for the kid . . . Aaron, he remembered Murdock called him . . . to stand back from where Hannibal lay to give him room.
He noted the kid looked shaky about handling a weapon. With the two Keepers securely bound, B. A. wasn't worried.
They ain't goin' nowhere.
He gave the Colonel a scrutinizing look. He needed to check out his wounds for himself.
Fool ain't thinkin' straight. Mighta missed somethin'.
With one eye on the Keeper Gregory and his gun ready, B. A. felt for Hannibal's pulse. He was relieved when the older man stirred under his touch and moaned.
"What happened?" He squinted at the Sergeant and then looked around. "Where's Face and Murdock?"
"Who's Murdock?" the kid asked, frowning.
Ignoring him, B. A. answered Hannibal. "Fool took off somewhere an' Faceman followed him. Murdock's actin' crazier 'n usual. That stuff on those tapes got to him, Colonel." The black man scowled in the direction his two team mates went.
"Who's Murdock?" the kid repeated, this time with a hint of suspicion in his voice.
The Colonel shifted to his right side and attempted to sit up. Putting out a hand to steady him, B. A. glanced over at their two captives.
He gestured with his gun hand at Amos. "Dude there says Barger's been dead for a few months. Don't know if they killed him 'r not. Didn't sound like he died of old age."
Gregory squirmed and sputtered out a protest. "He did it! I had no part in that! Amos made me go along with him after Barger was dead."
B. A. seared him with a silencing glare.
"Let me look at that shoulder, Colonel." He reached out only to have the older man pull away.
"It's just a through and through. Nothing that can't be treated and stitched up. There'll be time later to take care of it." He held out his hand. "Get me up on my feet. We have to find our client's papers and get out of here. Someone's bound to come to check out the explosions."
The Sergeant noted how much his CO swayed as he helped him to his feet.
"What about me?" Aaron interrupted B. A.'s thoughts with his anxious question. "Merle . . . Murdock said he'd help me escape."
Hannibal and B. A. looked at each other. They both knew the kid had to be a minor. The black man wasn't so sure he had a guardian on the outside willing to accept him if they should take him with them.
"Come on! I can't stay here! My stepmom doesn't really want me and I'm almost eighteen!" Aaron squared his shoulders and straightened to his full height.
B. A. almost smiled. He remembered a time more than a decade ago in Chicago when he faced down a neighborhood wannabe tough guy by doing the same thing.
Maybe the kid's as old as he says he is. His dad son't seem ta care. Maybe . . .
Hannibal shook his head as if reading B. A.'s thoughts. "We can't take anyone with us. Sorry, kid. Your stepmother could call it kidnapping. No, the safest place for you to be is here with her."
The teen glared at him but said nothing.
B. A. grunted softly. He recognized that look of defiance.
Bet he's gonna bolt outta here soon as he can an' figure out a way ta survive on his own. Don't blame him.
Hannibal grimaced and placed a hand over the wound in his shoulder. Motioning to B. A., he muttered, "Go find Murdock and Face and get those papers we were sent to find. I'll talk with our friend here and see if we can't figure out a way to help him."
B. A. wasn't sure what the Colonel would be able to say that would convince the young man to stay with his stepmother but orders were orders. He watched as Hannibal drew his handgun from its holster to take over watching Gregory and Amos.
Knowing they had limited time left to complete their mission, B. A. hurried in the direction Face and Murdock had gone.
oooooo
Murdock entered the dimly lit room and sensed he was not alone. Letting his eyes adjust, he spotted a robed figure kneeling a few feet from the curtained off area.
Brother Luke had his head bowed and his hands clasped together in prayer. Even though his voice was barely above a mumble, the pilot heard the urgency in the tone.
Murdock quickly knelt beside him, forgetting that Face was somewhere behind him.
"Brother Luke . . . " Murdock stopped, not knowing what to say. Instead he placed a hand on the other man's shoulder to reassure him.
It's not 'nough. This community's this man's life 'n' look what we're doin' t' destroy it.
He felt a severe pang of guilt for his part in the mayhem.
"Brother Merle . . . we must pray that God defends us and turns our enemies away. Reverend Barger told me." Luke's voice was strained as he looked wide-eyed and confused at the pilot.
"Rev'rend Barger? But ain' he . . . " Murdock frowned. He stared at the curtain. A light in the background illuminated it. He spotted a shadowy figure moving around behind the fabric.
He's 'live! Rev'rend Barger's 'live! Don' this prove it?
With new assurance, he muttered, "You're right. We gotta pray, Brother Luke."
But I know who's doin' all this. If I tell Brother Luke he'll know I'm with them. I won' be able t' be a part o' Rev'rend Barger's group. I won' have peace.
"I don't know who you think you're praying to . . . Luke, is it? . . . but your buddy out there said Barger's dead." That was Face.
Shit! I forgot he was b'hind me!
Murdock glared back at his friend, then down at his feet.
He didn' even take off his shoes.
Brother Luke turned to look. As soon as he saw Face's black clothing and grease-paint smeared skin he stumbled to his feet and raised his hands in surrender.
Now, why scare 'im? Murdock rose from the kneeling mat to duplicate the Keeper's pose. "Leave us 'lone. These follks ain' doin' anythin' t' hurt nobody."
He begged his buddy with his eyes not to expose his true identity as he raised his hands as well.
To Luke, he muttered, "Don' worry, Brother. He's one o' the guys I knew back in Nam . . . he's from my past . . . "
"Why is he here? Did he come for you?" The Keeper gasped in surprise as Face strode purposefully toward the curtain.
But it wasn't Luke who moved first to protect the person behind it.
"No! Don'!" Murdock yelled in anguish as his friend reached for the fabric drape.
It took only a few seconds to follow the con man and grab his arm.
"Why? Why, buddy? What are you afraid of?" Face shook off Murdock's hold. For a moment the two friends stared at each other, Murdock searching for mercy and Face determined to reveal what was hidden behind the curtain.
"Don't you want to know for sure?" Face made his tone gentler like he was speaking to a child too innocent to face something that would hurt.
The pilot gulped a few times, tried to form words to explain and then shook his head as if unable to stop what was about to happen. As Face drew back the curtain, Murdock edged backward as if doing so would prevent the truth from being what it was.
Standing beside Brother Luke, the pilot squeezed his eyes shut, fighting against a tumult of voices that began to shout in his head. His world started to spin, spiraling into panic and confusion. Hannibal . . . Barger . . . this community . . . nothing was permanent . . . nothing was an anchor he could hold onto . . . were they all gone?
He barely heard the Keeper's surprised cry.
"Brother Francis! What . . . ?"