Episode Seventy-Two
"Don't Provoke the Man with the Gun"
There is a clicking sound. The three turn back towards the door to find a man standing there with a gun in his shaking hands.
"Don't move!" The man says. Ashlee arches her eyebrow and shares a look with Reese as Taylor continues to hold his conjured fire. Was this man for real?
Taylor puts his free hand on his hip and sighs. "Could you maybe just put that away? I'd rather not have to take it from you."
"Really?" Ashlee is confused by this admission. "Why not?"
"It could come in handy later," Taylor elaborates. He looks to his right at Ashlee who looks back at him oddly in return.
"Why, you planning on shooting someone at some point?" Ashlee asks.
Taylor shrugs. "With the way these past few days have been going..."
"No guns," Reese says firmly and crosses his arms.
Taylor turns to look at the other boy. "People tend to respond more expediently when you point a gun at their head." Ashlee coughs and indicates the gun still pointed at Taylor. "Granted I'm quite apparently not one of those people." Taylor turns back to the Man with the Gun. "So again I ask you to just put that away."
"Who are you?" The Man demands. "What do you want?"
"My name is Taylor," He replies as if talking to a pre-schooler. "I'm here because I'm waiting."
The Man frowns. He is suspicious of this statement. "Waiting for what?"
"Ma'at and Thoth to return so they can search their archive," Taylor replies.
"You're mocking me," The Man takes a step closer to Taylor.
"No," Taylor denies. "Not really, but if you would prefer that, I'm sure I could accommodate."
Reese groans. "Don't provoke the man with the gun."
Taylor huffs slightly. "He started it."
"Are you seriously arguing about this?" Ashlee asks looking at both boys in disbelief. "Stop it. You're confusing the nice man."
Taylor turns back to the Man again. "Why are you here?"
"I'm protecting the temple," The Man declares. He no longer seems quite as ferocious with his gun.
"From what?" Reese asks with some concern.
"The Others," The Man states. Ashlee, Taylor and Reese twitch. "Scavengers, pillager, pirates and thieves."
"Oh my," Ashlee throws out.
Reese looks at the dusty, Asian man in amazement. "How long have you been here?"
The Man looks over at a wall behind Ashlee. They turn to see a series of hatch marks. "5 years," the Man says after a moment of counting. Taylor turns to look at Reese in surprise. What would possess a Man to stay in an Ancient Temple buried beneath a sand dune for 5 years?
Meanwhile, in Tibet
The meeting takes place behind closed doors. It is not necessary for any of the Nine or the Minions to hear what they discuss. It is beyond their comprehension and their control. The Ancient Ones are finalizing the Culling.
"The Old and the Infirm will be culled," The Representative of the East declares. "They can serve no useful purpose."
"The Young will be kept," The Representative of the South decides. "Their minds are quite easily influenced."
"How young is young?" The Representative of the West asks.
"Younger than 30 may keep their human form," The East decrees with an authority.
"And older?" The West asks, seeking further clarification.
The East takes on a glimmer of sinister amusement. "They will be made into suitable vessels for suitable purposes."
"Chickens?" The West postulates.
The South finds this idea to be unsuitable. "Perhaps something a bit more sturdy," She suggests.
The North harrumphes. "We must consult with the Great One and sees what the Great One thinks," He declares to the others. "All else matters not until we do so."
The East and the South exchange looks. It has been long since they had last spoken with the Great One. They wonder what it will say.
To Be Continued...
