Chapter Twenty six
Joe stayed at the bistro for a couple of hours drinking a café latté. He was contemplating the best way to get in touch with Methos. He needed inside information more than ever. He finally got up and left a tip.
Next, he went to the park and sat on a bench to feel the sun and think. The air was cold but at least it was not raining.
Joe knew he had to go into hiding today. He planned on going to his niece's house over in the States. He hoped that Egan's arm could not reach that far.
Somehow, he had to contact Amy and let her know. Walking slowly back to the bar Joe thought about what he would say to her. Going in through the back door, he locked it quickly.
In his small room, he took out his battered suitcase to begin packing. Needing very little, he picked up things as he went and the suitcase was soon full. The papers confirming his reservations and flight plans went right on top.
He turned on his computer wondering, "What files to delete and what to save." Sitting at the keyboard, he got to work. After an hour, he was finished but before he could make good his escape, he thought he smelled smoke. Getting up he opened the door to the front bar area. The smoke was defiantly stronger which meant his bar was on fire.
Australia
Amanda first went in the direction of the city but changed her mind. She felt herself influenced by the quickening and the call. She felt the call without ceasing and she did not want to hear it anymore.
After wandering away from the stream, she walked for a day. Amanda met up with an Aborigine. He noticed the sword and asked if she was on a walk-about.
"Yes I am," she replied going along with the idea. "I brought my sword along for protection."
He remarked, "Your walk-about must not be one of peace then."
She reassured him. "No, I suppose not but don't worry. I'm not going to hurt you."
He suggested, "In that case, I can help you find some food. I think you must be hungry."
She said, "I guess I'm hungry but I don't feel it."
He told her, "That's how it is here in the outback. People not used to it can go a few days raving and die. Not even knowing they're in trouble."
Her new Aborigine friend went on like this all afternoon telling her about the dangers of the outback. As they walked along, he became her guide telling her what she could eat and where to get water.
She did not know how far they walked but her guide took care of her. Her mind became obsessed with an idea of revenge. Amanda soon forgot how dirty her clothes were.
The nights that followed flowed one into another. She forgot to keep track of time but she did not care. She began to love the quiet solitude. The call of the Gathering became peaceful.
On the night of a full moon, Amanda watched as the young men used the bullroarer to produce a rheumatic drumming. They played the didjeridu and she could feel it coming through her feet and up her body. It kept time with the humming of the call.
A circle of fire surrounded the dancing area. Those who chose to could enter and dance their interpretation of certain animals. It made Amanda smile at how well they did.
In the warm night with a soft breeze, she heard the woman's voices coming from the camp. She could smell the cooking pots simmering and soon felt hungry.
This was a ceremony performed over thousands of years and it ensured the survival of their people the animals and even the land itself. Everything had a place in the legend of Creation in the Dreamtime.
Watcher Compound
Amy was taking a break from her computer and went jogging in the fields outside the compound. She had felt sick again this morning, like the past five mornings.
As she jogged, she hoped it would pass. Amy's thoughts went over her lessons in a cadence as she memorized all the facts she would need to survive.
Computers became her specialty. The study of Mathematics and Algorithms were just a few of her classes. Egan made sure of that.
She learned to follow a paper trail of invoices, bill of lading, shipments and statements. Everything that an Immortal was into Amy could find out. Even anticipate his next move.
She stopped next to the path to throw up again and then moved on. She kept herself in strict denial not wanting to face the fact that she was pregnant.
The morning classes were over now and Methos went for his lunch. Having rank had its privileges. Sitting at the table with Davis, the secretary for Joshua, Methos often garnered some useful information.
He began the conversation with, "I hear the recruitment for new watchers is up."
Davis replied, "Yes recruitment is up but we're not revealing everything about immortals right away. They have to pass many tests first."
A junior watcher came in with a telegram for Davis and his reaction was evident, "What? Are you sure I don't want to report false information."
The reply was, "No one returned and there was a fire that burned up the body."
Davis folded up the telegram and said, "Make sure it gets recorded right away how Amanda Montrose died and who gets credit for the kill."
Methos choked on his tea but kept his emotions in check. He closed his eyes to honor her and think about the last words she said to him.
Joe hurried to the telephone to call for help but the phone was dead. Then he shuffled his way to the door and discovered it was locked. Reaching into his pocket, he found his keys but he could not open it fast enough before the smoke choked him into a coughing fit and he fell by the door.
Close to the floor, Joe held the keys in front of his face and tried to find the right one. Behind him was the noise of the fire consuming Le Blues bar. It drowned out the sound of someone approaching. Joe heard nothing as the club came down and hit the back of his head.
Two Watchers in respirators pulled Joe to the back door. They did not have much time. Loading him on a gurney, they put him in the back of an ambulance.
The two took off their masks and got in the back as the driver sped out of the alley as the fire truck came around the corner. No one stopped them as the ambulance went in the direction of the Watchers compound.
An hour later, slowly and painfully, Joe woke up. Someone was shaking him. There was an oxygen mask on his face but his lungs still hurt. His hands were tied to the hospital bed. The face that looked at him was not friendly.
The stranger said, "All right he's awake." Turning away, he shut the door after him.
Egan's face came into view. "That was a foolish thing you did Joe." Sitting on the bed, he continued.
"I was ready to leave you alone for a few more days and then you go and dump all that useless information onto the message board. What did you hope to accomplish?"
Coughing, Joe could not answer so Egan held a cup with a straw to his lips until Joe drank some water and his coughing subsided.
Joe whispered, "Members need to know what you are."
"They all know I'm right!" Egan exclaimed. He stood up and paced quickly. "I've done more to strengthen the Watchers then all those before me."
"Egan you've broken an agreement. That makes you guilty of treason," insisted Dawson.
Egan smiled his contempt asking, "Who will try to convict me?" He pointed, "You? The Immortals? They will be gone in a few months, Joe. The Gathering is here."
Joe said in earnest, "You are wrong Egan. The Gathering is only a beginning not an end." He asked, "Did you save my notes?"
At this Egan laughed hard, "You're such a fool old man not that I blame you." He came closer to the prisoner, "You're the idealist and I'm the realist."
Dawson shook his head giving up on convincing a man unwilling to see truth.
Egan smiled his triumph. "I respect you Joe and because I'm not completely heartless. A friend will stay with you. I even rescinded your death sentence."
Joe managed to say, "Egan, don't kid yourself. You are heartless and I know my days are numbered."
"No I have other plans more interesting for you. Let's just leave it at that." Egan opened the door then turning back he said, "It was Amy who pleaded for your life Joe."
He motioned impatiently for someone to enter. Methos walked in. Joe's reaction was a little emotional. "Hey I am glad to see you."
"You two get reacquainted so have some privacy," said Egan closing the door and locking it.
Methos shook his head and put his fingers to his lips. Going to the bed, he straightened the covers and used the bed control to help Joe sit up. He tended to Joe without speaking and hating the moment he would tell him Amanda was gone.
Joe understood the caution Methos was taking. He shifted in the bed trying to get comfortable.
Impatiently he asked his question, "Have you seen Amy? How is she?"
Methos shook his head, "No, I haven't seen her. I've only heard that she works on important assignments for Egan." He whispered keeping the rest of the information to himself.
Looking intently at Methos, Joe said, "I know the truth about the gathering," was all he could say before a coughing fit started.
Methos helped him sit upright and drink more water until it subsided. Adjusting the oxygen mask, he told him, "Deep breaths until the soot clears. I already know about the gathering."
When he could talk, Joe spoke slowly, "It's not the end...there will be no last one," he tried to explain, "MacLeod told me the truth..."
Putting his hand over Joe's mouth Methos said, "You can't talk about that to anyone else. Promise me you won't tell anyone."
Joe nodded until Methos removed his hand. His eyes looked hurt until Methos explained further, "Right now Egan's little plan is based on lies and I want to keep the truth from him."
Joe understood and closed his eyes and thought about what they did to him. They burned his bar down. He began to cry quietly and the tears cleaned the soot from his eyes.
"Methos they did this to hurt me. If they just wanted to take me they could have. They didn't have to burn my bar," said Joe through his tears of grief.
Methos sat back in the chair next to the bed. He laid his hand on Joe's arm touching him and giving comfort. Taking a tissue, he wiped some of the black tears away.
"Desperate measures," He said quietly, "For desperate men."
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