The Waters of Lethe
Disclaimer: I don't own FMA. I just like to play around in it's world and torture Ed for awhile.
Author's note: post series, some movie events may happen, but differently
Warning: May contain movie spoilers. Has contained and may contain more violence, and death. Perhaps sex - I just haven't made up my mind yet.
Beta: moi for now
46. Call Me Bwana (Mich anrufen Bwana)
Harry unbuckled his harness and hopped out of the cockpit with a big grin on his face. "Wait here while I fetch a ladder and some help, Edward. I won't be long!"
He undid the chin strap of his flying cap and pulled it off to reveal a long face topped by a shock of spiky blond hair balanced by the long mustache.
Edward could only gawk in shock: It's Havoc's alter!
His father had warned him about alters, exact copies of people he'd known in his world. They looked the same, had the same (or similar sounding) name, their voices were the same,, and they sometimes held the same type of job.
Except for one important aspect: they weren't the same person.
A friend in Amestris will be a complete stranger, perhaps even an enemy here, Edward. And the opposite can also be true. You must be wary, just in case the alter is the former.
The Jean Havoc Edward remembered was a gregarious chain smoking dreamer who had no luck with women. He looked like a slacker, but he really was a brave soldier, dedicated to Colonel Mustang, and his comrades in arms. Harry appeared to be just as likeable, if a bit over the top.
Oh, heck, he's a LOT over the top!
Edward grunted with discomfort and wriggled in the harness, it was digging into his flesh and he was sweating due to his extra garments. He felt around on the webbing before he found the buckles which strapped him in place. Edward began to slide forward as each was loosened, so he braced his feet on the edges of the cockpit. Once the last buckle was open, Edward bent his knees until his hands could grab the edges, then he turned over on his stomach.
He slid over the edge in that position and felt for the toeholds on the side of the "Flying Nefertiti" and slowly inched his way down to the final depression. He hung suspended in midair for a moment before he let go. The ground came up sooner than he expected, Edward bent his knees to absorb the impact, yet still lost his balance and fell in a clumsy heap. The fall had knocked some wind out of him and he sat and panted until he felt hot breath on the back of his neck.
He whirled around and stared at the intruder. Which bared it's teeth and growled back after he exclaimed. "You have to be the world's ugliest dog!"
It's fur was a mottled black and red, the forelegs were longer than the hind legs, and the eyes were too small in relation to the massive block-shaped head. The fangs were a deep yellow, and the tip of the upper left one was missing. And it's breath...
"Shoo! Go home! Bad dog! " Edward yelled when the animal lunged at him. He didn't even pause to think and just lashed out with his right hand. A loud yelp and a fine spray of blood followed the sounds of breaking teeth, the animal fell down, but got up immediately, still growling. The sound seemed to echo, until Edward realized he was surrounded by a pack of the ugly brutes. He scrambled to his feet, backed up against the plane and wished he could transmute his metal arm into a blade.
What're these things? Could they be chimeras? He half expected to hear a whistle, and see the mad Shou Tucker come striding out of the bush. What he DID hear were sharp cracks of rifles firing, followed by several yelps as first one, and then two more of the animals fell, writhing in pain. Edward looked up to see four men running towards him, all armed with rifles.
"Are you crazy, man?" shouted the nearest, a brawny man with a black crewcut. He spoke in the strangest accent, one Edward couldn't place. "You don't muck about with hyaenas, they'll rip your throat out."
"Is that what they are?" Edward blew out the breath he'd been holding. "I just thought they were extremely ugly dogs. Besides, I couldn't stand it hanging around in that damn harness anymore."
"Hmph!" the man loomed close over Edward, then bent down till they were nose - to - nose. "You were high up though, and that was the safest place for you. We're having a rather nasty drought right now and even the hyaenas are starving. And that makes them bold, unafraid of humans. Some poor devils in a nearby village were eaten alive by lions last week."
A strange yipping, which sounded like human laughter, followed by a loud roaring broke out several yards away. "Bloody hell! Lions have smelled death already! Your gear will be safe for now, not even the boldest thief will risk becoming cat food. Let's go back to the terminal."
With Edward in the center, the group walked out of the bush, and across the runway. Just before they entered the largest building, Edward looked up and read a sign painted above the main door:
AEROPORT INTERNATIONAL D'ALGER
This has to be a joke, right?