Haint
By Zaslow Crane
Part 2
“Mr. Agronski, we had an arrangement with Mr. Torrance, ummm Titan. He agreed to mentor people who had manifested… and, in return, we see to it that a stipend is paid to your organization, his old organization… it pays all the bills.”
“Mr. Agronski, we had an arrangement with Mr. Torrance, ummm Titan. He agreed to mentor people who had manifested… and, in return, we see to it that a stipend is paid to your organization, his old organization… it pays all the bills.”
Abe shook his head at the TV screen. Why can’t this yutz General Mossatt come and speak to me in person? I could go there, he could come here… But, no. We have to hash this out from thousands of miles away.
“But you tell me that he has emotional problems. –Been tossed out of every school he’s ever been in, right?”
“That’s so, Mr. Agronski-“
“Abe waved his hand.
“Call me Abe, please.”
Suddenly, Mercury’s face
appeared between Abe and the Military man on the TV.
“He likes being called “Old Dude”, too!” He yelled laughing before disappearing again.
The general adopted a look that eloquently said: “Discipline, Man! You must control these people! Can’t you even do that?”
Abe looked in the direction that the Young speedster had gone, frustration mixed with amusement on his face.
“Damn kid is so fast… Got a smart mouth on him, too.”
He liked Mercury. He was a good kid. Smart, respectful (usually), resourceful, and when shown the importance of something, he could be very determined and dependable.
Not like me when I was his age… I was always raisin’ hell… I was a waste of oxygen ‘til I was in my mid twenties and calmed down a bit…
He took his attention back to the General with all the Service medals arrayed on his broad chest.
“Look. I’m not going to lie to you, General. I’m new in this job. You know that. I’m not sure that I’m any good at it-”
“I’ve heard only good things since you took over last month-” The general interjected. “I don’t think you’re ready for any engagements… Mr. Torrance was forced into his unfortunate …circumstances. But all that notwithstanding, I seriously doubt that you’re ready; you’re gelled well enough as a team-”
“Swell. As I was saying, I’m not sure I’m even staying. And, I’ve got my hands full with the three I’ve got, and they’re good kids, not some pain in the ass problem child. You want to send me someone else. Sorry, General. I can’t. Three is about all I figure I can vouch for, General.”
“Okay, just take him for a month. Talk with him. Work with him. Write up an assessment for us. If, after that time, you still want him gone, then I’ll see what I can do about another relocation. A relocation away from your…Haints.”
“Apparently, General, it isn’t “haints”… It’s always “haint” even if it’s plural… Don’t get it, but that’s what Mercury told me.”
The general made a gesture with his hand that was an obvious stand in for: “Who cares?!”
Abe continued doggedly.
“Also,
sorry, General. I’m not experienced enough as a child psychologist, den mother
or foreman. I’m barely formulating plans on how to run this … organization and
do right by these kids. I’ve gotta say, “no”. The answer is still no. I don’t
want… What’s his name? Wesley Teague?”
“Yeah. That’s it. Teague.” The
general’s demeanor had changed; hardened subtly.
“Mr. Agronski. I’m sorry to be the one to have to explain this to you, but I’m afraid that you’ve no choice in the matter. So long as Uncle Sam funds your operation, you’ll take in who we tell you to take in.”
Abe felt as though he’d been slapped.
“I see.”
“We fund this little sideshow, and take the kids who are too … troublesome or talented… to stay home… We give them a safe place to learn and grow…”
“And, in return maybe you’ll discover a true, singular weapon…right?” Abe jabbed back.
The general sat back in his seat, thinking.
“You really have no say in this, Mr. Agronski. Just… go with the flow. That’s the smart thing to do.”
Abe blinked, absorbing everything the general had just said.
“I see…”
“Good. I’m glad that we’re
seeing eye to eye on this…finally.”
Abe made a face and looked the general in the eye.
“I see … that we’re going to have to
find alternate sources for funding.”
“Now just a minute!”
“Oh, I’ll take your Wesley
Teague, but don’t think that you can dictate to me forever. We’re not done on
this. When’s the lad showing up?”
“Day after tomorrow…”
“Okay. He’s coming. I can’t do
bubkuss about it.. What do I need to know?”
The General cued a file at his fingertips.
His picture moved briskly to the lower corner of the screen; the rest of the TV taken up with a still photo of an Asian kid who looked to be almost as wide as he was tall.
“So?”
“Watch.”
The screen dissolved into a scene where three orderlies were trying to subdue him. The kid was obviously losing the fight, but nonetheless, he was giving as good as he got. In a few moments, one of the orderlies, in frustration, produced a taser and shocked the kid.
Wesley Teague went down, obsidian hair splayed out on the floor, drool sputtering from the corner of his mouth. He twitched a bit, then lay still.
You could see the three orderlies visibly relax a bit.
Then, the kid pulled himself up, and with murder in his eyes went after all three! He was subsequently tased again by another orderly and fell to a knee, got up and started swinging again.
“Kid’s tough.”
“You have no idea. He’s perfectly nice- sweet kid, really- until you piss him off. Once that happens, he doesn’t stop until he’s beaten up everyone stupid enough to get in his way!”
“What do you mean: “He doesn’t stop?”
“He doesn’t. Those three guys you just saw? Well, he was tased a total of four times. We watched him beat the living crap out all three of those guys- each of whom, I might add out weighed him by around 100 pounds- He put them all in the hospital!”
“There’s more footage, if you’d like to see it. More of the same sort of situation… overwhelming odds. Eventually, he wins… He always wins…”
“Damn! What? That …fifteen year old? Put three grown men in the hospital?”
“Yep. He just doesn’t stop. And, he heals up quick, too. Doctors were testing him for specific enzymes and rejuvination factors to try to synthesize what he can do, but…”
“Let me guess: they pissed him off?”
“Yeah. Big time. Put one of the docs in traction. The government paid a bunch to keep that one quiet. But, once he’s done though, he sleeps. Like he’s dead. Sometimes for days afterward, but this kid might be a great addition to your team.”
“Yeah, if he doesn’t put me in the
hospital, too.”
“Well…” The general smiled a
mirthless grin. “I guess… try not to piss him off…”
“Yeah. Thanks for that.” I’ve got to come up with a better plan than
this! Abe thought as he signed off. He shook his head. This kid is gonna kill me… I’m an old man. I can’t stand up to a
beating like that…
More next week
Also, more in my website – Zaslow Crane writer