Page 9 of Apocalypse
“But we can’t leave him behind, especially if he knows more than we do about this plan.”Faith shook her head.Then shrugged, “Maybe he heard something that could help us shut this down even faster too.”Looking over at Lancelot, she added, “Your gut told you right.This man is of importance to getting new information.”
“And just maybe he knows details and timelines that the big book hasn’t revealed so far, ” Cassian told them.
Conrad came back with a small bag and his dog at his side.“This is Pete.”He pointed down at his dog.“He showed up one day six years back and I managed to keep him, since no one really cared anyways.”
The group nodded at the small terrier.
“Come on then, we have a good distance back to our vehicle,” Lancelot urged them toward the front door.
Conrad looked around the compound as he walked out the front door for the first time in a long time.He saw the men all tied up and not moving.He looked quickly at Faith to ask, “Are they still alive?”
Faith nodded.“Yeah, I didn’t hurt them, only knocked them out.They’ll come around in time.”
Conrad walked over to the unconscious men and kicked one in the nuts.“That’s for starving me.”He then kicked the next one.“That’s for kicking Pete last week.”He moved to the third man on the ground.“Taking my milk and tearing up my kitchen, you useless punk.”He kicked him.He knew they wouldn’t feel it now but they might feel it later.“You all were dicks and the worst men I ever had the displeasure of knowing.”Turning, he looked up at the group.“Oh...sorry.I was just saying my farewells.”He now followed them to the gate.
Lancelot and Palamedes chuckled.
When he joined them, Conrad readily walked toward his own freedom.It took a bit but both he and his dog looked happy to be free.“Yeah, Petey boy, we are gonna go camping and fishing together and then walk in the forest.We will come and go as we please.”
The knights, Cassian and Faith were smiling and shaking their heads.
They headed to where their vehicle was and the dog jumped in the car after Conrad got in.
Faith looked over at him and smiled.“You have an adorable dog.”
Conrad nodded.“Yeah he and I suit each other.I know Pete would die to protect me and I would kill to protect him.”He chuckled.“When he showed up as a stray, I managed to keep him after I hid him for a month or so.If he’d been a big frightening dog, they woulda shot him.”
When they got to the vehicle, Faith looked at Conrad and asked, “I hate to ask this but would you mind if we blindfolded you?The place we stay at is our secret and not many people on the outside know about it.”
Conrad thought for a moment then nodded.“My dear, I do know you have to protect yourselves against the bad guys.I would too but I never thought my own blood would turn on me like he did.He had a true heart of evil and he did right up to the moment of his death.I don’t mind being blindfolded.I have a feeling I know what you people are doing and why you do it.”
Cassian used a bandana to blindfold him.After they got into the SUV and traveled down the road, things were quiet for a long time.
They were almost to the Mansion when Faith frowned.Cocking her head, she listened for a moment then studied the dog and Conrad.
Lancelot looked in the rear view mirror and saw her.“What’s wrong?”
Faith shrugged.“I don’t know but I can hear something buzzing.I just can’t figure out what it is.”
Conrad grabbed the dog and held on tightly.
Lancelot pulled the car off the road and turned in his seat.“What’s wrong, old man?”
Conrad finally loosened the hold he had on the dog and explained,“I’ve too have been hearing the buzzing.Sometimes late at night or when it's really quiet, I thought maybe one of those guards had done something to Pete.I know I should have told you but I couldn’t bear to be without him.”
Cassian reached over and removed the dog’s collar then handed it to Faith.“See if that’s where you got the buzzing from.”
Faith closed her eyes and brought the dog collar to her ear and listened for a moment.She opened her eyes and nodded as she handed the piece of leather to Cassian.
He looked over at Lancelot.“Head the opposite way of the mansion.Then we will stop somewhere to destroy it.”
Lancelot nodded and turned off the freeway.
“Have things really changed since I’ve been gone?”Conrad asked.
“Yes, they have,” Faith answered.“And it will be a lot to take in.I’ve been busy fighting this war but the new things in the world are at least entertaining.”
“I did get to watch TV,” Conrad said.“The news is horrible, politics are as nasty as ever and there is no shortage of things people don't need, but they just gotta buy.”
