Page 44 of The Warrior
“Where are you going?”
“Maybe Alaska… or the moon. Not sure yet.”
I rubbed my eyes again and sat up in my bed. “Magni, what’s going on?”
“I’m a joke.”
“What? Did you say you’re Joe?”
“Ajoke.” This time he pronounced the word slowly. “Don’t come back, Laura, you’re better off without me.”
I sighed. “How much did you have to drink?”
“A little woman is going to outrank me. Can you imagine me taking orders from a Momsie?” He gave a hard laugh. “I’d rather die than have Pearl boss me around.”
“Is Finn with you?”
“Nope, he’s on your side of the wall. I’m all alone over here.”
“You’re not alone.”
“Very alone. You left. Finn left. Khan hates me.”
“Why would Khan hate you?”
“Because he’s bedaz… bedazzled.”
“What are you talking about? How about you get some sleep?” I suggested.
“Don’t have time.”
“Why not?”
“There’s an asshole staring at me. We’re going to fight.”
“Magni, no!” I got up and paced the floor, my heart beating so fast that it hurt in my chest. “Why would you fight anyone when you’re this drunk?”
“He talked shit about you. I don’t toler… tolerate that.”
“I know, but I need you to ignore it tonight.”
“Can’t do that, babe. I already said I’d kick his head up his ass. You should see how ugly the fucker is. Something’s seriously wrong with his head. He’s got four eyes.”
“Hey, enough with the chit-chat,” someone yelled in the background.
“Shhh, I’m talking to my wife.”
My mind was spinning with a way to get Magni out of the hole he had dug for himself. “If you promise me not to fight him, I’ll come home.”
“Don’t come,” he mumbled. “You don’t want me anyway.”
“Magni, where are you?”
He didn’t answer but shouted at someone. “Hey, shithead, don’t touch my beer.”
“Magni, meet me back at the suite. I’ll leave right now,” I said in a frantic voice.
“No, I mean it, Laura. Khan has lost his mind and Pearl is run… running the country. It’s all shit here!”
