| Subject: The Dragonslayer, Chapters 3 & 4 |
Author:
Jaron
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Date Posted: 20:00:33 12/16/01 Sun
In reply to:
Jaron
's message, "The Dragonslayer" on 16:44:37 12/16/01 Sun
The Dragonslayer, Chapter 3
Michael quickly moved over to the source of the voice, stepping around several
upended pieces of furniture. Behind the sofa, at the base of the bloody mark on the
wall, Michael found the owner of the voice. He stared for a few minutes at the pale
figure lying at his feet.
“Cooper,” he said, as he knelt down and examined the wound in the man’s
midsection. Cooper attempted a smile, but his face spasmed in a fit of coughing that
left him gasping in pain as he gulped for more air.
“I’m sorry, Michael, they took Grace and Rene. I couldn’t stop them,” Cooper
stopped and closed his eyes for a few seconds before he continued. “They told me to
tell you to meet them at this address.” He put a bloody piece of paper into Michael’s
hand. “I tried to protect them, but there were too many of them.”
Michael pulled his cell phone out of his pocket. “Let me call someone to help you.”
Cooper grabbed Michael’s hand and said, “No one can help me now. Michael, we
both know that.” Michael closed the phone and put it back in his pocket. He lifted
Cooper’s upper body and cradled him in his arms.
“Tell me what happened,” Michael said, “I know who they really want. What did they
say?”
“They want to sell you.....to Red Cell. The leader is Tillman. I think you know him.
Michael, this is important. You have to get to them quickly. From what Tillman said,
he will let Grace and Rene go if you turn yourself over to them. He has no stomach
for turning over a woman and child to Red Cell. If you can get there before Red Cell
arrives, I think he will let Grace and Rene go. If you don’t, you know what Red Cell
will do.” Cooper stopped talking and started coughing again. With each cough, the
flow of blood from his wound increased. “Go, Michael, go now. Leave me and go
save your family.”
Cooper stared up at Michael, the light lessening in his eyes . “Rene is such a
wonderful child. You should be proud of him. I know you are.....he figured out that I
was following them. One day last week, after you left them, he surprised me by
walking up to my truck and handing me a baggy full of cookies. He said he thought I
might be hungry and he wanted to thank me for calling you to save them at the bank.
The peanut butter cookies were great. I wish I could have stopped them from being
taken.” The coughing started again and Cooper grabbed the lapel of Michael’s jacket.
“Go NOW.” His hand slipped from its grip on Michael’s jacket and his eyes grew
opaque as the life slipped out of them. Michael brushed his fingers over Cooper’s
eyes closing them as he laid Cooper down on the floor as gently as he could.
He looked at the paper that Cooper had given him. He stood slowly and walked
toward the door, on his way to save his son and Grace and perhaps to lay down his
life for those he loved. On his way out the door, he pulled his cell phone out and
dialed Section. He wanted Madeline to know where he was going and why.
The Dragonslayer, Chapter 4
“Michael, you will stay there until we can get a backup team to you, do you
understand me?” Madeline spoke urgently into to phone she held clenched tightly
into her hand. She looked up at Operations who stood with both hands splayed out
flat on the glass surface of her desk. He grabbed the phone from Madeline and spoke
harshly to Michael.
“I know what you are thinking Michael and I don’t like it. Wait for backup!” He angrily
dropped the phone handset on Madeline’s desk. “He hung up on me! Wait ‘til I get
my hands on him!” He stopped abruptly, wondering if he would get a chance to put
his hands on Michael. The chances for that happening didn’t look good at the
moment. The young fool, he thought, and then his flashing eyes softened. What if it
were his son? He worried for Michael and understood his decision, he just didn’t like
it.
“Where is the backup team now?” Operations asked Madeline.
“Michael’s team is on a transport right now heading for Texas. Walter is with them.
The team will go in for Michael when they locate him. Walter is there to take Grace
and Rene out of harm’s way and to relocate them without Michael’s knowledge. He
will be completely ours as long as he knows we have his family tucked safely away.”
Madeline smiled up at Operations. “We will have him under control again.”
“We will have him only if he survives what Red Cell has planned for him. Keep me
informed,” he said as he turned and walked out the door.
Madeline leaned back in her chair and sighed. Michael, what are you doing, she
thought, but she knew what he was doing. He was intent on sacrificing himself, if
that is what it took to save the lives of Grace and Rene. She hoped that his team
could reach him before he handed himself over. If not, then Michael would be on his
own with Red Cell. If that happened, she despaired of ever seeing Michael again.
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