As Soon as Superman is Out of that Booth

“A rattlesnake loose in the living room tends

to end all discussion of animal rights.”
-Lance Morrow

The drive was a sober one; then I looked in the back seat.

Rayleen was holding up as well as ever (she is a hell of a woman), but Gerald had been through too much that was not like anything in his experience since coming to the U.S.

“Stop the car, Hugo,” I said.

He didn’t take a second to think; he just did as I asked. I pulled a gun out of the glove compartment and held it at my side, out of sight.

One of the men jumped out of the van and stormed back to confront us for this breach of protocol. As he stood there I said to Rayleen, “There is a pay phone on the corner there, please go and call for a cab for you and Mr. Ng.”

She didn’t hesitate either and hopped out of the convertible and made the call.

The gunman looked totally dumbfounded and started to level his gun, thought better of it and ran to the car behind us. He did not return.

“Gerald,” I said, “Go over to the phone booth so you can wait with Miss Turley until the taxi gets here.”

We heard a car door click as it was about to open, then slammed shut again.

It appeared that they were really just interested in me and would let Gerald and Rayleen go unmolested.

“You should join them,” I suggested to Hugo.

“I hate taxi cabs,” he said, gripping the steering wheel tighter, “They smell like my clothes hamper. I’d just as soon stay with you, if you don’t mind.”

I didn’t mind in the least.

I felt a bit embarrassed by how touched I was at Hugo’s fearlessness and loyalty. I was sure that if the tables were turned I would do the same, and yet you really never know until you stand in the path of danger whether or not you would stand aside.

We sat there for a full 20 minutes until the cab arrived. They both piled into the car, but Rayleen looked a bit longingly back at us as her head vanished into the conveyance.

We had known each other a long time, but I couldn’t be sure that her concern wasn’t more for the big guy sitting next to me than myself. I was happy for her, finding someone as nice and faithful as Hugo. She wouldn’t be the giggling school girl in love, but then I can’t imagine her ever having been in that role.

I looked at Hugo’s face and realized that he had relaxed noticeably now that she was out of danger.

I wish the same could be said for us.

seymoure

The Ilium Obligation (A Matt Savage Adventure) Chapter 23

As Soon as Superman is Out of that Booth

“A rattlesnake loose in the living room tends

to end all discussion of animal rights.”
-Lance Morrow

The drive was a sober one; then I looked in the back seat.

Rayleen was holding up as well as ever (she is a hell of a woman), but Gerald had been through too much that was not like anything in his experience since coming to the U.S.

“Stop the car, Hugo,” I said.

He didn’t take a second to think; he just did as I asked. I pulled a gun out of the glove compartment and held it at my side, out of sight.

One of the men jumped out of the van and stormed back to confront us for this breach of protocol. As he stood there I said to Rayleen, “There is a pay phone on the corner there, please go and call for a cab for you and Mr. Ng.”

She didn’t hesitate either and hopped out of the convertible and made the call.

The gunman looked totally dumbfounded and started to level his gun, thought better of it and ran to the car behind us. He did not return.

“Gerald,” I said, “Go over to the phone booth so you can wait with Miss Turley until the taxi gets here.”

We heard a car door click as it was about to open, then slammed shut again.

It appeared that they were really just interested in me and would let Gerald and Rayleen go unmolested.

“You should join them,” I suggested to Hugo.

“I hate taxi cabs,” he said, gripping the steering wheel tighter, “They smell like my clothes hamper. I’d just as soon stay with you, if you don’t mind.”

I didn’t mind in the least.

I felt a bit embarrassed by how touched I was at Hugo’s fearlessness and loyalty. I was sure that if the tables were turned I would do the same, and yet you really never know until you stand in the path of danger whether or not you would stand aside.

We sat there for a full 20 minutes until the cab arrived. They both piled into the car, but Rayleen looked a bit longingly back at us as her head vanished into the conveyance.

I looked at Hugo’s face and realized that he had relaxed noticeably now that she was out of danger.

I wish the same could be said for us.

Profile

July 2017

Most Popular Tags

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags

seymoure

The Ilium Obligation (A Matt Savage Adventure) Chapter 23

As Soon as Superman is Out of that Booth

“A rattlesnake loose in the living room tends

to end all discussion of animal rights.” -Lance Morrow

The drive was a sober one; then I looked in the back seat.

Rayleen was holding up as well as ever (she is a hell of a woman), but Gerald had been through too much that was not like anything in his experience since coming to the U.S.

“Stop the car, Hugo,” I said.

He didn’t take a second to think; he just did as I asked. I pulled a gun out of the glove compartment and held it at my side, out of sight.

One of the men jumped out of the van and stormed back to confront us for this breach of protocol. As he stood there I said to Rayleen, “There is a pay phone on the corner there, please go and call for a cab for you and Mr. Ng.”

She didn’t hesitate either and hopped out of the convertible and made the call.

The gunman looked totally dumbfounded and started to level his gun, thought better of it and ran to the car behind us. He did not return.

“Gerald,” I said, “Go over to the phone booth so you can wait with Miss Turley until the taxi gets here.”

We heard a car door click as it was about to open, then slammed shut again.

It appeared that they were really just interested in me and would let Gerald and Rayleen go unmolested.

“You should join them,” I suggested to Hugo.

“I hate taxi cabs,” he said, gripping the steering wheel tighter, “They smell like my clothes hamper. I’d just as soon stay with you, if you don’t mind.”

I didn’t mind in the least.

I felt a bit embarrassed by how touched I was at Hugo’s fearlessness and loyalty. I was sure that if the tables were turned I would do the same, and yet you really never know until you stand in the path of danger whether or not you would stand aside.

We sat there for a full 20 minutes until the cab arrived. They both piled into the car, but Rayleen looked a bit longingly back at us as her head vanished into the conveyance.

I looked at Hugo’s face and realized that he had relaxed noticeably now that she was out of danger.

I wish the same could be said for us.

Profile

July 2017

Most Popular Tags

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags

to end all discussion of animal rights.”
-Lance Morrow