Monday, May 26, 2008

Stalking Galen Blythe

I crouched in the shadows, forcing myself to remain still even though the warm night air was causing me to perspire, beads of sweat sliding down my face and neck. My legs trembled from the stress of perching motionlessly and silently for half an hour, waiting for movement. The only noise was the occasional rustle of the leaves in the trees overhead. They lined the alley from behind old stone walls, one of which had a door, and it was this door that I was now watching intensely.

Suddenly it swung open. There he was.

Like a shadow he made no sound as he checked left and right, and swiftly swept out the door making a beeline for the main road. I waited a moment, forcing myself to remain still as he walked a few feet farther. I had followed him half way around the world, by plane, boat and car, and finally by train to here, this seaside town of Manakara. Sitting still any longer was torture, yet I was afraid that he might hear my heartbeat as I watched him walk. He was a cautious one - but this time he had let his guard down, satisfied perhaps with the thought that he had somehow lost me back on the mainland.

Now I could end this.

I moved from my spot and flitted down the alley, my shoes barely connecting with the red-tinted soil on the ground as I approached the street corner he had veered around moments ago.
I turned to see him walking alone. Still alone, what on Earth had happened to DeVeaux..?

Shifting finally from the alley, I tailed him, but only made it a few meters before he stopped abruptly, and with a sigh and a brief shake of the head said quite loudly; "Alright. You can stop, you win."

For a moment it seemed he wasn't talking to me, however seconds later he was still waiting, and I awkwardly resumed normal posture while staring cautiously at his silhouette. It felt strange, leaving behind the hunched, animal-like stance that I seemed to have picked up in the last couple of months.
He turned to face me and placed his hands in his pockets.

"No sudden movements.." I said, and like lightning found my small revolver and squared it at his torso. He shrugged and replied "You know I'm unarmed Ryan." and my focus shifted from aiming with one eye closed to staring him right in the face. I cautiously lowered the weapon. "So," he began as I walked towards him, still holding the lowered gun with two hands, "what is it you want? What is it that you have followed me half way around the world for..."
"The samples," I stated bluntly, "you have the core samples...", then I waited for a reaction. "Ah... the core samples." He said casually, rolling his head toward the sky for a moment and pinching the nape of his nose, then continued, "So I was right... you're hunting for the city as well.", and as he said this last sentence a look of relief flickered across his face.

"Well my boy, let's call this whole messy issue a draw. You lower that gun, and I'll take you to them. Agreed?"

"You're... going to help me?" I stammered, confusion clearly visible on my brow.

"I see no reason why we should keep this little game going." He replied. "You want what I want, you seem to be in this for the right reasons, and you've shown me that you're not going to give that up easily. So yes. A team-effort then. What do you say?" With that he took off his glasses, and held out his hand.

"Who-... who are you?" I asked, housing the gun back in my holster and approaching him step by step, not glancing anywhere but directly into his eyes.

"You are Ryan Hurst, son of Donald and Abigail if I'm not mistaken. They would be proud of your efforts." He said, and as I took his hand he smiled and finished, "I look forward to the coming journey Ryan. My name is Galen Blythe."

4 thoughts are now mine:

Dale said...

You write so effortlessly that it's kind of annoying. :P You really do write achingly well... "swiftly swept" and "flitted down the alley" were cool. And the tension was very well done too. It instantly got my attention.

*hopes this is not a one off*

Luke said...

Hurst. I know that name! I have vague recollection of a web game - something I didn't know you were involved in. Or I'm possibly going insane/someone's spiking my coffee. Hmmm, congratulations on crafting some intriguing intriguiness. I look forward to more good sir.

Luke... again said...

PS. What did you think of Indy 4?

Jimzip said...

Dale: Actually this was written by my pet monkey Sasafras... - he's good like that, but thanks! Oh and update your blog already! I've been having dreams of some mass exodus on donkey-back into the US dammit!

Luke: A vague recollection eh? Well as usual, you're right. ;)
And by the beard of Zeus I haven't seen Indy 4 yet!! Not a word! I think we're gonna see it this weekend... maybe.. I'm waiting for a mate of mine to see the first 3 but perhaps that's a fool's errand.. ah what the hell I'll just go see it on Friday. :P

Jimzip :D



Blogger Template by Jimzip