[Rokk3000]

Chapter 7

The streets were alive with traffic, congested to
the hilt, the sounds of horns mixed with the constant
thrashing of water ricocheting off metal. The small
black cruiser hurtled through the stationary vehicles
and swerved to narrowly avoid an overturned station
wagon still smouldering hours after the torrent of
heavy rain had extinguished the fire that had taken the
lives of its two occupants.

The suburbs were always like this; it wasn't safe
to travel during the day, let alone on a dreary evening
like tonight, too many chances of being carjacked or
worse. It was no wonder that this black-spot had the
highest fatality record in the sector, it was hardly
ever policed, and no-one in their right mind would
venture down here unless absolutely necessary or they
had a death wish, yet here he was sitting in a car with
a bloody lunatic wearing a high grade explosive
strapped to his chest for warmth.

The day was definitely not going down on record as
one of the best he'd ever had. In fact, it had to be
said that it was almost on a par with that incident on
his stag evening where he had learnt that Zero G
basketball, exotic dancers and a dozen synth-ales do
not mix.

'Ok, now don't take this the wrong way, I wouldn't
want you pressing any switches that might give me the
worlds biggest hangover, but would you mind telling me
why in the Godess's name you've dragged me out here?'

The man in the long black overcoat remained silent,
his eyes concentrating on the road as he continued to
bob and weave his way around objects in the path of the
car, the overhead lamps harsh light glaring off the
sodden tarmac blinding him made
manoeuvring difficult enough. He made a cursory glance
at his passenger and refocused his attention on his
driving.

'I mean, come on, have you people never heard of
simply asking? I generally respond a damn sight better
to requests when the person doing the talking isn't
threatening to turn me into the evening news Special
Bulletin!'

The man cleared his throat. 'Mr Kryzek, please
refrain from talking until we arrive at our
designation, my orders were to bring you to the meeting
point, not engage in trivial conversation, now please
sit back, relax and enjoy the ride.'

'Trivial? Trivial! You are kidding me here right?
The last few hours have been anything but trivial, you
blow up my wife, kidnap me with the threat of the same,
then expect me to sit here and smile like we're on some
jolly boys' outing?'

'Mr Kryzek, whatever you may be assuming, let me
assure you that your wife's condition has nothing in
the slightest to do with my organisation. Whatever
questions we can answer will be answered when we reach
our destination, but for now, I'm asking you to keep
calm, and more importantly silent.' The man turned and
looked Marc straight in the eyes. 'I would hate to have
to render you unconscious before your meeting, I hear
tazer shocks do nothing for the constitution.'

Marc sank back in the chair and tried to relax.
Letting out a heavy sigh he resigned himself to the
fact that he was getting no-where with this man. He was
along for the duration and better to get used to it
rather than getting hurt, there was nothing he
had a greater allergic reaction to than pain. 'Fine' he
muttered, a brief half smile on his lips. 'I've always
wanted to say this and now seems as good an opportunity
as ever.' He paused for dramatic effect. 'Take me to
your leader!'

After several hours of intermittent sleep,
interwoven with fitful thoughts and fragmented images,
Angie awoke. Her eyelids seemed as if they were lined
with lead and she struggled to raise herself up into a
sitting position, she felt - what were the words
'comfortably numb'? It was only after the third attempt
that she realised she couldn't feel anything from the
waist down and started to panic. She grasped for the
call button that hung over the back off the bed and
pressed frantically for assistance, her head pounding,
she felt darkness close in, and for the second time in
as many days she lapsed into unconsciousness.