Washington DC, 1989
Max was munching on a hamburger when
he saw the news. It was on the television up in the corner of the diner
and was on low volume. But high enough just to make it out. He placed the
hamburger back down on the platter and looked around the diner to see if
anyone was watching the TV.
No one else was paying close
attention to the event that was unfolding on the screen. Max breathed a
little easier. It wasn't a big deal at the moment and maybe it could be
swept under the carpet if the agency worked quickly on it.
Shit's going to fly on this one.
His cellphone chimed.
"Max," Brogan said. "Have you've seen the news?"
"Watching some of it now," Max said. "What's the plan of action?"
"It's going to be hard for the boys to cover this one up," Brogan replied. "You know who they are going to shit upon for this foul up."
"Do we have a contingency plan?" Max inquired.
"Yeah," Brogan said. "But it's still going to end badly for someone."
Max signalled the waiter for the check; he took out a crisp $20 bill and laid it on the table and got up.
"Get a chopper ready," Max said.
"Already on standby, my friend."
20130925
The Trader's Creed
Iralia, Operation: Stormfront
The bunker was hot and stuffy and there wasn't much anyone could do about it. There was a poker game going on at a table with several of the troops playing off some of their paychecks.
Broom broke off from the poker game since he was tapped already and didn't want to loose what little money he had left. He saw that Pretty was up and he went to him like a moth to a flame.
"Hey Pretty, you got any cigs?" Broom asked. He stood at the foot of the bunk. Pretty was reading a western novel and peered over the book to see who had interrupted the best part of the scene.
"What kind you want?" Pretty asked Broom; he leaned over and dragged a locker out from underneath his bed.
"Le Morte's if you have 'em" Broom said.
Pretty opened the locker and moved a few things around and ended up tossing Broom a package of Le Morte's.
"Cool!" Broom stated. He tossed a couple of bills at Pretty.
"Pleasure doing business with you," Pretty called after Broom. He turned over to Max and said, "I can't see what you like about that mag."
Max glanced over from his bunk; he was engrossed in an article in the Fortean Times. Something about string theory and a paperclip.
"It's educating," Max replied.
"I've got something for yah," Pretty said. He reached inside his pocket and pulled out a zippo lighter and tossed it.
Max caught the zippo and looked at it. The design on it caught his eye.
"Well, I'll be," Max said. "Where did you get this?"
"Ancient trader's secret," Pretty said with a wink. "Besides, I owe you man."
The bunker was hot and stuffy and there wasn't much anyone could do about it. There was a poker game going on at a table with several of the troops playing off some of their paychecks.
Broom broke off from the poker game since he was tapped already and didn't want to loose what little money he had left. He saw that Pretty was up and he went to him like a moth to a flame.
"Hey Pretty, you got any cigs?" Broom asked. He stood at the foot of the bunk. Pretty was reading a western novel and peered over the book to see who had interrupted the best part of the scene.
"What kind you want?" Pretty asked Broom; he leaned over and dragged a locker out from underneath his bed.
"Le Morte's if you have 'em" Broom said.
Pretty opened the locker and moved a few things around and ended up tossing Broom a package of Le Morte's.
"Cool!" Broom stated. He tossed a couple of bills at Pretty.
"Pleasure doing business with you," Pretty called after Broom. He turned over to Max and said, "I can't see what you like about that mag."
Max glanced over from his bunk; he was engrossed in an article in the Fortean Times. Something about string theory and a paperclip.
"It's educating," Max replied.
"I've got something for yah," Pretty said. He reached inside his pocket and pulled out a zippo lighter and tossed it.
Max caught the zippo and looked at it. The design on it caught his eye.
"Well, I'll be," Max said. "Where did you get this?"
"Ancient trader's secret," Pretty said with a wink. "Besides, I owe you man."
Nothing for Money
INT. CITY FIRST NATIONAL - DAY
MAX is standing in a long line waiting for his turn at a teller. There are 14 people before him and there are 3 tellers on duty at the moment. MAX is wearing a neon yellow t-shirt that states VILLAGE and he is wearing jeans. It's a pretty busy morning at the bank.
The young girl ahead of him is chatting on a cellphone. She is a college co-ed.
GIRL: (into phone)
... like so I say to the jerk "It's your move asshole".
The man before the girl turns to face her; he sees that she has a cellphone. He is about to turn and let the girl chatter.
GIRL: (to the man before her)
What are you looking at? Line is ahead!
Max smiles to himself. Trying not to indulge in the conversation but the girl is speaking too loudly not to.
GIRL: (into phone)
Nothing Jenny. Just some doufus before me.
The man is about to say something, but Max shakes his head no. So the man turns and faces the front.
GIRL: (into phone)
So the jerk stands there gawking like he has something to say and I say to him "spit it out" but he's like stammering like an idiot.
Max shivers. He turns to see a shift occurring. The bank has changed from a brilliant beautiful building into a long abandoned building. Max is standing amongst the dust.
MAX: (as he drops his check onto the dusty floor)
Marvelous.
MAX is standing in a long line waiting for his turn at a teller. There are 14 people before him and there are 3 tellers on duty at the moment. MAX is wearing a neon yellow t-shirt that states VILLAGE and he is wearing jeans. It's a pretty busy morning at the bank.
The young girl ahead of him is chatting on a cellphone. She is a college co-ed.
GIRL: (into phone)
... like so I say to the jerk "It's your move asshole".
The man before the girl turns to face her; he sees that she has a cellphone. He is about to turn and let the girl chatter.
GIRL: (to the man before her)
What are you looking at? Line is ahead!
Max smiles to himself. Trying not to indulge in the conversation but the girl is speaking too loudly not to.
GIRL: (into phone)
Nothing Jenny. Just some doufus before me.
The man is about to say something, but Max shakes his head no. So the man turns and faces the front.
GIRL: (into phone)
So the jerk stands there gawking like he has something to say and I say to him "spit it out" but he's like stammering like an idiot.
Max shivers. He turns to see a shift occurring. The bank has changed from a brilliant beautiful building into a long abandoned building. Max is standing amongst the dust.
MAX: (as he drops his check onto the dusty floor)
Marvelous.
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