Parchman, стр. 24
Turning towards Jackal and his gang McGregor started walking fasttowards Jackal and then past him to one of his men. He pushed the man inthe face and took the metal pipe that he had been holding and headed backinto the fight.
The Beast was clutching his knee on the floor whilst still trying to defendhimself with his other hand by punching thin air. McGregor made contactwith the pipe intoThe Beast’s ribs letting out a sickening crack whichsilenced everyone watching. Then gasps as the pipe came down on theBeast’s back making him face plant into the ground. The Beast was done.
One last strike and McGregor would win the bout. He lifted the pipe abovethe beaten man’s head and held it aloft looking toward Jackal. Slowly helowered it and let it drop to the floor.
‘The fighting stops today. The murder ends today. Everything else stops.There is another way. This girl,’ he pointed to Tallulah, ‘has taught methat there is another way. A way where we can live together and trust eachother’. He pointed to the two very different groups of people.
‘We were all thrown into this together and the only way we are going tocome out of this alive and build a future is not by living like animals butgetting back to living like human beings. It can be done. These people aretravelling to another community who have self-sustaining crops and canbreed livestock. You,’ he looked at Jackal, ‘can be a part of that.’
Jackal started a slow clap. ‘Very good white knight, but have you forgotten something. You haven’t won. The fight was to the death. Now as far asI’m concerned if this man,’ he pointed to The Beast, ‘is still alive and yourefuse to kill him then you default and….,’ he stopped.
Everyone looked to where Jackal’s eyeline now was, looking over towhere the Beast still lay dormant. Brad Holton Senior had picked up themetal pipe and looking directly back at Jackal brought the pipe down onthe Beast’s head, killing him instantly.
‘….and,’ continued Jackal as if nothing had happen, ‘it appears that TheBeast has been slain and we fully support you and your group and arehappy to help in any way we can,’ he looked to his gang who were allnodding in approval.
‘Thank you,’ said McGregor glaring at Jackal and away from Brad whocontinued hitting the dead man whilst releasing all the pain of the death ofhis own son. ‘You might want to sort that out,’ he said to Nathaniel.
‘So where do we go from here?’ said Jackal.
‘Simple,’ said Nathaniel. ‘You and your cronies’ turnaround and go backto where you came from.’
‘Hold up,’ said McGregor to Nathaniel. ‘There’s an opportunity here to atleast get some of your people to the prison. These guys have vehicles andfuel. There may be some wiggle room for an alliance,’ he looked towardsJackal for a response.
‘I’m listening,’ said Jackal.
‘Get at least fifty to a hundred of these people to the prison in Parchman?’he said to Nathaniel and Jackal.
‘Prison? Parchman?’ said Jackal.
‘Long story but these guys,’ McGregor pointed to Tallulah and Chuck‘have sent a small group to a prison in Parchman who have built their owncommunity and are looking to get help to bring the rest of this group there.This lot have run out of fuel, food and time. Look around, most of themcan’t travel any further. They are going to end up like….’
‘Us?’ said Jackal
‘A lot, lot worse if I’m to believe what these guys say they’ve seen outthere. I’m sure you know more than me,’ said McGregor.
‘OK, say we do this and get you and some of your group to the prison.What’s in it for us?’ said Jackal.
McGregor looked at Nathaniel, but spoke to Jackal, ‘When this is all doneand over I will join your gang as your second incommand.’
Jackal smiled and nodded. ‘I accept these terms.’CHAPTER ELEVEN
Captain Max Gradel
Brahima Gradel sought refuge in the United States of America in 2002 toavoid the Ivorian Civil War. Two years later and living in a one-bedroomhouse in Baltimore Brahima’s wife Mariame gave birth to their first-bornchild. A son that they named Max.
Not long after Max was born Brahima was called to American NationalService in Iraq and was subsequently killed in action, leaving Mariame toraise her son alone.
Twenty years later. Three years after The Cure.
‘Maxie, the Captain wants to see you in his office. They’re giving out thestatepostings,’ said a soldier to Max.
‘Whatdid you get Jake?’ replied Max.
‘D.C. man, I’m going up in the world,’ said the soldier.
Max headed towards his Captain’s office. The door was closed but he sawfive other men in the office stood before the Captain. He rapped on theglass window of the door.
‘Enter,’ came the Captain’s voice booming through from the other side ofthe door.
‘You wanted to see me Captain,’ said Max.
‘Yes, First Lieutenant Gradel, come on in. Right, as you know we’resetting postings today and since The Cure came into effect the Presidentwants certain states under Marshall Law. You will work with the localpolice in the city you are posted to,’ said the Captain.
‘But why are we in here? All the other postings were put on the bulletinboards,’ said one of the other men in the room.
‘Yes, that is true, however we have identified that you men have familieswithin several of the states that the President has decided we will