Page 73 of Concluded
“I pretty much am.”Achilles made sure to catch Dee’s eyes.“Anyway, if you think I’m letting my djinn waltz into their hands without me, you’ve got another think coming.”
“But they’ll?—”
“I know, Dee.I know.I’m willing to pay the price.”And then a thought occurred to him and he gave a small smile.“You’re the Trojan horse, Dee.”
Dee didn’t laugh.In fact, he continued to argue, but eventually he must have realized he couldn’t win.After muttering darkly about suicide missions, he subsided into a scowling silence.Achilles and Art worked out the rest of their little plan: In the morning, Jerry would hike with them to civilization, where Achilles would call Charles and fill him in.No doubt Charles would be relieved to know that Ish had arrived safely.After that, Dee and Achilles would travel to Dee’s apartment in Portland and wait for the bad guys to appear.Along the way, they’d devise a credible means to make the enemy believe that Dee was handing over a captive Achilles.
It wasn’t a great plan, but it was what they had.And as for what happened once Dee obtained the necessary intel, well, he’d have to play it by ear.Achilles trusted him to figure something out.
* * *
That night,Achilles and Dee shared the guest bed, which was a little tight for two full-grown men, but they didn’t mind.Although their hosts were left bedless—neither of them could have stretched out on the couch—they were happy to camp outdoors.
“You won’t be too cold?”Achilles had asked.
Jerry laughed.“Not a problem.”
And then it was morning and time to go.First, Achilles and Dee stopped in to speak to Ish.“You’re safe here,” Achilles assured him.“And we’ll tell Charles where you are.”
Ish looked at him with ancient eyes.“I am grieved that I am not stronger.”
“You will be.Give yourself time.”
“For humans, time is a great gift.I have previously not needed it.”His gaze went vague and he said a few sentences in a language that Achilles didn’t recognize.Then he seemed to focus again.“Remember your weapons, hero.Hope.Love.Joy.Empathy.Generosity.Kindness.Justice.”
“Charles told me something very similar.”
Ish managed a smile.“He takes after his mother.My hope lies with you; perhaps that will help.”
Achilles, who figured an angel’s support couldn’t hurt, thanked him.As did Dee.Then there was a round of thanks and farewells to Art—including a kiss from Jerry—and they were off.
Under other circumstances, it would have been a glorious day for a hike.The sun shone brightly, warming the air.Spring blossoms and fresh greenery sprouted everywhere, birds twittered, squirrels chattered.Sometimes the trail took them through thick trees and sometimes it skirted ledges with spectacular views.The air smelled fresh, as if just breathing it could remove deeply lodged toxins.
But this wasn’t a pleasure excursion.Achilles and Dee wore sneakers that weren’t up to the task, and Achilles’ feet still hadn’t completely recovered from his barefoot desert tromp.
Jerry, he noted, wasn’t wearing any shoes at all, and the terrain didn’t seem to bother him.He also wasn’t wearing a jacket—just jeans and a plaid shirt.Maybe he had a lot of insulating hair under his clothing; Achilles didn’t ask.
After clambering up a particularly steep hill, both Dee and Achilles needed to pause to catch their breath and drink some water before moving on.“I got mauled by bears,” Achilles muttered to nobody in particular.“And tortured.And shot.My cardio routine has suffered.”
Jerry clapped him heavily on the shoulder.“It’s not an easy hike.We chose our cabin spot because of that.”
“But you and Art are getting kind of, um?—”
“Ancient?Yeah, but this kind of life is in my blood.My father’s people don’t retire to subdivisions with golf carts and food delivery, you know?Even my mother’s people—they’re human—are pretty tough.”
“Okay,” Achilles acknowledged.“But Art?”
“Good genes.Both his parents lived to almost a hundred.I’ve always kinda wondered if his mom had some yeti in her.Okay, c’mon guys.We got a ways to go yet.”
It took a total of four hours to reach town.Achilles had never been so happy to see pavement and cars.Jerry took them to a cute little bungalow near the city limits.It was atop a hill that gave it a sweeping view of the forest.
“The mansion,” Jerry joked as he let them in.“Hot running water, even!Why don’t you guys have a rest?I’ll pop over and get you some food.Can pick up a couple of cell phones for you too, if you want.”
Slightly stricken, Achilles winced.“We’re flat broke.Those fuckers got my wallet, and?—”
“Forget about it.Me and Art have a nest egg.”Jerry gestured at the interior.“Make yourselves at home.”Then the eighty-something man who’d just led them on a strenuous hike hurried back outside.
“If we survive this, I’m definitely improving my exercise regimen,” Achilles said.
