Tom Avitabile - The Hammer of God

“Look, don’t think I am not grateful for you taking me in after Gary was such a jerk.”

“Grateful? I am supporting you, feeding you, clothing you! I deserve more than just grateful!”

“You know what? I can’t believe you said that! How dare you throw that in my face! You asked me to move in. In fact, you instigated my leaving Gary. ‘Our relationship no longer feeds my emotional, spiritual, and essential self.’”

“You needed clarity and…”

“You needed to control me.” She walked away.

He stood there and stewed for a moment, then came at her with both guns blazing. “You seem to have issues. Maybe you should talk to a therapist.”

“Oooo you know what? Suddenly, I have clarity!” She put her fingertips to her temples as if she were suddenly a seer, “Let me see if this resonates with you: if I don’t swoon when you fuck me, then it’s me who needs therapy?” For the first time in her life, Ann was angry. Angry at a male! Not guilty, not sorry, not blaming herself but real, true anger!

“Listen, you little cunt, I’m risking my job for you everyday.”

“Little what? I am so out of here.”

“Good. I am going out; don’t be here when I get back.”

He slammed the door. Off to One Police Plaza to protest the harassing of Ali Rashid, the innocent immigrant arrested for not cowering to a cop.

Ann plopped down on the bed. She could not believe what had just happened. Immediately she realized that she was about to be homeless and penniless. The small stipend she received from the scholarship didn’t go far in New York. Falling back on her parents was not a pleasant thought. For a minute, she thought about apologizing to Mark and maybe making it up to him by doing that thing he wanted to do with the exchange student from Morocco who had confessed to him her love of three-ways. Maybe if she did that, he wouldn’t kick her out. But those thoughts lasted for only a few seconds more and were replaced by a new plan, one which she had fantasized about, especially after doing a little snooping. Her mood changed in a second and she got up and went to the bathroom to douche Mark out of her body and out of her life.

“Peter, it’s over. I wish I could be there when your mother finds out you’re not dead. Hug her for me, too.”

“Billy, you were the smartest kid on the block, and now I owe you big time.”

“Nonsense, man. You made me understand science and math in a way none of my teachers could ever do. Peter, I am the National Science Advisor today because you took the time to challenge a little kid to do more. Hell, I have used that as part of my National Science Teachers Initiative. It’s really just what you taught me and how you taught me.”

“Really? Pretty good then for a guy who never graduated college.”

“Anytime you want a degree, just let me know. Shit, I’d sponsor your doctorate!”

“Trying to make me legit?”

“Perish the thought. But you should keep in touch with Kronos; he’s so plugged in he short circuits when he showers.”

“I’ll see.”

“Pete, it’s none of my business but have you given any thought to what you are going to do next? I mean, that doesn’t involve black helicopters and listening devices?”

“You know, now that I am alive again, I might try to see if that FBI girl back up in New York goes for older men.”

“Something tells me you’d be safer investigating who shot Kennedy. But hey, go for it. Just remember she is one stalwart piece of crime-fighting apparatus. Don’t ever get on her bad side.”

“I think she likes me.”

“Pride goeth before the fall, man.”

“Thanks, Billy the Kid.”

“Anytime, Peter Robot.”

Ever since the ACLU complained that the radiological surveillance of mosques was unconstitutional, federal authorities backed off the many search teams that aimed sensors at the various, logical places where radical Islamic fundamentalists would seek cover amid the other law-abiding American Muslims. So when Rodney/Rashid, hiding out in the basement safe room of the building adjacent to the mosque, opened the case in a nervous act to assure himself that all was right with the package, the radioactive blip passed unnoticed in all directions and out into space to blend in with the background radiation emanating from this part of the Milky Way.

Number 12 was on perimeter patrol around the Store amp; Lock. He was armed with nothing more than a cell phone. It was all he needed if someone were serveilling them or sneaking about. He’d just place a call and the men inside would come out and neutralize the threat. On his east-west pass across the front, he saw the outline of someone looking through the glass doors of the facility. He saw this person pressing the buttons of the electric lock. He decided not to call this in. Instead, he simply walked up behind her and said, “What is it you want?”

Ann jumped. “Oh, you startled me. I’m looking for Mahmoud?”

“There is no Mahmoud here and it’s closed. You go away now.” The threat in his voice would have been obvious to anyone else, but Ann persisted.

“Well, I happen to know that Mahmoud lives here. I followed him here.”

“You followed him here!”

Number 12 punched the keypad and the door buzzed and unlocked. Unceremoniously he grabbed Ann by the arm and manhandled her inside.

“Hey, let go of me…”

“Silence!”

“Where are you taking me?”

“I said, silence.” He slapped her hard.

Number 1 was reviewing the back up plan with Number 4 and 9 when he turned in the direction of the commotion coming through the door. He was shocked to see the girl from the train being dragged by Number 12 into the room.

“Mahmoud! It’s me, Ann. Tell this guy to let go of me.”

Number 1 closed his eyes, and washed his hand over his face. “Sit her here in the chair.”

“Who is Mahmoud?” Number 12 asked.

“That is not your concern, Number 12. Just leave her here and get back to your post.” He turned to Numbers 4 and 9. “We will finish this later. Go to the kitchen.”

Ann watched the men leave. She looked at Mahmoud. He was just as she remembered. “I am so glad I found you. I wanted to get to know you better. Maybe even work with you.”

“How did you find me?”

“I kinda followed you that night. I saw you come here. I waited all night but you didn’t come out ‘til morning. The man at the deli down the street told me you live here. It’s pretty cool living in a storage place. Do you have an apartment here?”

Number 1 just stared.

Ann felt her cheek. “That man hit me. Why would he hit me?”

“Did you tell anyone you were coming here?”

“What? No, who would I tell?”

“Please, Ann, this is very important. You told no one?”

“No, no one. Wait? You are worried, aren’t you?”

Number 1 crouched down to her seated level. “Now what would worry me?”

“I am so into your cause. I know how hard it’s been, how unfair you and your entire nationality have suffered.”

“Is there anyone who is expecting you back?”

Ann saw an opening to appeal to the man. “No, no one. I am free as a bird. No one to report to and no one to go home to.”

“Surely, someone will miss you.”

“Why Mahmood, are you expecting me to spend the night? I mean, it’s okay with me.”

“Why are you here? Why did you follow me?”

“I left Mark. He’s a monster. I want to join you. I want you to teach me about the great struggle. I want to learn from you.”

“I run a storage warehouse. There is nothing to learn.”

“You must be suffering from prejudice, hate, and social injustice.”

“Where do you get such ideas?”