James Hoch - Heckel Casey

"I think our little guy here wants to back out of his…um…duty," Jackson said quietly.

Madeline looked over at Bobby, who had curled up on the ground. "Really? What makes you think that?"

"I think it's that woman, Vonnie, who has poisoned him with all her goodies and niceties. I had a little talk with him, but I'm not so sure it's doing any good."

Madeline put Roger's arm around Jackson's shoulder. She could tell it made him feel uncomfortable. "Perhaps, you are worrying too much."

"With all due respect, Miss Madeline, but I really think we have a problem. Everyone is confident we will make the river tomorrow and…um…what if he doesn't do it?"

Madeline kissed Jackson's cheek. He backed away nervously. She giggled, "Sorry, I couldn't resist that. Look, I will have a quick visit right now with our precious little warrior. He will complete his task. Now wait over there until I'm done."

Madeline walked over to Bobby and sat down next to him. He was sound asleep. She rested a hand softly on the top of his head and entered his dream.

"Hello, Bobby. It's Madeline." They were both seated on a thick branch high up in a tree overlooking the Colorado River.

"Hello," Bobby said as he stared ahead at the people crossing over a bridge.

"How are you doin'?" Madeline asked as she slowly rubbed his back.

"Not so good. I don't want to use that stupid, awful-looking knife," he said defiantly.

"It's just a game," Madeline replied.

Bobby remained silent, staring ahead.

"As I said, it's just like those old video games. Remember, I gave you a bunch to play with before you left?"

"Yeah, they were fun."

"Well, what you have to do is just like one of those games. And when it's all done, you will get tons of ice cream, more fun games, candy, new toys and lots more."

Madeline could tell the wheels were turning and continued to slowly massage Bobby's back. She wanted to just push her energy into his back and make him like Roger, but no, it wouldn't work that way. The death of Heckel must be by an innocent and of his own free will, even if that free will was slightly manipulated.

Bobby moaned softly, enjoying the backrub. "There will be lots of backrubs when you come back to me. Would you like that?"

"Yes, ma'am," he whispered.

"So, you'll finish the game?"

"Um…okay. I guess so."

"You remember how it all plays out, right?"

"Yes, I do."

"Well, I have to go now. You stay up here until I leave. I will see you again soon," Madeline said, kissing Bobby on the forehead. She jumped down from the tree and the dream slowly dissolved in Bobby's head.

"Well, hopefully my little chat with Bobby will keep things on track. You just remember what you have to do," Madeline said to Jackson.

"I'm ready to get this done with and return to you," Jackson said in a whiny voice.

"Great," Madeline said. "By the way, Roger thinks you are very handsome."

With a nervous grin, Jackson shivered.

Madeline threw a chair, smashing it against the far wall. All the men in the room lowered their heads. She paced nervously around the room, thinking and calculating. No one said a word. She was now worried that something was going to go wrong out there at the Colorado River and in the end she would actually have to battle this little shit, Heckel. Her head hurt from all the tension. "What is the status of my force?" she bellowed.

Everyone started talking excitedly. Madeline held up her hand and the room instantly returned to silence. She pointed her finger at one individual, sneered and said, "You."

A portly, middle-aged man stood up and with beads of sweat streaming down his cheeks, said haltingly, "We have about two thousand men camped in the southern part of Washington, near Olympia."

"Go on," she bellowed as she picked up a large leg from the smashed chair and played with it.

"There are another three thousand or so camped in the Blue Mountains," he stammered.

"Where the fuck are the Blue Mountains?" Madeline said, slamming the chair leg on the table next to the man speaking. "I don't have a frickin' atlas in my head."

He defensively put his arms around his head and said, "They are in the eastern part of Oregon."

"Thank you," she replied.

"You're welcome. We are trying to add to those numbers with recent recruits we've gathered, but…um…there's a small problem that's…um…starting to pop up, and…um…" the man said.

Madeline inched her way over to him and stood beside him. "Pray tell, what might that small problem be?" she asked very calmly.

"Well, it seems that one of the camps, I think the one in the Blue Mountains, is experiencing an outbreak of…um…"

"Cholera and dysentery," someone across the table spoke up.

Madeline started laughing. "So, they got the squats. Big deal. Get them some…what do you all it, Ipecac or Pepto Dismal or whatever."

Several men started to snicker.

"Miss Madeline, I received news yesterday that the men that had the problems are improving. We were able to get a few doctors out to that camp," the same individual announced proudly.

"Fine. Enough of this shit…pun intended," she said smacking the broken leg on the table and laughing. "It is still probably a couple of months away until the enemy reaches the designated area, and I want…"

A man waved his hand in the air as if he were a kid in kindergarten needing to go to the restroom. "Excuse me, Miss Madeline, but why not attack them somewhere in California? Surprise them when they don't expect it."

"Put your hand down. You look silly. What's your name?" Madeline asked walking over to the window.

"It's Derek."

"Derek, you seem like a bright individual," she said, still looking out the window and watching a young man with his shirt off cut the lawn. Hmm, she thought . Must remember to find out who that is. Yummy .

"Thank you, ma'am."

"I believe I've said before that I do not like to be interrupted."

The room went mausoleum silent. Derek stood up instantly, pushed his chair over and ran for the door. Madeline waved her hand and the door locked. Anger inside her boiled over. The orbs of energy formed in her hands. She wanted to fling them at each of the miserable men at the table. While pacing the room, she watched the orbs build energy. Her insides seethed like molten lava. "Ah, it feels so good," she muttered. It felt more intense than any orgasm she had ever had. The power made her whole and alive. Madeline could feel her eyes roll up into her head as she bathed in the power.

Finally, the energy subsided to where she was able to speak. "Derek, Derek, Derek," she muttered, walking up to him. The poor man had slumped to the floor and was crying. Madeline bent down, pulled him up and said, "It's okay now." She put her arm around him. "Derek, I'm going to tell you why your idea sucks." The minute she said that last word, the tension mounted in the room. "You see, Derek. This whole 'collapse,' as I've heard it called, has been orchestrated by forces way beyond anything your little pea brain could even possibly comprehend. The battle with Heckel and his wimps will take place outside of Bend, Oregon. That's where it has been preordained and that's where it will take place. Not Arizona, not Nevada and certainly not in any fucking California. Besides, I don't like California."

Madeline looked up to see several men snickering. With blinding speed and using one long, highly polished fingernail, she slit Derek's jugular vein. Blood spewed out, splattering several men at the table. Derek staggered backward slightly, holding his neck, the very essence of life cascading down his fingers. He tried to speak, but his mouth was full of blood. He keeled over and landed on top of the large oak table. The crimson fluid trailed across the highly polished wood.