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“Well, Mr. Priest. Let’s you and I have a little heart to heart talk, shall we?”

“Please, let’s,” Priest replied.

Thomas laughed again. “Ah, I love this guy. Okay, Mr. Priest, here’s the deal. Our little family here is all about survival. It’s been a major part of our life to prepare for this event, for this series of events leading to the end of the world as society knows it. If I may be so blunt, you and your people have encroac

hed on our property and have interrupted our plans. We have included that facility in our plans ever since they started building it. They hired many people from this town to build it and so, have intimate knowledge of its amenities and how those fall so perfectly into our plans. They have been in that facility, seen how self-sufficient it is. Oh, yes. It is everything we have been planning and living for. So, we will not just let you and your people come and take it away from us.”

“Are you bitching about your ass hurting?” Priest replied.

Thomas was taken aback for a second, but a sly smile comes across his face. “Lawrence, please teach Mr. Priest some manners?” The man to Thomas’s left stepped forward and punched Priest in the jaw with a gloved hand.

Priest spit out some blood.

“Lawrence, I’ll remember that shit,” Priest growled.

“Now, before I was so rudely interrupted. Mr. Priest, what I need from you is a key, so to speak. A way to unlock that facility. Actually, it is better defined as a way in. I would appreciate it if your people just left and gave us that facility with no trouble, but I feel that will not happen. Mr. Priest, you are my key to get in there, and I don’t much care how it happens. Whether you talk them into it, whether we use you as a hostage, or whether you walk right up and let us in. One way or another, you will be the way to our salvation, which includes that entire compound on the hill.”

“You don’t sound like the rest of these country fuck Cro-Magnons. How is that?” Priest answered.

Thomas again looked at Priest with amazement, “Well, that was a compliment and a slight in the same sentence. Even though it was quite rude, I will answer it anyway. I am the orator for our grand movement. The voice for public meetings, assemblies, etc. They have appointed me the “mayor” of this town, and my job is to talk to other groups, communities or other entities in power and negotiate treaties, alliances or any other means necessary for our survival.”

Thomas leaned forward on his chair, narrowed his eyes at Priest and spoke carefully,” That also includes articles of war if we deem it necessary.”

Thomas leaned back in his seat and his face took on a more casual demeanor, “People take you seriously when you can speak to the level of the room or above it, such as in my case. Mr. Priest, knowing the answer to this question before I ask, I still feel compelled to ask, anyway. How would you like to join our little family? You and your fellow soldiers, that is. You could help with ensuring our existence, providing much needed security and tactics advise, while you help to spread our authority across the region to re-establish humanity?”

Priest looked at him and the smile left his face, “I assume we would just be the silent minority? The spearhead to further your cause? Just doing what we’re told and keeping our mouth shut? Does that sum it up accurately?”

Thomas thought pensively, and Priest could see the diplomatic wheels turning in Thomas’s mind.

Priest knew a lot of shit was getting ready to spew from Thomas’s mouth and he didn’t wait for an answer, “With the prior attempts to kill us earlier, the nice job your associates did on my face and body, I am afraid I will have to decline. You understand that with my pride, it’s hard to let that just fly. I have killed people for much, much less than this. I will miss our little talks, though,” Priest spoke in a raspy voice.

He continued, “The fact that I considered your offer for a split second, might earn me some water?”

“Ah, Mr. Priest. I would love to accommodate you, but I feel that would confuse our relationship. It might be seen as a betrayal to the rest of our group.”

“Well, I expected as much. Thought I’d ask, though,” Priest said and then spit on the floor. Blood and phlegm mixed in a small pool by Thomas’s boots.

“You might want to keep that in your mouth, Mr. Priest. No telling when the next time you’ll have something to drink may be.” Thomas said as he looked down at his boot.

“I’ll be fine, but thank you for your concern. To reciprocate your kindness, sans the beating you levied on me. Let me extend an offer to you. Our group could use an educated man who knows the area and could assist us in acquiring needed resources. How about you join our group instead? You let me go, I take out these fuckheads, and we mosey on up to the compound together. What do you say?”

Priest knew Thomas wouldn’t accept his offer, but for a moment, he swore he saw consideration flash across Thomas’s face.

Thomas laughed and stood up. “Mr. Priest, you paint a rosy picture. Had we met a little while ago, I might have taken you up on that tempting offer. Just the opportunity to listen to your various quips is reason enough to join.”

The men behind him bristled about and mumble to themselves, but Thomas raised his hand to silence them.

“I am afraid I will have to decline. You see, Mr. Priest, here I am the one in charge; the one making decisions, the one with the last word. I have no illusions to the fact that with your group, I would be regulated down to just a participant. One who may offer an opinion, but who would be ignored and looked upon as a lesser contributor.”

Priest shook his head, “Honestly, as soon as my hand was free, I would have ripped out your fucking windpipe, then waded through these fucking skirts you use as soldiers.”

Priest grinned as he spat another wad of blood and phlegm on the floor. It was quickly becoming more blood than phlegm.

“Ah, again with that humor of yours. I would love to stick around and entertain you further, but I am afraid I have to leave you now. Don’t worry though, I have a special “skirt” coming to spend time with you and he will provide his complete and undivided attention. Mr. Priest, let me introduce you to my right-hand man, Mr. Brody.”

Priest thought he recognized the man as the one from the gate at the compound. As Mr. Brody walked a little closer, Priest recognized him. It was definitely the same man, and he didn’t look all too pleased.

“Ahh, Mr. Brody. I think I remember him from the yacht club,” Priest chuckled. Brody walked up to him and kicked Priest in the gut, causing his chains to bounce back and forth.