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Authors: Robert T. Jeschonek

Heaven Bent (8 page)

BOOK: Heaven Bent
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*****

They took me to a makeshift shelter--a lean-to with a ragged green tarp for a roof. Then we sat at a rough-hewn wooden table to talk about the murder I was supposed to commit.

And the whole time, I kept wondering if they knew more about me than they were letting on. If that was the real reason we were having this conversation.

Not that I was going to bring it up.

"Sorry we didn't tell you sooner," said E.P. "But we wanted you to see how things are. We needed you to understand what we're up against."

"You had to see it for yourself." M.J. nodded. "It was the only way you'd believe."

"That's why I pulled you out of the theater before the bomb went off," said E.P. "It's why I brought you on the rescue mission to Heavenless." He brushed a hand through his thick gray hair. "And why I showed you who I am."

"Your rapper friend N.B. tried to set you straight before the gala," said M.J. "But you wouldn't listen, so we knew you'd have to see proof with your own two eyes."

"We had to bring the house down and pull you out," said E.P.

I scowled at one and then the other. "You mean the
bombing
was just a
cover
to get me out of there? All those
people
were blown up because of
me
?"

"There were minimal casualties," said E.P. "Our folks made sure there were only a handful."

"But still!" I got up from the table and paced around the lean-to. "If what you told me is true, and this
isn't
Heaven or any kind of afterlife, those people are
gone
."

E.P. folded his arms on the table. "I don't like it, either..."

"That's two of us!" M.J. said emphatically.

"...but there's a war on. The stakes are high." E.P. shook his head. "Those people died so we could set
everyone
free."

I stopped pacing and looked him in the eye. "So you could use me to
kill
someone, you mean."

E.P. nodded. "It'll turn the tide, man. It'll win the war in one stroke. Imagine how many
lives
that'll save."

I stared at him a moment longer. I was having trouble wrapping my head around the fact that the King of Rock 'n' Roll was trying to talk me into murdering someone.

Again, I wondered if he knew about my secret past. If Heaven wasn't a mystical place, it seemed less likely--but that would make this conversation a pretty big coincidence. Because what were the chances they'd ask me to do this without knowing what happened all those years ago? What were the chances they didn't know about A.E.?

"So who is it?" I said. "Who am I supposed to kill in cold blood?"

"You've already met," said E.P. "His name is Byzantine."

"Right." I thought of the blond surfer dude from the terrace, the sharp-eyed guy with the blinding smile who'd stepped up after my aborted trip to Hell.

"He runs everything," said E.P. "He's the most powerful man in this so-called Heaven."

I nodded. It didn't surprise me that Byzantine was the target; he'd had "player" written all over him. Clearly, the surfer dude act was just a front.

"Take him off the board, and we have a chance." E.P. tapped the table with his index finger. "We'll move in with everything we've got at once."

I started pacing again. "Didn't you say you've got some people on the inside? Why not use one of them to do the job?"

"They've got other fish to fry," said E.P. "And frankly, we don't think any of them can get as close as you. Byzantine has a thing for you, man."

I frowned. "What kind of 'thing?'"

"We hear you're his favorite star," said E.P. "A real special project."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Lots of private performances," said M.J. "More than usual, that is."

"Meaning you'll have access," said E.P. "And opportunity."

M.J. tipped his head to one side. "Assuming you get through reentry, that is."

I didn't like the sound of that. "What the hell's reentry?"

Slowly, E.P. got to his feet. "Getting back in the circle of trust. When you show up again, Byzantine and the others might worry you've been compromised."

"Which you
have
been," said M.J.

E.P. shrugged. "They'll probably put you through the wringer."

I couldn't help smirking. Since coming to Heaven, I'd done nothing
but
get put through the wringer. "In what way, exactly?"

"We don't know," said E.P. "Torture, probably."

"Awesome." It wasn't funny, but I laughed anyway. "So let me see if I've got this straight. You want me to go get tortured...then, if I survive that, kill the boss of Heaven...all based on your say-so..."

"And what you've been shown," said E.P. "Don't forget Heavenless."

"And the mutant pit bull," added M.J.

I stopped pacing and stuck my hands on my hips. "It's still a pretty big leap, guys. I mean, I think the world of you both, I really do. You're a great friend and an incredible human being, M.J. And E.P., you're one of my biggest heroes ever." I shook my head. "But don't you think this is asking a bit
much
?"

E.P. stepped forward and nodded sternly. "We know that, man. And we wouldn't ask if it wasn't so important. If we didn't honestly believe you're the only one who can do it."

"Maybe he just needs more time to think it over," said M.J.

"I wish we could give it to him." E.P.'s face was grim. "But the Controllers are about to make a move. A
big
one."

"What move is that?" I asked.

"We don't know," said E.P. "All we know is it's coming. So this might be the only chance we get."

"Great," I said. "Got any
more
pressure you'd like to pile on top of me?"

E.P. gazed into my eyes for a long moment, then turned away. "I don't know what else I can say to convince you." He walked back to the table and sat down. M.J. started to lift a comforting hand to his shoulder, then thought better of it.

For a little while, no one in the lean-to said a word. The only sounds were the chirps and buzzes of the jungle insects, the cries of the night birds and creatures in the trees.

I had a feeling E.P. and M.J. were waiting for me to speak up...but I was having trouble getting behind their proposal. There was still so much I didn't know about the situation. And I didn't like the idea of being tortured, especially now that I knew it could do some real damage in this non-heavenly Heaven.

I trusted both men, but what they were asking me to do was insane. For all intents and purposes, this was still my first day in Heaven--and I was already supposed to go kill the big man and help overthrow the government? WTF?

Even with more time and motivation, it wasn't something I'd line up to volunteer for. I may be many things, but a cold-blooded killer isn't one of them. The one time somebody died because of me, it wasn't on purpose.

Mostly, anyway.

"All righty." E.P. finally broke the silence by clapping his hands together. "Maybe you need more convincin'."

With that, he got up and marched out of the lean-to.

I watched him go. "Should I be worried?"

M.J. walked up beside me and bumped his epaulet into my upper arm. "Not yet." He was smiling, his voice soft, as he said it. "By the way, I'm sorry you got mixed up in all this, Stag."

"Join the club." E.P. disappeared into a tent; I wondered what he'd gone in after. "I'm sorry you're in the middle of this, too."

M.J. shrugged. "I was sent here for a reason, Stag. I really believe that. Not the reason
Byzantine
and the Controllers had for faking my death and bringing me here." He looked up, then looked at me and grinned. "A
higher
purpose."

Was I being played again? "Let me guess." I rolled my eyes. "I'm supposed to think the same way, aren't I?"

M.J. shook his head. "I'm just telling you how it is for me. That's all."

Just then, I heard rustling sounds from the direction of the tent. I turned to see E.P. walking out with someone new--a lean figure in a black hoodie sweatshirt and bluejeans. The hood was up and the head was bowed, so I couldn't see his face.

"Hey, Stag," said E.P. "There's someone I want you to meet."

As he and the hooded man approached, M.J. got excited. He hummed a tune and did his patented quick spin, one hand at his forehead as if he were holding on to a hat. Then he moonwalked out of the way to make room for E.P. and his guest.

I didn't moonwalk, but I did back away. E.P. entered first, drawing the hooded man along by the elbow.

"This is who we rescued from Heavenless," said E.P. "Minus the bandages. Took a little while for the doc to bring him around."

With a spontaneous cry of joy, M.J. popped forward and threw his arms around the hooded man. "I'm so glad you're back! It's been so long!"

The hooded man wobbled in his grip, looking a little shaky. He made a sound like a soft chuckle and pulled an arm free to pat M.J.'s head.

E.P. walked around to stand beside me. "I could tell you needed convincing." He gave me a shove in the middle of my back. "Well, if
he
can't convince you, I don't know who
can
."

As I stumbled forward, M.J. broke the hug and spun away from us. Slowly, the new arrival reached up and pushed the black hood off his head, revealing his face.

At which point, I swear, my jaw dropped all the way to the floor and kept going.

It was as big a surprise as when E.P. had taken off his mask.
Bigger
.

Maybe it was because he'd died by violence at the start of a comeback. He'd been snatched away just as he'd started making great music again. His death had felt so brutal, so disheartening, so
final
.

And now here he was, standing in front of me. Blinking and breathing. Offering his hand for a shake.

Not dead after all.

As I took his hand, I had no words to describe how I felt. Like E.P., he was one of my all-time heroes, but I'd never imagined I'd get to meet him.

Until that moment.

"Hello there." His voice was familiar, his accent straight from his hometown of Liverpool, England. "You must be the film actor I've heard so much about."

I nodded, still half dumbstruck. "Stag Lincoln." I forgot to let go of his hand. "I can't believe it's really
you
."

"Me neither." He smirked and pulled his hand from my grip. "But I seem to be stuck with me these days."

I just grinned like an idiot and shook my head. There I was, face to face with one of the greatest singer-songwriters ever, a member of the biggest rock band of all time. It felt momentous.

His name was ingrained in my memory, but I called him by his initials like I did everyone else. "J.L. It is truly an
honor
to meet you."

"I was just about to say the same thing about you." J.L. snapped his fingers--then shook his head. "Not really. But what's this I hear about you pitching in for the cause?"

I glanced at E.P. and M.J. "I haven't said 'yes' yet."

"Well, I hope you do." J.L. narrowed his eyes and locked onto my gaze. "This place needs a change, my friend. There's a lot of suffering going on here."

I looked at E.P. again. "They want me to do something pretty drastic."

J.L. nodded slowly. "There's a war on, isn't there?"

A thought occurred to me then, but I hesitated before saying it. It seemed wrong, arguing with someone of his stature. "I thought you were
against
war. You're all about
peace
, aren't you?"

"Give it a chance, I always say." J.L. smiled. "But sometimes you don't have a choice. Like England in the Blitz, yeah? Imagine if we hadn't fought back."

"But that was different, wasn't it?"

J.L. shrugged. "I did a song about a revolution once, Stag." He raised his eyebrows. "Well that's what we've got here. And I say we need it. If there's one thing I hate as much as war, it's tyranny." Stepping forward, he clamped a hand on my shoulder. "So what do you say? Are you ready to do your bit?"

Was J.L., one of the most famous peaceniks of all time, actually talking me into assassinating someone? I needed a reality check like you wouldn't believe...but all the reality I was going to get was standing there in front of me.

Could I say "no" to J.L. while E.P. and M.J. looked on? The holy trinity of music gods was calling in a favor; turning them down would have been like saying "no" to the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

"Okay." I nodded. "I'll try. But I'm no killer, so no guarantees."

"Can't ask for better than that," said E.P.

"You'll come through. I know you will," said M.J.

"Thank you." J.L. squeezed my shoulder and grinned. "If I had any jewelry on me, I'd rattle it in your honor."

"Great!" E.P. pushed forward and took me by the elbow. "Let's get you prepped. We're not sending you in empty-handed."

"Aren't you going to tell him the rest?" M.J.'s voice had an edge. "Aren't you going to tell him what else we're going to do to him?"

My guard went up instantly. Tensing from head to toe, I looked from M.J. to E.P.

"If we send you in without a mark on you, they'll think we turned you," said E.P. "They'll never accept you."

"Right." I was getting the picture, and it sucked.

"Sorry, Stag," said M.J.

"It'll only hurt for a
little
while," said J.L. "And no
permanent
damage, we promise. You'll be safe as houses."

"Well, that's okay then, isn't it?" I said with sarcasm.

"My advice?" said J.L. "Close your eyes and think of England. Or is that close your England and think of eyes?"

I shook my head, instantly regretting my decision to accept the mission. "Aren't you being redundant? Didn't you say I'll probably be tortured when I get there anyway?"

"That's true," said E.P. "But this way, you won't be
killed
when you get there."

"Well, when you put it
that
way..." I let out a heavy sigh. "Why
not
have my ass kicked by three of the greatest performers of all time? That's
my
idea of Heaven, all right."

J.L. laughed. "And if you get the job done, and we expose this place for what it really is, there'll
be
no Heaven." His face lit with a mischievous expression. "Imagine that!"

BOOK: Heaven Bent
8.54Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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