Encompassing by Richard Lord Read Free Book Online Page B

wisdom.  Usually, people consider their wisdom as mistakes and their mistakes for wisdom.”  -- from the book of Christina
    “OK. It wasn’t even close to easy but I called in our position and they said they won’t dedicate more force to this nightmare of an operation.  However, they are sending someone.  I guess their bringing supplies or a transport out of here.  I don’t know.  It was all weird and I suspect they had some idea of who or what you are or they wouldn’t have given me the clearance to bring you here.  I should have thought of that before I came.”
    Renfield, lolling down at his leg answers, “Oh yeah, Christina.  I miss her, it will be good to see her again.”
    “What?”, yells Brady.  “How the hell do you know the name of the person their sending?  What are you not telling me?  What in God’s name is going on?  What is all of this?  Who are you?”
    Renfield says, ‘I’m your friend, or will be when you stop being angry and suspicious of me.  Christina, this one, doesn’t know me yet, but she’s good.  She’s a pilot, but also a fighter and she…”
    “Hey don’t trail off on me!  How the hell do you know who their sending if I don’t and that look on your face…you really do know her!  What kind of reunion should I expect!  Tell me now!”
    “None, she doesn’t know me yet. In fact, she likes me then hates me then understands.  It’s complicated.”
    “Stop saying that and start giving me answers!  Are there more of those things?  Are we sitting ducks?  Start there!”
    “Yes and yes and it’s always complicated, how can I not say that?”
    “You could answer me directly, starting right now!”  Brady stands and walks towards Renfield.
    “Neither of the things you are considering is a good idea.  I promise you you’ll be dead long before you can beat out of me things you cannot comprehend yet.  Stay the path.  You’ve believed this long.  Have faith.”
    “Faith in what?  Your madness?  This madness?  Do you know how scared my whole team is right now?  Then you tell me you know who else they are injecting into this and you don’t think I have some pretty serious questions?”
    “Well if it’s any consolation, I didn’t tell you anything, hence my point.  I was just remembering some pasts.”  Renfield looks up at Brady.  “In all of them you are my friend.  That means a lot to me and I hope it’s true this time as well.”
    “What do you mean, ‘THIS TIME’?”  You keep making statements like that, but that leaves me to guess and that is what I cannot stand about you, so I highly doubt we will be friends!”
    “Loud and clear, Detective.  How about some rest?  We have some walking to do and well, more, but Christina should be here soon and we need to be ready to move again once she is here.  You can’t say I never told you anything.  I told you this was going to happen.  Also, to give more, her plane goes down so we have to be ready to get her.”
    “You mention that as an aside?  I believe and I have seen, but that’s messed up.  What takes the plane down?  I can radio that information in and she can avoid it.  If it’s a ‘her’ and she is named Christina.”
    “Don’t.  This is when I need you to trust me.  If we change too much from what I know we can’t win.  All of the previous tries will be in vain and that’s a fool’s move.”
    Brady looks at Renfield and is struck by an omniscient feeling that Renfield, is again, telling the truth and fate matters to him.  The popping embers from the fire that Brady was watching land on Renfield and he notes that they burn into his flesh, but don’t seem to phase Renfield at all.  He looks up, half-gazing at the stars, half anticipating the plan and wonders, “Who is Renfield?  What is Renfield?”

CHAPTER 14
    “I believe he was serious when he said he knew everything, but he just couldn’t remember all the answers at once.”  -- from the book of