Revelations of a Grey Coat Hunter

8

     A few hours later, a loud pounding on the door announced the return of Arthur and Conrad. Maddy and Monty were already packed and ready to go. They gathered their things and opened the door.

     Immediately, they were buffeted by winds. Conrad was nowhere to be seen. Arthur, scowling, was standing with his fist up, ready to knock again, his grey coat billowing around in the wind like some sort of cape and his other hand holding tightly to his hat. "You didn't check to see if it was me," he said in lieu of a greeting. "I didn't see the curtain twitch, and I didn't see you look through the peephole. Always check before you open the door!"

     "Sorry!" The twins dragged their luggage out, arms raised to block out some of the wind. When had this storm come in? They looked up, checking the clouds, and realized immediately why it was so windy. A grey helicopter was hovering silently overhead. Only the buffeting winds from its rotors and the shadow it cast gave any indication that it was there. Across the parking lot, they could see people driving past. A man was walking along the sidewalk, chatting away on his cell phone, completely oblivious to its presence.

     "Yes, it's a stealth copter, but that won't matter once someone looks over, will it?" Arthur snapped. He seemed in a foul mood. "Now, come on!"

     "Wait, is this our ride?" Monty stared up in awe, seeing a rope ladder lowered over the helicopter's side.

     "No, it's the fucking window washers. Of course it's our ride! Now hurry up, and let's get moving!"

     "How are we supposed to get our luggage up there?" Maddy asked.

     Arthur drew back his foot and gave her luggage a hard kick, sending it tumbling down the stairs. Before they could react, he sent Monty's after it. "There's nothing you need from your old life, not after this," he calmly told the sputtering, gape-mouthed pair. "The Foundation will provide everything from this point forward." The ladder had reached them. Arthur caught it expertly and held it steady. "Come on, now, up you go, quickly!"

     With one last longing look at their luggage, the twins scrambled up the ladder. Arthur was still climbing up when the helicopter started moving. He didn't appear to mind, climbing up and into the vehicle without asking for or receiving the aid that the twins had been offered from the silent, helmeted, heavily armed men inside. At least they waited until he was inside before closing the door, although they looked somewhat disappointed he'd made it.

     Closing the door cut off the wind and made things suddenly quieter. The twins looked around. Someone in the Foundation was fond of the color grey. It was everywhere, various shades all over the helicopter and crew. Even the armor of the guards was grey. The presence of the armed men was a bit unnerving. Monty found himself leaning closer to his sister, looking around. "Where's Conrad?"

     "He's gone ahead to deliver the Artifact," Arthur explained. "Relax, would you? It will be a few hours until we get there."

     Arthur was quick to take his own advice. He stretched out right on the floor of the chopper, pulled his hat over his eyes, and put his hands behind his head. A short time later, he was snoring.

     Monty had never been on a helicopter before. He wanted to enjoy it, but the silent crew and armed men made it hard not to feel like a prisoner. With a sinking heart, he realized that was quite likely precisely what they were. Arthur and Conrad had been clear about the reason they were bringing the twins to the Foundation and that they didn't have a choice in the matter. Now, they were here, surrounded by armed guards. Even without Arthur's presence blocking Maddy's powers, it wasn't like they could fight their way out. At best, they'd crash the chopper and kill everyone, including themselves. No, Monty realized, this was it. They'd reached the point of no return. Now, there was nothing to do but wait.