Castle High

9. Birds Of Prey - II

“How could you say, you’re handling the situation – when your staff is hurling out corpses out of these place!”

Serena stared in dismay at her addresser, who was just an inch away from where she stood. It would seem that Celine Marshall, unlike her husband had a very short temper.

“Please, ma’am – I promise you all is well,” Serena started, trying to pacify the agitated mother. She understood her plight, hell if she were in her shoes – she would probably do more. But she had to contain the situation  or else, the press was going to make the whole situation more spicy than it actually was. “Emergency would be arriving any moment–”

“Oh, please don’t give me the Emergency crap,” Celine continued, causing her husband who was standing behind her to place a cautioning arm on her right shoulder. She flung it away and continued. “That’s what anyone would say when there is a disaster. I need actual proof, measures are being dispatched to save my son, A.S.A.P.”

Serena sighed, dipping her right hand into her side pocket and retrieving her phone. After a few moments of sifting through, she contacted the designated contact and spoke into the phone. “Hey, O’Brian; what’s the status of things?”

“We would be there in any moment now. Trust us ma’am.”

“We are expecting you, please hurry.” She added, just before hanging up and facing her confronter once more. “I think you heard that ma’am. They are on their way; I know it’s really difficult to trust us now, despite all the crazy stuff going down here but still – you should keep in mind that the rest of the children have been rescued and are now back home safe and sound. We’re still the only ones who could save your kids ma’am, so please let’s just do our job.”

It seemed her short exhortation, went a long way in subsiding the anger of Celine Marshall. Celine nodded in understanding before retreating back to the guest tent of the base, alongside her husband who trailed silently behind her, before throwing Serena – a grateful look.

Emergency had promised they would be arriving any moment. Surely, nothing else could go wrong now.

*****

“Hey, O’Brian; what’s the status of things?”

The ring-leader, stretched his right arm from the wheels of the 4x4 frontier truck, reaching for the Radio. Raising it to his lips, he replied.

“We would be there in any moment now. Trust us ma’am.”

Shoving the Walk-man back to its earlier spot, he announced. “That Principal keeps on calling us like we’re a bunch of 5th graders, who needs status report every minute.”

A raucous laugh erupted in the lead truck. Two other trucks followed from behind, all on a straight line. They had landed at exactly 10 minutes ago, and embarked on the short road journey to the Jungle facility. It was only a matter of time before they reached their destination.

“I’d take that entire disturbance and nagging, anytime, any day – for the amount they’re offering to us.” The life-guard sitting, by the driver’s right commented. “Let’s just hope the job isn’t too difficult.”

Another life-guard, at the back of the driver – snickered. “That’s what sucks about this job. You get difficult task, they pay you the same shit. Easy task, same shit also. I mean no one should judge us for being terrible people, just because we pray for easy tasks all the time.”

The driver smiled, looking into his rear-view mirror peaking at the activity going on at the back. “Yo, Daniels; what’s stuffed up in your pocket ? You’ve been clutching it all day long, like it’s your new born baby.”