Fishy's Adventures

Chapter Twenty-Seven - A Nightly Encounter

Having awakened from his uneasy sleep many hours before the sunrise, Goldy decided he's too concerned about Fishy dropping by. He looked at his nameless former schoolfriend, slumbering deeply. Just a pawn on the great big chess board. He silently grabbed all his equipment and set off into the unknown, doing his best to avoid areas where danger could have been.
He could return to his headmaster. Goldy was quite sure Fishy had no people to fill his place, and he hadn't yet done anything quite terrible against his "employer".
No.
"I've got to soldier on, despite the odds that may look impossible at certain times." - he murmured. Hearing his thoughts always helped him focus.
"But what if your journey is just a pointless excursion, bent to fail regardless of what you do?" - a low-pitched voice from the shadow spoke up.
Then, the person Goldy least expected to meet turned around.
Gregory Fishy, the boss of Cufthillian mafia and older brother to Ian, emerged from the dark, moving himself forward in his wheelchair, a bit clumsily.
"I don't remember letting you trespass on my property, young man. Tell me your name and reason for your loitering. And be wary: my patience is like my enemies - quick to disappear." - he leaned slightly towards Goldy, staring at him inquisitively. Our hero looked around and noticed numerous shady people hiding around the corners. The one closest to him probably had a knife hidden under his coat, ready to be thrown. Fighting the way out wasn't an option. Making a run for it didn't seem very realistic as well.
"I was sent here by Ian Fishy to hunt down his brother, Gregory." - Goldy's inner voice of reason screamed at him for such a dumb idea as to tell the truth. He had no idea who he was talking to! He then saw the menacing look on the man's face, and so he went on:
"My loyalty to him is questionable though, as I was forced to do all that I was doing up until now. If there's anything I can do for you, I'll gladly take it up."
Gregory looked concerned, shockingly. A genuine frown of concern appeared on his aging face. Then he said:
"Not many people dare mention this name in my presence. Now I'm not sure whether to commend you for your bravery, or to punish you for your impudence... ...very well. I shall tell you what happened. But listen closely, because I do not wish to speak of the matter again." - Gregory leaned back in his wheelchair. - "My younger brother, Ian Fishy turned his nose up at my surprise party for him, offended my good name and chose to go to war with me, despite my warnings and pleas. He may be my brother, but it's hard indeed for me to take such an offense. I can't say I love him like I'm supposed to. Like my late mother would like me to. And you! You're the assassin he sent to kill me. Is Ian even sane? I have no idea how potent of a threat you are, but can you fight your way through dozens of my highly trained bodyguards to finally get my head, as you had promised to Ian? Listen, I do not mean harm to you, young man, you can be useful to me after all, as you said. On the other hand, I shouldn't trust you to be loyal, assuming your loyalty to me will be about the same as to my brother..." - Gregory stopped his awfully long monologue, thinking for a few whiles.
Goldy thought his allegiances through quickly. Firstly, he's on the side of Michael Goldy. That's for sure. Secondly, he's on the side of Matthew Vantami. For the sake of friendship. Thirdly, he's against Ian Fishy, as long as he can avoid death or serious injury at his hands. Maybe Gregory could provide that? Speaking of him, he got soaked up deep in his thoughts. He turned melancholic and stared at the floor, seemingly looking into the past with nostalgia. He probably even shed a tear, which made Goldy think he really isn't such a bad man as he had expected. Gregory finally turned to Goldy and said:
"I made up my mind. I'm not a young man like you anymore. I'd always wanted to retire in peace, travel to some faraway place, where I could live the rest of my days in peace. If you'll be kind enough to go back to Ian and tell him I'm dead, you're going to reap your reward, whatever it is. Meanwhile, I'll already be on the way to Colombia, with all the proof that Gregory Fishy ever existed. The headmaster of the IIIrd LO will get what he wishes for. Does that sound good to you?"
"It really does, sir. I can hardly believe your words." - Goldy said, thanking the Lady Luck in his thoughts.
"Now, there's no time to waste. Go now, do as I said, and everything will be fine. And don't forget to say "hi" from me to Madame Isher!"
Having said that, Gregory snapped his fingers and a thug snuck up from behind on Goldy, putting a hood on his face. It smelled of cat urine, and the acrid stench quickly made our hero pass out. When he woke up, he was lying on the grassy patch, right next to the street where the IIIrd LO was.
Vantami.
Goldy rushed to the café, which wasn't too far away from where he came to his senses. Vantami was already sitting there.
Our hero greeted him briefly, saying:
"Don't you worry, friend, I think I've got a plan..."