Heckel Casey

Chapter 24

Madeline's new eyes and ears, otherwise known as Roger, lay on the ground, perched on a high hill overlooking the camp below. His elbows were on the ground, supporting a powerful set of binoculars. He spanned the campground, watching as people gathered wood for a large bonfire. Everything he saw and heard was immediately sent to Madeline.

'What in the world are you doing, Mr. Casey?' Madeline said through Roger. She imagined if anyone had heard him, they would have thought he had an awfully feminine voice. Madeline giggled as though she were a junior high girl trying on a bra for the first time.

More and more people joined Heckel, tossing wood onto a large pile.

'Clever man,' she mumbled when she saw the whole field watching in eager anticipation as the bonfire was lit. 'Sure, I get everyone scared and riled up with my dreams,' she said slamming his hand on the ground. 'Then you come along with your big happy fire, have everyone hold hands and get warm fuzzies. Shit, I'm surprised you don't start singing 'Kumbaya.''

Madeline watched the ridiculous spectacle unfolding. With all the stupid crowd waves, she thought she was at a frickin' football game or something. The more she witnessed the obnoxious gathering, the more she got pissed off.

Where were Jackson and Bobby? she wondered. 'Maybe I should find a big fat cloud and have it dump on their festive congregation,' she muttered looking up at the sky. 'Crap, not a cloud in the vicinity. That's the southwest for ya. Damn.'

Madeline paced all along that hill watching and hearing their laughter all evening. As people started leaving, Madeline got antsy to talk with Jackson and Bobby. 'Okay, Roger, let's go have us a little talk with our friends.'

She made her way down the hill and through some trees. Finally, she caught sight of Jackson and Bobby. They were at the edge of the field. Jackson had Bobby by the arm. It appears they didn't get all cozy with everyone else. Madeline hurried along a dry creek bed and came up behind them.

'Psst, Jackson. Over here.'

Jackson didn't move.

He might be a great lay in bed, she thought, but he wasn't the brightest bulb left on the planet. 'Jackson,' she whispered a bit louder.

He turned and faced Madeline. 'Get over here, now,' she said sternly, trying to sound as much like Madeline as she could.

'Who are you?' he asked.

'Madeline.'

'Really? Excuse me pal, but Madeline is much better looking than you,' Jackson said with much sarcasm.

'Jackson, come over here now. I am Madeline. I'm just using Roger here to be my eyes and ears, but for all intents and purposes, it is me,' she now said sternly, making Roger's eyes glow red.

The minute he saw Roger's bright red orbs, he knew.

'Get up. You don't need to kneel to me.'

Jackson pulled Bobby along into a thick cluster of bushes. Madeline ruffled Bobby's hair. 'How's my big guy?'

Bobby glowered at Madeline and backed away.

'Bobby, this is a nice friend. His name is Roger. He's a close friend of our favorite person, Madeline,' Jackson said, pushing Bobby closer to Roger. He sheepishly stuck out his hand to shake.

'So nice to meet you, Bobby,' Madeline said, trying to sound more like Roger.

'Bobby, how about you wait here a few minutes. I have something important to discuss with our friend, Roger.' Jackson took Bobby and set him down on a large rock nearby. Within a few minutes, he fell asleep.

'I think our little guy here wants to back out of his…um…duty,' Jackson said quietly.

Madeline looked over at Bobby, who had curled up on the ground. 'Really? What makes you think that?'

'I think it's that woman, Vonnie, who has poisoned him with all her goodies and niceties. I had a little talk with him, but I'm not so sure it's doing any good.'

Madeline put Roger's arm around Jackson's shoulder. She could tell it made him feel uncomfortable. 'Perhaps, you are worrying too much.'

'With all due respect, Miss Madeline, but I really think we have a problem. Everyone is confident we will make the river tomorrow and…um…what if he doesn't do it?'

Madeline kissed Jackson's cheek. He backed away nervously. She giggled, 'Sorry, I couldn't resist that. Look, I will have a quick visit right now with our precious little warrior. He will complete his task. Now wait over there until I'm done.'

Madeline walked over to Bobby and sat down next to him. He was sound asleep. She rested a hand softly on the top of his head and entered his dream.

'Hello, Bobby. It's Madeline.' They were both seated on a thick branch high up in a tree overlooking the Colorado River.

'Hello,' Bobby said as he stared ahead at the people crossing over a bridge.

'How are you doin'?' Madeline asked as she slowly rubbed his back.

'Not so good. I don't want to use that stupid, awful-looking knife,' he said defiantly.

'It's just a game,' Madeline replied.

Bobby remained silent, staring ahead.

'As I said, it's just like those old video games. Remember, I gave you a bunch to play with before you left?'

'Yeah, they were fun.'

'Well, what you have to do is just like one of those games. And when it's all done, you will get tons of ice cream, more fun games, candy, new toys and lots more.'

Madeline could tell the wheels were turning and continued to slowly massage Bobby's back. She wanted to just push her energy into his back and make him like Roger, but no, it wouldn't work that way. The death of Heckel must be by an innocent and of his own free will, even if that free will was slightly manipulated.

Bobby moaned softly, enjoying the backrub. 'There will be lots of backrubs when you come back to me. Would you like that?'

'Yes, ma'am,' he whispered.

'So, you'll finish the game?'

'Um…okay. I guess so.'

'You remember how it all plays out, right?'

'Yes, I do.'

'Well, I have to go now. You stay up here until I leave. I will see you again soon,' Madeline said, kissing Bobby on the forehead. She jumped down from the tree and the dream slowly dissolved in Bobby's head.

'Well, hopefully my little chat with Bobby will keep things on track. You just remember what you have to do,' Madeline said to Jackson.

'I'm ready to get this done with and return to you,' Jackson said in a whiny voice.

'Great,' Madeline said. 'By the way, Roger thinks you are very handsome.'

With a nervous grin, Jackson shivered.

Madeline threw a chair, smashing it against the far wall. All the men in the room lowered their heads. She paced nervously around the room, thinking and calculating. No one said a word. She was now worried that something was going to go wrong out there at the Colorado River and in the end she would actually have to battle this little shit, Heckel. Her head hurt from all the tension. 'What is the status of my force?' she bellowed.

Everyone started talking excitedly. Madeline held up her hand and the room instantly returned to silence. She pointed her finger at one individual, sneered and said, 'You.'

A portly, middle-aged man stood up and with beads of sweat streaming down his cheeks, said haltingly, 'We have about two thousand men camped in the southern part of Washington, near Olympia.'