I couldn't see who was driving the vehicle because the privacy window was closed. Even if it wasn't, I'm not sure if I could have seen any distinct features on the driver's face from this distance.
I was squeezed in the very back seat because Tiny felt it necessary to push his body up against mine, effectively pushing me up against the door. If I had wanted to do harm to Ponleak or Tiny, I couldn't have. It was impossible to move in this seating arrangement.
Ponleak spoke first.
"Tiny. Let up on Mister Johnson. You need to remember, he is our friend."
With that, Tiny moved and I took a deep breath of relief.
I didn't say anything right away, because I was assessing the situation and of where I stood with these two. Why, all of the sudden, the aggressive behavior towards me? Haven't I kept the amulet in safe hands?
With this line of thinking, I started to feel unappreciated. In the sense that they were not grateful for the efforts I have been going through lately.
Here I was, traveling around half of the country, on a bus, trying to escape who knows who, and Ponleak has me followed from the start. When he wants to talk to me, he comes riding up in a limo, over fifteen meters long. Why couldn't he have helped me from the start? Surely he knew I could have used some help and some of his resources to protect the amulet?
I stewed in my thoughts for the moment, as the limo drove down roads I didn't recognize. And then it came to me. Why haven't I thought about this before. Ponleak has been around since mankind has learned to use fire. Or maybe he taught mankind how to use fire. So why isn't he the richest, most powerful man on the planet Earth?
With the power of the amulet at his disposal, the advance mathematics he must have known before us Earthlings could even write, and leading a party of equally talented and skilled Atlantians, why didn't Ponleak conquer Earth and become its eternal leader?
So I asked him.
His answer?
"I am the most powerful person on the planet Earth. I have accumulated riches beyond belief. But what is wealth and power? Just another form of messaging someone's ego. My brethren and I have lived a thousand lives here on the planet Earth. Countless metamorphoses, where we change location, nationality, and often skin color. All to go unnoticed by the human race."
Ponleak pauses here. Opens up a panel in a box, stationed between my seat and his. Inside the box are small bottles of liquor. He pours himself a scotch and soda and asks me if I want something.
I say no.
He continued. "What do you think the human race would do if they found a group of individuals who, in their eyes, live forever? Have the power over the magnetic fields of all matter? And come from another world?"
He stared at me, but I didn't answer.
"Some would worship us as Gods, others would loath us and plan for our demise. We would either be killed by the populace or we would have to destroy the human race to survive."
He took a sip, then said, "Neither prospect looked promising to us. Especially since our home planet was destroyed because of the ignorance of a powerful few."
He waited for me to ask him a question or to make some kind of remark.
I decided to ask him a question. "Can I have that drink now?"
To Be Continued....
On Friday, December 22nd.
This is,
Yes,
I made Up The Word Sleekish,
Jim Hauenstein,
And,
“Only suckers worry. But he can knock the worry if he takes a Scotch and soda.”
- Ernest Hemingway, -
- Ernest Hemingway, -
That is my story and I am sticking to it!
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