Story Grace, Mercy and Blessings

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PacNorWest

Veteran Member
#274

Mark kept his impassive face turned toward the prince; staring aloofly at the far eastern man.

It was easy to see the prince was vastly uncomfortable with what he knew had to happen next. Several long minutes drug on, until the prince cleared his throat and inquired politely; "how many urns are downstairs?"

"I have no idea, I believe I saw parts of least five or six urns, and I'm guessing that there could be more. The original restriction still stands, if you want the urns, you clean the tunnel." Mark stated firmly.

The prince looked like he was having gas pains, the way his face grimaced.

Clora walked over to whisper in Mark's ear, and then retreated back into the shadows.

"Don't try it," he said cryptically, "She's the one that shot Saleen right in the heart."

There were murmurs from the guards, and they inched closer to the door, creating a whispering curtain of wide eyed fear.

"Ah yes, I had forgotten that fact, is this the woman that knows things?" the prince said silkily.

"Yes, she has been telling me things about you. You murdered your sister that was the favorite of your father. There are a great many of the missing urns, and you don't know how they are sent to us. We don't know how or why, other than I told your father that the urns had to be coming to the US in the plane you flew in here on."

The prince flicked his eyes, stopping to think of his next move. Coming to some conclusion, he spoke to the guard nearest the door, sending the man out to the waiting group for tunnel cleaners.

Mark sent Toby for a tarp to hold the body parts, and Clora to contain the family in the windowless barn apartment.

In a show of how absolute was the power the prince yielded, 'disposable' men went into the tunnel with no protection and bare hands. Toby provided rakes shovels and more tarps, and in three hours the tunnel was raked clean. A total of seven urns were located, and the prince was looking thunderous. The special urn he was seeking was not among those recovered.
 
Texican

Texican

Live Free & Die Free.... God Freedom Country....
A total of seven urns were located, and the prince was looking thunderous. The special urn he was seeking was not among those recovered.

What does this portend?

Pac knows.

Thanks Pac for the chapter which has opened more paths to be followed.

Texican....
 
Sammy55

Sammy55

Veteran Member
Thanks, Pac!! More mysteries...............................................................................................................
 
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PacNorWest

Veteran Member
#275

Mark continued to stare at the prince, upsetting the man in a deep unsettled way. No one looked directly at the prince in the confines of his world, but here, that man never looked away.

"I believe that the urns you were expecting to find, are not here?" Mark jerked on the chain, just a little, for fun.

"No, they are not," came the short, clipped reply.

"There are certain conditions for you to ever know about another urn. Any time you are interested, I'll give you the reasons." Mark waited, leaning back against doorframe in a nonchalant pose.

It took a long time for the prince to come around, what ever was going on in his mind, had the royal person scowling blackly.

"Proceed American," the prince finally spoke.

"If you ever come here and attack us, as you did with our people you killed in the tunnel, I will consider it my sacred duty to hunt you down and kill you as I did your father." Mark delivered his threat in calm, pleasant terms, the soft tone all that more chilling.

"I had heard it was you that shot my father, but no one would confirm it to me. My temper is legendary, and my need to conduct blood feuds second to none. Am I to take it, that you are threatening me?"

"No, I am promising," Mark replied in the same measured tone. "I never say anything I don't have the ability to back up." and he gave the prince a brilliant smile.

"Are there other conditions?" the prince snapped.

"I would like you to contact us once a year. We have no way to contact you, so I am expecting you to be in touch with us. I do not know how the urns reach us, someone has to have us under survalence, as we have moved around a good deal. We brought the three from Iowa, but in some way, the rest of the urns had to have been put under the bodies after they were killed as a taunt to you."
Mark narrowed his eyes and continued to stare at the prince.

"As I, have come to the same conclusion," The prince neatly sidestepped explaining the how and why the prince murdered the members of the clan, but he was fully aware that Mark was playing cat and mouse with him.

"I will accept those conditions," the prince spoke in his gravely voice.
 
Griz3752

Griz3752

Retired, practising Curmudgeon
IVYINFLA said:
How long will the Prince accept the conditions?
Click to expand...
Just long enough for our author to create the next couple of chapters ;)
Then he can go join his ancestors in Muslim heaven (Jannah?) but based on his path to Crown Prince, maybe not; there could be more suitable uses for his remains. :shk:
 
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Freebirde

Senior Member
Griz3752 said:
Just long enough for our author to create the next couple of chapters ;)
Then he can go join his ancestors in Muslim heaven (Jannah?) but based on his path to Crown Prince, maybe not; there could be more suitable uses for his remains. :shk:
Click to expand...

They do need some bait for hunting feral hogs.
 
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PacNorWest

Veteran Member
#276

"You are venturing into most difficult territory American, there are forces here you know nothing about," The prince obliquely warned.

"I have a good imagination," Mark countered. "All of us here are very much aware that the urns are Rhodium coated with brass, so that makes the urns very valuable. Some of the urns are filled with ashes, others with gems and money, and the last three we brought from Iowa had thin gold wires holding the stoppers. You could open one of them and satisfy our curiosity as to the contents."

The prince laughed silently, but entirely without humor. His dark eyes glittered with hate.

"I also want to call your attention that we are not asking ransom for the urns, they are not ours and we do not steal. However, I will tell you that once back in your country, you will be killed by forces sympathetic to your disposed sisters cause. Please leave instructions for the next prince to contact us within a year."

Mark turned his back on the prince and walked over to confer with Toby.
 
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PacNorWest

Veteran Member
#276b

"American, I have not finished speaking with you." The prince thundered, and Mark paused only long enough to throw a look over his shoulder.

"Then bring me some laborers and my son will direct them where to put the remains," Mark barked back in the same tone of voice. "This is America and your status doesn't mean diddily squat here on my private property. Just remember that if you want to see any more of the urns; also remember this," Mark went striding over to the prince.

"I would be more than happy to never see another urn, so keep that in mind. I don't like you, and I didn't like what your father became, so it won't take much for me to forget where the urns belong. Your father committed suicide by my gun; he drew down on me and waited for me to pull the trigger. His cancer obviously had him not in his right mind."

The prince jerked his head up sharply and skewered Mark with a evil look. "How did you know about my father's cancer?"

"Dr. Habeeb treated both my wife and myself, he said nothing, but my wife was under your father's protection in your country. Gossip ran swiftly through the harem, I might add. There were no secrets." and Mark laughed aloud.

There was a slight twitch at the corner of prince Saud's mouth. He inclined his head as an affirmative to Mark's observation.

"Your woman, the big one, is she still causing as much trouble here as she did in my country?"

Mark switched over to Farsi; "her father paid me a dowry of over a million dollars to take her. It was not enough," Mark concluded mournfully. It was a calculated risk on Mark's part, he wanted the prince to be amused at his predicament, to feel that the Saudi way was better and to restore a sense of superiority to the egotistical man in their interaction.

The prince seemed mollified, but he also gave Mark a long look. "You are very smooth American, it's too bad you want to live in this country."

"It is my choice," Mark replied with heavy meaning, "I bow to no one but God."

"We saw a plane, is that how you are traveling to and from your country?" Mark hoped he sounded casual, but his need for information was making him feel reckless.

"Maybe your country is the only one to suffer," the prince waved his fingers and guards closed in around him as protection and they walked to his pedi-cab. "The great Satan on her knees," and this time the prince laughed aloud at his own cleverness.

"You do remember that the last book in your Bible, says nothing about the United States, perhaps this is the beginning of the end." and he laughed again.
 
Griz3752

Griz3752

Retired, practising Curmudgeon
PacNorWest said:
#276b
"You do remember that the last book in your Bible, says nothing about the United States, perhaps this is the beginning of the end." and he laughed again.
Click to expand...
Careful Ali Baba; if it is 'the beginning of the end', I'm fairly certain there'll be collateral. I seriously doubt the Global leftovers would be left to benefit the Muslim hordes.
Methinks he'll be laughing out of the other side of his face, anon.

G.
 
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PacNorWest

Veteran Member
#277

Toby motioned for the Saudi workers to pick up the tarp by the edges and follow the faint trail back into the woods. There was a depression in the ground, created when one of the oaks blew over, and Toby indicated the men needed to throw the tarp and all in the hole. The huge root ball of the tree was standing on edge, and in a bind. Toby planned to saw and release the limbs that prevented the root ball from settling back in it's original position, and the mass solidly covering the reminders of the gruesome past.

The laborers scurried for the man waiting for them at the gate, the prince and his entourage already making dust in the faint road track as they rushed away.

"I thought you were mellowing, old man." Toby teased Mark, "that didn't sound very mellow to me." and he laughed.

"I did have some 'sideways' that needed letting out," Mark replied with a grin, "it sure does feel better. What a pompous ass that jerk is," and Mark dusted his hands off in a 'all done and finished motion'.

"We probably should let the tribe out of the barn, or maybe we should reconsider that notion," Toby teased, "It's nice and quiet out here for once. Whatever you decide to do is fine with me, I'm gonna go chop some limbs and let that stump settle back in it's hole. Got to cover up that stench, it makes me gag."

"I'll be around to help in just a little bit, got to check on a couple of ideas that just sprang into my head," Mark started for the barn, and to tell the ladies they were welcome outside.
 
Sammy55

Sammy55

Veteran Member
Glad they got that done and no one on their side hurt!! And I, too, wonder what Mark has up his sleeve.

Thanks, Pac!!
 
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PacNorWest

Veteran Member
#278

Toby worked hard to release the branches that were holding the oak roots from flopping back into the hole. When it finally let go, it was a spring board action that swooshed, and thumped, vibrating the ground. From the force of the thrust. only a little of the liquid squooshed out from between the roots, and the body parts were hopefully forever covered by the mighty oak stump.

It had been Mark's intention to take the grisly human remains and dump them in the quarry sink hole. However, due to the state of putrification, there was no moving the remains the distance required to get to the deep water hole. So the stump interment was the next best way to handle the problem.

The only disquieting note, was the evidence of feral hogs in the area. In the cool dampness, Toby couldn't tell how recent the rooting wallows were, but it was a source of meat they couldn't overlook. Toby was a bacon man, considering bacon to be in a food group all by itself. Yes, bacon and pie were essential foods to encourage a man to work and live up to his potential.

Toby looked up when Mark slipped into the clearing from the opposite direction of the buildings.

"Have you seen any evidence of holes being dug, or disturbed areas?" Father greeted son.

"Hogs," Toby replied and pointed to a wallow about 20 feet away. "Why?"

"Ma thinks there might be urns buried here in the forest; so keep a watch out as you move through the area. You want to know the kicker of all this. Ma thinks the prince buried urns here to retrieve them later and was unpleasantly surprised to find we were back in residence. Now, he can't figure out how to get back what he buried, without answering a boat load of questions."

"Well, doesn't that unload a great big load of whoop-ass," Toby started laughing. "I bet someone has been messing with the urns, exchanging places with them,...I'm guessing. That's as good an explanation for the dark scowl, when he looked through the seven that were found. Serves him right."

"As good a theory as I've heard," Mark had to laugh also.

"I'd like to see what's inside some of them and claim a finder's fee. We have to be getting low on money, don't we? I mean the thousands the trip to Iowa cost, I can't believe we went on such a wild goose chase." Toby was disgruntled with his sister's flighty change of purpose and direction.

"Tess is on her own, the next time she gets a wild hare to move on, my family isn't going. My kids have a right to a more stable childhood than they have been experiencing. We had to move so often as kids, but there was a danger factor involved there. Not now, not to the extent we experienced." Toby was correct, and as a parent and the head of his family, he and Rennie had made a decision to protect and enrich their family by putting down deep roots.

Mark nodded, he couldn't fault Toby's reasoning. The trip to Iowa had satisfied Mark's urge for adventure. It had been so difficult to move the clan, the women had suffered the most and it was a shame to Mark that he had put Clora through the rigors. His beautiful Clora had aged faster from the strains and never complained. Now, he had to make sure Clora had an easier life. What ever it would take to insure that life.

The two men walked back to the buildings, noticing that Milo and Robbie were returning with bulging saddle bags, hopefully with taste changing fish.
 
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PacNorWest

Veteran Member
#279

Milo and Robbie had success in their fishing trip. They had two nice channel cats of about 30 pounds each. Robbie was chattering excitedly, they had a good time and managed to catch a fair amount of fish. Success is a good teacher, and there wasn't a moment that Robbie couldn't recall, right down to the smallest detail.

The adults all smiled, and the younger kids looked envious as Robbie slapped the side of the fish nearest him on the table. "This is the one I caught. Dad put a notch in his fin soes I'd know."

All the youngers had to look in the mouth, admire the whiskers and take a poke at the solid feeling flank. "We're gonna eat it, Dad says their really good."

"Sure," Lyric drawled out, "they look disgusting, I don't want to put anything like that in my mouth."

"You just wait till you try a piece of it nice and hot and fried. MMMMnn, we already ate a small one that Dad cooked. It was really good."

Milo and Mark were discussing the prince's visit and the cleaning of the tunnel.

"You must have seem him and his outfit, they left here not to long ago." Mark looked toward the east where the prince had disappeared.

"No, didn't see a hair or fancy robe of any of them." Milo looked around, "huh. you said he left less than an hour ago. Not a trace on the road."

"Then they are getting ready to ambush us," Mark replied. "High gear boys, we have danger."
 
ted

ted

Veteran Member
Crap! Have to put off a fish fry for an attack? Not cool prince, or good planning, will have to fight some really ticked off people.

Thank you.
 
Griz3752

Griz3752

Retired, practising Curmudgeon
Well if the cast of the Good Guys was purged of 'dead weight', it might be time to deal with some of the clan's enemies or, further the purge the clan (although I think its about the right size now) at the same time.

:hmm: think I'll brew some tea and make a bite to eat while our Author gets her plans all laid out for us; no rush Ma'am. Its the weekend but I'm sure you have projects; when and as you can, light the way for us.

Thanks for everything thus far :)

G.
 
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PacNorWest

Veteran Member
#280

Toby whistled danger, to the few that were outside, as he ran pointing to the barn.
Inside he did a quick count of noses, rushed an explanation of what they suspected, and went to bring in the stock.

"This is either a good idea or a death trap for us all," Toby muttered as he rattled the feed cans, bringing the horses and cows in to their stalls in the back side of the structure.

The weapons were handed out, water drawn and food started cooking for the duration of a siege.

They were packed in together in the apartment, but there was room to get out into the barn proper, and everyone found themselves a favorite spot to watch the outside perimeter.

Dory was tasked to watch the youngers in the apartment, and keep an eye of the stews cooking.

It was close to dark when the first bullet hit the solid wood barn. At a shout, fires were set blazing at the rim of the woods, foiling the operation of the IR scopes.

Mark was grinning. The prince may have thought he was smarter and more tricky than the old and decrepit American, and that was precisely what Mark intended. Overconfident leaders, make mistakes, mistakes that get them killed.

Mark went to the top of the barn, hidden in the eves, waiting for the pompous prince to show himself. He knew sooner or later, the prince would have to strut around and take the credit for cleverly worked plan to remove the urns he always expected to have from the property.

The Saudi party was noisy and fueled by high spirits; as only men who believe they have the upper hand, can act.

As the laborers who worked in the tunnel got sick and staggered woozily into the open area, they were shot by the prince's men, anxious to keep the diseased men as far away as possible.

"Real nice fellows," Milo snarked, "those kind I don't mind taking out permanently."

Toby was a roving guard and happened past Milo as his brother was grousing about the callowness of the Saudi group.

"I'd like to be the one to get the prince, but I think Dad has that territory staked out. Can you imagine how mad Dad would be if one of us that the old boy first?" Milo joked.

It took Mark a day and a half before he finally got his shot at the prince. One shot, drilled nicely at the throat, his signature shot. With their prince dead, the entourage quietly folded their tents and melted into the second evenings twilight.

"Good riddance to bad rubbish," Honey observed. "I'm nothing but very happy to see that trash get gone."

"They'll be another one come along, I think they have an inexhaustible supply. Ma said they have harems of 500 ladies, or more." Tess walked by and threw her two cents into the conversation.

"Thanks for the encouragement Sis, just what I needed to hear," Milo spoke out of the side of his mouth. "We got lucky on this one, or I should say, Dad did. Hopefully that will give us a little time to get things rearranged around here and fortified. This wake up call exposed some glaring holes we need to patch and repair. I'm gonna go fry fish, you're all invited to supper."
 
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