00069

Security Leader Clyden sat in the back of the Security Agency Incarceration Transport van with Security Agent Osmo Martin, while Agent Samm, up front behind the steering wheel, careened down the avenue.

Sec. Ldr. Clyden told Agent Osmo Martin, "It shouldn't take many of us to get one man, right? And I picked you, Punk, to join us, since he's your friend. You can reason with him. Hopefully this time there won’t be a scene. I know his whole gang demonstrated intolerable stubbornness in their behavior, ignoring the good of society in their bad ways. Maybe, with the rest of them gone, he will see that his Lone Ranger rogue type of mentality doesn't cut it for civilization, especially on the World of Hope, and such foolishness like his helps no one. Maybe this unconformity makes him feel special or something, I don't know. But do what you can, huh?"

"I'll try," promised Osmo Martin.

When the van arrived and screeched to a halt near the corner of New and Liberty, where Albert Zoeniga preached, Albert, upon observing the van’s arrival, hesitated. He paused speaking his sermon for a brief moment, until his eyes took in the large and growing crowd about him. He hadn't noticed before that there were so many people here. And they needed to hear what he had to say. He continued then, telling them why they must repent, everyone, from those folks occupying the lowest places in life, such as the waste recyclers, to those at the top, such as Gov. Bright.

"Yeah, your message sounds good now, but what about when we have time to think it over?" asked somebody. "Will it still make sense?"

Albert Zoeniga replied, "Yes, it will. Read the Bible, preferably one not censored by the Religion Board. If you can get a copy of C. S. Lewis' Mere Christianity, read that. Read the book, Who Moved the Stone? It is very important to know if I speak the truth. Ask God Himself if I am right or not. He’ll guide you to the Truth.”

Another said, "Hey, I go to church. I attend the state-approved Chapel of Hope every month! Why do you think you need to be here proselytizing?”

Albert Zoeniga said, "Merely because you attend church isn't good enough, even if it is the, ahem, so-called godly state-approved church. No, you must do better than that if you want to be saved from judgment. But the truth is, on your own, you will never be able to be good enough for a holy God. You need to be born again-"

Sec. Ldr. Clyden led Agents Martin and Samm from the van and walked over to the  street preacher. Osmo Martin took up the rear of the Security Agents, his heart not in this operation. Albert Zoeniga appeared to be unimpressed and unafraid of them. He stood his ground at the street corner, which irritated Sec. Ldr. Clyden to no end.

The crowd parted for the new arrivals.

Albert Zoeniga welcomed them with a warm smile. "Ah, it is not too late to repent, not even for you. Stay, listen, and I will tell you the Good News."

Sec. Ldr. Clyden sneered. "Aren't you ashamed of yourself, leading these people astray, setting a bad example by conducting unauthorized meetings which block the streets and hinder traffic? Don't you think of anybody else except yourself?”

Now, the sudden arrival of the Security Agents had a chilling effect . The crowd decided to hastily disperse, and in short time it was only Albert Zoeniga who remained, and the Security Agents.

The street preacher answered Sec. Ldr. Clyden, "No, I am not ashamed. I tell the people the Good News. They need to hear it. So do you."

Osmo Martin spoke up. "C'mon, Al, don't make trouble. Just get in the wagon."

Albert Zoeniga shrugged, resigned to his fate. "Okay, why not?" He put up no resistance, but when he started for the van, Agent Samm quickly jumped him, and Sec. Ldr. Clyden slapped on some handcuffs.. Albert chuckled. "Oh, I can see you definitely feel threatened by me. I guess I am a very dangerous criminal."

Clyden said, "You've been preaching here every night all week, and since you mock our tolerance in that we did not yet arrest you on the very first night, we decided it is time to put an end to your abuse of our kindness, and also put an end to your silly stunt. Gov. Xavier does not appreciate you telling everyone that he needs to repent. That's what Billy Boy also did, and you are following in his footsteps, which lead into quite a bit of trouble."

"I've heard of him." Albert Zoeniga tried to get his arms comfortable with the handcuffs chafing his wrists. "He became a miner, no?"

"You'll find out soon enough who all is there," was the reply, as Sec. Ldr. Clyden and Agent Samm took their prisoner over to the van and pushed him into the back. Albert tripped and thudded onto the floor. Since his arms were bound behind, Albert was unable to breake his fall with his hands. Ouch!

The Security Leader ordered Osmo Martin, "I don't think I can bear to be in the back with this dope. You stay with him and guard him, Punk. Don't let him do any funny business.”

“Understood."

When Agent Osmo Martin climbed into the transport’s holding pen, Clyden slammed shut the door and went up front with Agent Samm. Samm pulled out and left with just as much noise as when he had come.

During the trip, Osmo Martin spoke in a low voice. "Al, I- I am sorry about all of this. I’m really sorry about what happened to poor Jane. I hope you know that. I- I hope you can one day forgive me- but it all was a- an awful accident!”

“I know," said Albert Zoeniga. "I forgive you. At first I was angry, but I made peace with it. And if she were here, I know Jane would, too... I guess I will be turned into a miner from this point on, and that is how I will spend the rest of my life. I guess it could be worse. It can always be worse. Without Jane, it doesn't much matter to me, one way or the other. I leave my fate up to God. I wish for the best for you. But I still do not understand why you work with the Governor and Security Leader Clyden, especially when you know what they did to my church family."

"It's like this, see-" Osmo Martin spoke in such a low whisper, Albert could barely hear him. "Unlike you, I still think the Governor's a good man. I think Sec. Ldr. Clyden is the one responsible for all the bad things that happen here on the World of Hope, and Gov. Bright doesn't realize it. I'm hoping I can do some good in my position in the Security Agency by getting the goods on Clyden. Once Gov. Bright sees it, he’ll take care of the Security Leader."

"I see."

"And you know what else, Al? You're not going to the mines. I won't let that happen to you, my friend."

Albert Zoeniga gave him a doubtful look. "Oh? How can you prevent that, Os?”

“Like this-" Osmo Martin sprang from his seat and pounced on Albert. He wrestled him on the floor, all the while yelling as though he, Osmo, were the one who had been caught by surprise. Osmo took his keys and unlocked Albert's handcuffs. Then he stood over Albert, as if he managed to get the upper hand, while he slightly turned sideways to quickly unlock and kick open the back door and, next he kicked Albert out of the van.

It all happened so fast, Agent Samm didn't have time to stop the vehicle. Fortunately, when the “fight” broke out, they were on one of the worst streets in town, sometimes called Pothole Boulevard, so they were not traveling fast at this point. And since there was no light on in the back portion of the van, probably because it had burned out and nobody had bothered to replace it, as well as the fact that they drove through one of the badly lit neighborhoods, no one in the front of the van could see very well what had really occurred in the dark in the back of the van.

Samm now screeched to a halt. By the time the three Security Agents had gotten out of the van, Albert Zoeniga had vanished into some dark alleyway or something.

Osmo Martin wondered whether his friend decided that maybe God gave him the chance to escape because, at this time, God did not plan for him to become a miner, despite how resigned to such a fate Albert had seemed to be.

Security Leader Clyden grumbled, "What's this?! We'll never find him here in this part of town, and in this dark!”

Osmo Martin said apologetically, “I'm sorry, Sec. Ldr. Clyden, but he attacked me and took my keys, and now he's gone. I cannot believe it!"

"It's a little hard for me to believe it, too," murmured Agent Samm.

Sec. Ldr. Clyden yelled furiously at Agent Martin for his obvious incompetence. He let him know in no uncertain terms that he planned to see Osmo Martin disciplined for his negligence.

When everybody got back into the van, except the prisoner, of course, Agent Samm resumed the driving. In the same darkness in the van which had hid Agent Martin’s actions, no one noticed Sec. Ldr. Clyden smiling to himself.

Now I have a very good excuse to remove Osmo, Gov. Xavier's lapdog, from the picture for awhile, long enough for me to accomplish my goal. For sure, the Punk will be going to guard duty at the mines this coming guard rotation. I don't need him hanging about when I am ready to make my move!

Meanwhile, as for Albert Zoeniga, he took several winding, connecting alleyways, avoiding main thoroughfares. He didn't return to his usual street corner to preach, however. It was getting very dark as the night grew. Instead, he went back to Kelli's food stand at the beach, to figure out just what he should actually be doing with his life? Should he continue his preaching at New and Liberty, or did God now have something else for Albert to do?

He checked to make sure no one was following or watching him, and then he opened the back door

and entered the concession stand. He took out his Bible, but before he could start reading it, he heard a rattling and twisting of the doorknob on the locked backdoor. Did they track him down, anyway, in spite of his efforts? Well, then, just get it over with!

Albert Zoeniga yanked open the door, ready to face the music. But it was not the Security Agents. He stared in bewilderment. In the doorway stood a battered, charred robot that had seen better days.

It introduced itself. "I am X-9. I know who you are, and that you were almost caught in that explosion a few days ago with that illegal church. I have seen you on the street corner talking about that, and many other things as well. I wanted to make contact with you tonight, but the Security Agents got in the way. Anyway, I managed, despite what my robot body has gone through, to keep up with the van in which they had held you, and then, after you escaped, I still was able to track you, all the way to here. To make a long story short, I am glad to finally find you. I need your help."

(c) 2012 drk