‘Calm down, Agent J.’ The younger man grasped the older man’s arm. ‘Sit down, and let me try.’
Paelen carefully studied the relationship between the two. The older man was obviously in command. However, he seemed to accept advice from the younger one, as he calmed somewhat.
The younger man directed his attention to Paelen. ‘In the hospital, you told the doctor your name was Paelen the Magnificent. Which is it? Jupiter or Paelen?’
‘If you insist,’ Paelen said, ‘I am Paelen the Magnificent. Now, release me.’
‘Or what?’ the older man challenged.
‘Or I shall bring the wrath of Olympus down upon you.’
‘The wrath of Olympus?’ he cried
‘Must you always repeat everything I say?’ Paelen asked. ‘It is really quite distracting.’
The older man’s hand shot out and gripped Paelen’s wrist. ‘I have had enough of your games, young man. They stop right now. We’re not letting you go. Not now, not ever. Now, you will tell us who you are, where you came from, and why you are here.’
The grip on Paelen’s wrist was tight, but certainly not enough to hurt him. Yet he could see that this was the man’s intention. ‘I will answer your questions only after you have answered some of mine,’ he said. ‘I demand to know where I am. Who are you? And why you are holding me?’
‘We ask the questions here, not you,’ the older man said as he tightened his grip further.
‘Then we have nothing further to discuss,’ Paelen answered, turning away from their prying eyes. ‘You may tell the others to bring ambrosia to me now.’
‘We will do no such thing,’ the younger man said. ‘Look kid, this isn’t funny. If you make my colleague much angrier, he’ll break your wrist.’
Paelen grew serious and sat up, ignoring the pain from his broken ribs. He looked at both men, then concentrated on the older one. ‘If you think you can hurt me with this baby grip of yours, you are sadly mistaken. I have faced down the wrath of the Minotaur and a Hydra. I have fought the Nirads and won. I am certainly not frightened of a human like you, or the empty threats you make.’
‘I assure you, my threats are not empty,’ the older man warned. ‘So don’t make me do something you’ll regret. Just tell us who you are and where you came from.’
Paelen didn’t like these men one bit. ‘If you insist, I am Mercury,’ he finally answered. ‘I came to your world for a visit but was wounded during a storm. When I recover, I shall return to Olympus.’
‘Still with the Greek myths?’ Agent J said darkly.
‘Mercury is from the Roman myths,’ the younger man corrected. ‘Hermes is the Greek.’
Paelen watched the older man flash the younger one a withering look. ‘Whatever!’
He turned back to Paelen. ‘That isn’t an answer. Tell me what I want to know.’
‘But I told you,’ Paelen insisted. ‘I am Mercury. You have my sandals. Surely you have seen their wings. Who else but the Messenger of Olympus would use such things?’
Agent J took in a deep breath and held it. When he let it out again, he squared his shoulders and sat back. ‘If you continue to refuse to answer, I promise you, we can make things very uncomfortable for you.’
‘Things already are uncomfortable for me,’ Paelen said. ‘But I am still telling you the truth. That you refuse to believe me is not my fault.’
Agent J looked at the younger man. ‘We’re not getting anywhere with him.’ He checked his watch, then spoke into the black device. ‘Time: nineteen hundred, twenty. End of interview.’
Angrily, he shut off his device and looked at Paelen. ‘Whether we call you Mercury, Jupiter, Paelen or Subject, it couldn’t matter less. What does matter is that you belong to me. Soon you will answer all my questions. Even if I have to rip the truth from your lips one word at a time.’
Paelen saw the threat rise in his eyes. This man meant every word he said.
The men walked over to the small grey device beside the door. Paelen paid particular attention as the older man pressed several buttons. It made the same strange beeps he’d heard right before they entered the room.
‘A sound lock,’ Paelen muttered softly to himself as he watched them pull open the door and leave the room. ‘If Jupiter could not build a prison to hold me, what makes you think you can?’
10
An hour before midnight, Emily’s father was preparing for work.
‘You sure you’re going to be all right on your own?’ he asked.
Emily nodded and handed over his packed meal. ‘I’m really tired from working in the garden today. I bet I’ll be asleep the moment my head hits the pillow.’
‘All right,’ he said as he kissed the top of her head. ‘Just don’t be too nervous with the power out. You’ve got the flashlight and plenty of extra batteries. I’d prefer you not to use candles if you don’t mind.’