“Tomas is here?” Josh asked, running to the front window. “I don’t see anyone.”
“Did you ever stop to think that he could really do some damage?” BT asked. He was more than a little pissed off.
“I took a risk. It was a calculated risk,” I told him.
“With my life!” he yelled, bringing his fist down on the table. Mary jumped as if she were startled, but it could have been that the shock wave from the table had caused her to raise up off the floor.
“There were not many options, my friend,” I told him.
“Don’t pull that ‘my friend’ shit with me!” he roared.
I hadn’t seen him this mad in a long time, if ever.
“He’s inside me!” he said thumping his fist against his chest.
“It’s done,” Tomas intoned. “Do not contact me again.”
We’ll see, I answered him, but he was already gone.
“You don’t get it, BT, I had to ask for his help. I couldn’t hold them off indefinitely. While I’m thinking about it or while I’m conscious, it’s easy enough to keep telling the parasites to stay put. But I have no idea what happens if I sleep. And I love you, my friend, but I don’t always want to be within shouting distance, do you?” I asked throwing it back at him.
“Well, not really,” he answered, a small measure of anger dropping off.
“I guess I’d never have to worry about running out of toilet paper,” I told him.
“What are you talking about?” Gary asked.
“Because BT will always be around and if Mike runs out, BT will be able to hear him. Have you not been listening to the conversation?” Josh asked.
“So am I supposed to shoot him, Mike?” Gary asked me.
“I think he’s fine now.”
“How would you know that?” BT asked me suspiciously.
“Tomas is gone,” I told him.
“So how would you know if I’m good or not?” BT asked once again, threatening me with his finger.
I didn’t answer. I was hoping against all odds he would just drop it.
“Are you saying you can get in me too?!” His temper was beginning to flare again. “So what? I’m like a 7-Eleven? Always open?” BT was pacing around Mary’s small kitchen. He was running his hand across his head. “I don’t like this shit, Mike. Sorry, kid,” BT said to Josh. “I think I’d rather have Eliza rooting around in there. At least, I’d know what she was up to. You scare the shit out of me, man.”
“So you can like mind control him?” Josh asked, making his arms move like a robot.
“Really?” Gary asked, “Because there’s a few things I’d really love to see him do.”
“Nobody is making me do anything I don’t want to do, right?” BT asked, threatening to come over and smash my skull if I didn’t give him an immediate answer that completely meshed with his.
“I can’t control him,” I told Josh.
“Damn right, I’m uncontrollable,” BT said, crossing his arms.
“Okay, rebel, calm down, so I can finish cleaning you up,” Mary said. “We’re out of immediate danger, yes?” Mary asked, looking over towards me.
I nodded my answer, hoping that BT hadn’t picked it up. No such luck.
“What am I thinking now?” BT asked me.
“You’re thinking about how you’d like to pop my head off my bony body,” I told him.
He bounced up like a spring-loaded toy. “He can read my damn thoughts!” he yelled.
“Relax,” Mary laughed. “Even I could have read your thoughts about that.”
BT seemed to settle down as he finally sat. “How would you feel if you had a crazy Talbot running around in your head?” he asked her.
“Just so we’re clear,” Gary said, “he’s talking about Mike and not me.”
BT looked defeated or maybe just tired. I couldn’t really blame him either way. I couldn’t even begin to think about what he’d been through the last few hours.
“Mary, when he’s all cleaned up, could you find him a place to get some rest? If you don’t mind, I’d like for us to spend another night.”
She nodded, gratefully. I think she really liked having some company, someone who could take the pressure off her constant vigilance.
“What about the others?” Gary asked.
“They’re on their own for the moment.”