The Anomaly

[Rodent]

Chapter 10- The settlement

Quick as lightning, the figure turned around and drew a pistol from his pocket. Unperturbed, Ansel drew his. The two figures stared at each other for what seemed like hours, until the cloaked man finally spoke.

"Who the hell are you?"

Ansel countered with a question of his own. "It doesn't matter, did you make the thing that caused this....explosion here?"

"What makes you think that?" was the swift response. The slight quiver in his voice betrayed him though.

"I know for a fact that geniuses love to come back to see the fruits of their work. What other business could you have here? And I can see your tension" Ansel replied coldly.

The mysterious figure did not respond, instead staring out at the vast expanse of sky. He sat down, and buried his face in his hands, lost in thought. Ansel leaned against a nearby Rock and watched him. Time passed slowly, until finally the other man spoke.

"Very well Monsieur. It is clear that you do not work with the police, because if it were so, I would have been arrested already, civilians are not supposed to be here."

"Were you responsible for the explosions?" Ansel asked again, probing, trying to create a vent.

"No. Who are you, and why are you here?"

Ansel easily detected the lie, it was in the slightly twitching eyes, in the few drops of perspiration that had formed on his forehead, in his rather ragged tone.

"Do not lie. But Oui, I will open my purpose to you. My name is Ansel Xavier, and I wished to find the one that made the explosives for this blast."

"Why is that so?"

"I needed him for my own purposes. I am an....devotee of talent, and seek it out where-ever it is, in what-ever form it manifests itself."

"I see. My name is Jean-Paul Ribery, and I am just an ordinary civilian curious to check out this...event with my own eyes."

Another lie. This was not going to be easy.

"Very well then, you will want to leave this place. Will you come with me? I have arrangements made for the pick-up, so you don't have to worry."

"No, I have my own arrangements. Besides I am sure whether I can trust you Monsieur."

"Oh, we will see in due time. I think we will want to talk later. Here's my neural net number, drop a message when you feel you are ready. I will have a proposal for you"

Jean-Paul took the small card with Ansel's ID on it, and nodded. "I do not know why you are giving this to me, but very well."

With that, he turned and disappeared into the undergrowth.

Ansel too, began his trek back, his mission was accomplished. This was surely the man who caused the explosions, and if he indeed had the talent and the wit necessary, he would get in touch soon. If not....he had found the wrong man, although that did not seem likely.

He smiled. It was only a matter of time.