The Coup- Part 3

FIRST MOVES

'I'm sorry Aris, you know that part is classified.' said Rebus, through the cloud of smoke that came out of his mouth as soon as he parted his pink lips. He tapped his cigar with his small chubby fingers to drop the ash into the already overflowing ashtray, but missed it by miles. He was a small, cherubic, naked, pink kid with two small pearly white wings. An ex-Cupid. A career guy who had survived in the corridors of power for so long by his sheer canniness and by masking his ambition from others. Girls would've gone all 'cutey-smoochy-pie' on him if he permanently didn't carry an expression as if someone has put dung under his nose and for good measures, shoved a 5 foot iron rod up his ass.

'Besides what good will that do? I know you loved him and all that crap...and I'm not being judgemental here...you can do it with a deer if you want to and I won't give a rat's ass, I've seen some strange shit on earth in my days' he said thinking about the past and making an expression as if the rod has doubled its size inside him,'but I can't help you here. You need to move on, at most I can get you a date with the Centaur.'

'I just wanted to be assigned to his human. So that I could be close to a part of his light you know' said Aris.

'I don't understand a ruddy thing but I'll see what I can do. Don't get your hopes up though. Rules are rules' said Rebus dismissing him.

'Love is a shitty thing' thought Rebus as Aris glided out. 'Screws your mind out of sanity. Hell a hangover from a cocktail of vodka and rum, with smack and LSD thrown in for good measures will be a better option. At least the effects are temporary.'

He forgot about the conversation and dived right into the paperwork weighing down his table.

If only he knew that something else was driving Aris.


-----


Three earth hours later Rebus was tapping in all of his reserves of patience and was at his diplomatic best trying to soothe down the raging storm in front of him which went by the name of Donovan.
'I know you are disappointed Donovan, but don't worry something good will come soon.' said Rebus, 'You are a friend, I'll look into this and do something for you as soon as something worthwhile comes up'.

'Your best isn't worth it Rebus and you know it.' snarled Donovan,' and don't you dare play me for a fool or else I'll tear those pretty little wings of yours and stuff one in your mouth while the other up your....'

'I'm still the head of the department Donovan. Remember that' snapped Rebus,' You might be the best there is but you fail to acknowledge or understand what is happening here'

Rebus took a deep breath to calm is already erupting anger down to simmering level and continued, 'Heaven is in disarray while the earth hasn't really been helpful. The failure of the Strike force and the death of 15 of our top angels have hit everyone hard. You know how many bad things happen on earth when a single angel dies and here it was a massacre.'
'Donovan I know you wanted to get out of this Archangel messenger stuff and do something. You were to be the guardian angel of Jack but he got killed because of these deaths. Shit happens.'

'Shit happens Rebus but you know the score with me. I don't take any one's shit back. Putting it right where it belongs is my mantra.'

'Donovan listen...'

"NO REBUS !!!! YOU FUCKING SHUT YOUR TRAP AND LISTEN. I'VE BEEN TAKING THIS CRAP FOR TOO LONG. YOU KNOW AND I DO, NO ONE CAN MATCH UP TO ME BUT I'VE BEEN WASTING AWAY MY LIFE FOR THE GOD IN WHOM I DO NOT BELIEVE IN AND FOR THE MORTALS WHO CAN FUCK THEMSELVES AND DIE FOR ALL I CARE.'

The silence between them amplified all the noises coming from the outside.
'I am done Rebus.' said Donovan at last.

Donovan walked out silently while Rebus tried to comprehend what to do.
Finally he picked the phone and dialled the number. 'Donovan just quit. I think he might create a problem.'

'I will deal with him' the voice on the other end said.


-----


The Grey vulture was just hovering outside the window and transmitting every syllable that was being exchanged inside the room.

'Now isn't that interesting.' thought the Grim Reaper as he heard the whole conversation in the confines of his cave.