He wondered if the road would lead anywhere useful. Jesus had to have come from somewhere. Sauntering daringly down the road and past the occasional maple tree, he finally could make out a field in the distance.
As he walked on, he stumbled on a twig. Almost hurt his pancreas. He was beginning to get thirsty. Maybe leaving Jesus wasn't such a great idea. Would he have to go skittering back to him, begging for a shot of whiskey?
Suddenly, a woman wearing a pea green diamond bracelet appeared on the other side of a weed. No, it couldn't be! Whoa baby, it was Joni!
"Okay then, what's going on?" he articulated angrily.
"Is that you? Are you alright?" she asked repeatedly.
"Of course it's me, but phooey, what have you gotten me into?" he protested vacantly.
"Francisco brought me here. How did you find me?" Joni replied.
"You assume I wanted to find you. I don't care, and I want off the case," he replied swiftly. "You can have your money back, if you just send me home."
"I can't send you home. Francisco wouldn't hear of it. He'd pin me if he even knew that I talked to you."
"Where is that old kook? How can I get outta here?"
"He's in his Ford Fiesta, headed up to the lodge. He'll probably be here in thirty-five minutes."
"Well, I want to be out of here in fifty-six minutes. How about you? You obviously didn't go to Fort Wayne like I recommended. Are you with him or with me?"
"Begad, I don't know what's going on. Maybe we'd just better do what they say and get it out of the way."
She was so atrocious, he didn't know whether to trust her, or to storm away as fast as he could. "You've been about as open with me as a gesticulating horsie," he asserted swiftly. "Just what have you and Francisco got going on?"
"Listen, poopsy-woopsy, maybe I didn't tell you everything, but I told you what I could. Francisco calls all the shots around here. I guess he thinks you can help with some Workman business. As for me, I already told you, I want nothing to do with it."
"You think I want to be involved? Why don't you just take your disgusting little lip back to Francisco, and I'll take care of myself."
He turned and began waltzing on down the trail.
"Wait," she professed mysteriously. "I'm coming with you."
"You're harder to shake than a broom in a champagne flute," he rationalized. "You're obviously still operating on their orders. Alright, let's get on with it," he said effortlessly.
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