The Death of 1977 (Book 3)

The rain outside the cave that afternoon could be heard penetrating the cave's walls so hard that it sounded as if it were going to collapse right on top of everyone inside. The heat inside was as usual stifling. The stench of body odor and human waste, combined with the humidity and the dampness only made breathing unbearable and downright impossible. By then, everyone gathered and working knew how and when to take breaths; in small doses.

Livingston, on his knees, meticulously worked with the various colored wires that were attached to a set of explosives. He tinkered feverishly, yet carefully, making sure not to insert certain wires into the wrong slots. There were multiple sounds thriving inside his head, namely the rain just twenty or so feet behind him outside the cave, the workers digging into the walls and gagging as if they couldn't breathe any longer, and his own heartbeat that wouldn't slow down for anything.

"Blimey!" He griped under his breath at the tiny sparks that flew into his face.

A roll of thunder caused the man to look up and back at the cave's entrance where Philippe was standing with his rifle in hand.

"Philippe, come over right quick!"

Lethargically, the man did as ordered and stood above Livingston. Livingston continued to work with the wires more and more before saying to Philippe, "Stand here."

Philippe sat his weapon down onto the ground before kneeling and asking, "What is it?"

Taking a blue and yellow wire, Livingston remarked, "Take these, and no matter what, don't drop them."

Philippe secured the wires as commanded while watching Livingston fiddle with the dynamite like they were toys.

"You and the others have been awfully quiet all day." Livingston mentioned without looking at the young man. "What's the issue?"

Philippe's eyes shifted from side to side in rapid succession. "It's...it's just him." He stuttered.

"Him, who," Livingston turned up his nose.

"You know...him."

Livingston glanced at Philippe for a second before re-directing his attention back at his work. "Just stay focused on what we're doing here." He muttered as if his words were too blasphemous to be said out loud.

"But, how can we stay focused when he's out dere doing what he's doing?"

Sighing, Livingston said, "Look, I can't control the bastard any more than you can. But—

"I can control him!" Philippe pointed at his rifle.

"Don't drop those

urged. "De workers are scared to death. Some of dem would rather die dan to keep on and run into him. You've seen him like dat before. It's like something from out of a nightmare,

then gave Philippe a hard stare in the eyes before standing, facing towards the weary workers and wiping the sweat

"Everyone can take a

the remaining workers dropped their

in no shape to continue. Believe me, no one wants this ordeal to end more than I do. But we are all here for a specific purpose, and that is to become wealthy. But we all know that with great wealth, comes great sacrifice. These caves are rife with heaven on earth. Not everyone in this country knows about them. But those of us that are collected here are the fortunate ones. I know that I and my partners have been hard on you. I've been more like an enforcer than a foreman. But it was for your own good. We're closer now than we ever have been before. This rubbish about wanting to quit must be expelled from your minds." Livingston then took a breath and examined the crowd.

deep in de cave searching for de rocks you asked for." One of the

our current stride. Only two more days and freedom will

God," the woman named Tala shrieked as

the run. When they could see Arthur, who was clothed only in a pair of torn pants, chasing after her, Philippe and his two partners immediately raised their rifles while Livingston stood directly in front of them. Arthur's fangs were exposed and his eyes were

guns down!" Livingston screamed

look at him!"

dripping from his bottom lip. Livingston didn't know exactly what to

"Arthur, just calm down and let's talk!"

to be too wired to be contained. The man paced back and forth, frothing at the mouth like a raving animal captured inside

these men won't shoot you! Do

only snarled while lurking within his space that he seemingly dared anyone to invade. Every so often he

Livingston carefully and slowly advanced towards Arthur. "You are Arthur Bushard! You are the king

more Arthur seemed to focus upon the man. Their eyes locked. His pacing gradually began to cease with the

to hear me." Livingston spoke more calmly. "Now...don't you recall Demarae once saying

Arthur stood for a full five

little brother. We still need you. What you're doing out there in the town, it can't continue. It's flat out cock-eyed.

suddenly stopped altogether and studied Livingston endlessly. Livingston's own heart wouldn't stop thumping. He was accustomed to the sight of Arthur's alter-ego, but the man's behavior at that point was

ten million American dollars' worth of diamonds inside this one region of the cave. It's because of you and your family that we were able to find it. In two days, I'm gonna dynamite this section and we'll all be rich. I can

Arthur, ready to make a pull of the trigger at any second. The workers all held their breaths; some even turned their heads in fear of Arthur's face. It was only Livingston that dared to move

"We...need...you." Livingston uttered so seriously into

to a halt as he dropped his hands to the side and

shook his head and

who were still pointing their guns at him before he