Crucible: Another Game of Chess

Antares saw the old man in his usual spot at the small chess table in Central Park.  He didn’t know why but talking to “Old Heph,” as he called him, seemed to give him a sense of comfort.  He knew he could say anything to the addled old transient and not a word would be repeated, or believed if it was.

“Just flew in this morning,” said Antares as he flopped down onto the bench opposite the old man, “and boy are my arms tired.”  The old man grinned at the pathetic joke reinforcing Antares’ belief that the codger was insane.

“I was up in Canada tracking down another ‘magic’ chic.  This one turned out to be a real bitch.  We chased off some big Russian cyborg that smelled like death.  My personal theory is that he decided the girl was too much of a pain in the ass to take.” Continued Antares as he moved a chess piece.

The old man’s head bobbed in agreement as he rubbed his toothless jaw absently considering his next move.

“The girl’s father is a PHD and a shaman of some sort and told us about the Legend of the Eternal Coven.  Apparently these girls are being forced into completing this coven for some as yet unknown purpose.  We don’t know who’s behind all of this either, but the characters hunting them are no push-overs!  All I know is someone’s gonna pay for all of this!”

The old man scratched his head and said, “Sometimes the best jobs are the ones that don’t pay.  You shouldn’t be so eager for revenge that you lose sight of justice.”



Antares stared at the old man who had never said a word to him in the past and considered his words carefully before saying, “You’re a crazy old f*#k Heph.”


(published  July 18, 2014)