Agent in the Dark

"I don't like this one bit Chantry! We should not have come here!" Flint said testily.

Chantry patted Flint's hand consoling, "I fully appreciate your reservations on this matter, but it has to be. He's the best and perhaps only candidate suited for the job at hand."

"He's nothing but a brutal animal that would be best off taken out in the street and shot like a mad dog." Flint responded hotly.

"And yet he is your brother, perhaps he deserves a second chance."

Flint gave Chantry the full heat of his gaze, "He'll burn you Chantry! He's not to be trusted! He only looks out for himself and what he wants!"

"I'm not planning on trusting him Flint, rather I intend of manipulating him to do my will."

"He's too cunning for that Chantry!"

"I know, which is why when it comes down to it I'm going to be relying on his finer qualities to do the right thing. I just hope that there still buried somewhere yet inside of him."

Flint looked away out the window of the chopper, "Chantry I won't deny that at one time my brother was different, more controllable at least, but all that's gone now since they twisted him up inside. He can't be reasoned with!"

"He deserves a second chance Flint. I'd do the same for you and you know it."

Flint shook his head angry, but he was defeated by his mentor's stubbornness to relent from this foolish quest. "Maria should not go with us and you know why!"

"That's precisely why she should come to help distract him." Chantry said calmly.

Flint's jaw pulsed angrily, but he said nothing further.

Chantry turned to address Maria Christina his gaze concerned, "Flint is right to be worried Maria. You need to use extreme caution and do not hesitate to shoot him if the situation warrants it. Above all do not try to fight him in hand-to-hand combat, you'll lose."

"I can handle myself!" Maria retorted back in an insulted tone. Maria wasn't prepared for the sudden furious onslaught from the normally well-controlled Flint that erupted at her words.

"Do as he says! If my brother gets the drop on Temple and me you'll wish you had never been born by the time he's through with you!"

Maria stared at Flint shocked, she had never seen him so furious and wisely she remained silent.

"I've located where it appears that he lives." Temple called out from the cockpit.

"Set us down near it." Chantry responded.

With the aid of a walking cane Chantry made his way up the intricately inlaid flagstone pathway to the equally exquisite stone house. Maria commented on the beauty of the stonework, especially that of the house that appeared to have no mortar used in its construction.