The Château
Chapter 4: The Snatch
| Story Codes |
: No sex, Scene Setting |
| Characters |
: Patrick Berleand, 40 Years old Georges Zapato, 45 Years old Michel Galois, 37 Years old Julien Piaf, 35 Years old Jean Bouler, 42 Years old Andre DuBoix, 36 Years old |
Winter was nearing its end and beds of flower were already starting to appear around street corners and vast meadows that saturated the tranquil French Campagne. However, and as if the Heavens were furious at our planned misdeeds, the night we had agreed upon was nothing like we have experienced in our stay at this small village bordering the mighty Pyrenees.
"All set Patrick, we're half way
there"
This was
all that I needed to hear from the voice on the other end of the phone… This
was the night, the big night that would either put me and half a dozen men to
death, or would make us filthy rich… rich beyond our wildest dreams.
Outside, it was hell… vicious rain streams and
occasional sessions of hailstone were pouring in raging waterfalls, slamming
against my windowpane like Japanese kamikaze pilots... every 30 seconds or so,
lightning strikes would illuminate the
night sky, arrogantly invading the cozy dim light of my room, only to be followed by raging thunderstorms.
Rampant winds orchestrating the furious scenario outside, blowing chaotically
and pounding against everything it came across…
It's either now or never, I thought to myself
as I took a final peak from my window at what Mother Nature had to offer.
Hesitantly, I went for my keys… driving through this weather is nothing short
of an attempted suicide, I recapped as I double checked my luggage bag
containing everything I would need for the big morning tomorrow. A plastic bag
full of handcuffs, Black cloths, leather gloves, heavy boots, a black wool mask
that covered my entire face except for the eyes and nostrils were packed inside
the bag with a gun lying atop of the neatly folded pile, glistening against the
dim light. My anxiety was at its peak, I was hesitant but willing and
motivated... as of tomorrow morning, I would become one heck of a criminal.
Reaching for my car through a custom door we had carved out through the kitchen walls which led towards a newly built ceiled parking neatly hidden behind the massive Chateau, I could already feel the heat of the moment despite the freezing cold and hellish orchestra. Once inside, I grabbed my phone, confirmed, hung up and there I was… driving to my rendezvous with the other five would-be criminals.
I have to admit, I was puzzled and uncertain…
during the three hour drive, thoughts and ideas roamed through my head, questioning
what's right and wrong, thinking of the repercussions and the benefits…
wondering what would happen to me and the other guys if we ever get caught, and
day-dreaming about the pleasure, money and wealth we would lay our hands on if
we succeed…
My chain of thought was only cut short by the
sight of a sign announcing my arrival to that god-forsaken town, a small
village hidden like a treasure box inside a deeply forested area, engulfed
under the foot of a majestic mountain dominating the skyline. Slowing down, I
could spot the exit lying some 100 feet ahead, taking the left turn and then
driving for another 600 feet and there I was, at the mouth of an unpaved road
which led straight towards the heart of the woods. A few minutes later, I
spotted my squad.
Jean's
large white Van was the first vehicle I could spot, next to it was Michel's
Renault and across from it lay George's trailer, hiding behind a tree. Nimbly
parking next to Jean's car, I turned my
car off and waited for the horrendous torrent of rain to lighten a bit then I
swiftly jumped out of my car and dashed towards the trailer barging my way in.
"It's about time you lazy-ass
fuckhead", Big G said with a wide grin.
"Yeah! You weren't thinking about bailing
out on us or something were you" commented Julien, while the others, Jean,
Michel and André casually greeted before going back to a time-killing card
game.
"I'm fine thanks, good to see you too
bitches" I said mockingly as I took my place next to Big G and poured
myself a glass of scotch…
"So, we're all set guys… if anyone's
having second thoughts he'd better say it now and step aside… I don't want
anything to jeopardize our plan" I remarked, partly stern and partly
anxious at the reply.
"relax, bonehead… six months of our lives
were not spent in vain, you came up with one hell of a perfect plan which we
agreed on, and we're all confident and eager about it, we're in and we're gonna
succeed, so just sit back and chill… we have some long days ahead of us"
said Jean, while the others either confirmed with a cheerful yea or nodded
their approval.
"And how about the guests? How many of
them confirmed?"
"Out of twenty five forum users which I
trust and have known for a very long time, eight have already confirmed while
the others either excused themselves or they're not sure yet…" replied
Julien.
"Only eight? Fuck…that's too low"
"Don't worry Patrick… the word will spread
like a fire in a bush… all we need is one successful event and soon, customers
would be flocking here…"
"Let's just hope so Julien… otherwise
we're fucked!" commented André with a noticeable concerned tone, he had
every right to worry, because he had sold everything he owned as well, to pay
for all the expenses.
"Okay guys, I trust each and everyone of
you, and we're in together… I just want us to go through the plan once again to
make sure that everything is as it should be.
"We've been through this a million times
Patrick, everything is in it's God damned place, so chill the fuck up man…
geez!" barked Big G with a firm look in his eyes…
"Okay…" I stuttered, I definitely
didn't want to mess up Big G's mood… there's a reason that he was named as
such, he's one heck of a dinosaur.
The first phase of the plan was simple yet
dangerous… Julien and Michel, both gun experts would each station himself at
opposite sides of the long curved road at about 100 feet away from where we
would snatch the Bus and be on guard if any unlucky and unwelcome car would
happen to pass by.
In the meantime, André would drive his rusty
Renault and park it sideways in the middle of the road completely blocking the
path, then he would stand next to it and pretend to be fixing it. Jean would be
driving his white van and parking it adjacent to the bus as soon as André's
ploy works, while the rest of us, Big G and I would climb aboard, He would be
in charge to 'subdue" the driver while I select the merchandize that I
deem 'fit', afterwards, we'd load the van, get in, pick up Julien & Michel
and leave…
Time went slow, and checking my watch every 5
minutes didn't help… less than two hours left, I thought to myself as I read
the small green digits indicating that it was 5.45 AM. Everyone was anxious, a
sense of anticipation filled the small trailer as we began to get ready.
Changing to our crime-cloths, we all made sure
we'd wear nylon bags around our shoes to eliminate the chance of leaving
obvious footprints. Fully clothed in black, not a single hair showing, not a
single facial feature recognizable and leather gloves to make sure we don't
leave fingerprints. subsequently, we loaded our guns and made sure they're
stacked with ammunition…we were set!
"The Bus should be here around 7.00 A.M,
and as we all know this road is practically traffic free… so there should be no
surprises and no complications" said Julien, breaking the heavy silence.
"okay, André you should have your car
ready by 6.50" I added.
"all right"
Looking outside, I could see the first rays of
light making their way through the thick clouds and casting a gentle luminance
on the otherwise nightmarish scene outside… The intensity of the rain would
slow us down and to some extent, complicate our hit. . However, it was
invaluable because it would neatly cover our tracks, wash away our already
disguised footprints and would mutilate wheel marks off the tarmac.
Furthermore, bad weather keeps unwanted people inside, reducing the already
very light traffic.
"okay guys let's move… Michel, Julien take
your positions and make sure your walkie talkies are on. André, warm up your
car and get ready for Michel and Julien's signal… Jean, get your van ready… Big
G, all set?"
"yea man… let's do it, come on boys…"
And with that, our 6 months of planning were
put to action… our spy-work and observations paid back. Everything was running
as smooth as it should, even the rain had stopped. Within 5 minutes, Michel and
Julien confirmed their positions and gave us the all clear signal… André set
his car as we had agreed on while Big G, Jean and I were getting ready…
"Patrick… come in Patrick" Michel's
voice over the Walkie Talkie…
"Yes Michel"
"I can see it in the distance, get
yourselves ready guys… the Candy is on it's way and no sign of any other
vehicle"
"ok great… Julien is it clear from your
side?"
"Clear"
"Okay… Let's roll"
Big G and I hid in the bushes a few feet away
from the road while we watched our own Oscar-winning-actor André, pretend to be
fixing his car, angrily waving his hands in the air as if he was shouting and
all… less than 2 minutes later, the Candy Truck was here… Having no other
option but to stop, considering that André’s car was blocking the narrow
two-lane road, the old driver stuck his head out of the window and shouted:
"Hey, move your car aside!"
"I'm sorry old man.. nothing I can do,
something jumped in front of me as I was driving so I hit the breaks and my car
slid because of the wet surface… mind giving me a hand, maybe we could at least
shove it out of the way?"
As naïve or good-hearted person as the old man
was, he opened the side door of the bus and as he was about to step down, Big G
and I jumped out of the bushes in a flick of a second and stormed inside,
pointing our guns high…"NOBODY MOVES…"
The sight of two men clad in black and armed to
the teeth triggered a storm of wailing and screaming, chaos reigned for a few
seconds. Frightened, overwhelmed and staggered, the old man started pleading..
"please, take anything that you want… take my money but let us go… don’t'
kill us please…"
"relax old man… we are gonna take
something alright, but we're not settling for you pathetic petty-cash" Big
G remarked mockingly… "now, all you have to do is sit still and shut the
fuck up, make one move and you're dead… say one word, and you're wife will miss you… capiche?"
That being said and the old man shaking like a
trembling autumn leaf, I started checking the 'merchandize'… a bus load of
boys, young boys between the ages of eight and twelve… dropping down my
backpack, I opened it and started distributing handcuffs to each and everyone
of the boys. "listen boys, do as I say and no one will get hurt… if anyone
of you fails to do so, you will be punished, and you will be harmed, big time…
now, I want you all to handcuff yourselves and sit still" I barked as
unyieldingly as I could muster…
Tentative and startled, our money bags began
handcuffing themselves while I strolled between the rows making sure everything
is running smooth, when all the boys had handcuffed themselves, I started my
shopping spree… ugly boys meant low cash… I did not waste my time and put my
neck on the line to settle for a few dollars. Keeping in mind that we had twenty-eight free spots on the van
that needed to be filled, I started a quick examination of each boy, judging by
the beauty of his face.
Hand-picking the finest specimen, I guided each
one of them down the bus where Jean was waiting, he would then lead the boy
inside the waiting van, seat him down on the floor, tie a rope around the boy's
feet, sedate him with a chloroform-soaked tissue and finally place a rag in his
mouth and gag him.
With twenty-two astonishingly beautiful boys
secured and loaded, it was time to pick the remaining six boys who would be for
our personal use. Skimming through the remaining passengers, I noticed a small
blonde boy, about nine years old, leaning his head on his friend’s shoulder and
weeping, I grabbed him by his hair and picked him up on his feet, then I took
out a black marker pen out of my pocket and I labeled the boy with a “P” letter
on his right cheek, then I guided him down the bus. Five other boys were also
carefully picked and marked with an “x” letter on their cheeks…
"Shopping’s done.. let's go" I
hollered as Big G landed a powerful fist to the driver’s face, knocking him
unconscious. "Michel, Julien any vehicle in site?"
"No"
"Coast clear"
"Okay, stay alert, we're coming. André,
close the hood of your car, Jean all the boys are packed?"
"everything's in place"
"let's go then…"
Snatching merchandise without paying? RUN!!!, stay tuned for chapter 5: The Escape!!