CYOA: Thomas Asby and the Minimal Mastermind (Volume 1, Chapter 7)

Last Week’s Winning Choice:

Kill Fitzgerald

Chapter 7

    Asby swallowed his pity for Fitzgerald and extended his arms. For the third time in fifteen minutes he began to strangle the unconscious dwarf, but this time the dwarf did not immediately fight back. When he finally woke up in anguish his eyes widened in fear; he stretched out his small arms but this time could not reach Asby’s face. As they waved pathetically, Asby felt a twinge of pathos and broke eye contact with Fitzgerald. He felt the body go weak in his hands and Fitzgerald’s arms fell to rest on Asby’s. Asby looked back into Fitzgerald’s wide, lifeless eyes and let go of the dwarf instantly. He scrambled out from under the canopy of the parachute and vomited for the first time in ten years. When the heaves had passed he wiped his mouth on the sleeve of his jacket and returned to Fitzgerald’s side. After crouching alongside the body for a few more minutes, taking in the murder he had just committed, he passed a hand over Fitzgerald’s eyes and closed them.

    Asby reemerged from under the parachute and shielded his eyes from the Kansas sun as he pulled out his cell phone, which had miraculously survived numerous beatings and the collision with the ground. He dialed the number of the B.I.A. and put the phone up to his ear.

    “Basic Intelligence Agency, Harold speaking,” came the voice from the other end.

    “Hey Harold, it’s Thomas. Put me through to Doe.”

    Asby heard movements, there was a brief pause, and then he heard a whisper on the other end: “Sir, it’s Thomas.”

    “Oh, thank you. Hello Thomas!” came John Doe’s voice from the other end.

    “Hi, sir. I elimin– I killed Fitzgerald.”

    “Did you really?” Doe’s excitement was apparent over the phone. “Well done, Thomas!”

    “Thank you, sir.”

    “I’ll let the government know immediately! This is very good for our branch, Thomas, very good. You’ve done an outstanding service for our country as well.”

    “Thank you, sir.”

    “I’ll have Harold pinpoint your location and I’m sure the government will send out a team to pick you up.”

    “Thank you, sir.”

    “Once again, well done.”

    Asby didn’t answer and soon heard the line go dead. He closed the phone and returned it to his pocket, then turned to look at the parachute canopy. He ducked back down underneath the awning and returned to Fitzgerald’s body’s side, where he would sit until a government helicopter landed nearby a half-hour later.

THE END

This marks the successful conclusion of Thomas Asby and the Minimal Mastermind