"Royce" Part 4

Click here for previous "Royce."

"Why did you do this, Royce?" Anne asked while holding up a sheet of paper. Royce just sat and stared at his coffee. Royce had signed up for the Army without anyone knowing. "Do you even care about that silly war?"

"Of course he doesn't!" Albany shouted. "He just wants to not work. You are not even old enough for the military, you fool. You're only 15, for God's sake!"

It is known that many people have lied to fight during wars. With Royce's size and demeanor the government did not care whether or not he was old enough. He looked like a soldier. At the age of 15 he was already 6'2" and 245lbs. He participated in no sports but had the build of a football player and the speed of a sprinter.

"Royce, we can find a way to get you out of this! You read the papers, don't you?" Anne asked.

"I do not think the fool can read", said Albany. "I have never seen him touch a book. I doubt he even knows where Japan is. I say let him go. Let him go and come back with an arm or leg missing like the rest of these fools. Will that make you happy, baby brother?"

Royce looked up from his coffee and stared at Albany. Albany tried to hold the stare but could not. Anne placed her hand on Royce's. He looked at her and sighed lightly. Albany watched the two of them with disdain. He never understood why the two of them were so close. He even suspected that Royce spoke to Anne in private. There was no way that a human could have only uttered six words his entire life.

"He can read, Al. Just because he doesn't show off like you does not mean that he is not good at many things. You've never come to 'work' with us, so you have no idea how good he is. The fact that you're alive and wearing such expensive clothes and jewelry is proof of how good he is" Anne said. "Royce is a machine when he is 'working.'"

"I do not need to see him killing people, thank you", said Albany. "I have no doubt that he is good at what he does. But the problem that I have with him going off to get killed is this: Who in the hell will 'work' for us while he's gone?!" he screamed while pounding the table. "Do you trust anyone enough to let them join us?"

"I told you after father left that we needed more help. That we needed someone to help with our day-to-day business. But you were lazy. And cheap. That is the only reason Royce is 'working' after doing his homework. You have your baby brother doing things no child should even dream of because you don't trust anyone!" Anne hissed at Albany.

"I am doing the best I can, woman" said Albany. "I certainly can not let you publicly help. Imagine the laughter if everyone knew that a woman even had a small part in my success! I'd never recover from the shame."

"I 'work' very well, brother" Anne said. "Royce can vouch for that. I do not need your approval or consent. I will handle 'work' while Royce is away. I will wear a mask. Will that help?"

"Will you also somehow strap your breasts down? They will know you are a woman, you fool" Albany said. "Royce, look at me!" Royce slowly turned his head towards Albany. "If you go to war your sister will die trying to cover your ass."

"Albany!" Anne screamed.

"She will be killed here. You will be killed overseas. Is that what you want?" Albany asked Royce. Anne glowered at Albany but he pretended not to notice. Royce looked at Anne and she smiled at him. He looked at Albany and tilted his head until he cracked his neck.

"I think you have your answer, Albany", said Anne. "He will go. I will 'work.' You will continue to do whatever it is you do. Royce will come back better than ever, just you see." Anne walked over to Royce's side of the table and laid her head on his shoulder and then gave him a kiss on the cheek. "You'll come back, right?" she asked him.

Royce cleared his throat and drank his coffee.

***

"He'll be fine" Anne said. Royce was back from the war. Just six years after it ended. It turned out that the reports of his death were greatly exaggerated. Anne refused to give a memorial for him while Albany tried a week after Royce was shipped off. "He is just a little out of it. We have no idea what they did to him." She placed a warm towel on the wounds on Royce's back. He did not flinch.

"The crazy bastard will be no good to me this way! Snap him out of it quickly!" Albany said. "I told him not to go, but did he listen? Of course not! He doesn't listen to anyone. He only thinks about himself. He's like father."

"He's nothing like father, Albany! How dare you say such a thing?" Anne asked. "He was a POW for six years, maybe even longer. No one knows when he vanished. That he just never reported back. I am in no rush to…" she stopped talking when Royce stood up quickly. This was the most he had moved since returning home. "What is it, brother?" she asked.

"He's going crazy. They say this happens. They call it 'shell shocked.' We should probably leave him alone lest he tries to kill us" Albany said as he walked backwards towards the door.

"He'll never harm us. Remember? 'Never family.'" Anne said.

Royce stood and walked towards the window. Anne came and held his hand. He did not seem to notice. He then walked to the closet and grabbed a shirt, pants, and his jacket.

"What do you think you're doing?" Albany asked.

Royce ignored him and continued dressing. He looked in the mirror and straightened his shirt. He then walked into the bathroom and began combing his hair. He was only 21 now and already had gray hair on his temples. After finishing he walked out of the room. Albany and Anne raced after him.

"Can you find out what he's doing?" Albany asked Anne. "I do not have time for this nonsense!" Anne ran and caught up with Royce. Since Royce had left Anne had gained quite a bit of weight much to the horror of Albany. Anne stopped Royce and he looked her in the eyes. Anne smiled.

"He's ready to 'work'" she said.

"Impossible!" Albany said. "You saw the wounds on his back. There is no way he is ready to eat solid food, let alone 'work!'" he shouted. There was a mixture of jealousy and awe in his voice.

"Look at his eyes!" she said. "God, how I have missed that look. Royce, I will come with you if you need. Since you've been gone I have learned so much. I am an excellent street fighter. I can hit a can at 100 yards off a fence! I can help you" Anne said.

"Great" said Albany. "A cripple and a woman. I swear I do not know which is worse."

"I'll tell you what is worse", Anne said as she looked at Albany. "Someone that does not try."

Royce walked to the garage and opened the door. Inside was the car he received for his 18th birthday from Anne. Albany teased her relentlessly for purchasing a vehicle for a dead man.

"That's yours", she said to Royce as she handed him the key.

Royce took the key and went to the car. He sat behind the wheel and closed his eyes. Anne went to the passenger side and climbed inside, the car sinking slightly under her weight. Albany cleared his throat and walked towards the backseat. Royce started the engine and sped off running his foot over.

"Damn you both!" Albany screamed as Royce and Anne turned down the street, leaving a trail of smoke in the air. "Damn you to Hell."