Heroic Measures (continued)

Walter tried to listen, but this headset, particularly with the adjustments that Red had made to it, effectively muffled his hearing beyond more than a meter away. He saw Red lean forward toward the opening of the alleyway, clearing to listen past the rainfall. Walter moved up next to him, peering into the rain-drenched darkness. Still unable to hear anything besides the sharp trickle of the rain dripping from the building’s masonry, Walter reached for his headset and started to pull it away.

A hand gripped his firmly, locking his arm in place with his fingertips just brushing the surface of the earpiece. Walter turned his head to see Red shake his slowly. It took Walter a moment, and then he realized what he had nearly done. He gave Red a weak smile of contrition and, once Red had released it, let his hand drop.

“We have enough trouble with the voices in your head,” Red quipped in a prison yard whisper.

Walter was not so fatigued that he could not manage to roll his eyes. He was surprised at the effort it took, though, to do so.

Red smiled back at him with genuine reassurance. His expression sobered then. He held his finger to his lips, making sure that Walter understood, and then removed it and peered out just beyond the edge of the building.

For several moments, nothing happened. Walter was growing tired of allowing the rain to drip from the eaves onto him. Water-resistant or not, he wondered whether his outfit had been designed to take this kind of treatment.

Maybe it’s like those watches: water-resistant is not the same as waterproof. I’m probably going to look like a giant prune when I finally get out of this thing. They’ll probably have to scrape it off—

He saw Red stiffen suddenly, becoming as still as if he had been transformed into stone. That he could still see Red’s eyes move, as well as his chest, told Walter that it was only an impression.

He must have seen something . . . something definitely “not good”.

With barely perceptible speed, Red brought himself back into the shadowed haven of the alleyway.

“Remember that secret back route into the institute?” Red whispered.

Walter glanced at Vivian and then back at Red, nodding slowly. He knew of it, having even used it on at least two occasions that he could immediately remember.

“It’s not so secret anymore.”

Walter dodged ahead to see for himself, but was blocked by Red’s arm.

“Trust me, Walt,” Red said. The dismay in his eyes told Walter that he was telling the truth.