S.T.A.L.K.E.R: The Duel Page #5

to pick up my class schedule

for next week.

But I'll meet you there, okay?

It's more than okay.

Can't have your dessert

before dinner.

Well, well.

Look at Mr. Happy-go-lucky go.

- Jules...

- You know, there was a time

when you couldn't

take three steps in school

without someone shoving you

up against a locker.

Yo, come on, man.

Don't be like that.

It's been a while.

How you been?

What do you care?

I care, Jules.

Just 'cause I stopped dueling

doesn't mean I don't care, man.

- Whatever.

- What am I supposed to do?

- Prove it.

- How?

There's a duel at the court

where we played the twins.

Two preppy-ass rich kids

think they got game

and don't mind blowing

their daddy's wallet trying to prove it.

Look, man,

I wanna help, but...

You owe me.

If we win this tournament,

I can get all the dough I need

to join the Gathering

and then some.

I...

Okay. All right, Jules.

- Man, where are they?

- They'll be here.

Are you sure this is

the right court?

Look, take a chill pill, man.

They'll be here.

When, man?

I'm supposed to be somewhere.

I'd say right about now.

- Damn.

- Look at that.

Look at all this money.

Yeah.

He think he nice, don't he? Right?

- What up, playas?

- Oh, hey,

I don't think that's

a parking spot there, crone.

- Whatever. They can tow me.

- This your partner?

He damn sure ain't my girlfriend,

if that's what you're thinking.

Chill, bro.

We just came to play.

Wrong. You just came to lose.

Whatever.

Yeah. Game, preppies.

How much?

Wallet game.

What the hell's a wallet game?

Winning team takes everything

that's in the losing team's wallet.

That's more money than you've

ever seen in your life.

- So?

- It's too much.

I get it.

- Somebody's afraid of losing.

- Not to you.

So check it up then.

Damn!

That white boy kinda nice!

I know you ain't trying

to hustle me, man.

Come on. Let's go.

Right now, man.

And that's the game.

- He cheated.

- Hey, don't even go there.

- It ain't our fault y'all can't play no ball.

- Yo, I gotta go.

Another game.

Double or nothing.

Ain't gonna happen, fool.

- Now surrender your wallets.

- This is BS.

- How you gonna take me out tonight?

- Shut the hell up.

Jules, I'm sorry, man.

I gotta go.

- Hey, but we just...

- Your friend late for a drug deal?

Hey, why don't you take

your own advice and shut up?

Lena! Lena, wait up!

I need to talk to you.

- She doesn't wanna talk, Vance, okay?

- But...

- She needs her space, okay?

- Marie, just let me...

Just leave her alone.

First, you treat her like property,

and then you leave her stranded?

You better check yourself.

And I swear to God,

if you do it again,

I'm coming after you.

Hey.

Can we talk now?

This isn't the first time

I've been stood up, Vance.

I know the routine,

and I'm sick of it.

- I didn't mean to hurt you.

- That doesn't make it hurt less.

What will?

Maybe nothing.

Man, throw it back.

- You can catch, right?

- Yeah.

Aw, sh...

That's the last time, Lena.

I swear you'll never be stood up again.

Until the next time.

Vance, I've heard this all before.

I mean it.

I'm sorry,

but I don't believe you.

Yo, little man, over here!

That ain't for staring, boy!

- Give it back!

- Yeah!

Yo, get over here!

Lena, don't do this.

You broke your promise, Vance.

You said you weren't

going to hurt me.

It was a mistake.

Come back here, kid!

Yo, we gotta go.

We gotta go.

Come on.

Please...

Please just leave me alone.

That's right.

I got a good handshake, too.

You know how to do that.

Spell "Mississippi."

M- l-S-S-l-S-S-l-P-P-I.

Mom! Mom!

What happened?

Mom?

Hello?

Oh, God!

Mama.

Mama.

Why?

It's gonna be all right.

Yeah, it's gonna be all right.

I need to see a patient.

Rodrigo Brent.

I'm sorry, sir. You'll have

to wait like everyone else.

I need to see him now.

Won't do no good, crony.

Jules.

Yo, I heard the news. I'm so sorry.

They won't let us in.

He's in surgery.

Cops said he was being chased.

Chased?

They saw it on Rody's camera.

It was Maurice

and a bunch of others.

He won't get away

with this, Jules.

What the cops gonna do, huh?

To them, Maurice is just

another thug on these streets,

and Rody...

He's just another little black kid.

Man, if there's anything I can do,

just let me know.

Pray.

Mrs. Brent?

Tell me he's okay, Doctor.

His leg is broken in three places,

but that's the least of our concerns.

There's swelling of the brain

from the concussion he sustained.

Oh, Lord!

We operated to relieve the pressure,

but as is common

in this type of operation,

Rodrigo is in a coma.

How long?

There's no real way of knowing.

Days, weeks, months.

It all depends on the body's

ability to recuperate.

Can I see my son, Doctor?

He is recovering in the ICU.

You can see him.

But I would like to limit

the guests to one at a time.

If you'll follow me.

Angs, don't worry, huh?

Rody's gonna be okay.

Jules, man, you know,

I don't know what else to say

other than I'm sorry, man.

It's my little brother Rody.

It's my little brother, man.

Yo, man, it's almost visiting hours.

I'm gonna go see if

they're letting people in.

All right, man.

Hey.

Hey.

How's Rody?

The same.

Still unconscious.

I can't imagine what Jules

is going through,

what his whole family

is going through.

I feel so sorry for them.

How are you?

Compared to all this,

I feel like my problems are stupid.

Nothing about you is stupid.

Vance, I'm sorry

the way things ended up.

You did what you had to do.

I...

Yo, they're letting people in.

All right, man.

I'll be right in.

They're only letting in

two people at a time.

You wanna go first?

I can't.

I have to teach a class.

It's really good you came.

- I just...

- Maybe...

I gotta go.

Rody...

wake up.

I need you.

I need you.

I'm gonna make this

all better, little man.

I swear.

Vance, is that you?

Are you home?

Yeah, Mom. I'm home.

I have such exciting news.

I'm not really in the mood

for exciting news, Mom.

After today,

everything's going to be all right.

He came for us, Vance. He...

He came to take us home.

Hello, son.

He's changed, Vance.

He feels so bad

for what happened,

and he promises

it'll never happen again.

You got nothing to say

to your old man?

No.

Vance, come back here.

You can't be like that.

Stop it.

Give me back my drink.

I paid for it.

- No chance. I'm thirsty.

- Give it back.

Oh, my God.

You just don't mind

your own business, do you?

I'm making it my business.

What are you gonna do now,

juggle some sweaters?

No.

No juggling this time.

Stop it!

Oh, my God.

Vance, you're scaring me.

Jules.

I am so sorry.

I don't even know what to say.

Ain't nothing to say.

My little brother's lying

on a hospital bed right now,

wires and tubes coming from

every part of his body.

And it's all my fault.

No, don't say that.

You weren't there

when it happened.

There's nothing

that you could've done.

But I told him.

I said, "If you ain't got a ball,

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