FNS is the "Fable News Service"
Its snowing (its always snowing in the fable)and Camby fireside sifting a brandy reading "the art of war" for the 5th time. Outside the dogs are barking as a single horsemen approaches the house. Its a young MSG employee with a single envelope to deliver to "Marcus of Camby", and only for "Marcus of Camby". His sister approaches with shotgun in hand but Marcus assures her that its quite ok and she should go back to her room. If you recall, she was briefly taken hostage by a disturbed boyfriend and was soon released on our about the year 2000. So distrought was Marcus that he was unable to make a playoff game and his performance after was dismal. He was seen as soft and soon exiled from the Mecca. She is a loyal minion of her brother and has sworn to protect him forever.
He takes the evelope. The messanger informs Marcus that he is to return with an answer. Marcus invites the young man in to warm himself by the fire and retreats to his study the document. He breaks the wax seal and and opens the gold foil envelope to discover a crisp well contructed paper and reads the message: It is a question.
Satisfied he throws the letter into the fire and pauses for a moment. He proceeds to the kitchen to retreave a cleaver and puts it in his coat. His sister is behind a closed door but peering to witness her brother and is not alarmed as his face is calm and his resolve is apparent. He goes back to his study and asks the messenger if he is properly warm and would like some brandy to take the chill from his bones. He removes his gloves and takes a nice long sip of the sweet drink and its warm effect is soothing. Marcus takes the mans hand and puts it on his desk and in one swift motion cuts off the tip of a finger. Marcus is accurate and only intended to cut the tip of the young mans pinkie. The messenger is shocked but also feels very little pain as the brandy is strong and the cut cleaan. Marcus holds out his hankie for the man. He takes the finger remnent and places it in the very gold foiled envelope the message arrived in. The young man is told to leave and return to the Mecca.
Camby returns to his book and finishes his brandy. In the house his sister climes to the tower and is giddy in delight as soon the world will know the answer to the question: "Marcus Camby will start against the Spurs"! She will prepare her brother for his revenge.
A few hours later Dolan is alone in his study when the messanger returns. "Well boy, what have you say?" "You look pale, do we not pay you enough to eat? The boy knows mercy is not in dolans vocabulary and looks down at his blood soaked glove. With his other hand he reaches for the envelope and hands it to Dolan. Dolan is nausiated by its contents and fumbles the finger as it falls to the ground. The young man reaches for it hoping perhaps he can return to town in time to have Dr. Callahan sew it back on but Dolan steps on his hand and tells him "No". Dolans family dog then snatches the finger and promptly digests it. Dolan smiles and tells the messanger to seek out Woodson and tell him the news. "What news sir?" To which Dolan replies: "Camby will start against the Spurs"! Before he messanger can react Dolan turns his back to him and stares at the dog and laughs out loud!
His father would not approve, but to Dolan thats what makes it very sweet. Even as a grown man he loves to rebel against his father! He will deal with the messangers lawyers another day.
1/3/2013 12:46 PM