“So what’s the verdict, Samson?” I asked after giving him a few moments to check the body.

     “There is evidence of wear and poor maintenance throughout his frame. Both point to him having ‘been around for a while’.” Samson replied.

     “Can he be repaired?”

     “In theory, yes he can be but I am no specialist in this field and his model is unfamiliar to me.” he informed me and I felt the tears well up in my eyes.

     “Isn’t there anything we can do for him?” I asked.

     “There is but we have neither the time nor the resources right now to help him.” Samson told me gently. “We need to go.”

     “We can’t just leave him here. What if somebody finds him before we come back? We at least need a place to hide him until then.” I replied as I started looking around.

     “A logical assumption. Scanning for possible hiding places. . . . .” Samson told me. I watched as a dumpster and the flat roof of a nearby building were highlighted. “Places found. I leave the decision up to you of where you want him.”

     I debated for a couple of moments before deciding on the roof. We scooped Old Nig’s body up in our arms and carried him over to the building before slinging him over a shoulder and climbing up the building’s side to its roof. It had a low, knee high wall going around the roof’s edge with gaps at the bottom to let water drain from it. We laid him down next to it to make it harder for any one from the surrounding building to see him. We were in the business section of town so most of the places were closed at this time of night but you never know and we didn’t know when we would be back. I made a mental promise to myself that we would be before turning and jumping down.