Agent in the Dark (The Agents for Good)

by Stanton III, Guy

  “That I can do love.” I whispered before I claimed her lips with mine.

  One month and a half later.

  Asia was making real progress at breaking the separate parts of the Code down from each other and she even had an idea of how to cancel out the Code, but she couldn’t help but think she was forgetting something. She’d been like that for a few days now. Something was bothering her. It couldn’t be with her work. Things had never been better between her and John so it couldn’t be that. Then what was it?

  “Oh God!” She exclaimed, as she remembered what she’d been missing. She’d missed her period!

  For the rest of the day she couldn’t concentrate on her work, but fretted in a mixture of nervous excitement and horror. This was the wrong time to be having a baby! But she’d always wanted children. Why did the occurrence of something so good have to have so much tension and stress attached to it? What would John think?

  I could tell there was something off with her. I asked her about her work and she answered readily enough so that couldn’t be it. It was almost, as if she was hiding something from me, which was so unlike her.

  She was lying on her side facing away from me. I decided on a bolder up front approach. If there was something going wrong between us I wanted to know about it now!

  “Asia what’s wrong?”

  She glanced back at me and then back the way she was and mumbled something. I pulled her over flat onto her back.

  “Repeat please.”

  She started crying then and it was the most pitiful sight I’d ever seen.

  “Honey what’s wrong?” I begged, in need to know what was bothering her so much.

  “I’m pregnant!” She said on a rising moan.

  I relaxed instantly, as I’d been expecting this. Gently, I wiped at her tears with the corner of the blanket. “Honey, if you play around with each other the way we do, babies often do result from it.”

  “You’re not mad?” She asked tearfully.

  “Why would I be mad?” I asked puzzled.

  “Because it’s the wrong time! We have to break the Code, practically even save the world! How am I going to save the world if I’m pregnant?” She was practically hysterical at this point.

  “Don’t you want children?” Oh boy was that the wrong question to ask! Now she was really crying hysterically and I tried everything to calm her down, but it didn’t work.

  She began to blubber, “I adore children! I’ve wanted nothing more than to hold my own child in my arms and sing to it and care for it and love it like I wasn’t! I want to be happy, but……”

  I stopped her, “Be happy!” I stated firmly.

  I further added, “This is a good thing, a very good thing! Yes, maybe it’s bad timing, but we can work with it. Everything is going to be fine Asia! Now for your sake and especially our babies please calm down.”

  She nodded reluctantly. I touched my hand to her lower abdomen and asked, “What do you think we should name him?”

  A tremulous smile came out on her face, “You think it’s a boy?”

  “Of course it’s a boy!” She rolled her eyes at me and I laughed.

  Shyly she looked up at me, “Thanks!”

  I took my hand from her and placed it over my heart before putting it back over her womb, “No, it’s me that wants to thank you for carrying my child.” I kissed her wet cheek and then her lips sweetly. Drawing back I saw sparkles of colors in her eyes.

  “You’re amazing!” She whispered up at me.

  “Hey stop inflating my ego so much. I won’t fit through the door soon.”

  She giggled, “You want me to stop?”

  “Never!” I said before beginning to kiss her more passionately.

  Two and a half months later.

  “I don’t know John. Are you sure?” Asia asked doubtfully.

  “I think it will be great! Let me build it and you’ll see for yourself.”

  “Okay.” Asia responded hesitantly, as she rubbed at the growing mound of her stomach. John, bless him, had gotten rather big into this whole being a father to be, but Asia wasn’t so sure about his latest endeavor.

  In the center of the island just down from the highest point there was a small hot spring. It really wasn’t all that hot, just being a pleasant warmth to the touch. Well John had run with it and concocted up a scheme to build a birthing tub in the middle of it for her to deliver the baby in. Asia appreciated his thoughtfulness, but she wasn’t quite sure about having an unassisted water birth.

  John walked her back to the house, “Okay, I’m going, but I’ll be back before dark okay?” John said in a concerned fashion.

  Asian nodded and watched John hurry back down the path that led toward the shore. He was off on yet another of his missions for her and the baby. The protein from the small land mammals and the occasional bear that lumbered ashore wasn’t good enough. No, the mother of his child had to have fish, which was chock full of omega fatty acids. He wanted only the best for his family. Asia smiled to herself; he was going to be such a great father. Well, it was time to work on the Code again.

  Asia turned to go into the house, but abruptly stopped as a hard contraction stole her breath away. Another contraction jolted through her painfully. It was all she could do not to panic, but then she saw the blood pooling on the ground and she panicked.

  Turning, as she held onto the doorpost with one hand she screamed, “John!” But he was too far away and too close to the crashing of the surf to hear her.

  “John!” She whispered out uselessly and then another contraction hit her hard.

  “Oh God please no!” She wailed sinking to the floor. She was losing their precious baby!

  I hadn’t had much luck fishing, but I’d gotten enough to matter for now. There was no light coming from the house and then I saw the door was ajar. I broke into an all-out run sword already in my hand.

  I busted inside and saw my worst nightmare. Blood on the floor and Asia laying so still on the bed that I thought she was dead for a moment, but thank God she wasn’t! She looked up at me her eyes wet with tears. It looked like she’d been crying for hours.

  “Our babies dead John.”

  I wanted to scream. I wanted to rant and rave and be crazy. I wanted to hack the Earth in two with my sword. I wanted to rail against heaven’s door and smash it down. But what good would any of that do? It wouldn’t help bring back my baby’s life. It wouldn’t help me to care for Asia in her grief.

  My sword slipped from my grasp to fall clattering loudly onto the floor. I fell to my knees beside the bed and I buried my head into the covers, as I cried in sorrow so deep I thought it would swallow me whole. My wondering hand found Asia’s cold fingers and I grasped them tightly, but she had no comfort to give. Both of us were depleted of strength and hope, as the day is after the sun has gone down.

  The next day we buried him on a rocky promontory with a good view out over the ocean. After I had stacked the last rock into place I took my sword and jammed it down into the unbroken soil at the head of the tiny grave.

  I picked up my hammer and swung it down onto the pommel of the blade’s handle driving the sword through both rock and dirt, until it was solidly planted in the Earth. It was a good sword. A sword that a boy would’ve proudly inherited from a father and I gladly gave it up now.

  I pulled a copperplate out from my coat and hammered the copper clasps over the cross guards of the sword. Asia looked up from where she kneeled beside the grave. I caught her glancing towards the name plate affixed to the sword.

  “I thought he should have a name.” I said by way of explanation.

  She nodded and I sank to my knees beside her. Her hand found mine and we stayed there, until I made her leave, because it was too cold for her.

  It was a hard month. I came to terms with my loss, but Asia took it harder. She still worked on the Code, but there were times, when I caught her just staring at her screens for hours on end. It was a struggle to get her to eat right and i
n some ways I was a little rough with her.

  She didn’t have much to do with me, as she seemed to be withdrawn into herself. I gave her as much space as I could, but I longed and prayed for the day when she would come back to me.

  My eyes opened and adjusted to the moonlight that was streaming through the narrow windows. I saw that Asia was awake facing me. It must’ve been her stare that had woken me.

  “Hi.” She whispered.

  “Hi.” I responded softly.

  “I haven’t been much of a wife lately, I’m sorry.”

  I stroked her face softly with the tips of my fingers, “That’s all right.”

  “How have you been managing everything? You’re not questioning your faith in God are you?” She asked.

  I thought about it a little, “For a little while I was.” I admitted truthfully.

  “But you’re not now?”

  I shook my head no.

  “Why?” She asked.

  “God gave me you and that act of love broke up the bitter downward cycle of my life. I know He cares about me and I guess knowing that helps me understand that He is not to blame for this, but that this whole situation is just an example of how life’s not fair and how brutal it can be to live through at times.”

  Asia nodded and stroked my face with her fingers, “How you’ve grown honey!”

  We were quiet for a moment. I saw a tear well up and slip down her face, “I miss him.”

  I nodded.

  “I had so many plans. I know you did too John.”

  “Yeah.” I admitted a little raw. “There will be more kids Asia.” I said softly, as I wiped the moisture of the tear from off her face.

  “I know. I think I want to wait though, until after the Code is over and done with.”

  I nodded, agreeing with her.

  “That means we’re going to have to times things a little better throughout the month.” She said hesitantly not sure how I would take it.

  “Tell me when and where and I’ll be there.” I said.

  The first smile I’d seen in a long time graced her face then, as she reached out to hug me. I hugged her back.

  “I love you so much John Baptist Kilroy!”

  “And I love you cute, hot bodied, little Asian chick!”

  “Hey!” She exclaimed slapping my back affronted at my choice of words.

  “Hey what? If you can defame me with my awful name then I can objectify you in return.”

  “It doesn’t work like that.” She said with a smile in her voice.

  “Oh yes it does babycakes!”

  She giggled in my arms and I held her tighter to me glad to have her back.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Action Begun

  Flint set foot down onto the island with trepidation. He didn’t want to be here. The chopper powered down behind him, Temple and Maria soon joined him. Flint started up the path that led to the house reluctantly.

  The door was open and someone was sweeping dust out of it. This must be her then. She glanced up from her work and studied them as they approached.

  “You must be James.” She said, as she studied him inquisitively.

  Flint nodded, “If you don’t mind, call me Flint, instead of James though.”

  “Oh yes, I forgot about all the secret agent stuff. You would be Maria and I believe you would be Temple?” Both nodded and she stepped back to the side, “Won’t you come in. You’re a little earlier than we were expecting.”

  The three stepped into the snug one room house. Flint’s eyes were focused sickly on Asia’s hand, “You’re married?”

  She smiled, “Yes, I am.”

  “I am so sorry! I……”

  “To your brother.” Asia said, cutting him off her face still wreathed in a peaceful smile.

  All three newcomers to the island wore matching expressions of astonishment.

  “Can I get you anything?” Asia offered politely.

  Temple spoke up, “The Code, were you able to break it?”

  Asia gestured to the computers in the corner, “How about I show you.”

  Temple followed her across the room, “So you broke it?”

  “Not exactly, but I think you’ll like what I did.” Asia said confidently.

  Meanwhile, Flint had been looking around at the feminine touches on display throughout the room, “Is Logan here?”

  “Oh he’s somewhere on the island, not sure where though. Wander around long enough and you’ll find him.”

  Flint nodded and left leaving Maria to stay at the house, while he went out in search of his brother.

  He walked down the flagstone paths in search of his brother. He hadn’t been expecting at all the situation he had just stepped into. A glint of the sun shining off something reflective caught his eye and he diverged down another path.

  It led to an overlook promontory graced by a little grave and a warrior’s sword. Flint stopped beside the little grave swallowing down emotion at what the obvious significance of the scene was.

  “You’re early.” I said from behind my brother. He turned quickly to me and it didn’t surprise me, when he came up to me and hugged me.

  He was a good brother, always had been and I hugged him back for a long moment. We walked along the flagstone pathway to nowhere in particular.

  “You’ve changed!” Flint exclaimed.

  I nodded.

  “You’re married!”

  I nodded and added, “I have faith to brother.”

  Flint just shook his head, “What did she do to win you over that I haven’t tried?”

  I smiled, “Well brother she’s a lot prettier than you!”

  Flint laughed hard and long. “Why yes, she is! The good Lord sure does work in mysterious ways!” Flint said slapping me on the back hard.

  We walked along for a while, “You’re coming with us then?” Flint asked.

  “What do you think?” I snorted out derisively.

  Flint’s arm settled over the back of my shoulders, “Good to have you back in the fight little brother!”

  Temple’s face reflected shock, as he stared at what Asia had done with the Code. “This is a miracle!” He exclaimed.

  “Perhaps, really though it’s just borrowing from an old idea.” Asia said humbly.

  She started to get up, but Temple’s hand lightly grasped her arm forestalling her. She looked at him questioningly, as it looked like he was at a loss for words in an attempt to say something important. “I’m glad it looks like it’s working out for you and Logan.” Temple said before letting go of her arm.

  Asia hesitated for a moment, “John told me about your sister. I think he’s lying about it. No, I change that; I know he’s lying about it.”

  Temple surprised her then, “I think so too, otherwise I would’ve killed him long ago.”

  The two stared at each other for a moment, “Well I’m him glad that you didn’t.” Asia finally commented.

  Temple nodded and then started transferring Asia’s cure for the Code over to a series of devices that he had brought with him. Maria had been eavesdropping the whole time and now looked elsewhere, in an attempt to find something to stay busy at herself. Asia began packing what few things she was taking and Maria offered to help.

  Maria watched, as Asia folded a leather shirt that had to be John’s. Asia folded it with such care that it could only be considered a loving touch.

  “How did you tame the beast?” Maria asked genuinely curious.

  Asia glanced up, “Prayer and pressure points.” Then Asia smiled to herself, as she glanced back down at the shirt in her hands, “And lots and lots of sex.”

  Maria’s eyebrows rose at that and she thought better about asking any more questions.

  I held Asia’s hand, as we sat beside each other on the chopper, as it lifted off quietly from the island. Whether we came back or settled elsewhere a special part of both of us would always be on this island.

  It was a very long flight and restless as usual I found s
leep impossible, especially heading into danger as we were. Asia was asleep nestled trustingly against my side still clasping my hand in hers. I wish I could sleep like her. Flint had been asleep, but I’d noticed him awake for awhile now.

  He leaned over to me showing me something in his hand. I took the picture that he was offering to me. It was of a woman with light chocolate skin, she had perhaps the most classically beautiful face I’d ever seen on a woman of any ethnicity.

  “Your wife?”

  He nodded proudly.

  “You did well for yourself brother!” I said.

  “So did you brother.” He commented glancing at Asia still sleeping against me.

  “Yeah, I’d say we both won the lottery, wife wise anyway.”

  I handed the picture back inwardly proud of myself. I had wondered what my reaction would be the first time I saw a beautiful woman other than my wife and I found myself oddly content with my nonreactive answer given my past history.

  I could acknowledge the attractiveness of another woman, but I hadn’t let my thoughts go any further. It was a milestone of moral authenticity in my life. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to imagine more, but rather that there was something stronger within me that now said no to the inherent carnality of my flesh and mind. I was ruled by the Holy Spirit instead of ruled by my fleshly desires.

  In some ways I’d never thought this day would come to me and now that it had I saw it both for the gift it was, as well as the honor of being separate from the desires of the world. It was good to know about myself in this moment, but it was a battle I would have to keep fighting for the rest of my life.

  Flint was handing me more pictures. One was of a girl and the other was of a boy. I was an uncle. I couldn’t help the thought that I wished I was more than just that, and that I was a father myself.

  Flint’s hand grasped mine, “I’m sorry for your loss.”

  I nodded, but he didn’t let go of my hand.