“I just didn’t feel like showing my loyalty again today,” Marije said casually while holding her arms out to her sides, knowing that the two bodyguards would reflexively grab them, which they did. As the two guards started to pull, Marije dug her feet into the concrete floor, pushing backward, and pulling her arms together in front of her. She pulled the guards off balance, crashing their faces together. They bounced off each other and fell to the floor.
Marije took a long stride toward Karolita. Karolita fully suspected she was the ultimate target all along.
However, Marije only pulled her right hand back a slight distance and gave Karolita a tiny, but demeaning slap on the face — the way a mother in The Brethren would slap an arrogant child.
“How dare you do this to your Goddess!” Marije said, and then gave her another little slap on the other cheek. “How dare you do this to your mother? If you’re captured by the Valkyrie, it’ll break her heart.”
There was some rustling from behind. Marije shook her head, giving Karolita a frustrated look. “Stupid bodyguards. So predictable.”
Guard1 headed toward Marije, arriving just in time to receive a blazing side-thrust kick to her stomach, hurling her back to the floor. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Guard2 moving toward her. Marije slid out of the way just as she arrived, grabbing her by the scruff of the neck with one hand and by the belt with the other, throwing her into the wall. Marije walked confidently to Guard1 and gave her a kick to the side of the head. Then she went to the chest of drawers on the other side of the room and for the first time Karolita noticed her purse sitting there.
“It was at the ‘Lost and Found’. Ever heard of such a thing?” Marije said sarcastically. She extracted the ropes from the purse and hog-tied both bodyguards. She walked over to Karolita to finish her conversation. By then Eros had found her voice.
“I’ll kill you, you poisonous witch. I’ll kill…”
Marije gave Eros a chop to the voice box. “What were you saying, you worthless freak?”
Marije stood back and studied the pile of wriggling, perverted filth. She took a step, leapt in the air, and pulled her feet up.
“Haiya,” she shouted as she came down, crushing Eros’ groin into a mass of jelly.
“How’s your masculine weapon feeling right about now?”
Marije looked back at Karolita, whose mouth hung open in disbelief. “You had no idea I could fight, did you?” Karolita slowly shook her head back and forth, her eyes wide, her mouth still open.
“And all these years, you just thought I was nothing but an ordinary-looking miniscule mole-skinned Yukta Yogi with boring light green eyes, didn’t you?”
Karolita nodded, struggling to close her mouth.
Marije came within a couple paces of Karolita and stared into her face. “Well?” Marije asked.
Karolita looked confused as Marije waited.
“Well?”
Marije waited again. Karolita shook her head in uncertainty.
“Well, aren’t you going to ask where I was last night,” Marije barked.
“Where were you last night?” Karolita took a few breaths, regaining her poise. She wanted to avoid angering the thing in front her, a thing she thought was just a stupid, ordinary, brown-skinned little harmless member of her group of friends.
“You saw me walking in the direction of the Resident’s Area, didn’t you?”
Karolita nodded.
“Did you see the guy who looked like a beach bum walking with me?”
“Yes?” Karolita said.
“Do you know who that was?”
“No,” Karolita said softly as she shook her head, it finally sinking in how opposite all of Marije’s actions of yesterday seemed.
“Ever heard of Commander Vegu-Aniel Odinero?”
Karolita’s eyes widened.
“I thought you might remember that name.” Marije gave a small, intense smile, feeling more confident now that Parvarti had blabbed endless details about Oceania’s residents, including Aniel’s true identity.
“I’d seen him following us. So I wiggled my ass and distracted one of the most dangerous SAS Valkyrie the Pharisees have ever fought, just so you might have a chance to escape. Then I kept him drunk with…”
Marije stopped and gave Karolita a stern look. “Do you remember the first time you told me about your fantastically stupid plan and showed me a map of Oceania?”
Karolita nodded.
“Do you remember the large section on the east end of the island marked ‘Restricted’?”
Karolita nodded again. “There’s a huge volcano over there, so that’s just lava flow, right?”
“No. Not lava flow,” Marije said quietly. “Oceania isn’t just a vacation spot for Silly Little Seraphifs. That section of the island is the base and barracks for about 150,000 Valkyrie, mostly SAS.”
Karolita’s face paled.
“That’s right. You brought Lakshmi’s oldest daughter onto one of the most dangerous islands in Satania. So, last night, while I was keeping Commander Vegu-Aniel Odinero drunk, I was surrounded by a few dozen senior Valkyrie officers. The whole night I wondered when they’d finally figure out who I was and cart me off for execution.
“Now, when you see me today, what’s the first thing you do? Ask me where I was, out of concern?” Marije glared at Karolita. “No. As usual, you instantly assumed you knew everything. You tested me again. You sic your pervert and guards on me.”
“I misjudged you,” Karolita said softly. “I apologize.”
“Of course, Karolita,” Marije said, now sounding as if she were speaking to a mentally challenged child.
“The largest ship on the Oceania-to-Carolina Isle line is leaving in the early evening this Saturday,” Marije said. “I suggest you attempt to board that one because the crowds will be the biggest. Tell Eros, Guard1, and Guard2 to board separate ships.”
Karolita nodded.
“I have my passport, visa, and money and will do my best to continue to keep Commander Vegu-Aniel Odinero distracted until then.”
Karolita tried to assimilate all that just happened. In the past, the very idea of a nothing like Marije helping herself to the contents of her purse would have been enough to throw her into a rage. Considering what else she had just done, Marije knew exactly how Karolita would react just a few moments after Marije walked out of the room.
“Oh, and by the way…” Marije whispered something in Karolita’s ear, gave her a brief kiss on the cheek, turned and walked out the door with not so much as a ‘by your leave’.
As Marije walked out, she felt a little brush like someone squeezing through the doorframe at the same time. She dismissed it as soon as she saw the small group awaiting her, giving her a silent round of applause.
Florence, Oceania’s Marshall, quickly closed the door, slipping a special key into the doorframe and locking it. From Karolita’s side of the door, it would seem as though the handle and internal locking mechanisms were all working fine. But if Karolita decided to give chase, the door would not open. As soon as the crowd in the hallway dispersed, Florence would unlock the door and allow Karolita and her minions to exit and continue to believe they were still wandering the island unnoticed.
“Oh, you should have seen it. What a beautiful performance,” Brigettie said. Marije heard the sound of a zipper as a head and shoulders materialized right in front of her.
“You were there the whole time?” Marije asked.
“Course. Wouldn’t have missed it for the world, little sister.”
“Then it was you helping me smash the guards together?”
“Nope, all you. Didn’t do a thing. Just stood back in the corner with my arms crossed enjoying the show.” Brigettie looked at the ceiling and rocked her head back and forth. “However, if one of them had pulled a weapon, then I would have killed them where they stood.”
“What next?” Skillit asked Marije, giving her a small hug and a kiss on each cheek.
“Well,
I told Parvarti I would meet her at Bill’s for lunch, then…I really hadn’t thought much about it. Why? Finally gonna cart me off to prison?”
“No, no prisons,” Skillit said. “Well, not yet at least. But if you like, we can hold that option open if you decide you wanna go back to Glamoria with Karolita.”
Marije did not reply. She felt too much happiness to speak as Skillit took her by the hand and together they walked toward the exit. Marije glanced back to see if Brigettie was following. Brigettie was still standing outside Karolita’s door. She smiled and blew her a kiss. Florence helped Brigettie zip her camouflage suit. Four Valkyrie guards took down the barricades blocking the corridor. When the regular traffic continued, Florence unlocked the door. A guard helped Florence with her own camouflage suit and she too disappeared.
“When you finish your lunch with Parvarti, come over to Josie’s dress shop. She’d like to meet you,” Skillit continued.
“Colonel Doulmahel, the Theatre commander, wants to meet me? She knows what happened?”
“Course she does. Filled her in on everything this morning,” Skillit smiled. “She’s looking forward to meeting you. You are the very thing Josie lives for.”
Skillit continued speaking before Marije could respond. “There are some forms we’d like you to fill out. We’ll also send an Angelic Watcher who will take dictation while you tell your story. If it’s fine with you, we’d like to have a complete record of your time in Glamoria, while the memories are still fresh in your mind.”
Chapter 57
Karolita’s Great Escape
Obviously, you don’t know who I am!
—Karolita
Oceania
Room service informed them their ship would depart at 7:00 in the evening. Lacking anything useful to do, Karolita had Guard2 ensure that everything was packed and ready to go by 3:00. Periodically, she sent Guard1 to evaluate the crowds forming at the dock. She planned to hide within the largest group.
At 4:45, a hurried knock hit their door.
“Are you all right?” Marije asked. “Why are you still here?” Karolita was thinking of an appropriate sarcastic reply, but Marije cut her off before she could speak. “Don’t you know the ship leaves at 5:00? That’s in fifteen minutes. They’ve already sounded third whistle. I thought you were already on board.”
Marije hoped they could not detect her internal laughter as terror spread across Karolita’s face. “I’m going now. Make sure you split up. Each of you will need to carry your own bags. Now hurry. There’s no way they’ll hold a ship this big, and the next one doesn’t leave for another week.”
Karolita ran into the hallway lugging her massive suitcase. She had already sent Guard1 ahead so she would not appear to be the only one late for the ship. Karolita’s heart raced when she saw the hallway was completely empty. Although it would have been faster to use the nearest stairs, she ran down several long hallways to access the main elevators. She turned the corner and froze. Signs posted on the elevator doors read ‘out of order’.
Karolita surveyed the stairwell on the opposite side of the elevator bank. In many of Glamoria’s restaurants and palaces, there were wide, luxurious stairs with golden handrails befitting of a Goddess to glide down when making a grand entrance. But the stairs in front of her were fit only for servants and slaves.
Her mind flashed to the last time she had seen these types of crude stairs. An elevator had been out of service while visiting Soddom, one of Lakshmi’s many Celestial heavens on Eden, this one above the Material city of San Berklar in the country of Azakaman.
Karolita had accepted an invitation from Priest Annas of Soddom to watch the opening game at his new sports stadium, but the elevator up to the luxury-boxes was not working. Karolita suffered severe humiliation when a servant had to carry her up stairs.
After her return to Glamoria, Karolita cried and complained so much to Lakshmi that Lakshmi threatened Priest Annas with economic strife because of the abuse her daughter had endured. He finally agreed to brutally lash the general contractor, the owner of the company, which manufactured the elevator. He also punished the heads of the elevator installation and maintenance crews — lashings that Eros performed while Lakshmi, Karolita, and her trove of friends watched.
Truth be known, over the years of construction, Priest Annas had endured arguments and great disrespect from this general contractor. Annas enjoyed the show as much as the others. And truth be known, Lakshmi had years earlier asked this same general contractor to build her such a stadium in Glamoria. He had refused and instead accepted the contract offered by Priest Annas. Lakshmi felt a deep satisfaction when the cruel whippings resulted in his debilitation and eventual death.
It was bad enough to walk up slave-stairs, but now she had to carry her own suitcase. There was no time to wait for Eros or Guard2. She had instructed them to leave at three-minute intervals after her. She knew she did not have a lot of time, so she laboriously raced up five floors of stairs, heaving her heavy purse and huge suitcase.
She was breathing hard by the time she reached the upstairs mall area. It too was deserted except for a few Valkyrie guards and their dogs. The Valkyrie seemed disinterested, but the dog’s cruel eyes leered at her.
By the time Karolita was halfway to the docks, the weight of her suitcase made her head spin. Her legs and arms felt like they were on fire. As hot as she was, she refused to allow herself to be so undignified as to sweat.
She hated that Marije had suggested a suitcase with wheels. Why should one as grand as Karolita have a suitcase made so ugly by wheels? After all, Marije was there to carry Karolita’s suitcase. Moreover, because of Marije’s rude and disrespectful suggestion, Karolita made sure that the suitcase she finally took was much bigger than she needed. She loaded it with things she knew she would never use, including her most prized possession — a beautiful solid gold statue of Lakshmi.
But why had Marije not offered to wait for Karolita so she could carry her suitcase? Even a slave with no training would have been perceptive enough to do that. Besides, Marije had no suitcase. Even if she had one sitting out of sight, there was nothing Marije had that was more important than Karolita’s belongings.
The ships were well in sight by the time last whistle sounded. Five minutes left to get there. Although her arms and legs were in agony and her chest was pounding, Karolita relaxed when she saw she was not the only straggler. Hopefully, Guard1 is already on board.
Calculating how much time it took to process each pigeon in line, Karolita slowed her pace to arrive just in time. Suddenly, the line began to move much more slowly. There was a massive female officer in a dark blue suit directing traffic, although there really was not that much traffic to direct.
The control officer was not very tall but Karolita could see her muscular arms showing through her short-sleeved shirt. The control officer casually turned toward Karolita and gave her a small, apathetic, unhurried ‘come on’ wave with her fingers. Although the control officer wore a small smile and had a pleasant face, it was insulting for royalty such as Karolita to be signaled in such a way by a slave; however, being so close to finally getting off Oceania, she pretended not to notice.
As she hurried past, she glanced at the name ‘Florence’ embroidered on her breast — yet another stupid name — and the golden badge on her right lapel — the symbol of an ordinary traffic control officer. But this time the Silver Star on her left lapel did not fool her. There was a strange game being played on Oceania — anyone knows that no general would reduce herself to the status of traffic cop.
“Passport. Visa.” Karolita listened carefully to what the immigration agent asked the pigeons in front of her. She had been cautious to pack her weapons and all her newly acquired jewelry at the bottom of her bag. She had placed a small towel over these items and then placed her papers right on top for easy access. The agent was asking the standard questions. “Are you carrying any fruit, nuts, vegetables, or animals?”
Animals? Kar
olita could not help but smile. Who in their right mind would attempt to take an animal off Oceania? Then she heard a familiar, dreamy voice. “Yes, I have a bunny with me. Isn’t that okay?”
From the first moment Karolita had met her, she knew Chaniel’s head was full of air. This was the final proof. Karolita was waiting to join in the laughter, but no one laughed. “You have a bunny? Can I see?”
Karolita spotted Chaniel placing a small carrying cage on the desk. “Is that Ereumpatat? Oh, what a sweet little thing,” the immigration officer said as he stuck his fingers in the cage to give the rabbit a little scratch.
Karolita shook her head. “Why should I be surprised?” she mumbled to herself.
A tall female pigeon wearing a white officer’s uniform descended the gangplank and walked up to the immigration desk. With only three individuals in front of Karolita, she heard the unimaginable.
“Hello, I’m the ship’s purser,” she said in a pleasant voice. “I’m sorry folks, but The Golden Hind is now completely full. I have been told there is plenty of space on the Mucktuck and the Bathshema, so please form lines down there.”
Karolita followed the purser’s finger as she pointed in the general direction from which Karolita had just come. At the far end of the docks, someone waved a small green flag. She had not previously noticed that the docks were so long. At some point in Oceania’s main thoroughfare, it separated from the access road that ran along the length of the docks. The stores started at the point of separation.
Karolita realized the docks were actually over three hundred meters in length and over three quarters of the docks were actually behind the stores. She wanted to explode.
Not terribly surprising, no one else in line complained. By that time, there were another two-dozen individuals behind her. Karolita picked up her suitcase and scanned the ships at the other end. They were all much smaller and older, nothing akin to the massive, luxurious Golden Hind.
At least there’s no hurry now, she thought, knowing that the captain dare not leave with so many travelers coming from the far end of the dock.
Lilith: Eden's Planetary Princess (The Michael Archives Book 1) Page 45