Thor sighed. There would never be any catching this thing sleeping; worse, now it was waiting for him!
Thor opened his eyes. He half-turned in his chair, pointing toward the north-east. “That way, about forty-five miles… high up… in a cave… I think.”
The room fell silent.
Thor stabbed a fork-full of sprats with a shaking hand and brought it to his mouth. He chewed slowly, glancing at their stunned faces. A tear was rolling down Bryndis’ cheek; she turned, wiping it away with the back of her hand. Somehow, she deduced what was happening to him, and her concern for him grew with every passing day. Mikki placed a reassuring hand on Bryndis’ shoulder, leaned close, and whispered something. Nwabudike nodded slowly, his granite face as unreadable as ever. Sorina looked as if she had seen a ghost, her face pale and her eyes bulging. Doru Albusel studied the map intently. The others avoided making eye contact with him.
“You picked the absolute worst place to track this thing,” Doru exclaimed. “A mountain goat would have a hard time finding footing up there. There’s nothing but loose rocks, sheer cliffs, and winds strong enough to fly you like a kite.”
“Which is why it’s the perfect place to start,” Nwabudike said firmly. His eyes shifted to each of the crewman. “Be ready, we leave as soon as reinforcements arrive.” His irritation-filled eyes darted to meet Thor’s. The man had not said as much, but Thor knew he was pissed at the decision to bring the equipment before the rest of the men.
“Sir!” they replied in unison, then snatched up rifles and left the room.
Nwabudike turned to Bryndis. “I need you two to stay here and help the rest of my men settle in. Get them up to speed while I am gone.” He raised a hand to silence Bryndis’ objections. “This is not up for discussion. Your inexperience will jeopardize this mission. Besides, you wouldn’t want Thor to get killed because your presence distracted him, would you?”
Anger faded from Bryndis’ face. She took a deep breath, then sighed. “No.”
“C’mon, Sugah,” Mikki said quietly. “I’m no mountain climber, and neither are you. Besides, it would give us the opportunity to speak with the ladies of the house.” She smiled at Bryndis. “If you know what I mean?”
Thor rolled his eyes. Everyone knows what you mean.
“We would welcome your company,” Selucca said with a smile. “Wouldn’t we, Sorina?”
“Oh, I put it at the very top of the list of things I’d like to do today.” Sorina gave a mock-smile.
The vision of four feral cats sealed in a cardboard box popped into Thor’s head. Maybe he should make sure the women were not armed before he left.
Selucca rose to her feet, then gestured toward the door. “Ladies, we have much to discuss.”
“Try not to get yourself killed,” Bryndis said to Thor before following the women from the room.
“What do you think the chances are of this place still standing when we get back?” Thor asked no one in particular.
“Not very good,” Nwabudike replied, staring at the doorway.
“Oh, they’re excellent!” Doru Albusel snorted. “There’ll be jabs and squabbling at first, but sooner or later, the attention will shift to you, young man,” he said to Thor. “Then they’ll band together like long lost sisters to discuss every fault you have. Nothing brings women together like man-bashing.”
The other men snickered and nodded in agreement.
Let them bash all they want, just as long as they’re safe.
Forty minutes later, the wheels of the Blackhawk kissed the ground as gently as a mother’s lips on her newborn. The doors opened, the crew piled out, and began unloading equipment. Judging by the eagerness in which they moved, they were grateful to be on the ground. Thor stared as the men worked to avoid disturbing the loaded missile launcher now adorning his helicopter. What the Hel is that woman up to, now?”
Else exited the helicopter, smiling as she stretched. She retrieved a silver case and a small, black duffle bag from the helicopter, then approached Thor. “Here you are,” she said handing them to him. ”We would’ve been here sooner, but the launcher took a little more time to install than I thought. Fortunately, the crewmen knew what they were doing.”
Why am I not surprised? “Thank you very much,” he replied. “Grab a quick bite, we’re heading out as soon as you’re done eating.”
She smiled broadly. “Christelle sent lunch with me. I do, however, have other business to attend.” She walked up to one of the local women and whispered in her ear. The woman led her away.
Thor placed the delivered packages on the back of a nearby wagon. He removed the lightweight gun belt from the duffle bag, placed it around his waist, and strapped the holster to his left thigh. He removed the holster from the small of his back, and tossed it and the Beretta into the duffle bag. He checked each of the six magazine pouches on the belt before opening the gun case.
His eyes fell onto the small, white envelope – he had forgotten about that. He put it aside and pulled out the IMI .50 caliber Desert Eagle named, Alice, after his favorite zombie-killing, super-agent. She, like the pistol, was sleek, sexy, lethal; not to mention, genetically modified. He slid her magazine into place, and strapped her into the holster.
Thor examined the envelope. The name Alice was written above his name and addressed to his post office box in Portland. There was no return address, but it had a Boston postmark. Inside, he found a Massachusetts multi-state lottery ticket. He tucked the ticket into his wallet, returned the envelope to the case, closing it again.
This day just keeps getting more, and more interesting.
A few moments later, he was sitting next to Else as the Blackhawk lifted skyward. With luck, everyone onboard would be on the return trip.
Chapter 20
Is No News Really Good News?
“Oh, God yes,” Bryndis Angantýrsdóttir said rolling her eyes. “Half of Thor’s problem: Julia spoiled him rotten as a child. From what I’ve discovered, everything he wanted, she made sure he got!”
“She still does!” Mikki Acier cut in. “Or do you forget the trip to Madagascar?”
Bryndis shook her head in disgust. “No, I didn’t forget that, but I try.”
“What happened in Madagascar?” Sorina asked eagerly. The man that was not a thief, but may or may not be a murderer, seemed to have led a very interesting life. Too bad she had not been there to see them for herself; he had been everywhere she dreamed of going.
Bryndis took a sip of her tea. “Two years ago, we’re enjoying a nice dinner. For dessert, our chef made vanilla wafers. Thor sniffed one before taking a bite, then absentmindedly says: “I wonder if vanilla flowers smell like vanilla?”. 36 hours later, we’re trekking through the jungle so he could smell one. Then she ended up buying the goddamned plantation for him. I still cringe when I smell something baking.”
“I think Julia was overcompensating for Vali not being around,” Selucca said. “Vali thought so, too. He said you had your hands full, trying to keep Thor from becoming an overindulgent bastard.”
“Oh, that endeavor was an epic failure!” Mikki Acier laughed. “I can type overindulgent bastard on my phone, and Thor’s Facebook page comes up!”
“Think of how horrible he’d be, if his up-bringing fell on Julia’s shoulders, alone!” Bryndis Angantýrsdóttir shook her head, rolling her eyes, then sighed. “ Sometimes, she fought me more than Thor ever dreamed.”
Sorina sipped her tea. This had turned out to be a very interesting day, so far. As much as it pained her to admit, she had been wrong about Bryndis Angantýrsdóttir and Mikki Acier. It was evident they both loved Thor Odinsson deeply. However, they were definitely not part of an extensive harem, as she first thought. In fact, Thor had no lover in his life at the moment – though she didn’t care. She DEFINITELY was not interested in becoming involved with him, no matter how pretty those blue eyes were!
Sorina was still not sure about her grandmother, though; it was difficult to feel empathy f
or the woman she considered little more than her jailor. Perhaps things could’ve been different had the old woman told her the truth years ago. Sorina doubted it, but this was an awful lot to take in all at once.
A cool breeze blew, but none of the women seated around the table stirred, an unspoken pact kept them glued to the spot. They had not left the veranda for two hours, and would not until the helicopter returned.
Sorina glanced at her watch, for about the hundredth time in the past three hours. It was nearly four in the afternoon: five hours since that Else woman last checked in with Bryndis.
She looked up to the cloudless sky as she mindlessly stirred her tea that had gone cold a half hour ago. Bryndis told her not to worry. Apparently, checking in had never been on the top of Thor Odinsson’s list, and it spread to those around him like a disease. The words would’ve been more convincing if worry had not been etched all over Bryndis’ face, and Mikki didn’t play with that curved knife every time there was a lull in the conversation.
Doru will have them on their way back by now, Sorina told herself. They had to be! The shadows in these mountains grew very dark, long before the sun set, and something horrible hid in the shadows.
Mio – the massive pile of fur Thor called a dog – raised his head, and liked her hand. The damned thing had been within arm’s reach since the helicopter took off. What more could it want? Sorina already made sure it got fed. It couldn’t possibly be hungry again, could it? The “dog” whined, and stared with those drooping eyes until Sorina scratched its muzzle. Honestly! This thing required as much attention as its master!
Walking around half-naked! Strutting around like a rooster in the henhouse, more like it! The sight of him did make her heart flutter, and take her breath away, even if she wanted nothing to do with him. I was just surprised, that’s all!
Sorina heard several of the women talking about it earlier this morning. She promptly gave them more work to do, since they obviously had too much time on their hands.
Sorina scratched Mio’s floppy ears. He really was an ugly dog. He was too big, his skin was too loose, even if his fur was unbelievably soft. With those drooping eyes, and hanging jowls, he had a face not even a mother could love. She grabbed a fistful of fur near the dog’s neck, and gave a gentle shake, then rubbed the top of his head with her palm. He was too clingy, too!
Sorina broke off a piece of bread, offering it to the dog. He sniffed at it, then glanced up at her, those droopy eyes pleading. She smeared a thick layer of apricot jam on the bread. The dog gobbled it up, placing his head in her lap, his eyes gazing into hers. She repeated the process, ignoring the snickers of the other women.
They had no right to act that way; she was not like the rest of the women around here, tripping over themselves to please a man. The dog just need a little something, that is all! The poor thing had not had a thing to eat in hours.
She stroked the dog’s muzzle gently with a finger, absentmindedly checking the time, again.
“They’ll be back soon,” Bryndis assured Sorina.
Mikki’s eyes scanned the horizon. “That’s right, Sugah. Thor’s as persistent as a yeast infection, and harder to shake than a summer cold.” From what Sorina could tell, that was as eloquent as Mikki got.
The small group laughed. What else could they do?
“They better return soon,” Sorina said quietly. “This dog is driving me crazy!”
Mikki’s fingers twitched that sign language she loved to do. It must have been some sort of joke, because Bryndis smiled and nodded.
Sorina’s eyes scanned the sky for any sign of the helicopter. The porcelain cup tinkled as she stirred her cold tea. She glanced at her watch…
Chapter 21
Maybe This Was a Bad Idea, After All!
“Hold on!” Thor shouted through gritted teeth, struggling to keep a grip on the dangling man’s hands, as the barrel of the rifle kept bouncing off the back of his head. Bonchance Chinenye: that was his name. Thor memorized all of their names before leaving the ship.
The young Nigerian smiled up at Thor. “Let go, sir. I am not afraid to die!”
“Nobody’s dying today,” Thor shouted over the howling wind. “And don’t call me sir, I haven’t been knighted…yet!”
Thor was not sure how much longer he could hold on; his forearms burned and his fingers were cramping badly. One more gust of wind may rip Bonchance from his grip, if it did not send both of them falling to their deaths. Judging by the shouts above, and the way hands clawed at his legs while he continued to slip past the edge, the men holding his feet were not doing much better than he was… perhaps worse.
“Bonchance: that’s French; it means good luck,” Thor said, looking in the man’s eyes – mainly to avoid looking at the thousand-foot drop below him. “My mother is… was French, you know!”
“Julia has told us all about your parents; she loved them very much. She’s very proud of you, Thor Odinsson!” The man may claim to not fear death, but the way he was shaking, and the look on his face said otherwise.
What the Hel is taking them so long?! “I’d love to hear what she’d have to say if she could see me now.”
Bonchance laughed. “She would say the same; even if you were stupid enough to dive off a mountain cliff.”
A backpack flew past the men, coming to an abrupt stop a few feet below Bonchance’s feet.
“I believe that’s your elevator,” Thor shouted. Thank the Gods! I couldn’t have held out much longer.
The young man let go of Thor’s hand, grabbed the rope, winding it several times around his forearm before making a move with his other hand.
Thor stared into the dark abyss as the men inched him back to safety. It was a long way to the bottom. Like they say: It’s not the fall, it’s the sudden stop that’s a bitch.
“Have you lost your fucking mind?!” Nwabudike shouted at Thor once he was back on solid ground. Thor was starting to miss the days when the man never spoke. “What kind of fool jumps off a cliff?”
“It was more of a swan-dive, actually,” Thor said, reaching into his jacket for a cigar.
Nwabudike looked ready to toss Thor back over. “You could have died. Bonchance was dead already.”
“I love being right.” Thor cupped his hands and lit the cigar. He put the lighter in his pocket, then brought himself to his feet.
“What are you on about?” Nwabudike asked angrily. “Have you completely lost your senses?”
“Not yet, I hope.” Thor took a puff from the cigar. He did not like the bite the lighter fluid left behind, but there was little he could do about that in this wind. “I’ve been trying to figure you out for years. Your men were easy to figure out; they followed you through Hel and back, and would obey your orders blindly.” Thor pointed a finger at Nwabudike. “It took a long time to put the last piece of your puzzle into place. Someone went to a lot of trouble erasing your past so thoroughly I couldn’t find a thing.”
The other man remained as readable as a blank sheet of paper.
“You were a high ranking officer of an elite unit by the way you and your men handle weapons. One thing was for sure, not a damned one of you knew shit about life onboard a ship before coming aboard Mjölnir. I originally though Julia was hiding you from the authorities. Other scenarios went through my mind over the past few years, but I ruled them out one by one.”
Thor puffed the cigar, staring into the coal-black eyes behind Nwabudike’s granite mask, and he smiled. “But, when you said Bryndis and Mikki’s presence could jeopardize the mission, I knew my dear grandmother hired you to watch my back.”
“She said you would eventually figure it out,” Nwabudike said evenly. “But that doesn’t explain the ‘swan-dive’.”
Thor shrugged. “I was closest when Bonchance slipped. And I knew you wouldn’t let me fall.”
Fire filled Nwabudike’s glare; Thor really did miss the days when the man avoided his gaze. “If you were wrong?”
Thor shrugged again
. “The shock of that realization would’ve lasted less than ten seconds.”
Nwabudike shook his head.
“I owe you my life, Mister Odinsson!” Bonchance exclaimed. “How can I repay you?”
“Two things,” Thor said holding up two fingers. “The second: live a long and happy life.”
Bonchance looked puzzled. “What is the first?”
Thor lowered one finger, holding his index finger under Bonchance’s nose. “Never, ever speak of this again!”
“Agreed!” the men said in unison, Nwabudike the loudest.
Thor shifted the weight of the rifle across his back and continued on; the cave they had spotted from the air was just around the next bend. Doru’s description of this territory had been exaggerated, but not by much. Even if the mountain goats had little trouble finding toeholds, traveling through these heights was treacherous. The ledge they were on narrowed to little more than a foot in places, crumbling in others, but it was the spot to do what he had planned.
“I still don’t see the point in this,” Doru said. “We can’t reach the cave from this side.”
“It’s too dangerous to rappel the other side, one at a time,” Thor said over the cigar. “So, we switch to ‘plan B’.”
They rounded the bend. The ledge widened from three feet to about eight feet, though standing near the rim would be ill advised; it appeared ready to give way at the next snowfall. Sixty yards across the gorge was the mouth of the cave. Thor could see nothing beyond the opening; the shadows were so dark inside, it was as if they absorbed the light, and staring into the darkness gave him a chill. From the way the other men shifted nervously, they shared that feeling.
Thor smiled. Now he knew he was in the right place.
He pulled a small radio from his pocket. “You sure you can pull this off?” he said into the transmitter.
“With my eyes closed,” Else’s voice replied.
Thor slipped the rifle free, giving it a quick check. Then he kept his eyes fixed on the mouth of the cave. “There was a man named Ben Coats and a dog named Napoleon,” he said to Doru.
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