“So soon? Very well. We will continue where we left off as soon as we arrive.”
“I expect it. Time is of the essence.”
Amanda opened the large mahogany door and bid good day to Dr. Hán. As the elevator doors closed behind him, she glanced around to confirm that no personnel were lingering nearby. Amanda turned to reenter the office and spotted Flora waiting for her at the reception desk holding the triple-grande latte. The robot offered the cup, saying, “Here you are, Director Terrance, I’m afraid that it may have cooled below your temperature preference.”
Accepting the coffee, Amanda held the door for the robot and followed her inside. “Thank you. Don’t worry about it, Flora. I’ll be just fine.”
35 Check and Mate
Old Massett. Haida Gwaii. Aug. 22 2033
54°02'26.0"N 132°10'33.8"W
Marta closed the screen door behind her as she entered Doc’s office. “How are the prisoners today?”
“I’ve done the best I can for this guy’s knee. He won’t be walking on it for a while without surgery… probably going to need a whole new joint.” Doc rose from his stool and walked to the cot where Trip lay; his wrists tied to the headboard. Pouring some water into a small glass, Doc removed the gag and placed the rim to his patient’s mouth. “Mr. Ashfield, I suggest you accept the pain medication I’ve offered. Your knee isn’t apt to feel better any time soon.”
Trip took a few sips and shook his head. “If it’s all the same to you, I’ll pass. Best to keep my wits about me, just in case I want to make a run for it.”
Marta crossed both arms in front of her and smirked. “You’re a real joker, aren’t you?”
“I’ve found that in my line of work, it’s prudent to have a healthy sense of humor.”
“Hmm, we’ll see how long that lasts.” Marta walked over to the opposite side of the room and kicked the leg of the chair where Mike dozed. “Hey you—do you want some water?” The merc blinked and nodded. Using both of his bound hands to clasp the glass she offered him, Mike gulped down its entire contents before Marta replaced the cloth around his mouth and took the glass back to the sink. “Doc, do you have the packet with their ID chips in it? Eli’s loaned us one of his small freezers, he said the walls were thick enough that an active chip couldn’t be picked up from inside.”
“Over there—in that foil wrapper.” Doc replied, pointing to his desk. “Ol’ Archer just about removed the mercenary’s chip for me the other day. Both prisoners should be clean now—no more transponders. I examined them thoroughly with that new scanner the fetchers brought over last month—that’s a helluva thing, I gotta’ say.”
“Well, let’s hope they’re clean. All this spy stuff is getting on my nerves.” As she retrieved the packet and slipped it into the back pocket of her jeans, Marta thought about Dot and whether the old ID chip she’d sent with her would come in useful.
Doc laid his notes down and rubbed his eyes. He stood up and stretched, then motioned toward the kitchen. Marta followed him. Rubbing the back of his neck as he walked, Doc waited until they were clear of his office before he spoke. “I don’t mean to question your judgement, Marta—you know I’m behind you a hundred percent. It’s just that… Well, we’ve had these two for over a week now. What exactly are we doing here?”
Marta frowned, she was starting to wonder the same thing. Glancing back over her shoulder, she whispered, “We just need to be patient. All I know, is that the code speakers sent word to the Greenwood’s council four days ago. Skaukw knows about everything that’s happened and they told me that she’s handling matters. Beyond that, I don’t know any more than you do. But I trust her judgement.”
“So do I, Marta. I just hope they get back to us soon. The longer we hold these two, the more danger we’re in. Billy went through that helicopter of theirs with a fine tooth comb the other day and yanked out anything that resembled a transponder. He said he took the whole mess down to his garage and disabled it. But I tell ya’, if HSA sends a Mossie to search for their guys, our camouflage job won’t hold up, not under that kind of scrutiny. I’m getting anxious.”
“Yeah, well that makes two of us,” Marta replied, then patted his shoulder. “I have to believe that the longer we can keep these guys away from the scientist, the better it’ll be for Dot and Táan. And I guess that means we have to hold down the fort until further instructions arrive.”
The morning sun spilled into Doc’s east-facing windows and Marta felt the temperature climb. She opened the sashes, allowing a small breeze to flow, then walked into the kitchen and switched on the ceiling fan. Doc loosened the ropes binding Trip’s wrists and adjusted him to a sitting position. Just then, they heard a faint rap at the front door. “Hey Marta, check who’s out front while you’re in there, will you?”
Trip’s gaze went straight to the doorway then darted to where Mike dozed. Instinctively, he assessed the new developments: It was feasible to take out the doctor and get out the office door, but Trip doubted he could free Mike before Marta returned. Flexing his wounded leg, he was met with a sharp pain that dashed any hope of escape on foot. Trip heard the front door close and a conversation between two other voices. Out of the corner of his eye, Trip caught a micro-expression of relief appear on the doctor’s face. He set his mind to work on how to make this new situation work to his advantage.
“Reinforcements have arrived,” Marta exclaimed, stepping through the entry. Trip looked up to see Adili standing in the center of the doorway, his broad outline seemed to fill the entire space. With lightning-fast calculations, Trip estimated the man to be in his mid-30’s, at least 6-foot, 4-inches and roughly 220 pounds. Trip instinctively knew that the man was trained to fight—and had likely killed before. Adili moved aside to allow a slender, formidable looking woman to enter the room. Without hearing her speak, Trip identified her as a superior; the woman’s self-assurance and acuity were almost tangible. His eyes followed her every movement.
Reba ignored the mercenary and walked over to Trip’s bed. She addressed him courteously, her voice was soft but strong. “Are you comfortable here, Mr. Ashfield? Is there anything that we can do for you?”
“You could tell me your name, that would be a start.”
“Of course, forgive me. I’m called Reba.” She added, “this gentleman is named Adili. We’re from a place known as the Greenwood.”
Trip held off responding as he tried to recall any mention of a place by that name. His mind drew a complete blank. He shrugged it off and with a charming grin, drawled, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, ‘Reba from the Greenwood.’ I hope you’ll forgive my lack of manners, it appears as though I’m unable to shake your hand at present.”
Ignoring his sarcasm, Reba smiled cordially. Trip was struck by her demeanor, her features bore the chiseled, hard-edged look of a man and yet when she smiled, her eyes sparkled, her face softened. He found himself caught off-guard by her presence. Reba regarded him for a moment, eventually asking, “Do you mind if I take a seat?” She placed a chair beside the cot, moving closer to her prisoner. As she sat down, her hair spilled forward and Trip caught the faintest aroma of cedar.
Disturbed by his reaction to this strange woman, Trip shifted toward the opposite side of the bed, wincing in pain as he bent his knee. “By all means, make yourself at home.”
Reba glanced toward the others and Marta, Doc and Adili excused themselves, adjourning to the kitchen. Reba crossed one leg over the other, folding her hands together before she spoke, “I’m interested to learn why you’ve travelled this far north, to a rather inconsequential little town like Old Massett. I would have thought that HighTower has more valuable individuals to interrogate than these townsfolk.”
“What makes you think that I already haven’t?” Trip countered. He stared at her at length, scanning her reaction, posture and mannerisms. With a slight squint of an eye, Trip cocked his head, inquiring, “Exactly who are you Reba? What’s your position here? Do yo
u have some sort of title? I can see that you’re most likely of Native descent, but your companion in the other room doesn’t strike me as too… indigenous.”
“He’s indigenous, just not to this place.” Reba glanced over her shoulder, then back at Trip. “Why the mercenary? Planning an invasion?”
“He wasn’t my choice actually, that call came from much higher on the food chain. I prefer to work alone.”
“Hmm, yes, I can see that,” Reba murmured. “You’re an awfully inquisitive gentleman, for someone who’s currently bound to a bed, that is.”
“Yes well, know thine enemy.”
“Wise words, and yet I’ve found that the opportunity to defeat your enemy is provided by the enemy himself.” Reba reached for the pitcher of water and filled a glass for herself, then offered to fill Trip’s glass. He shook his head. After taking a slow drink, Reba said, “Let’s get back to your arrival here in this village. What’s it all about? Why were you pestering a poor old man?”
Trip flashed a smile. “Allow me to level with you, Reba. This isn’t half as nefarious as you folks assume it to be. It would be more accurate to call our little layover here a ‘reconnaissance mission’ of sorts. You see, my current employer asked me to find this scientist who’s disappeared with some important material—that he illegally removed from his workplace, mind you. I was merely paying a visit to some people who might have information on where I could locate the man.”
Reba sat back in her chair, clasping her hands around her knee as she listened. When Trip finished, she said, “Is that so? Because my sources tell me that we’ve got a trail of wounded Haida recovering from the amicable visits you’ve paid them. You’ll have to excuse me for treating your story with some degree of skepticism.” Reba paused and looked out the window before proceeding, “On the other hand, I’d prefer not to incur your boss’s disfavor by keeping you here any longer than we already have. It seems that the practical solution for all parties, is to return you—and your toy soldier over there—as quickly as possible.”
“Hmmm, I find that hard to believe, Reba. It’s not the course of action I would opt for, if I was in your position.”
“Perhaps, but you are not in my position. Also, you don’t know in what manner I intend to return you.”
“Ah, point taken.” Trip let his head fall back onto the pillow. “Very well, do what with me what you will. A good soldier fights on his own terms or he doesn’t fight at all… But, as long as you’re speaking of positions and intentions, I might suggest a few. We’d have to make some allowances for my bad knee, but…”
Reba smirked and swung her head to one side. Trip noticed the sheen in her hair as it cascaded over her shoulder. Rising from her seat, she said, “Mr. Ashfield, this has been a fascinating conversation and I’ve found our encounter to be quite… illuminating.” She offered him her hand and Trip rolled his eyes in the direction of the ropes fettering his hands to the bedpost. Reba’s arm remained outstretched as she said, “Come on now, let’s part on civil terms. And I can see that you’ve loosened those ropes around your wrists. Shall we not shake hands?”
“Oh hell, why not.” Slipping his hand out of the loop, he extended it to the chief. “I’m enchanted. It would’ve been nice to have more time to get to know each other. And, as much as I’ll miss this quaint little settlement, my only wish right now, is to return to life in the dirty city.”
Reba called to the others and, as they reentered, Adili went to the chief and whispered, “The code speakers have located him. The seaplane is on its way.”
Reba’s brows arched as she heard the news. She turned to leave and pausing, gestured towards the ropes, “Make those knots fast, Doc. He’s a shrewd one.” Before she walked through the doorway, Reba looked back at Trip, “I’d be very careful what you wish for, Mr. Ashfield.”
Skidegate. Haida Gwaii. Aug. 22 2033
53°16'01.0"N 131°59'13.6"W
The Skidegate harbor was unusually quiet for mid-week. Rows of Native fish boats tethered to the docks implied that the much-hoped-for run of chíin had not materialized. The pleasure-craft marina was half-empty as well; its piers stuck out into the bay like arthritic fingers. Adili and Reba stood side by side on the breakwater, watching as a DeHavilland Twin Otter parted from the clouds and descended toward the harbor. Adili was wrapped in a wool blanket--still unaccustomed to the late summer winds that barreled down the strait. He could feel Reba trembling as she stood next to him. Adili looked down at the chief and smiled, understanding that her shivering was not because of the climate. Minutes later, the Otter’s scuppers splashed down and it taxied to the dock. A hatch opened and a set of stairs unfolded. Kai grabbed hold of the wing struts as he bounded down the steps with a canvas duffle slung over his back. Reba drew a deep breath and raised her arm.
The return to Old Massett in Billy’s rickety van seemed to take no time at all as Kai filled them in on the events of the past month. He spoke at length of the near-miss outside of Bella Bella and of Kim’s attempt to contact his nephew. He recounted the strong winds they met in Queen Charlotte Sound and details about the places where they’d stopped for rest. Reba questioned him about their route through Johnstone Strait and how Dot and Táan fared in the baidarka. Adili asked about Ooligan’s reaction when she’d learned that Kai was to fly home, leaving her to bring the kayak north. “Yeah nah, cuz. She had heaps of young Namgis’ volunteering to take my spot,’ Kai answered. “I’d no clue that our Oolie was so skux. She’s a bit of a rock star.”
“I’m not surprised. She was in the Haida’s tlúu both times they won.” Reba remarked, running her fingers through Kai’s untidy dreadlocks.
Kai looked at his wife affectionately and said, “Alright, it’s your turn. You’ve got to explain why you sent for me. The code speakers were pretty suss about it all.”
“HighTower is here,” Adili replied, his look was grave. “We have just seen them.”
“Here? Like—as in, ‘Old Massett’ here? Mate, are you takin’ the piss?” Adili shook his head in response.
There was a heavy silence for a few seconds before Reba elaborated, “Two men: a sort of lone wolf ‘cleaner’ and his mercenary bodyguard—they came looking for the scientist. They’re being held at Doc’s clinic right now. Marta’s the one who caught them. I guess HighTower must have intercepted the email you mentioned Kim sent and traced it to Bella Bella… then somehow, back to Haida Gwaii.”
“Motherfu…”
“Don’t be angry Kai, it’s not productive. Besides, I think Kim‘s error in judgement may have worked to our advantage.”
“How’s that? How could having HighTower in Old Massett be advantageous, for Chrissake?”
Reba leaned forward, “Because we have two of their agents held hostage and now we have a helicopter. So, what do you think? Do you suppose you can still fly one of those things?”
Kai’s eyes lit up at the word “helicopter”. He opened his mouth to speak but made no sound. Staring across the van at Adili’s face, he blurted out in laughter, holding out his hand. “My bruthah’! Keen to take a wee trip in the clouds?”
Adili smiled and slapped Kai’s outstretched palm in return. “Let us make sure you can get it off the ground first, bruthah’.”
The van pulled into the gravel lot where Doc and Eli waited in front of the platinum helicopter. Kai threw his gear out and sprinted over, slapping Doc on the back and high-fiving Eli as he passed. “Holy shit—this is a gawddammed Mako 750! …Bugger all.” Kai stood in front of the bird and shook his head, as if unable to believe what he was seeing. Circling the craft, he inspected the tail rotors, skids and stabilizers from the ground before climbing into the cockpit. The others watched as he examined the instrument panel like a child fiddling with a new toy. Leaning out the pilot’s side, Kai shouted, “It’s a newer waka and waay more tricked-out, but it’s the same flipping bird that I flew back at Auckland Charters.” Adili and Reba looked at each other and grinned.
By dawn the following morning, the helo sat fully loaded with provisions, ready to transport the prisoners. Eli brought a dozen cans of kerosene from his store to supplement the fuel already in its tanks. He poured the last can into the port as Kai and Reba walked up. “Those tanks ‘bout full, ay?” Kai asked, tossing his bag between the seats. “We’re all set, just waiting for Adili and Billy to bring down the talking cargo.”
“Yeah, this oughta’ be enough to get you there, flyboy. I left the transponder in the front seat should you need to engage it. Just unwrap it and flick the green button.” Eli gathered up an arm-load of empty cans. Pausing in front of Reba, he asked, “Hey Skaukw, did Marta find you? She said she had some important stuff.”
Reba nodded and reached into her jacket, handing Kai a foil-wrapped envelope. “These are the ID chips for both men. Doc labeled them, but be careful.” She pointed toward a bag of mobiles and tablets on the floor, adding, “All their electronic gear is in there. I’ll leave it to you as to how you’re going to access them. Whatever you do—you’d better try it soon, I’m sure HighTower’s wondering why they haven’t received any updates from their boy.”
“Well, ah’ reckon I surely will, little lady,” Kai replied in his best cowboy drawl. He leaned forward, checked the panel and flipped a switch; the tail rotors began to thrum and the main blades lifted, slowly gaining momentum. Reba gathered her hair and held it in a bundle as a rush of wind kicked up around the craft.
The van carrying the prisoners pulled into the empty gravel lot. Billy jumped out of the driver’s seat and opened the rear door. He led the mercenary over to the helo and pushed him onto the bench seat. As Adili and Eli worked together to transfer Trip, Reba stepped back to observe. Wincing in pain, Trip pressed his shoulders hard into the bench seat, his head fell back against the cushion as he blew out a quick breath. Eli buckled the harness and checked his restraints. Trip looked over at Reba, tipped his head and, with a sardonic smile, called out, “Don’t forget my offer about those positions… And if you ever find yourself in the States, look me up—you’ve got my number, after all.”
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