The Krakow Klub

by Philip C. Elrod

  Stoellar asked, “The usual? I’ll have your martini ready in just a minute. Relax, I’ll be right back. By the way, you look stunning, as always.”

  She nodded absently and adjusted a strand of hair that had strayed to her forehead.

  She was small but had the strength and expertise in martial arts to humble most men. Her black hair was long, but this evening it was pulled back into a classic chignon that emphasized the fine bone structure of her face and her smooth, porcelain complexion.

  Stoellar returned with two martinis and gallantly bowed as he handed her the drink. He sat across from her in the softly lit room. They raised their glasses in a simultaneous toast, “To the Krakow Klub.”

  He proceeded to inform her of the most recent events that had occurred and how the plan had been affected. He explained that he had been forced to make some minor adjustments but assured her that there would be no negative impact on the outcome.

  She sat without speaking until he had finished, and then she looked him straight in the eyes, an act that few others had ever dared. She tilted her head and placed a finger to her lips. “Say no more. Your plan is perfect. You took a potentially disastrous situation and turned it to your advantage. I’m sure that you have a fitting reward planned for your traitorous president.”

  She reached out and lightly caressed his cheek. For the tiniest of seconds, he felt vulnerable.

  “I salute you for your endless talents. You are the leader of all leaders, a man among men. Soon, you will rule the world.”

  Her voice was only graced with the tiny hint of an accent and her soft tone belied the forged steel beneath her calm exterior.

  Stoellar smiled faintly in return and thought, One of these days, I might just eliminate the other members and entrust Number Eleven to be my sole partner. The others will certainly be expendable soon, and why should I keep them around when they might eventually become a liability?

  Stoellar was known as an astute businessman who had a talent for shedding his assets at peak value for maximum profit. That was also true of his associates. He could drop them without the blink of an eye, no matter how valuable they had been in the past. Anything past its peak was of no further value to him.

  They continued talking until late in the night. Neither ever tired of reviewing and refining plans and discussing how to streamline the organization. Together, they were the most dedicated and dangerous people on a planet they would soon control. At least that was their plan.

  One world, two rulers? Possible, perhaps. But likely?

  Chapter 4: The Calm before the Storm

  “I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.”

  - Douglas Adams, The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul

  “Don't you think it's better to be extremely happy for a short while, even if you lose it, than to be just okay for your whole life?”

  -Audrey Niffenegger, The Time Traveler's Wife

  Jim Slater was not happy. It had been more than two full weeks since that fateful meeting in the Situation Room of the White House. He had spoken to the president the day after the meeting and answered as much as he could about Tom and his possible threat to the government. He was sure that Mathew Walker would not have approved of his talking with the president, but he would let the president tell him about the conservation.

  Since that one conversation, there had been nothing else asked of him. With every passing day, he became more and more agitated and more dissatisfied. Recently, he had come to face the fact that life in this town was not as he had expected it to be.

  How could there be such a case of stagnation right after an alien spacecraft had been sighted? Washington, DC, should be buzzing with activity. Various government agencies should have been in high gear investigating the situation. Politicians should have been screaming for more money for space exploration budgets. He should have been loaded down with work, but nothing had materialized. It was just plain weird.

  Then, another shock to the world. The president had resigned unexpectedly. The press was baying like a pack of wild dogs. Rumors were rampant, but nothing could be confirmed.

  Then, the former president’s plane had been reported missing at sea. That event, when it became public, would add even more fodder to the media frenzy.

  Jim had decided to call his boss for an update or an assignment. When National Security Advisor Mathew Walker finally returned his call the following day, he was his usual arrogant and terse self. He informed Jim that if he needed his assistance, he would contact him. Otherwise, he would just find something to keep busy.

  Walker went on to explain that he was far too busy orienting the new president on current national security issues to be bothered by routine matters. After that, he would fly to London for a few days to meet with a couple of key members of parliament regarding international security issues.

  Jim Slater was not happy. He had chosen a career in government because he honestly believed that he could make a difference. But, after several years, he had come to realize how difficult it was to make changes in a bureaucracy. He was unhappy with some of the current trends and honestly felt that the government was straying too far from its constitutional roots. Perhaps he could use his talents more successfully and more meaningfully in some other type of job. Just then, his thoughts were interrupted by the insistent ringing of his phone.

  “Hi, Jim, how’s it going? Tom here. Sorry that I haven’t called sooner but I’ve been busy.” The voice was cheerful and hinted that another adventure might be on the horizon.

  Jim wondered how Tom knew his direct telephone number. He certainly hadn’t given it to him. Then he smiled, remembering with whom he was talking.

  “How’s little Mitch? Still the diva?”

  Jim smiled at the thought of his little shih tzu, Mitch, who was probably the most spoiled canine on the planet. Mitch adored Jim but had little use for anyone else, except Marge, Jim’s neighbor, who helped care for her while Jim traveled. However, and surprisingly, she had taken to Jim’s older friend, Tom, immediately.

  “Well, Mitch never changes. She’s perfectly happy as long as she’s the undisputed queen of the realm. When I don’t live up to her lofty expectations, there’s hell to pay. Nothing new there! I’m sure that you remember that her nickname is ‘Mitch the Bitch,’ and believe me it is well earned.”

  Suddenly, Tom changed the subject and made a surprising offer. “I need you to take some time off and come down to visit me. I found myself a little island not too far from Key West, and I just bought it. Right now, I could use your input on some projects that I’m working on down here. Why don’t you just pack a suitcase, grab Mitch, and come visit me.

  “I’ve always thought that you and I would make a very good business team, and I’m going to make you an interesting offer. Washington, DC, has become too corrupt for an honest man like you. Besides, you’ll like the weather down here much better!

  “Just call that pompous stuffed shirt that you work for and tell him that you’re going to take a vacation. If he doesn’t like it, just tell him that you quit. I can promise you more money, less hassle, and many more fringe benefits.”

  Jim Slater was shocked, to say the least. What was Tom up to now? He never did anything without some ulterior motive, and this was probably no exception. He could tell by the tone of the old man’s voice.

  Then, he surprised himself as he cast his suspicions aside and decided to step from his comfort zone and accept the offer. He could always change his mind, but based on his previous experiences with Tom, that probably wouldn’t be the case this time.

  Slater, the coolheaded, pragmatic, mathematically-oriented thinker, and graduate of the United States Naval Academy, never acted on impulse. He tossed his empty Styrofoam coffee cup into the wastebasket and laughed.

  “Okay, old man, you’re on. Mitch and I will be ready to leave on Saturday morning. Where do you want to pick us up?”

  “Leave all your suits at ho
me. We’re going to deck you out in Key West garb. Very casual and comfortable as well! Don’t forget your suntan lotion.

  “You’re going to love it down here! I’ll send my craft to pick you up. Just be on the roof of your condo at eleven sharp on Saturday morning. The ship will be in stealth mode so that you don’t send your neighbors into a panic.” Tom laughed and then continued, “We have a date. See you Saturday. Get ready for some real living!”

  With that, he ended the call, leaving Jim staring at the silent phone in his hand. Without waiting to question his decision, he quickly punched in the extension for his boss.

  “Dr. Walker’s office, this is Miss Witherspoon, how may I help you?” Evelyn was always pleasant and helpful, a sharp contrast to her boss who had no measurable people skills.

  Jim never cared for the formalities observed in Washington. “Evelyn, this is Jim Slater and I just want to let you know that I’ll be taking a couple of weeks’ vacation starting next week. I have some important personal business that requires my immediate attention.”

  There was an audible intake of breath before Miss Witherspoon responded. He could almost see her adjusting her bifocals. “Dr. Slater, as you know, Dr. Walker is out of the office at present, in London as a matter of fact. You can fill out your request online, and I’ll have him review it on Monday when he returns.”

  She continued in her most official and bureaucratic tone. “This request is highly unusual, and you are well aware that a formal request is required and that it must be approved by Dr. Walker himself. I think that you could probably schedule time off at the beginning of the following week.”

  “Evelyn, I’m not asking for the time off; I’m telling you that I’m going to take a two weeks’ vacation starting next Monday. There shouldn’t be any problem since I’ve just been gathering dust for the past couple of weeks. Any more boredom and I’ll wind up covered in cobwebs. Just tell Mathew that I gave you no option in the matter. I’ll take full responsibility for his wrath if there is any at all.”

  He ended the call saying, “Thanks, Evelyn. Have a nice day!”

  Jim hung up the phone. Propping his feet up on his desk, he smiled to himself, silently saying, “Damn, impulsive behavior is downright invigorating! I’ll have to do it more often!”

  He had no idea how right he was about that.

  ****

  John F. Scott, known to a few people, including Jim Slater, as “Tom,” was delighted.

  It was time to reveal his true identity to the man who would play a most important role in all of his plans. He had become quite fond of Jim and often thought of him as the son that he might have had.

  For many years, John had lived a rather singular existence. Almost all his relatives were dead, and those few remaining, were not very close to him. In fact, they rarely communicated at all. He had always felt different, thanks to Maxx. It had been impossible for him to build close relationships.

  His life had been controlled and manipulated every step of the way by Maxx, who needed him for his DNA. In return, he had been protected from all harm and had allowed him to have a most interesting and unusual life.

  Maxx had provided just about everything that John had asked for since he had become an adult. The downside was that this singular existence had often been a very lonely one as well.

  Now, the future looked bright. He had met Julia, and Jim Slater was probably about to become a part of his life again as well. He could see the possibility of happiness down the road. And it felt good!

  John shook himself loose from his thoughts. That’s enough of that for now! There was much that needed to be done before his special guests arrived. John called Mister T, his faithful humanoid robot, and said, “We need to prepare the shuttle craft to pick up Jim Slater and Mitch on Saturday morning.”

  “Right away, boss.” Mister T then exited silently.

  John walked over to the leather sofa in his office and picked up a tiny bundle of fur that had been sleeping there. “My little canine friend, you’re going to meet the famous, make that infamous, Mitch the Bitch soon. You’re going to be groomed to the hilt so that you’ll make a great first impression.”

  John had been very smitten with Mitch and envied the close relationship that she had with Jim Slater. The two were inseparable, and he missed having such a bond in his life. After deciding to buy his island property, he began an exhaustive search to find a little friend for himself.

  He finally selected a breeder from Miami. She was highly respected in the world of professional dog trainers and handlers but was more interested in finding loving homes for her babies than exacting top prices. In fact, she only allowed her dogs to have an occasional litter, and her veterinarian strictly monitored the pregnancies at all times.

  She showed a few at some of the top dog shows for her pleasure, but that was it. Money and recognition were not important to her. She lived for her little canine babies.

  John had several meetings with her before he got her blessing to adopt a little black and white puppy. He was adorable and wanted to play constantly. He named the pup, Akiro, after the Japanese astronomer who had first identified the alien spaceship in outer space.

  He knelt down and placed Akiro on the floor. The pup scampered out of the room and began playing with one of his many stuffed toys. John could hear the muffled growls from the adjoining room and smiled with pleasure.

  Now it was time to speak with Julia. He retrieved his cell phone from its charger and sent her a text for her to call him as soon as possible.

  John dropped the phone into his shirt pocket and walked outside to enjoy the beautiful day. He looked around lovingly at his private domain. It was perfect.

  He had just bought the property but, already, he had instructed Maxxine to make several improvements. The most ambitious of which was the enlargement of the island itself. Maxxine had added a bit more than sixty acres, more than tripling the original size.

  John’s pride and joy was the new golf course being built on that new acreage. He was quite a good golfer, and now he had his very own course. Maybe one of these days he’d invite a few friends over to the island for a golf weekend. But that would have to wait a few weeks. The grass just wasn’t ready yet. He had obtained a special tropical grass that would withstand the hot climate and could tolerate the salty air quite well. It had been expensive but well worth the price and he could be patient until the course was ready for play. After all, even Myleans can’t make grass grow faster than Mother Nature.

  He was suddenly startled by the ringing of his cell phone. It didn’t actually ring but played a medley of Scottish pipes and drums. It was Julia.

  He would have to be very careful in revealing his identity to Julia. She already knew his name and knew that he owned the island, but she had no idea that he was part Mylean. She knew about the alien craft that had been sighted but would never have guessed that John was the earthling associated with it. Never, not in a million years. She hadn’t been overly concerned about the reports as she had always believed that other life existed in the universe. The news had indicated that the craft was just passing through the Earth’s solar system and posed no threat, and that had quite satisfied her curiosity.

  John formulated a plan in which he would invite Julia to Scott Key and then slowly, very slowly, introduce her to his real life. First, maybe she would meet Mister T and would probably be rather shocked by the very lifelike robot.

  Next, maybe he would have Mister T serve them an elegant meal in the villa where he could gradually begin to tell her about his contacts with Mylea and how Maxx had controlled his life.

  If all went as planned, he would show her his spacecraft and maybe even take her for a ride.

  “Hi, Julia. Thanks for calling back so soon. I’m down here on the island, and I thought that it would be nice if you could come out for a few days. The place is most comfortable, and I’ve even upgraded a few things already.

  “You could stay in the guest house or the villa. Just ta
ke your pick. My personal assistant will be on hand to act as chaperone. I have arrangements with a helicopter pilot in Key West who could bring you out, or I could charter a boat.

  “I’ve also invited a couple of other guests to join us. You’ll find them to be most agreeable companions for a few days in the sun. Jim Slater will be coming down from Washington. He’s like a son to me, and I’m planning to offer him a partnership in a business venture that I’m going to start.

  “The other guest is a young lady that I’m hiring to manage my affairs in London. I’m planning to play cupid for the two of them. They were once a couple when they were at Oxford together. Maybe you could help me out; I’m no expert in such matters.”

  He had hardly paused for breath until now. He suddenly was filled with anxiety. Had he been too pushy? Had he been presumptuous? What would she say?

  There was a long, silent pause.

  “John Scott! What a wicked invitation! I hardly know you, and you’ve already asked me to spend the weekend with you. What should an innocent maiden do? You have scandalized me!”

  Another pause.

  Then, she laughed impishly. “Tell me more. Key West is totally overrun with tourists at the moment, and I could use a respite.”

  “I didn’t mean to come across as pushy. I’m just so excited about the island that I can hardly wait to have some guests over. I’d love for you to be the first.”

  Julia’s amused laugh surprised him. “I think that I can manage to work you into my busy schedule. Maybe I could get there a little early, and we could plot together. I haven’t played matchmaker in years. And, I think that it would be great fun to come over by boat. I am not overly fond of helicopters; in fact, I detest the things.”

  “That makes me the happiest man in the world! I’ll have a car pick you up at your place and take you to the marina tomorrow at ten AM. You’ll be here in time for lunch and we can go from there.”

  “John, I already checked you out for a criminal record so I think I’ll be at least relatively safe. I’ve dealt with men who got out of line in the past, so I think that I could handle you if the need arose. By the way, I’m licensed to carry a gun, and I’m a crack shot.” She laughed again. “You should see me with an automatic weapon that’s almost as big as I am.”