by Paul Heron
Michael looked down at his trouser-less legs.
‘You can manage that yourself,’ Sofia laughed walking past him. ‘Breakfast is getting cold.’
He laughed and jumped into his cream coloured trousers. Sitting on his bed, he stepped into a pair of brown shoes. ‘Great for running in.’ He laughed to himself thinking of them all getting blisters from running around. ‘Small price to pay for staying alive, Michael,’ he told himself as he got up from the bed, feeling taller in the new shoes. He went to the bathroom to brush his teeth. As he brushed, he felt the cut on the back of his head start to itch, as if the skin was already knitting itself together. As much as he tried to ignore the urge, he couldn’t and reached around with his free hand, slowly preparing to lightly touch the cut, expecting to get blood on his fingers. He felt it. Nothing. The area was dry. He couldn’t even feel the stitches. He set the toothbrush down and grabbed the hand-held mirror. He held it up to the back of his head, using the reflection to see what was in the reflection of the wall-mounted mirror. There was nothing there. A slight line. A scar, that looked as if it had long healed. ‘Well, this is good. Healing abilities. Can’t be bad.’ He spoke sarcastically, setting the mirror back down. He finished brushing his teeth then left.
Entering the kitchen, he was hit up the face with the heat of the room. The Spanish sun was blasting through the window, causing a blinding light. Nobody was eating, all looking at Michael. ‘You didn't have to wait for me to eat.’ Michael sat down beside Marcel.
‘Wish we didn’t, chief!’ Mohammad said, grinning as he watched Eduardo and Enrique pull plates from the oven. ‘We've finally found an additional use for Eduardo.’
Eduardo gave Sofia, Carolina, Scarlett, and Maria plates first. ‘Ladies first!’ He grinned at Mohammad.
‘Well, you forgot one!’ Mohammad pointed at Ajit who was wrestling with his tie.
‘You have an answer for everything, smart ass!’ Marcel laughed.
‘Thanks, man,’ Mohammad said, turning Marcel's piss-take into a gratitude filled compliment.
‘Music?’ Marcel said as he began playing Ed Sheeran on YouTube before giving anyone else a chance to reply. He rubbed his hands together and grinned as Eduardo set his plate down ‘We can’t start an important day without an epic meal inside us!’
‘I wanted to be a chef when I was younger. Before I was recruited by the Sirani Foundation,’ Enrique said.
‘You’re not a chef now?’ Ajit asked.
‘This conversation is boring me already, and he’s only asked one question so far,’ Mohammad said to Scarlett who was looking thoughtfully at her phone.
Maria laughed at Mohammad. ‘Ever since we were recruited by the Sirani Foundation, our job has just been training other Sirani agents. And we're paid quite handsomely. We have access to lots of resources. It’s an exciting job.’
‘Yes,’ Enrique said, ‘we're trained to take part in the secret war between the Sirani Foundation and the Mancini Corporation. If it all kicks off now, we're trained to drop everything and go wherever needed.’
‘What do you mean wherever needed?’ Michael asked.
‘Well, if something happens in – oh, I don’t know, Australia, for example, all our agents around the world must get there and take up the fight against the Mancini.’
After everyone had finished eating, Alban, as quiet as usual, got up to go and check on the cars. Michael, along with Ringo, accompanied him. Alban may not have had the gift of the gab, but he was an irreplaceable resource with the group’s travel arrangements.
‘You know, Alban I should probably learn to fly.’ Michael was trying to spark up a bit of small talk, any kind of chat with Alban, but as usual it was like getting blood from a stone.
Ringo looked at Michael, slapping him on the back. ‘Well, Sir Talks-a-lot here can teach you how to fly, but I’ll have a nice surprise for you in Germany, pal.’ Ringo started laughing. ‘Especially after watching Ajit drive the Rolls. He nearly gave me a heart attack.’
‘Ajit was priceless. So bloody hilarious.’ Michael could barely get the sentence out from laughing that hard.
‘I'm glad I amuse you,’ Ajit said, as he walked directly passed them, climbing into the chopper. ‘But we don’t need any jokes today.’
Michael took off his jacket and rolled his sleeves up, wanting to get his hands dirty; growing up he’d been taught by his father how to service check a car. Anything from a Renault to a Mercedes Benz. He’d developed a love for working on car engines. But never did he dream of working on a chopper like a Black Hawk: one of the most advanced choppers in the world. This helped take Michael's mind off the mission ahead.
Carolina and Scarlett appeared. ‘Looks like Michael wants to be a mechanic now.’ Carolina teased. ‘I like a man who gets his hands dirty anyway.’
‘I know,’ Scarlett agreed, ‘looks like the job Elisabetta chose for him isn’t big enough, so he’s going to work on our vehicles instead.’ She kissed him on the cheek. ‘Whatever you prefer is fine by me. As long as you’re happy.’
‘Can I be the chief then?’ Mohammad said, jumping into the cockpit. ‘I’ll give Mancini something to worry about.’
‘If he becomes the chief, then I quit,’ Ajit said. ‘I don't give a shit, I’ll return to Mumbai looking the way I am, my parents will have to deal with it.’
‘Go home,’ Mohammad whistled causing two birds to come down from the tree and land on Ajit's head.
‘Mohammad,’ Scarlett scolded him. ‘You’re only supposed to use your gifts for the better of the mission, not to piss Ajit off.’
‘Are we all ready, then?’ Sofia said, marching down the garden with her shades on, her brown leather bag open, inspecting it to see if she had everything in it. ‘Has everyone got everything? We'll not be back here again, we're going straight to Ireland after.’
Just as Sofia said this, everyone got up and went to the house, even Michael, leaving to gather their things. As they all went in, Michael watched Marcel play with his belt, like an inattentive child who couldn't focus. Michael, by now, realised Marcel wasn’t always super-tough and super-confident. He was only human, or human with some Irish god’s genes, and he too got nervous at times. A sign of how they were all, undoubtedly, feeling.
Michael walked into his room, looked around, feeling no connection to it. It wasn’t his bedroom, just like the rooms in France, Guatemala, England or anywhere else they’d be going to next. He'd simply be staying in places to lay his head down. His bedroom was back in Ireland in his family home, but he wasn’t the same person as the Michael that had left Ireland. Realising this, he stood tall, took a deep breath and looked at himself in the mirror. Staring into his eyes, he tried to psych himself up.
‘Come on, amigo!’ Marcel said, from the doorway. ‘Let's get this done.’
They made their way out to the garden where Sofia was sitting at the table chatting to Maria and Enrique.
‘I’ll give George a call before we leave,’ Michael said, sitting down at the table. ‘We can’t go anywhere without a coffee and a pep talk from the old man.’
Slowly, one by one, everyone appeared around the table, quiet, listening as Michael’s mobile rang. ‘George, how's chilling out in England while we're working our asses off over here?’ Michael smiled at the group, all of them trying to look brave.
‘How are you feeling, Michael?’ George got straight to the point, never one for small talk and beating around the bush.
‘Haven't slept great, like everyone else, but I’m sure we'll get a rest on the jet back to Ireland?’
‘And the head?’
‘Well, we all know he's bat-shit crazy, so – next question?’ Mohammad joked.
Michael turned his head to the phone's camera lens so George could see where the cut should have been. ‘Seems like it’s healed itself.’
‘What?’ Carolina said, ‘how’d it heal so fast?’
Michael looked around at everyone. ‘Let’s just focus on the job at hand. I thi
nk we need to have a good look at ourselves. We may be a little more gifted than what we believe.’
‘Okay, enough talk. Let’s go see some bulls,’ Mohammad said, looking excited.
‘Have you guys eaten?’ George said. ‘Perhaps I’ve spent too many years in the company of the Sirani family, but I know the fundamental importance of a solid meal in my stomach.’
‘Yes, Dad!’ Marcel said.
George laughed.
‘We’ve all eaten, George,’ Scarlett said. ‘Don’t worry. I’m looking after them all.’ She smiled at Michael. ‘How's Anthony?’
‘Anthony's...Anthony, you know how he is.’ George laughed. ‘The last thing he said was that we should join you all in Spain and show all of you young ones how it's done! More importantly, seriously, are you all ready for today then? Have any of you called Ahmad to see how he's doing?’ Even though George was in another country, he appeared to still want to keep a tight grip on the operation and ensure they kept on top of everything. There was zero room for error, and George's approach to the whole thing proved that’s how he saw the matter.
‘Calling Ahmad now, George.’ Mohammad pulled his mobile from his jacket pocket and set it down on the table on loudspeaker.
Everyone was relieved when the Syrian answered. ‘Ahmad, any news?’ Mohammad spoke in Arabic, Sofia translated for the rest. ‘We're getting ready to leave.’
‘We're at a house just on the outskirts of Madrid. We’re leaving in about one hour, but we're not going to the bullring straight away. We're going to the palace first to guard the president. It’s a whole ceremonial thing, well, that’s how they’re selling it. So, whatever you guys are planning, it better be a good one.’
‘This happened in France as well, remember,’ Sofia said. ‘These guys want to be the president's security so they have more control over what happens with the fragment.’
‘A new energy for a new world!’ Mohammad yelled mockingly towards the Mancini Corporation and their absurd story.
‘Drink up, ladies and gents,’ Ringo said, as he brought a tray full of coffee for everyone. He sat down beside Eduardo who was sitting quietly. Leaning over the table, he said into the phone, ‘Sorry George, no coffee for you.’
George just laughed. ‘Sofia, your mother sends her love, and wishes all of you the best of luck. She realises the importance of us getting this fragment. For a start, it’s the easiest for us to get.’
‘Why’s it the easiest?’ Marcel asked.
‘Because we know it’s not actually in the hands of Mancini Corporation, yet,’ Scarlett said. ‘They've got a piece of the whole world from Elisabetta's sculpture, except France and Spain and ther...’
‘So, you’re saying this is going to get harder?’ Mohammad’s eyes narrowed as his face reddened. He looked upset, like he'd just been given bad news.
‘Let's just get through today,’ Eduardo said.
‘Ahmad, have you seen your parents?’ Michael asked.
‘Not yet,’ was all Ahmad said. There was an awkward silence. ‘But if they're here, we'll get them.’
‘If they're here, we're taking them with us, with force if necessary,’ Carolina said. ‘However, Ahmad, you know if they're not in our sights, we must leave with the fragment. You realise that, right?’
‘I know!’
‘They're our priority in Spain if they’re here,’ Marcel said in a bid to raise the mood. ‘I don’t mind the thought of using Mancini agents as a football and kicking them all over the place, if I have to.’
‘Thanks!’ Ahmad laughed.
‘Okay, Ahmad. Can you confirm the time you’re leaving for the bullring?’ Scarlett asked.
‘Our plan is to leave here at five this afternoon. We'll pick the president up and leave the palace at six. The event starts at seven, and as this is the first day of the event, there will be the unveiling of the fragment. They will mark this day as an annual day for Spain because of it's importance.’ Ahmad put the mobile on mute. The group all stared at the mobile, wondering what had just happened. A few seconds later, the mute was taken off. ‘I need to go, I’m outside in the garden and someone's coming.’
‘Ahmad, go back to the house,’ Michael said. ‘You better stay in their sights. If you keep disappearing, then they'll get suspicious and could set a trap.’
‘Stay on the Sirani network,’ Eduardo said. ‘We'll be shutting everything down and we'll need to be able to contact you.’
‘And tell us if you hear anything about the fragment,’ Ajit said.
Chapter Twenty-Three
AT TWENTY PAST FIVE, while baking in the afternoon sun around the garden table, Maria and Enrique arrived. Both looking emotionless. They certainly didn’t appear worried about what lay ahead. An indication of their confidence; an infectious emotion that would spill over into the rest of the group.
Having agents who had a belief in themselves and the group, gave Michael hope. Still learning his place in all of this, Michael was going on hope for a lot of it. He had limited knowledge on what exactly was his true purpose, and why it was his purpose. He felt like he’d been presented with an adversity that a human couldn’t face. He could either face it, or shy away from it. Having faith that, in the end, it would all work out for the best, he coached himself just to take each day as it came. When the history books are written, him and the other six would show up. Whether the story had a good ending or a bad one, only time would tell.
Mohammad looked at Enrique. ‘Who died?’ He pulled a chair out for Enrique, as he sat down at the table, shades still on, promoting a poker face. ‘You look too serious.’
‘Yeah, maybe you spent a little too much time with the Mancini Corporation,’ Marcel joked.
‘Funny! New cars are arriving soon,’ Enrique said, as he grabbed the coffee pot, finding it empty. ‘S Class Mercedes Benz. All black, fully protected. Who's traveling with who?’
‘I’ll go with Ringo, Scarlett and Eduardo,’ Michael said. He looked at Sofia. ‘You go with Enrique, Marcel and Ajit. Maria, you travel with Carolina and Mohammad.’
‘What about Dr Rizzo? And where's Guillermo?’ Sofia asked.
‘Dr Rizzo should stay with Alban,’ Marcel said. ‘Alban, maybe you stay at the farm with the chopper and the doctor in case we need to get out of the bullring double time.’
‘That's fine,’ Scarlett said, ‘and Guillermo's meeting us at the arena. He's meeting his editor first.’
‘Guillermo's in danger on his own,’ Ajit said. ‘If they know he's had anything to do with the president’s kidnapping yesterday then they’ll be watching him, and they’ll have eyes on us.’
‘We’ve got to act as if nothing’s wrong,’ Sofia said. ‘Guillermo can’t go AWOL now. It would look too suspicious and would put his family in too much danger.’
‘Perhaps you're right about acting normal for the time being, up until we get the fragment,’ Carolina said, ‘but the second we get it, we need to pull everyone who's helped us out of the country.’
‘Carolina's right,’ Ajit agreed. ‘It's too dangerous to leave anyone behind. We get everyone out.’
‘That’s non-negotiable,’ Scarlett said. ‘Anyone who helps us will be tortured by Mancini Corporation in this world, they’ll die in unimaginable pain.’ She cleared her throat. ‘But that will be nothing in comparison to what the Dark Lord will do to them when they reach the Otherworld. We'll not leave anyone behind, you guys are right.’ She checked her pistol, then her backup which was strapped to her thigh under her skirt. ‘Be under no illusions, everyone who’s helping us, will come to a bad end if they're caught.’
‘Not if I’ve got anything to do with it,’ Maria said, setting a gym bag down on the table; the clonking sound of heavy metal meant gym kit wasn’t the contents. ‘These will make sure we get everyone out.’
‘Okay, let's go get this done,’ Mohammad said. ‘Is everyone ready?’
They all got up, making their way around the house towards the barns.
Michael q
uietly psyched himself up for what would be his second encounter with the world and Mancini Corporation. As the rest of them walked on ahead, he stood gazing up at the blue sky, a single cloud floated across the sky causing his eyes to go out of focus, his vision became one of a video replaying of the day he was battered in Belfast. He almost felt as if he was back on that day, his heart racing, his palms sweating, his adrenaline screaming at him to run, then came a whisper in his ear: ‘You're safe Michael...Michael...Michael.’ He jumped.
‘Michael, come on, amigo,’ Eduardo said, tapping him on the shoulder.
‘You scared the shit out of me, man!’ Michael half laughed. They carried on.
Ringo led the way to the barn, the cars hidden inside. Everyone laughed at Ringo checking every inch of the car’s exterior. Scarlett claimed the front passenger seat and was playing with the radio. Michael and Eduardo jumped into the back. As soon as the door closed, Michael's window went down. The white leather seats of the luxurious vehicle did nothing to reduce the sweltering heat. The new car and rubber smell sent a message that these cars had likely been driven straight from the showroom.
The time was five forty-five, giving them one hour and fifteen minutes to get into the arena for the start of the festival. Ringo set the navigation on his phone and mounted it on the dashboard. He led the three cars, throwing Alban and Dr Rizzo a thumbs up as they rolled down the driveway to the gate.
Michael's breathing deepened as he heard the navigation say the estimated arrival time was six fifty. He looked at the new watch he'd been given with a built-in tracking device. The face of the watch had a shiny metal unicorn reminding him of Storm, Elisabetta, the Otherworld, the Irish gods, and the worst god of them all: Donn – the Dark One, who he was yet to meet. The enormity of the whole thing was beyond measure. He knew Elisabetta was counting on them. He looked around the car: Ringo was bopping his head to a Nirvana album Scarlett had chosen. Scarlett was reading an e-book on her smart phone as if not phased by the thought of fighting against the world. Eduardo was biting his thumb nail, his left knee bouncing; he was watching a Mexican news channel, talking about the world's destruction of the atmosphere. Michael sniggered knowing the world had much bigger problems.