The large stocky shaven-headed man sitting behind the desk chuckled. “Yeah, there are thousands of them here this time of year. Even though the lake’s frozen, it’s their mating season,” said the man.
Caleb wiped his boot several times on the mat and took his briefcase over to the desk. “You wouldn’t think anything could survive these temperatures,” he said, placing the briefcase on the desk.
“It’s a good job something does,” said the other man, who stood and went over to an interior window. He looked down upon the large factory, where workers wearing thick dark goggles sat at sewing machines. Needles went up and down at a frantic pace and although bobbins on top spun, there was no sign of any thread.
“Phase 1 is complete sir,” said Caleb with his folders now laid on the desk in front of him.
“Excellent Caleb,” said the man while still gazing over the factory. His attention then shifted to another department where struts of massive looms went back and forth but with no material in sight. Workers wearing the same goggles looked like mime artists as they loaded the machines.
The man turned around and looked at Caleb. “Were there any problems?” He asked moving closer to the radiators.
Caleb shook his head and said. “No, nothing serious sir.”
The man frowned. “What do you mean, nothing serious?”
Caleb took a sheet of paper from a folder, handed it to the man, and said. “We killed all the descendants in England as planned, but our English targets went to the Sanctuary in Thailand instead of Spain.”
The man took the sheet of paper and glared at Caleb.
His bosses piercing blue eyes always unnerved Caleb as his voice quivered. “There’s nothing to worry about sir, we know where they are and the suicide squad are on their trail,” he smirked as the now angry looking man read the report and nodded.
The man then looked at the folders on the desk and Caleb tapped the one he had taken the sheet of paper from. “They are the reports on all the other descendants killed in the UK, along with regional newspaper headlines from around the country about how they were killed in accidents. With none of the stories connecting, they never got into the national press,” said Caleb now feeling warmer. “Each folder has similar information from every country with descendants.”
The man again glanced at the sheet with information about Sid and Dave and shrugged. “No matter... I imagine the Sanctuaries are now searching for the culprits?”
Caleb nodded. “Yes sir, I believe so, just as we thought they would.”
“What about our soldiers?” asked the man.
“They have all returned to base and all team leaders reported a complete success, sir,” said Caleb pointing to the files.
The man smiled and walked to a decanter of whisky on a drinks cabinet. He poured himself and Caleb a large glass of single malt, handed one to Caleb, and said, “Well done Caleb, here drink this, it will warm you up.”
Caleb took a drink and felt the smooth malt whisky warm him. As he drank the warming amber liquid, he looked at a screen which showed outside, where several people wearing goggles walked in the ankle deep snow and looked like they were picking something off the ground. Although Caleb saw nothing in their hands, he smiled when he saw them appearing to put nothing into large empty looking containers.
“Although the crop here is almost depleted, we have more than enough to complete our task,” said the man and finished his whisky and looked at Caleb, who finished his and handed the man the glass.
“Is everything ready for the next phase?” the man asked while refilling the glasses.
Caleb nodded. “Yes sir,” he said and took a key ring from his briefcase.
The man handed Caleb his whisky and took the small triangular key fob with a red button. He took a gulp of whisky while he inspected the small device and smiled. “Okay,” he said. “I will release the information and leave it a few days before launching phase two.” The man then rubbed his shaven head, smiled, and said, “I better get prepared.”
Caleb nodded, sculled the whisky, put on his coat and hat, and left the warm office.
Walking outside into the freezing air, he got into a Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk and turned on the engine. While warm air circulated around the cabin, Caleb looked over the frozen rugged terrain and smirked.
— Chapter Seven —
Spock and Stu pointed at the TV and yelled. “Lurch!”
“What?” asked Kim looking surprised.
“Don’t ask,” said Moo and tutted as Spock turned up the volume on CNN, which showed the US Secretary of State standing at a podium.
“Pah, he’s only bleating on about terrorists again, reckoning the Septic’s found out a terrorist group that has been blowing up their stuff was stepping up their activities,” said Stu grumbling.
Kim furrowed her brow. “What’s a Septic’s?” she asked while sitting on the floor playing with Samnan.
“Septic’s are what those two call Americans,” said Dao and chuckled. “Don’t worry Kim, you get used to their little sayings.”
“Talking bollox more like,” said Moo frowning.
“Not just us,” said Spock furrowing his brow. “Brits and other countries call the yanks Septic’s because it rhymes with Septic tanks.”
The girl’s tutted as CNN flashed to the White House where the US President was making an address. Spock and Stu looked at one another and shouted.
“The Chimp!”
“All we needed was the weasel for the set,” said Spock chortling.
Kim looked confused again and Moo told her. “That little Republican Senator who keeps losing elections but always on TV griping about something.”
“Oh,” said Kim and still not understanding continued playing a game with her son while the girls sat on the floor with them.
Spock and Stu sat on a sofa watching CNN news and listened to the US President’s broadcast on CNN
“Huh, he’s just banging on about the same thing as Lurch and blaming the Russians as usual. Turn it over Spock,” said Stu seeing Spock with the remote.
Moo looked at Spock and said. “Yeah, turn to a Thai channel.”
Spock and Stu looked at one another, then towards the kitchen and nodded.
They got off the sofa and Spock handed Moo the remote before he and Stu went to the kitchen.
While Spock watched a cartoon channel on the small flat screen in the kitchen, Stu sat at his laptop with his tongue sticking out the side of his mouth while writing his 10-page epic.
****
Earlier, Spock, Stu, Sid, and Pon, left the quarters and went to the clinic. Two Tinju monks and an armed Thai police officer with a Rottweiler now stood guard outside the quarters and wai-ed the four when they left. Along with Pon and Sid, Spock and Stu returned the wai and gave the dog a wai so it didn’t feel left out.
The Rottweiler cocked its head to one side and watched the two dopey Brits walking the short distance to the clinic, where two Tinju and another police officer with a guard dog wai-ed them as they entered.
“Do you think dogs can see the assassins?” asked Stu as they walked into Dave’s hospital room.
“The ancient descendants wrote how their dogs alerted them,” said Pon, “and from what Dave told us, it was their dog that alerted Sid’s parents.” Pon nodded, “so yes, I believe dogs cannot only detect the invisible invaders but can also sense danger.”
“Dave!” yelled Sid and rushed over to Dave and sat on the edge of his bed.
“Hello pal,” said Dave, standing up as the boy leapt at him giving him a hug of relief.
Pon, Stu, and Spock went over to Dave who sat back on the bed with Sid still clinging to him.
Pon smiled. “Hello Dave, how are you feeling?”
“Fine, thanks Pon... Aye up Meggies.”
Spock smiled. “Hello Yorkie. You’re looking a lot better.”
“Yeah, I feel a lot better now,” said Dave as Vitchae came into the room.
“What are you smiling abo
ut buggerlugs?” Spock asked while Vitchae told Pon and Sid about Dave’s recovery.
“Dogs,” said Stu, “you heard what Pon said, if the idiots wearing invisible suits came, dogs can sense them and warn everyone.”
Spock, realising what Stu was thinking, frowned, and said. “If you’re thinking of having that stupid mutt flown over, forget it. She’s as blind as a bat, can only sense my chocolate, and see as far as her own arse. And, as for being a vicious attack dog, along with having no teeth, she is scared of her own bloody shadow. ”
Stu looked at Spock and frowned. “Chunky was a great guard dog.”
Spock laughed and sounding sarcastic said. “Was? When?” He looked at his old mate looking excited about having a reason to bring his decrepit old hound to Thailand.
“Huh, she used to have teeth before she chewed stones and ground her gnashers down,” said Stu, “and she can still bark… okay, it might not be a fierce bark, but her foghorn bark would do the trick.”
“Pah, stupid animal. Anyway, I still don’t believe that invisible plant bollox. There is a far simpler explanation,” said Spock as Pon interrupted the pair.
“That’s great news isn’t it? I will have another guest room set up in the quarters for Dave and Sid.”
“What?” asked Spock and Stu.
“Yeah,” shouted Dave, “and I hope you Meggies don’t snore.”
Dave and Sid chuckled and Pon, seeing the lads looking confused, knew they weren’t paying attention, so told them, “Dave will be moving in with you tomorrow morning.”
After chatting with Dave for about an hour, they left Sid in the clinic with Dave, and while Pon went to his study, the lads went to the kitchen.
****
After Scooby Doo finished on the kitchen TV, and seeing Stu engrossed in his laptop, Spock picked up the remote and channel hopped.
Several minutes later, Pon walked into the kitchen.
“Good sleep mate?” asked Stu, looking up from his computer.
Spock smirked and looked at his watch. “You weren’t long, must have been a power nap.”
Pon smiled and sat. “I wasn’t sleeping; I have been working and meditating.”
“Oh yes. So mystical one, did you get any useful information as your spirit whizzed around the cosmos?”
“No Spock,” said Pon and looking at Spock and Stu, smirked, “although I prayed for wisdom and guidance because I need all the help I can get.”
Pon’s phone then rang and Stu and Spock looked at each other in disbelief.
Spock shook his head. “Nah,” he said. “Coincidence.”
Pon smiled and answered. “Hello Master Cenat.”
“Maybe not,” said Stu. “Spooky.”
Spock, unable to understand the conversation in Thai, went over to the hot water jug.
Stu saw Pon smiling, frowning, and then looking puzzled.
Spock brought over three mugs of tea and sat.
Pon hung up, rubbed his brow, and said.
“That was Master Cenat calling from Salaburi. A Thai Gopetu and a descendant arrived in Salaburi last night. Master Cenat is taking care of them. The Gopetu was wounded, and it sounded like he had been poisoned with Aroona root the same as Dave.
The descendant, a young girl, was too traumatised to say much, except that ghosts attacked her family. Master Cenat told me that the Gopetu slipped in and out of consciousness and he was administering Aroona root remedy. He said that the Gopetu would make a full recovery once the medicines expelled the poison from his system and Cenat could then find out more.”
Spock and Stu looked worried.
Stu took a drink of tea and said, “Well, that doesn’t sound good.”
“No, it sounded like it could be widespread matey,” said Spock frowning. “What are you going to do?”
Pon nodded and sighed, “I need to go to Salaburi, so I will call Khun Taksin.”
Spock and Stu chatted until Pon finished his conversation with Taksin and said. “Taksin is arranging a helicopter.”
“No problem, mate. You go to find out what happened and we will see you when you get back,” said Stu seeing the concern on Pon’s face.
“Yeah, don’t worry about anything here matey, we will take care of everyone,” said Spock smiling.
Pon looked at his friends. “Dave will be here tomorrow and I won’t be long,” he said and smiled. “Vitchae and Taksin are here should you need them… and don’t raid my fridge.”
Pon went into the living room to tell Kim and then went to his quarters to change.
Stu took two cans of beer from the fridge. “Perhaps he can find out more about what’s happening,” said Spock and furrowed his brow. “I don’t believe it is Mohammed’s son, and I still don’t believe in this invisible assassin bollox.”
“I don’t know Spock, Fahed’s dad was bonkers and Mohammed not getting hold of the Buddha’s tooth artefact to guarantee pleasing Allah was foiled by Buddhists.”
“And us,” Spock reminded him.
“Yeah, and us,” said Stu grinning. “Perhaps he also thought like his dad and it was us who killed his best mate, Ab-dab Abdul.”
A helicopter landing outside interrupted further conversation and Pon came back into the kitchen.
Pon, now wearing his Saffron Tinju monk’s robes, told them, “I will say goodbye to Kim, Samnan, and the girls before I leave.”
“Poor lad, not even time for him to get a goodbye shag,” whispered Spock and chuckled when Pon went into the lounge.
Returning a few minutes later, he told the sniggering pair. “I will call you later and see you in a couple of days. Take care of Sid and Dave… Oh hang on,” he said, taking a ringing phone from his tunic. He looked at the number, smiled, and answered.
Spock and Stu heard him speaking to the caller.
“What language is that?” asked Spock. “It doesn’t sound like Thai.”
Stu shrugged, and the pair listened.
“It’s Cambodian,” said Stu smiling.
“Hmm... Oh yeah,” said Spock hearing Pon saying Bong several times, the only word they had remembered from their Cambodian adventure.
“Maybe it’s the Cambodian Sanctuary letting Pon know they have descendants,” whispered Stu.
“Maybe,” said Spock, “but Pon said their Monastery was in the middle of the jungle,” he then frowned, “but that would mean it was definitely happening elsewhere.”
“Hmm,” said Stu sounding wistful. “It could also mean we can rule out Fahed as the culprit.”
Pon told the Cambodian Prime Master about Dave and Sid, and said that he was on his way to Salaburi to check on the Thai descendant and Gopetu.
They spoke a while longer and then Pon said. “Thank you for letting me know Prime Master Samouern, please keep me informed of their progress and I will let you know what is happening here.”
Pon hung up and looked at Spock and Stu. “That was the Cambodian Chokdet Prime Master. A Cambodian Gopetu and a descendant arrived at their Monastery two days ago, but with the temple being deep within the Cardamom jungle, their Prime Master, Samouern, had to walk to the nearest town to charge his phone battery and call me.”
Pon then heard the sound of the helicopter engines outside getting louder, and knowing pilots found flying to Salaburi difficult at night, said. “I must go. I will call you later.”
He hurried out of the door and boarded the Jet Ranger helicopter, and after strapping in, the helicopter took off.
Pon sat back in his seat and felt glad that he had made the pilgrimage to the Cambodian Sanctuary before.
He felt pleased about his visit when he gave his new friend, Prime Master Samouern, a satellite mobile phone and explained how to use it.
Pon smiled as he recalled the Prime Master’s surprised expression, knowing it was his reaction when he saw his first mobile phone.
The two Prime Masters had fun playing with the phone until the battery ran out.
With no electricity at the Sanctuary, the elderly Pri
me Master had to walk many kilometres through the jungle to the nearest town to recharge the phone.
Pon felt pleased he now had his phone recharged so they could now stay in contact.
The lads heard the helicopter engines fading into the distance.
Spock took a drink of beer and said. “Two groups found alive within the space of 30 minutes. I bet there are others, especially when you consider most of the Sanctuaries won’t speak English and stuck in the middle of nowhere with no outside communication.”
“Hmm,” said Stu furrowing his brow. “The Cambodians also had one Gopetu and one descendant. Don’t you think that sounded suspicious? It’s either a remarkable coincidence, or there’s something fishy going on.”
Spock scratched his head and said. “Yep, I agree. Which now begs the question… why?”
The following morning, breakfast in the residence seemed quiet. The girls sat in the lounge tucking into their Pad Thai, while Stu, Spock, and Sid, sat in the kitchen tucking into fry-ups.
Sid glared at Spock while nibbling on a sausage. Although excited about Dave coming, he felt miffed with Spock for hiding his Gameboy, again.
Stu shovelled a clump of bacon into his gob and saw Sid looking forlorn. With small pieces of bacon flying from his mouth, he looked at Spock and said. “Give him his Gameboy back.”
Spock swilled tea around his eggy mouth, pointed to Sid, chuckled, and asked. “Do you know what the name Spock means?”
Sid, looking puzzled, shook his head.
Spock smirked, leant over, and said. “It means, he who can outsmart, he who has found meaning.”
Sid glared at Spock and pouted at the chuckling twonk.
“It means he who will get a thick ear if he doesn’t give the kid his game back,” said Moo, coming into the kitchen and going to the fridge to get a bottle of water.
Sid smiled, Stu sniggered, and Spock grumbled as he stood, walked over to the kitchen cupboard, and reached behind the cornice to get the Gameboy.
“I got as far as level 4,” said Spock looking miserable as he handed a happy Sid his Gameboy.
Spock sat down sulking before receiving a clip across his head.
Protector--The Final Adventure Page 6
