The Huntsman

by Rafael

  Upstairs he threw off jacket and tie to gulp down a double bourbon before pouring another. He paced along a wall filled with a crumbling empire’s photographed mementos. His lawyers’ mocking faces danced before his eyes. Without Jithu Ong he felt disconnected, trapped within an apartment outside of which a thousand eyes and ears marked his every move. He finished off the bourbon and pressed an intercom button. His staff manager answered. “Yes, Mr. Koh.”

  “Send her up.”

  He did have one hope: Nisha Saha. Her continued silence worried him but could also be her remote location. If she had located the scientists and device no one would suspect a deadly assassin had done so. He would make her a queen if she succeeded.

  The entry door opened to his latest purchase whose raw sexuality and absolute compliance made her the flavor-of-the-week. Waist-length raven hair flowed down a nude body covered by a calf-length silk chemise. Erect nipples jutted through the sheer material. The Laotian’s almond eyes locked onto his as she cat-walked across the carpeted living room.

  Nicholas ripped the garment in two flinging the pieces away. His hand choked her. Her eyes closed halfway, lips parted, a moan escaped. “Oh, baby.” she whispered. “You know how I like it.” He manhandled her toward the coffee table sweeping everything off its top then pushed her down on all fours. “Oh yes, baby, yes. Like this.” Pants dropped, he pressed against her. “Please, baby, don’t tease me. I need you.”

  He penetrated and drove deep. The concubine gasped, releasing a long moan drenched in pleasure. He pounded against her shoving deep with every thrust. Her frenzied, rhythmic groans filled the room. Without warning she dropped flat, a motionless heap atop the table.

  Nicholas stared down confused. He slapped her rear. Slapped it harder with no response. A dull panic rose. Right now nothing could be worse than a dead female in his living room. He lifted her head by the hair, pressed two fingers against her neck. Relief washed over him. A strong pulse throbbed within. He flipped her over. Ear to chest, a clear heartbeat thumped within.

  “She’ll be fine.” Nicholas whirled around. A loin-clothed Janesh McKenzie, spear in hand, stood in the room. Nicholas’ eyes darted everywhere searching for how. Only he had his private elevator’s access code. Two armed guards stood at the first floor entry. Eyes narrowed recalling the scientists pasted to his headquarters’ wall. Random synapses clicked. The device! It worked. “When she wakens, she won’t remember a thing. Just like two nights ago when I visited her bedroom.”

  What the hell? Did he expect him to be jealous over a by-the-hour woman? Nicholas straightened and took a casual step toward the bar where he kept an automatic. “Ah, ah, ah. Stay right where you are, Nicholas.” The spear point leveled toward him. “I’m already straining not to gut you where you stand.”

  But he hadn’t. Why not? Thoughts continued to churn. Memory popped out a Tacoma photograph. CIA operatives in the front. McKenzie standing in the background. The Maldives rendezvous with the CIA. Of course. Again Nicholas’ eyes narrowed.

  “You’re behind the virus attacking my company, aren’t you?”

  “I am. But a virus is attacking you. What’s attacking your company is far, far more than a virus.” A cold, venomous smile grew. “Let me explain. When I visited your playmate here I left an organism inside her vagina. Now it’s in you. Ah, Nicholas. I can see in your eyes you don’t believe me.” From behind him a silver sphere floated out. “Introduce yourself.” It briefly glowed orange.

  “I am the Seer. I see all.”

  Nicholas stared open-mouthed. It hung in the air. Silent. With no apparent power source. He appreciated the technology displayed had just turned the world inside out but not how hopeless his had become. His mind raced through options how to capture it. “What is it you want, McKenzie?”

  “I don’t want anything, Nicholas. Well, maybe watch your facial expressions as I explain why I’m here. In a few hours that thing you like to insert everywhere will begin turning black. After a while, it will dry up and start to flake off. Piece by piece. It’ll be agonizing. All that’ll be left is an aperture for you to piss through.” Janesh chuckled. “You may want to think about buying diapers.”

  Paradoxically, the pain will go away. You’ll then have two maybe three weeks left. If you decide to go to a hospital they will quarantine you. Your only company will be people wearing bio-hazard suits. They’ll be panicked not to let you become Patient Zero in a worldwide, incurable pandemic. They’ll use every technology possible to identify the organism. Nothing will succeed. It’s quite clever, intelligent even. Used throughout the galaxy to exterminate entire species. Not to worry though. My friend made sure that wouldn’t happen. The organism is coded to your genetic signature. You’ll be the only person infected.

  Despite all their efforts and tests, your insides will begin turning black. Even your skin. They’ll watch horrified as you dry up and flake away. It’ll be excruciating. Pain killers won’t work. Like I said, it’s quite clever. It’ll defeat anything they have. Death will be a welcome relief, although I suspect you’ll be screaming to the very end.

  All the while your company will be falling apart. After some time it will cease to exist and no one will want to touch it. Eventually, a consortium controlled by me will bravely step forth to buy it at fire-sale prices. You’ll rest peacefully in your grave knowing I will do everything in my power to raise your empire to its former glory.

  Forgive me for not sticking around and explaining all this Seer and galaxy stuff. But I’m sure you have bigger things to worry about.” Janesh paused, gathered himself. “We’ll never see one another again. I can’t speak for you, but I consider the prospect a distinct pleasure. Goodbye, Nicholas.”

  Janesh turned and disappeared.

  CHAPTER 50 Sweet Sorrow

  It’s true, Miranda thought. You can’t go home. The Hippo-Drome looked the same. So did the zoo. So did Columbus. What had she expected? Only eight months had passed. Not enough time to change anything. Through the view window Ben and Betty placidly munched grass shoots. Neither seemed perturbed their son frolicked in San Diego. Other hippos lazed underwater, submerged within the pool’s indoor section. Ohio’s February freeze had thinned the crowds. The empty Drome echoed her every step.

  The months had changed her though. She had lost certainty, the arrogance of it. The feeling she could bend life to her will. It owed her nothing, not even the next minute. It had its own rhythms and desires, wants and goals. Shaped by the people living it. They might coincide with hers, but she no longer expected they would.

  The entry doors slid open letting cold air whoosh in and give her a shiver. A blonde-haired girl, more grown, a bit older rushed in, head swiveling to locate her. “Over here, Ashley.” They hurried toward one another for a long, warm embrace. “Look at you; you’ve become quite the young lady.” Her former intern reddened, still somewhat cowed by the mentor she had looked up to.

  “I couldn’t believe it when I heard you were here. Everybody wants to see you but I asked them for ten minutes before they come crowding in.”

  “I hear you’re the Deputy Curator and quite the star now.” Ashley shrugged.

  “I felt honored when the hippos became my first assignment. It’s how you started and I think they’re good luck charms. One thing led to another.”

  “Ben behaving himself?”

  “Oh, he’s a sweetheart. As soon as he sees me he opens his mouth to have his incisors brushed. He’ll give me a nudge if I don’t. But a gentle one.”

  “How’s your arm?” Ashley lifted it and waved.

  “Good as new. I don’t remember if I did, but thank you, Dr. Logan. It was very brave what you did and I’ll never forget how you stood up to those policemen. You’re my hero.” Miranda reddened.

  “Oh you silly.” They hugged again with deeper affection.

  “Is it true you’ve taken a position in India at a tiger preserve?” Miranda beamed.

  “The Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve. You’re loo
king at the new…wait a minute, I still don’t know the full title.” She fished into a pocket to withdraw a card. “Conservator of Forest, Curator & Field Director.”

  “A tiger reserve. That must be so exciting.”

  Miranda still could not imagine the strings Janesh and especially Chatur had pulled behind the scenes. Still, in the small, incestuous universe of zoo curators, her credentials had spoken for themselves. India’s Bureau of Forestry and Parks had extended every courtesy to woo her.

  “It’s why I’m here. I want to send Columbus two orphaned cubs for the Asia Park. My plan is to ban culling altogether and disperse Tadoba’s excess population around the world to strengthen the genetic breeding stock. They’re a magnificent species, worth preserving. I hope you keep an eye on them for me.”

  “Oh I will, Dr Logan, I will. I can’t wait to see them.”

  Another burst of cold air accompanied the rush of staffers pouring in. From concession workers and cage cleaners to half the Board of Directors, everyone wanted to greet, shake hands, hug, and pose with Miranda. Together they marched to the staff cafeteria others had decorated for a festive Hail and Farewell. A huge cream-filled cake she insisted on slicing and passing out herself accompanied steamy cups of hot chocolate. One by one people stood to recall personal Miranda stories. With accented but understandable English, a nervous Jose took his turn. He nodded first to his supervisor.

  “Mr. Stockman, I have kept this secret for three years. One night I clean the cages like always and Dr. Logan come to me. She waiting for buffalo to give birth but is too nervous to wait more. She take my broom and supplies and send me to watch the mother. She say call me when you see the head. I wait and wait and soon the head begin to come out. I run to find Dr. Logan but she coming back already. She make me clean my hands and together we help the mother bring out a beautiful calf. The next day, Mr. Stockman say to me, Jose, I never seen the cages so clean.” A smiling Jose waited for the raucous laughter to die down. “I was afraid to say Dr. Logan cleaned them so now you know the truth, Mr. Stockman.” He raised his cup to Miranda. “And to you, Dr. Logan, every day I try to be excellent like you.” Tears flowing, Miranda rushed to hug him as everyone applauded and cheered.

  Final goodbyes and hugs wound down as the zoo’s demands called those it needed. Miranda and Ashley walked out to stand on the front steps bundled against the chill air. “Are you flying back out today?”

  “No. I’ve got a few things to attend to. First though, I thought I’d take a last walk through the park. Good luck to you, Ashley. You’ll be just fine.”

  “Thanks, Dr. Logan, I’ll need it. I’ve got big shoes to fill.” Ashley stepped off down a tree-lined path. At a bend she turned to wave once more then disappeared. Miranda took a deep breath, enjoying the crisp, bracing cold. She looked up at a cruising passenger jet. It flew on; certain it would tomorrow, and the day after. Unaware it had no future. Did Earth? She walked among billions certain the morning sun would herald nothing more than a new day. Certain it would not bring the end of existence.

  Miranda set off to walk among the trees, lost in her thoughts. The wind brought her the sound of nails scratching along the asphalt. She looked up to see Duncan and Ronan racing toward her. Behind them strolled a man dressed for a spring evening. She bent down on one knee to greet Certainty. She almost fell over as each pushed to out-lick the other against her squinting face.

  “Hello, Miranda Logan.” She rose to take in the beauty of the man.

  “Hello, Janesh McKenzie.” She arched an eyebrow. “A little underdressed are we?” He brushed a lock away from her eyes.

  “We won’t be here long enough for it to bother me.” She stepped away, pulling him along alongside with two arms wrapped around his.

  “Come along then, Mr. Tough Guy. Walk with me.”

  Together they continued down the path as Duncan and Ronan dashed to investigate every unrecognized scent this new world offered.

  “How long do we have, Janesh?” He didn’t respond right away. They walked on.

  “I pray not tomorrow. Maybe a century before we’ll have to be ready.” They continued down the path each lost in their thoughts. “If it goes much longer than that, I’ll have to consider whom to pass this on to.” Miranda leaned her head against him.

  “Maybe a son will solve the problem.” The wind carried away their footsteps.

  “Or a daughter.”

  The End