by Newman, AJ
Ally spat several times and washed her mouth out with a swig of wine. “That was a big son of a bitch.”
I sat beside her as I huffed and took a long pull from the wine bottle. “I don’t think he likes me.”
Ally took the bottle and took a long drink. “He’s Muslim, Black, and has those damned anarchist tattoos that were all in the news before the doo-doo hit the fan. Why would he attack us?”
“I don’t know, but I think the sumbitch was acting crazy. He was probably on PCP or Meth. Let’s not tell the Captain. I’ll bury him in the jungle and cover the spot with leaves.”
Ally stopped me. “We make a great team. I punch ‘em, and you stab ‘em.”
I shivered when I thought this could have ended differently. “We have to be more careful. This island paradise has a few snakes.”
After arriving back at our beach cabin, I told my team about the attack. I also told everyone to make sure they never traveled alone. My description of the episode held their attention. They were sitting in the front of their seats, leaning toward me. Then I told them how Ally joined in the fight by biting the asshat’s leg and punching his balls. Mike had just taken a swig of beer, blew it out his nose, and sprayed all of us. The others laughed but stopped when the beer hit them.
Joan wiped beer from her nose. “Mike, you are an asshole.”
Mike drug a hand across his mouth. “But I’m your asshole, and you love me.”
“Only because you’re my retarded brother.”
***
The traitor first came to me about two weeks after we landed on Martenvous. She filled me in on what the island was like before the apocalypse. Captain Bassot had started out a good man, but the power went to his head. Overnight he’d become the absolute ruler of the island. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.
She took my hand and begged. “I need your help.”
I looked at her and wondered what the heck I could do to help this woman. Old Zack would have had a quick but flirting answer. “What can I do for you?”
She reached out and shook my hand. “The Captain has let this new power go to his head. He’s starving our people and treating most everyone like peasants. He has two women vying for his bed every day, and that alone has caused distractions for him. He’s screwing most of the beautiful women on his staff while our once wonderful Island is destroyed.”
I looked deep into her eyes and saw genuine concern and fear. “But what can I do, and why should I do it?”
She implored, “You can do a great deal, and the reason is you won’t find a better place than this to make a good home. Every island in the Caribbean has these tin-pot dictators and drug lords. You and your people can make a difference here with my help. The Captain must go!”
I caught a glimpse of someone watching us from the shadows. I continued to look at the produce and speak without looking at her. I still wasn’t convinced. “How can I trust you since the Captain trusts you?”
She turned to walk away when a person approached. She looked over her shoulder. “By my deeds,” she said as she walked away.”
The person skulking around was Davi. She asked, “What did she want?”
I smiled and then frowned. “I don’t know. She just said how great Martenvous was and asked if we were enjoying our stay.”
“Bull shit!” Davi walked away and then looked over her shoulder and smiled.
I thought the woman could read my mind.
*
Chapter 2 – The game so far
The beach by our beach houses.
Paul raised his voice, and his nose wrinkled. “What plans?”
Ally grinned. “So you think all we’ve been doing is fornicating on the beach and becoming complacent?” She turned to me. “The plan is working.”
Callie scratched her jaw. “What plan?”
I looked around and scanned the beach. We were about fifty feet from the tree line, and I couldn’t see anyone. “The plan to get our complacent asses off this island. Your two roles have been to be dissatisfied and whine about getting off the island. Ya done good. I heard you tell Aimee about how you loved Martenvous but were eager to get away and find a permanent home.”
Callie said, “We didn’t say anything that would harm our group!”
I reached across Paul and patted her on the back. “Callie, you two had critical roles in convincing Aimee that we were not planning anything, and you weren’t happy about it. We need Captain Bassot fat, dumb, and content for our plan to work. I’ll add both of you into the loop on the goals and begin to get your input.
The short story is we have hidden weapons and are gathering intelligence on Bassot’s military and his enemies. We also have made a connection with one of the farmers who hate Bassot.”
Callie looked down and frowned. “I feel guilty plotting against my friend’s father.”
Ally beat me to speak. “Don’t feel guilty because Aimee isn’t your friend and feeds everything she hears back to her father. We’ve tested her several times with bogus information concerning the locals.”
Callie’s eyes opened wide. “Dad, you don’t trust me but trust me to spill my guts to Aimee.”
Tears rolled down my daughter’s eyes. “Callie, I do trust you, but this was need to know, and you had no need to know until recently. I also needed you to do exactly what you did. I know you’d never mention anything about our team that would harm us. I did count on you to mention to Aimee about the waiter who stole Aaron’s watch. You also passed on the bogus info about one of the servants who was supposed to have been spying on Bassot. That guy was actually a spy from Cuba working to kill all of us.”
Callie dried her tears. “What can Paul and I do to help?”
I looked around the area. “Davi will get with you. She’ll give you a list of common household items she needs to help with our escape. I’ll also give you a list of people to watch and report their movements back to me.”
Paul fidgeted. “Zack, I’m sorry I doubted you.”
Ally saw Callie pulling on her hair. “You were right about how we appeared to be just making love on the beach without a care. That was our part in fooling Bassot. Of course, your dad and I probably enjoyed our roles more than you two enjoyed yours.”
Callie blushed and grinned at Ally, “You do know that several people saw you two naked on the beach doing it.”
Ally’s face quickly matched Callie’s. “I know. That was the hard part for me. I’m really a private person, especially with showing my private parts.”
Paul got back to business. “When?”
I was still guarded about timelines and plans. “Sooner than later.”
Callie was still curious. “What assignments do our other people have?”
I clenched my jaw and then exhaled. “Girl, I trust you, but that is a need to know thing, and you don’t need to know.”
Callie laughed and said, “I was just wondering if Davi or Joan was put up to seducing any of Bassot’s men.”
Ally’s eyes snapped toward me. I snickered. “Callie, are you jealous of some lady getting the job to seduce a sailor? Do you want to seduce one of Bassot’s men?”
Paul stuttered, “Hey … wait … a dar … darn minute. Hell no!”
Ally and I forced a laugh. I said, “We wouldn’t ask anyone to do that. That is unless someone like Callie volunteers.”
Paul’s face bloomed with crimson blush, and he took Callie in his arms and said, “I’m the only sailor she is going to seduce.”
Callie’s fists were balled tightly, and her eyes squinted. “Dad … that hurt. Joking is okay, but that went too far.”
She stormed away with Paul in tow.
Oh shit! I had treated my daughter as an equal and pulled her leg a bit too far. Apologies were needed.
***
Mike snorted, “Oh crap! I’ll bet Callie blew a cork! What possessed you to talk with her like that? Hell, that’s something I’d do.”
I slunk down in my seat and took a drink of my
beer. “I don’t know, except maybe she’s been acting and living like an adult for over a year. She’s Davi’s mini me as it is. I hate to say it, but she’ll be equally at home rocking babies or slitting throats. I think she’ll have it easier than Davi since she had a soft side early in life.”
Mike cringed, “Yes, I agree. When I first met Davi and found you only had eyes for Geena, I attempted to use the famous Norman charm to melt her down. She looked me in the eyes and said, ‘Stop trying that shit on me and try it on one of these bimbos.’ No one says, bimbos.”
Mike Norman and I’d been best friends ever since I could remember. We went to grade school, high school, and some college together. Mike had always been a ladies man while I was a bit awkward around women. I jumped out of that mode when Joan divorced me.
I said, “Mike let’s change the subject. I have a spy in Bassot’s inner circle. We have spies in the farmers. I need you to develop spies in the anarchists. I know that will be tough since they are African Americans, Hattians, and Black islanders from Martenvous. Just let me know what you’ll need.”
Mike’s eyes opened wide, and he sat back in his chair with his fingers locked behind his head. “That will be a piece of cake. I’ll get that done right after I find the Holy Grail.”
I gave him a pat on the back. “Davi is an expert in infiltration and developing spy rings.”
Mike laughed, “She can get spies but not a boyfriend.”
I sneered, “Maybe she’s looking for qualities that you don’t possess.”
***
Later that day, I saw Lieutenant Devereau sneaking a peek at a woman on the beach. The white thong Bikini accentuated her rather shapely and gorgeous tanned body. Even I, the perfect husband, stared at the woman for a few seconds until she rolled over and it was Davi. I instantly felt guilty. Then, I grinned from ear to ear.
I had seen a mutual attraction, and at first thought, it was a shame he was the enemy. Now, the idea of Davi using her charm on the lieutenant to gain information grew on me. I’d thought back to how I’d met Davi and suddenly remembered that Davi had never paired up with any of the men. I had wondered about that but never had the nerve to ask her. Of course, I’d been attracted to her, but the damned truth was she scared me. Any woman who could cut your head off and piss down your throat, frankly, scared the shit out of me. Maybe the first time in my life, my big head actually won a battle concerning women.
I walked up behind Devereau, humming an old tune, so I didn’t appear to be sneaking up on him. I cleared my throat. “Lieutenant, she is beautiful, isn’t she?”
He stammered for a few seconds. “Sir! I don’t want to leave the impression that I was spying or stalking the young lady.”
I raised my hand. “No need to apologize for watching a gorgeous young lady on a public beach. I had to stop and enjoy the view myself. Davi is one of my best friends, and I think she’d like you to approach her. She doesn’t have a boyfriend, and I know she’d like to get to know you better.”
Lieutenant Devereau said, “Are you sure? She seems so cold and impersonal around our leadership.”
I chuckled, “What do you expect from an ex-Mossad agent. She could break both of us in half if we were a threat. I know her, and she can be gentle and thoughtful. The girl also has a funny streak that will keep you laughing. That is once you get to know her. I’ll put in a good word for you if you want.”
He said, “I thought your group was anxious to leave Martenvous.”
I mentally crossed my fingers. “The extra month of living in paradise has mellowed my team a bit. We kinda vacillate on leaving on a good day. To be truthful, the rebels worry us. The ones that arrived from the USA tried to ruin our country and are trying to ruin yours. If we could eliminate them, this would be a great place to stay. I hope the Captain is working on a plan to stop them before they spread their evil.”
***
The black clad figure crept through the jungle and arrived at the top of Mount St. Peter. I thought I knew who the person was, but the darkness hid their features. This was the second time I’d followed the stealthy bastard. Four days ago, I’d spotted someone sneaking through the trees quite by accident. The dark figure wore only black and blacked out its face. The dark clad figure was almost invisible in the dark below the tree canopy.
The first time, a truck was hidden in the brush, and the asshat got in and drove off, leaving me behind. The following day, news spread across the island that one anarchist leader and two drug cartel members had been assassinated during a meeting.
The anarchists controlled the northern tip of the island, including the mountain. The top of the mountain was actually a dormant volcano and where their headquarters were located. I watched for the dark clad person every night to no avail until the fourth night. I guessed he was heading to the truck and ran as fast as I could. I snuck into the back of the truck and stayed hidden for over an hour as the truck lurched along dirt roads. He parked the truck halfway up a mountain.
I walked behind the shadowy figure the last three miles up the mountain without being seen. I was getting good at this clandestine ninja crap, even if I do say so myself. He stopped short of a small group of heavily guarded shacks located in a clearing, nearly at the top of the old volcano. I watched as he searched through his rucksack and pulled out several objects. Then he low crawled to the back of two buildings and came back only holding his pistol.
The guy hauled ass down the mountain through the brush, not caring about the noise he made. This was good because he would have heard me about fifty feet behind him. He’d only covered a hundred yards when the still of the night was shattered by two powerful explosions. Men yelled, and women screamed. Gunfire erupted behind us, and searchlights lit up the night. The ninja warrior froze for several minutes.
I watched carefully around me and saw something out of the corner of my eyes. He had raised his rifle to shoot at something moving in front of him. It was then I rose and fired my AR. Two men had gotten between us and were stalking the ninja guy. I shot both of them, not twenty feet from the man. I was flat on the ground when he turned and saw the dying men. The dark figure bolted through the brush, but I was still pinned down.
It took me the rest of the night to get home since I’d missed my ride in the back of his truck. The arduous trip home gave me time to figure out who the ninja warrior was. I decided to keep the secret a while longer.
Ally stood in the doorway, stamping her feet. “Where have you been? I know you told me you were trying to catch someone sneaking around, but the other times you were only gone for a few hours. It’s 9:30, and you missed breakfast.”
I kissed her and started to speak. She pushed back. “Oh! Hell, no! Tell me what happened.”
I smiled and stretched. “I followed the man in black to an old pickup. I hid in the bed and ended up on top of Mount St. Peter. Can you believe that bastard blew up some anarchist’s camp? I shot two men trying to kill this ninja guy and missed my ride back home. I walked twenty miles back home through the jungle. That about sums it up.”
Ally’s lips thinned. She looked up to the sky and then back at me. “Why did you save this man?”
Thinking quickly, I took her by the hand to the kitchen. “He is either a friend of ours and an enemy of our enemy or an enemy of ours and an enemy of our enemy.”
Ally huffed. “So an enemy of my enemy is a friend? That crap could get your ass hung out to dry. Besides, I think you screwed that quote up.”
“You know what I mean.”
*
Chapter 3 – Hanky Panky
The Beach
The white thong Bikini accentuated Davi’s gorgeous tanned body. She stretched and posed to make maximum use of her assets. She knew Lieutenant Devereau had been watching her ever since they’d landed on the island and was watching her now. The truth was that Davi was also interested in the Lieutenant, so she didn’t balk at seducing the young lieutenant when I floated it by her.
The lieutenant left, so I
took the opportunity to talk with Davi on the beach. “I’m sure you saw the lieutenant gawking at you.”
Davi giggled. Yes, giggled. I’d never heard her giggle before today. “He’s cute and likes to watch me when I’m on the beach. He’s a bit timid. Hey, did Ally let you off the leash?”
I choked, “No … I … err …I’m not on a leash.”
She snickered, “You were looking just as much as he was today.”
I had been busted. “I’m happily married, but any man would stop and look at a beautiful woman lying half-naked on the beach.”
She toyed with me. “I can take the rest off if you’d like.”
“Davi, you never showed any interest in men before. I thought you might be gay or something,” I blurted out.
“You bastard. I gave you every chance to show interest, and you didn’t.”
I recovered quickly. “Davi, you are one of the most beautiful and sexy women I’ve ever met. However, you are also the scariest woman I’ve ever met. Every time I tried to flirt with you, you scared me off. Several times I had to stop and check to see if I still had my balls.”
She chuckled, “I can be a bit intense. So strong women scare you?”
I fired back at her. “No! I like strong women. Ally is a strong woman but has a soft side. I’m scared of women who could slit my throat in bed if I pissed them off.”
Davi nodded, “You have a point there. Do you think Harry would be scared of me?
“Who the hell is Harry?”
She blushed. “The handsome lieutenant.”
