by Newman, AJ
*
Chapter 5 – My plan
Fort de Ville, Martenvous
The Lieutenant sought my advice on how to approach Davi. He’d joined the military in France at seventeen and had only dated the girls in his backward village. Harry’s social skills were limited. He knew how to be a gentleman and eat with the right fork but was clueless when it came to courting a woman.
Harry met with me at a small café at the entrance to the palace. It was one of the few still open and catered to the island’s elite and military officers. He was clearly uncomfortable but blurted out. “I need your help. Davi is so well, strong. I’ve only dated the girls in my village back when I was a teen. How do I start with such a sophisticated lady?”
I wanted to take this as seriously as possible but still gave him my proven Zack Johnson horn dog method. “Bump into her at the market or other safe place. Introduce yourself. Tell her she’s pretty. Tell her you’d like to take her on a tour of the island or walk on the beach. Be yourself. Above all, listen to her. Most men don’t listen because they are fixated on the prize at the end of the romantic talk. Now, for Davi, stay away from military talk and don’t ask her how many people she’s killed. Seriously, you don’t want to know.”
Harry nodded and had a cherry glow on his cheeks. “That’s simple. Does it work?”
I crossed my fingers. “Of course it does. That’s how I got Ally.”
He fidgeted and then cleared his throat. “Do you think Davi will stay on the island?”
I’d thrown the bait out, and now it was time to set the hook. “As a matter of fact, Davi and I had this discussion the other day. She agrees that if the Captain got rid of the anarchists, the island would be a great place to live. The farmer’s revolt could easily be undermined by infiltrating it and eliminating the leaders. The others would disband. The secret to keeping the farmers happy is to allow them to keep more of the food they produce and back off the heavy-handed approach.”
Harry was a bit surprised. “It’s that easy?”
“Yes, ridding the island of the anarchists is the tough part. I’d set up a small surveillance team to find their leaders and then send hunter-killer teams out to kill the leaders first and then capture the rest of the scum. I hate to say it, but they must all be eliminated, or they’ll just come back on you later.”
Harry asked, “Why don’t you tell Captain Bassot your thoughts?”
The hook was firmly set. “Captain Bassot is one to approach carefully. If he feels that I think I know how to lead better than he does, he might just get pissed. No, he’ll have to ask for my advice. You won’t get into Davi’s panties talking with me. Go!”
Harry stuttered. “I’m a gentleman and wouldn’t ….”
I smiled, “Bullshit.”
***
Yes, I ran straight to Davi and told her the clumsy lieutenant would be trying to bump into her. “Harry came to me this morning and asked for advice on how to get in your pants?”
Davi choked and spewed wine on me. “Liar! He’s a nice guy and would take a week or two before he even tried anything.”
Wiping my face and wondering if the stain would come out of my white shorts, I said, “He didn’t exactly say that, but he’s very, very, very interested in seeing you.”
“Don’t you think one very would have been enough, and the way you said seeing sounded dirty.”
I snickered, “Hey, you know me. I’m just a teenaged boy with girls on my mind. Seriously, the lieutenant is a gentleman, and you will have to make the first move. He’s well trained in manners and how to behave around the elite, but he’s socially awkward around women. Just be patient with him.”
Davi shook her head. “It’s weird having a man I couldn’t conquer giving advice to my new boyfriend.”
I exhaled loudly. “If I’d met you and didn’t know what a badass you are, I’d have been all over you. You are everything a man wants, well, except for the emasculation part. Make damned sure the bad assed Davi stays hidden, and you’ll do okay. How are you and Ally getting along?”
Davi frowned, and I gulped. “Zack, we talked and buried the hatchet. I …”
“In her head?”
Davi punched me on the shoulder. “No, we’re friends now. She sounds a lot like you with her advice. Be yourself but not the lady warrior. Instead, be kind and gentle. Shake my ass and wear low-cut blouses. Wear my thong Bikini and get him on a blanket on the beach. She says the same stuff that you do, but it’s not crude and dirty like you talk to me. Damn, I just figured out that you talk with me like you would with Mike because you see me as your buddy and not a hot woman.”
Her tears flowed. I was at a loss for words, but that didn’t keep me from opening my mouth. “Davi, you are a hot sexy young woman. You acted tougher than Mike or I could ever hope to be, so I switched from trying to date you to make you one of my best friends. Don’t do that with Harry, and you’ll be that hot young chick that I missed out on when we first met.”
Davi sniffled. “Zack, you’ll always be my best friend. You care for me enough to tell me what I need to hear, not what I want to hear. Ally does that also. Did you know that she’s not afraid of me? She was only afraid that I’d take you away from her. I assured her that would never happen.”
I kissed her on the forehead. “Now go forth, my child and seduce young Harry and turn him to the good side.”
Davi giggled, “I plan to do a lot more than that with him. I haven’t been with a man in almost a year.”
“TMI! TMI!”
Davi chortled, “I thought buddies talked like that.”
“Men buddies do. It’s kind of weird hearing a woman talk like that even if they’re your best friend. Don’t even come back and try to give me details like Mike used to do.”
She huffed, “A lady never tells.”
We spent the rest of the meeting discussing what I needed Harry to hear so he could pass it on to the Captain. It took quite a bit of arm twisting, but Davi finally agreed to move the Drug Cartel ahead of the anarchists.
Davi didn’t exactly give up on the anarchists. “Zack, I’ll support going after the thugs on Grenada first, but I’m also going to tickle the anarchists a little while we wipe out the bastards on Grenada.”
I replied, “Works for me. Besides, I’m not stupid. I guessed a while back that you are the ninja asshole who’s been bombing and assassinating the anarchists. Who did you think shot those two asshats that were about to kill you two weeks ago.”
Her eyes were wide open as she turned to me. “I thought I was being careful to not get caught. Give me your word not to tell anyone. ”
“Davi, I know you better than anyone but maybe your father. You hated how the anarchists were torturing innocent people and intimidating everyone. They would purge the good islanders and invite more thugs from the USA and Cuba. I won’t tell anyone.”
Davi pulled me to her and hugged me. “You saved my life. I owe you.”
“No! I owe you for always having my back. I’ll always back your play.” I patted her on the back.
I filled Ally in on my conversation with Davi, well, most of it anyway. I kept the ninja warrior stuff to myself. We agreed that she’d be a better girlfriend if she listened, but meek Harry might not be tough enough for her.
***
Mike had been busy during the following week. He and Davi met with the lady who worked as a maid for Captain Bassot. Davi had told Mike that the maid was a beauty and slept with Bassot. The palace sources informed Davi that the Captain’s mistress and daughter were furious that he was sleeping with a lowly islander.
Mike saw the woman walk out of the bushes. “Damn, she’s gorgeous. I see what the Captain sees in her.”
Davi huffed, “Is that all you men think about?”
Mike turned to Davi. “Yes, but we married men mainly think about our wives.”
Davi shook her head. “You and your twin brother are so full of bull. Let’s go see the lady.”
The lady saw
us and smiled. “You are the Israeli woman.”
“Yes, I’m Davi Gold. I hear we have some of the same goals.”
The gorgeous black woman extended her hand. “I’m Jade Allard.”
Mike said, “I’m Mike, and that’s not your real name.”
Jade replied, “Do you really care what my name is when I can help you cut the Captain's nuts off and render his military useless.”
Davi scratched her neck and yawned. “Talk is cheap. What can you deliver?”
Jade smirked, “More than you can imagine. My people have been treated well but always as second-class citizens. We’d gained political power in the past five years, but Bassot dissolved the government and installed puppets that do his bidding. He was once a good man before he let this evil power take over. We were lovers for nine years before the apocalypse. His wife knew but was happy as long as her lifestyle suited her, and Bassot kept me hidden from others.”
Mike wanted to crack a joke but uncharacteristically kept a harsh tone. “What made you turn against him?”
Mike saw a frown and then tears. She gulped. “He killed my aunt and uncle. He also brought another woman into the palace. He takes her everywhere but is ashamed of me because I’m not one of the elites.”
Davi covered the kind of information Aaron and I needed and then ended the meeting. Mike watched the lady blend into the trees. “Why doesn’t she just kill him in his sleep?”
Davi thought for a minute. “Because one of his officers would take over and could be worse for the island.”
Mike clenched his fists. “So we’re in for a fight.”
***
Lieutenant Harry Devereau strolled to Davi’s favorite beach on Saturday with a boogie board and a picnic basket. His fingers were crossed until he saw her in the pink Bikini. Now he worried about losing his courage. He walked toward the bathing beauty who lay on her stomach with her top off, soaking up the sun.
Davi pretended to read a book as she caught Harry’s motion in her peripheral vision. She saw him mumbling to himself. “Come on over here and sit down by me.”
Harry was only a few yards away when his feet tangled, and he stumbled and almost fell on Davi. His arm flew over her and wrapped over her bare back. She tilted her sunglasses up to her forehead. “Darn, I thought you were super timid, and here you go trying to feel me up on a public beach.”
Harry stuck his finger under her chin. “You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. My knees go week every time I see you.”
Davi smiled. “Now, take your hand off my back and tie my Bikini top. Then we can talk, and you can tell me why it took you so long to get the nerve to approach me.”
Harry tied the strings and plopped down beside her, fidgeting. “I joined the military right out of high school. I lived in a small village and spent most of my time on the family farm in Southern France. I didn’t learn much about girls before I joined the service.”
Davi rolled over and laid her head on Harry’s lap. She looked up into his brown eyes. “Of course, all soldiers frequent the ladies in the red light district. You didn’t catch any STDs, did you?” Davi bit her tongue. “I’m sorry about that. When I get nervous, I joke around.”
His face burning, Harry bent down and kissed her. Davi reached up and pulled him down to her. They finally came up for breath. Harry’s face was inches away. “Why would a beautiful woman be nervous?”
She kissed him again. “For the same reason, you were nervous. I was a military brat, and my dad trained me to be a warrior. I joined the military at fifteen and didn’t have time for boys. I’m as socially backward as you are. I like that. We can learn together.”
The following two hours were spent learning all about their lives before the shit hit the fan. Harry opened up to her about his dislike for military life but never said a bad word about Bassot. However, after wine and sandwiches plus two hours of making out on the blanket, Harry opened up. He disliked the way the military was forced to treat the farmers and islanders. He was no fan of Bassot.
Davi carefully told him that she wanted to stay on the island, but her group was anxious about the anarchists taking over the island. Davi liked Harry and didn’t have to act as they explored each other’s bodies after moving the blanket into the nearby stand of trees. She felt a bit guilty using him but overcame that and enjoyed the rest of the day.
From time to time, she’d caught a reflection from the woods across the way and thought Mike or Zack was watching them. She gave them a show they’d never forget, nor would Harry.
Later, she told me about her taunting us. It wasn’t me or Mike watching her. I told her that I’d never watch her like that.
Davi blushed and looked down to her feet. “Who the hell was watching?”
*
Chapter 6 The Captain’s plan
Fort de Ville, Martenvous – The Palace
Aaron and I met Captain Bassot for breakfast every other Friday since we had landed on the island. He’d told us the meeting was to stay in touch with the people who’d saved his daughter and to convince us to stay on the Island. Bassot was always late for the meeting. Aaron and I had learned we were expected to eat on time and then watch him eat while we talked. I always thought it was one way to show us he was more powerful than we were.
Bassot walked in, and I about choked on my last bit of sunny-side-up eggs. The woman kissed him and then left the room. She was the woman who’d been with the farmers at the meeting. Damn, there was more than one spy in Bassot’s circle of friends. By the way, this one dressed, she was definitely friendly.
Bassot turned to us and smiled. “One of my adoring subjects. She just stopped by this morning to show her appreciation for my strong leadership.”
I clapped my hands. “I guess it’s the same all over the world. The movie stars and leaders get all the hot chicks.”
Bassot took it as a compliment and laughed. “I have figured out that even though Aaron is the strongest militarily speaking, that you are the leader of your merry band. I also noted that you have a hot chick for a wife.”
I didn’t want to push him too far. “Yes, I’m the leader of this band of survivors. Aaron has years of military experience and is the leader of our small fighting force. We haven’t talked about what our group has done to survive. We’ve had to fight the same tin-pot dictators and anarchists as you have on the island. We were always out manned and out gunned. We won many battles, but when we heard the Cubans, Russians, and Chinese were heading our way, we knew we couldn’t win.”
This captured Bassot’s interest. “How did you win battles with a, pardon me for saying so, rag-tag group of people?”
Aaron replied, “We won the hearts and minds of most of the locals and used guerilla tactics to shred their capacity to fight. We ambushed their leaders, ambushed their men, and got the locals on our side by helping them with food and weapons.”
I sat there hoping Aaron had his fingers crossed. “Aaron and his wife even smuggled food by decorating a semi with Biohazard signs and wearing level four protective gear.”
Bassot laughed then said, “One of my officers has formed an attachment to that Israeli beauty in your group. He’s young and might be a bit awkward for such a sophisticated woman.”
I chuckled, “Davi is anything but sophisticated. She can whip any man or woman on both our teams, but she has devoted her life to her country. She’s just right for Harry.”
Aaron smiled, “My daughter is quite fond of the Lieutenant. They’ll make a good couple if we stay here.”
Bassot took a breath and exhaled, “The lieutenant told me you were very worried about the anarchists taking over the island. I’ve contained them but haven’t been successful in wiping them out. What would you do differently?"
I spoke from the heart. “Aaron will cover the military part. I’ll cover the big picture. You’re tilting away at three windmills but need to focus on one. You need to lighten up on the general population and start programs to make their lives bette
r. Make the farmers your friends instead of treating them like necessary evils. Without the produce and meat they supply, this island will die off in less than a year. Start programs to help them be more efficient and keep more of what they produce. Then you can concentrate on the anarchists while not worrying about a general revolt of your people.”
Bassot’s smile disappeared. “You are correct. I’ve had to have a stern hand during the apocalypse. The anarchists are the major problem. Your small group can be a force for good or a threat. I need your help. I have a threat that is just right for your group to solve for me. Frankly, I don’t want you to leave us because I see your group as vital to our island’s survival. My people don’t know how to survive. My military and leadership would starve on their own, and our farmers and the general population would kill themselves fighting useless wars. I want to go back to a democratically elected leader when we can get the enemies defeated, but I need your help.”
I looked at Aaron. “Aaron and our team would be glad to assist you. We love this place, but as I said to you a couple of months ago, we love our freedom. Aaron will take a day or two and get back to you on his strategy to defeat the anarchists. I will do the same for the civil unrest. All we ask is if this works to be allowed to live in peace and prosper as the island gets back on its feet.”
Bassot stuck his hand out. “Those sound like reasonable requests. Let’s rebuild our island.”
We didn’t speak of the meeting until we were on the beach with Davi and Mike. I filled them in on the discussion. Davi shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know what to think. He sounds genuine but so did Adolf Hitler back in the 1930s.”
I said, “I don’t trust the Captain any more than he trusts us. The day we get rid of the anarchists is the day the Captain has to go, or he’ll kill or imprison us.”
