Chapter 11

I woke up slowly. You know, that feeling that your asleep, but you keep on hearing your own breathing. Or a heartbeat? Or someone else’s breathing? I opened my eyes. I had this feeling of being crushed. Laying under a heap of some sort of heavy something. I could not place it. Okay, realisation, I’m being smothered by two pretty girls! Both still teenagers. One VERY young. The other one? Not so very young, but still young.

How to disentangle myself from legs intertwined with mine? It’s like pick-up sticks. Ever played that game. Okay, yes. Let’s try to get my feet out. There was a head on my shoulder. Another one on my chest. Hand over my midriff. This is going to be difficult. I HAD to go potty!

“Ladies? Time to move.” I said softly.

“Told you he’s awake!” Giggle. From my left side. Tracy.

“You shouldn’t have tickled his ribs. I’ve been snuggling so nice...” A sigh from my right-hand side. Laura.

“Okay girls if you don’t wanna negotiate the Yellow River Rapids. MOVE!” I said. That got a reaction. Both girls flew up, protesting mildly, and I had a short quick glimpse of powder blue panties on the one side and purple with white lace panties on the other side. Laura is somewhat more flexible this morning. Somewhere in the night, Laura had discarded her pyjama bottoms. Hmm. I wonder why? And what lovely legs! Skinny and long. My kind.

Both sneaked up to the door, Tracy opening the bedroom door, and both girls looked stealthy around the door frame into the passage in both directions. Then, Tracy ran to her bedroom with Laura hobbling behind, clutching her pyjama bottoms she scooped up, scrambling to her bedroom. Such a horrible life! I can get used to this. I got up and did what I had to go do. Yes. Same as you all. Early morning rollcall.

Today was to be another scorcher. Last night’s little drizzle only dampened the dust down a bit and you can already feel the building heat. So, I dressed appropriately. Cool short sleeve shirt and knee-length cargo shorts with sandals. Shit, shave, and shampoo done, time to face the day.

As I went into the passage, I could hear giggling and talk from Tracy’s room around the corner. I just shook my head and went along down to the kitchen. My coffee Recommended Daily Allowance meter is showing less than optimal, so I need to refresh.

The kitchen yielded a surprise. Charley, in my apron, cooking breakfast. Not the same feast for the eyes as Tracy or maybe Laura, but adequate.

“Coffee’s dripping. Grab yourself a cup-pa,” Charley said as I came into the kitchen.

“What are you doing? Playing chess?” I asked with a smirk as I poured a mug of coffee.

“No. Let’s see, spatula, pan, fork! Actually, I’m servicing my car!” Charley laughed. I’ve come to know these guys as having a good sense of humour. Just then Aubrey came in carrying some plastic bags with the local supermarket’s logo on.

“Just ran up the road to get some crackers and bread for tonight.” He said as he placed the bags on the kitchen table.

“Crackers and bread?” I asked, taking a sip from my coffee.

“Yes. Crackers, you know, things you take and pull the little thingy on the lid and it goes CRACK PFSITT, they’re open? Made by Charles Glass? And the bread is those reddish wet things that go on the coals and they go, Shsss!” Aubrey elaborated. I was in stitches.

“Beer and Meat for the Braai tonight. Dummkopf” Charley said from the stove’s side.

“Yeah! We M’fokkies know how to make a shift go by!” Came from the door. Laura and Tracy smiling with shining eyes. I saw a vision. Tracy in her usual running shoes and t-shirt, but with a light blue short on. Laura was dressed in a creamy white blouse with a long, loose-fitting skirt. Both girls look beautiful and sexy.

“Hello, girls. I see someone else has started breakfast for us.” I said.

“Saw you had a butler yesterday, now I see you have another one in training!” Laura said. Tracy giggled.

“Saves me making a mess in the kitchen,” Tracy said. “Remember; you cook it, you wash the dishes too!” And skipped out to the patio followed by a smirking Laura. I just shook my head. Aubrey and Charley stood open-mouthed and stared at the departing duo.

“Man! They click together. Woman!” Aubrey said.

“Gang up on yea!” I said. Not that I am complaining. Had a good night sleeping between the two of them. But if Aubrey and Charley did not realise this, who am I to enlighten them of that little fact.

Breakfast was good. Charley does know how to make breakfast hit the spot. So, it being Monday, we lounged a while longer on the patio. Discussing all from politics to sport. Not solving world issues but got a good idea of what is what. Where the oil price is going and about how Mr. Wong is going to screw the world market with Chinese-made-cheap goods. That stuff that only lasts from eight o’clock till breakfast.

“Eight o’clock till breakfast! It’s the same time!” Charley said.

“The defence rest, yea ‘oner!” I said, lighting my pipe for after breakfast satisfaction. Laura and Tracy, crying with laughter. They both got the pun. Laura holding on to her left side. I was afraid that her stitches might tear loose.

The dishes did get done. Moyra, the wife of one of my farmhands, who came in to clean the house once every two days, did the honours.

Just about then my cell rang. Unknown caller?

“Lambert, Can I help you?”

“Yes. By stopping being an Ass!” Joe said.

“This is not your regular number, Joe,” I said.

“No. Desperate times call for desperate measures,” Joe replied.

“So, what’s biting you? What’s up?” I asked, turning serious.

“Good News and BAD news.” He said.

“You’re always good and bad news. Like a Yin Yang; Black and White!” I said, smirking.

“Okay wise guy!” Joe said.

“Give it to me. Spare the sugar coating.” I said.

“Okay. Bad news first. Some dude was seen sussing out the place where we keep the nine strays. The Iron-jackets scared him off, but I would like to know how they were found so fast.” Joe said. I felt a sudden chill despite the seething heat outside.

“I do believe we’ve got a leak, Joe! Might wanna employ a plumber to plug the pipe.” I said.

“Amen Brother! AND I know where. Here, at my office. That’s why this cell’s a burner phone.” Joe said. The chill returned to me. “Now to set a snare to catch a rat! Can you help?”

“Anything for a Brother,” I said.

“Good, I have a plan.” Joe said.

“Didn’t I hear Fred say that to Scooby and the gang? Or was it, Hannibal Smith in the A-team?” I smirked.

“Get your Musketeers together. You’re gonna play Air wolf! Or at least some Lone Wolf.”

“Okay ... Are you supplying the pack?” I said.

“Charley, Aubrey and you meet me at ‘The Barn owl’ in Brits at three. Charley and Aubrey will be your Pack.”

“Laura and Tracy?” I asked.

“Laura’s on sick-leave. She’s at her flat.”

“Nope! Right here. Next to me. Smiling, with bright blue eyes” I said.

“Shit! I told her ... Never mind. ‘The Barn Owl’, three. Bring your Pack. Just remember, in a pack, the female is usually the Matriarch! You got TWO!” Joe laughed and clicked off. What does Joe know about “TWO”?

It was slightly before three when we got to the Barn Owl. We got a booth for six, at the very back of the place. “Hi, I’m Helene!” got us set up and we ordered some of the local brew. Tracy and Laura got Chocolate Sundays. Tracy for being under-age and Laura because she’s on medication. Joe Arrived shortly after, dressed extremely casually.

When Joe got settled in, he told us what he had in mind. Charley, Aubrey, and I concurred with him.

“Joe, only one slight detail,” I said. “I can’t fit seventeen bodies into the PC-24. Ten only, counting ME, who seems to be essential to your scheme.”

“I can count! I just thought, well, you might have another option.” Joe said.

“I know of a DC-3 I can lay my hands on...” I smirked.

“Can you?” Joe said hopefully. Tracy and Laura were watching us with big round eyes. Their heads swivelling like they’re watching a tennis match. Aubrey and Charley just sitting back, sipping their beers. I had ideas of my own.

“Tell you what, Joe. Give a burner phone to one of the ladies with the strays. Be ready to move them to Bloemfontein after midnight. They need to move with a minibus. In Bloemfontein I will give them instructions on how to reach their final destination.” I said. Joe just looked at me. “Rent the minibus. don’t use one of your own. I have some ideas...” I said.

After our confab, we all departed back to the farm. Joe, back to his office. I had some ideas on how to escape the eyes watching our group. Some involving some really sly flying.

Back on the farm, Aubrey and Charley started the fire, for the ‘Crackers and Bread’ scheduled for later tonight. Laura and Tracy went up to their rooms to get their bags packed. I went to my study.

After an hour, spending time on my cell phone and the laptop, I packed my laptop, went to my room, and packed my bags for a week. I was about to go back downstairs when a shadow fell on the floor of my bedroom, Laura.

“Can we talk?” Laura said, looking like a lost child. Scared and shy.

“Sure, Laura. What’s up?” I said.

“What you’re planning. Seems like you don’t trust the Brig.” She said, looking down at her feet.

“It’s ‘need to know basis’ now. The less Joe knows, the better for us. Joe’s got some stuff too he did not relay to us.” I said.

“So, what are we gonna do?” Laura said. Now looking me in the eye. Her serious face on.

“We’re gonna disappear. Now you see ... now you don’t. Thunderclap and smoke and ... Poof!” I said. “We’ll know where we will be. Nobody else will know.”

“Poof?” Laura said, “And only YOU know now, where we gonna ... Poof ... to?” Ice blue eyes boring into mine. A slight smile on the face.”

“Yes. I Know. Abracadabra ... Poof...” I said softly, dramatically swinging my hand like in a real magic show. Laura came a little closer to me. She reached up on tiptoe and placed her arms around my neck.

“Will it be nice and charming and romantic in Poof? Hmm?” Ice Blue eyes shining in the light of the bedroom. Then Laura moved her lips to mine and kissed me. A long, soft kiss. I held her slightly trembling body to mine. Kissing her. Her warm lips on mine. I smelled her perfume. Soft, fresh, like flowers in the morning dew. I am falling really hard for this blue-eyed blond. I like falling for this blue-eyed blond.

And Tracy? Young, very unbelievably beautiful, young, and out of reach, jailbait Tracy. I said it last night. I love them both! What now? How am I going to resolve this situation?

I don’t recall how long Laura and I stood there, holding each other, kissing. But we were brought back to reality when:

“Me bags are packed, AND you should close the door when you smooch. You make me ... WANNA do the smooch thingy too!” Tracy said standing in my bedroom door with her hands on her hips. Head cocked to one side.

“Come here Tray...” I said, holding out my one hand. Tracy stepped up to us, joining our hug. Holding on to both me and Laura. Yes. I can really get used to this.

“Let’s go downstairs before Search and Rescue gets called in,” I said.

“Who said I wanna be rescued?” Laura said, giggling.

“Me neither.” Tracy said, also giggling. “Me like this smoochie thingie.” Both girls reluctantly let go of me and we went out to meet civilisation.

(So! Back to Joe, trying to get his plan to work!)

Arriving just before shut shop time at four, Joe went through to his office. Jenny was on a day’s holiday due to her to see the Doctor for some or another check-up. So, no Jenny. Joe went into his office. Not sitting down at his desk, he scanned his desk for notes and reminders, as well as documentation and case files, placed there during the day by various staff members.

Joe paid special attention to written notes or stuff pertaining to the current Human Trafficking case.

Satisfied that no such loose information was available, Joe sat down and unlocked his left desk draw, and opened the draw. Joe withdraws a file, bounded inside a leather binder. Joe’s super-secret personal contact list. Joe opened the file and started looking for a specific contact.

Joe was about to call the number he had been looking for when his cell phone rang.

“Joe Franks.” He said into the phone.

“Ah! Joe. Are you still at the office or have you left already?” General Mashanganye on the line.

“No General. Still here.” Joe said to his superior.

“Joe, if you’re not in a hurry somewhere, could you please come see me. Something about the Detroit case. The Aussies have been bugging me and so has the Yanks.” The General said.

“Right on, General. I’ll see you in a few minutes.”

“Won’t take long. Just something that I noticed and need to clarify with you. See you.” and the General disconnected. Joe replaced the file in the draw and locked the draw. He went out of his office and proceeded up the stairs to the next floor. It was after four, so all the staff had gone home for the day. The passageways and offices are empty. Joe smelled the stale, polish smell, so typical of all Government buildings.

Joe got to the General’s offices and found the General on a phone conversation. He did not want to interfere, so Joe sat down on the desktop of the General’s Staff Officer, Captain Lerato Dlamini. Joe sat sideways on the corner of the desk, waiting for the General to finish off his telephone call.

There were two desks in the outer reception office of the General, one for the General’s secretary and one for the General’s Staff Officer.

Looking around the neat office, Joe noticed a slip of paper, just sticking out, half crumpled, from the waste-paper bin of Captain Dlamini. Joe noticed “Alex” written on the paper. Joe bent down and took the paper by the edge, withdrawing it from the wastepaper bin. With trembling hands, Joe unfolded the crumpled paper. “Alex, PTA-North” and a street address. Joe took an envelope from the General’s secretary’s desk, placed the note inside, then placed it in his pocket. He will look at it later, after the meeting with the General.

“Come in Joe. Sorry to keep you waiting.” The General called Joe. Joe stepped into the General’s office.

(Let’s step back to the farm in North West Province.)

With the early evening spreading around us from the east, we were just finishing our Braai. The dull red glow of the wood coals slowly turning to grey ash. No flames now, just the smoky smell of a good braai still lingering in the evening air. The fire burned itself out. Aubrey and Charley enjoying their last beer. Laura and Tracy each still had a half glass of coke each. Me? I’m on coke too, on account of the anticipated upcoming flight in the morning.