Chapter 13: Lucinda and Su Li take the cake

My work orders allowed me access to the suite of rooms just down the hall from the Generals designated "conference" room. From what I could hear the party was going well. I slipped into a small room and met the women, with the cake. It was well before "the time", but I suppose they had nowhere else to be. Su Li was dressed like an old fashioned stripper with real tassels hanging from her small breasts. They covered up the damage done by Dr. Arkan or most of it anyway. Charlotte was obviously stressed to the max and giving her an unneeded review of the plan. I was somewhat surprised to see Lucinda with the other two. Of all the women, I would have thought she would be the first one out the door.

Once Charlotte saw me, she began to give me the same treatment Su Li was receiving. Yes, I knew the schedule. Yes, I knew the routes. Yes, I was sure we could find a vehicle. No, I wasn't surprised to find a small motor pool above us, when 'all' the entrances were supposedly miles away. Yes, the women would be able to make it in time on foot.

Then she really surprised me. "Ah was wonderin'. Does the General really have ta die? Ah mean, he's not really a bad man, now. He's treated us lots better and he just needs a little he'p. If we could get him outta here, we could he'p him get all better. Ah know we could. We can kill the rest of these bastids, but cain't we let him live?"

My mouth was hanging open and all I could do was stare. I managed to mumble: "The General? You mean the man who turned you into a whore and turned all the Chinese women over to Dr. Arkan and now these new women and..." Words failed me.

Her eyes couldn't meet mine. She said: "He ain't thet bad! He's changed, y'all gotta understan'. It's thet terrible man he works fer and all them folks like Arkan. The General's really a good man. Ah don' wanna have ta see him die. Please?"

I was in the middle of: "There's no way! The plans are set. There's no way we can let him..." Lucinda stole up behind Charlotte and in one fluid motion she slapped a hand over Charlotte's mouth and nose and slipped a knife through her heart. Charlotte's eyes got huge and she struggled for several seconds, but Lucinda never lost her grip on the smaller woman. When Charlotte's bladder let loose, Lucinda let the body drop. She left an American K-bar knife where it was. Apparently, the cookies weren't the only 'donation' she and Beth had earned

Lucinca said quietly: "Now you know why Lucinda is here. There was too much of the General's creature in her. Kim could let him die, but Charlotte could not. So, now Lucinda has to die. It takes two women to pull off the 'surprise'. If Beth or Kristin or maybe Dana are here, they could not have done this for Kim. Patty girl, maybe she could do it, but she does not know how to dance for the General's men so they will not want to leave the room, until they never leave it again."

I said: "Thank you." I guess that's pretty lame, but what do you say to something like that. Lucinda stripped off her chador and her oiled body shown in the light. She grabbed my head and forced my mouth to hers. "A kiss for luck and now you get those women out safe! Don' forget Lucinda never wanted to be a whore and never had no choice. She is gonna die a brave soldier and take the enemy by surprise, big time, eh?"

I nodded and told her: "Fucking A! Big time!"

Su Li walked over to me, with wet shiny eyes. "Please to remember Su Li, also. Please to remember her with joy, not sadness? There is too much sadness now. Please to remember Su Li with joy?" She gave me a peck on the cheek and tried to hug me without smearing her makeup.

I helped them load Kim/Charlotte's body into the "cake" and then helped Su Li in after it. The cases took only a few more minutes and then there was nothing more for me to do, but leave. I turned toward Lucinda, but she hooked a thumb at the door and mumbled: "Go! Get the others safe! And remember Lucinda doesn't die a captive whore! She dies a free woman!"