Chapter 83

Present – Ira – Battle ground cabin

My Katana blade had never bathed in more blood! How many of these infernal pests infest this house? General Pain (Jack) withdraws his pistol and uses it because he can acquire targets faster than with a rifle. I wonder how Ms. Donaldson will ever eliminate the chaos we are generating in this cabin.

General Pain questions...

Present – Jack – Battle ground cabin

I rhetorically question, "Where in the fuck did all these damn rats come from?"

Ira doesn't understand that I really didn't expect any reply and answers, "From their foul stench I would say they emanate from the sewer."

I think a moment and reply, "Wait! This cabin has a septic system, not a sewer..."

Present – Todd – Hunting

The fox and Sharik lead me to an area beside the cabin where two men (who aren't supposed to be here) are doing something. I can't tell what evil it is they are doing or who the hell they are. But I do know what the hell is going to happen to them! I prepare two arrows, nock the first one, let it fly and one of the men falls. I quickly nock the second arrow, the other man turns just in time for me to take out his eye.

He drops a big assed bag and the next thing I know there are rats running everywhere. The fox and Sharik take off while the rats notice me and head right at me. I decide discretion is the better part of valor so running is best thing to do. I haul ass toward the cabin, get to the front door, enter my code and open it just as Jack and Ira back out fighting a hell of a lot of rats that somehow got into the cabin ... Then I realize what the bastards were doing: They had half-starved rats and they dumped them in the septic tank ... What a fucking brilliant idea!

The time for my bow was over since there are too many rats and not enough arrows. I pull out my pistol and begin to join the fray...

Present – Ira – Battle ground cabin

When we campaign our way to the front door, my tympanic units alert me the door is opening behind me. I slightly rotate and occulate Todd, who unfortunately is accompanied by more of these filthy vermin! Rattus rattus! I abhor abominational Rattus rattus! Todd begins to fire his pistol, I slip a hand off my Katana, draw my short blade and hold it for him...

Present – Todd – Battle ground cabin

Ira holds out her short sword and I decide that's a better weapon than a pistol because it never needs reloading. I take it out of her hand, then decide to augment it. I grab an arrow in the other hand and now I can slash with my right and stab with my left...

Present – Jack – Battle ground cabin

Fuck! I've ran out of ammo (if I wasn't so damn busy killing rats, I would try to remember if this ever happened to me before)! I pull out my Ka-Bar and begin to stab and slash the fuckers, but it sure as hell lets them get too damn close to me for my liking! I'm not sure what's wrong with these fucking rats - they're crazy as hell and they aren't interested in anything but us. Yeah, they aren't even eating the ones we kill. Ira and I step outside, I look over and hell yes now that's a hell of a field expedient rat fucking killing weapon I can fucking use! I grab the shovel off the porch that Jens uses to clean up Sharik's shit and began to wail on the little mothers. I sure as hell hope none of them got into the tunnels...

Present – Masha – In the tunnels

Something does not feel right because Jack and Irina have been gone much too long. I leave the bedroom, walk over to the wall panel, bring up the security cameras and ... I can not believe it! Jack, Irina and Todd are fighting a huge swarm of rats. The images remind me of depictions of locust swarms which overwhelmed Pharaoh during God's plagues on the Egyptian people who persecuted the Jewish people lead by Moses. My first inclination is to rescue my Jack, then I realize my son is in his bed sleeping and I must provide safety for him. I reach over, press the alarm and actuate the klaxon. Now to rush back to my room and find my Ivan. If there are rats in the tunnels they could...

Present – Liz and Bernie – In the tunnels

The damn klaxon goes off, damn near scares us to death and ruins a great lovemaking session.

I look at Bernie and say, "I was told when this happens we are to meet in the main conference room."

We begin to dress and head toward the main conference room.

When we arrive, Mabel is there and demands, "Do you know what in the Sam Hill is going on? This might ruin the dessert I was making for tomorrow."

Masha walks in carrying Ivan and explains...

Present – Masha – In the tunnels

I walk into the conference room and thank God that everyone is here. I announce, "I triggered the alarm. It would appear that rats have infiltrated the cabin. Currently my Jack, Irina and Todd are in a fierce battle with them. We must determine if they have infiltrated the tunnels.

Mabel exclaims, "Rats! I hate rats! But me and my big spoon will knock them silly if I see any."

I activate the outside camera and we view Jack, Irina and Todd killing many rats. I instruct those present, "While Mabel's idea of using field expedient weapons is a great idea, a spoon does not have a sufficient killing range to keep the filthy rodents off your person. I would suggest we use the idea my husband came up with and locate as many shovels as we can."

Liz questions, "Aren't you worried about Jack? Don't you think we should go and help them?"

I respond, "Of course I have great concern for my husband and my greatest desire is to render aid to him. However if we are isolated from the rat problem and we open the door, then we will allow the rats to infiltrate the tunnels. Our primary mission must be ascertaining there are no rats in the tunnel complex and if any have infiltrated they must be terminated."

Present – Liz – In the tunnels

At first I thought this tunnel complex was a great idea, now I wonder if it will be our death trap. We find the utility closet and find only one shovel, but there are a large number of brooms. Mabel announces, "Well, I'm using a broom and if I can't kill the rats with this then I will ride off on it."

We all begin to laugh and Masha comments, "Thank you Mabel for keeping a sense of humor. Now that we all have our field expedient weapons, we need to ascertain if these tunnels are empty of the vile rodents. I would suggest that to take advantage of strength in numbers we stay in one group and clear all of the rooms sequentially."

I like that idea and we head off to kill some damn rats...

Present – Jens – At the hospital

I give Alexi a hundred dollars and he goes crazy in the gift boutique buying flowers for his sister Mira. As we get ready to head back, I think of something and ask, "Alexi, let me have a couple of those small bouquets because I'm going to see how Zarika and Yasmeen are doing."

He smiles, hands me three bouquets and offers, "Tell Zarika this one is from me and once I have completed tucking my sister in for the night, I will collocate with you."

Yeah, this is the same hospital that Zarika is at and I need to see how she's doing. I hope like hell Yasmeen hasn't killed her and sort of hope that Zarika might have killed Yasmeen ... Well not really, but I can dream sometimes.

I head off to find the girls...

Present – Mira – At the hospital

My nurse delivers most troubling information so I question, "Ma'am please repeat what you stated earlier."

The nurse looks at me and repeats, "Well I was sorry to see you lose such a beautiful black baby boy."

I stutter, "But ... but ... but ... he should not have been Nubian. Are you certain?"

She replies, "Well he wasn't that big yet, but I'd bet my life on it. Now don't you worry, I'm sure you can have many more babies since you're young and healthy."

She leaves but I do not cogitate how my fetus could be Nubian? I researched my Ben's genetics and there were no Nubians in his family, just Cherokee Indian representation. I dismiss what she said as being a cognitive error, the baby was most likely red and not black.

Alexi walks into the room carrying more flowers than I thought one person could carry. He states, "My sister Mira, I hope these flowers help to alleviate some of the pain I have caused."

When I begin to cry, Alexi runs to my side and questions, "Mira what is the problem?"

I smile, gather him to me and reply, "My brother! No one has given me flowers before!"

We have a good cry to go along with our embrace then he pulls away and requests, "If it would not inconvenience you I would like to join Leftentant Donaldson in Zarika and Yasmeen's room. I was most impressed with Zarika's display of courage during the battle."

I smile and agree, "My brother, that is an excellent idea. I am fatigued and will now require slumber."

After he departs, I turn and attempt sleep. However, I still have great concern about the nurse's comment and the unusual color of my and Ben's progeny...

Present – Jens – At the hospital

I find out which room the girls are sharing from the front desk and head up with the flowers. As I approach the door, I brace myself, open the door and I'm totally floored! Instead of walking in on World War III the two of them are sitting on the bed and Yasmeen is brushing Zarika's hair. When I walk in with the flowers, the girls see me, giggle and Yasmeen (yes Yasmeen!) questions, "Ms. Donaldson, we are happy to see you. Are those flowers for us?"