For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
“How, how long have we been married?” I asked. “Only 5 months,” she said cheerfully and giggled. That giggle, so beautiful, I have heard it before, I think. “I love your giggle,” I said while I got dressed. “Yes, you have said that right from the first time you heard me giggle,” said Sky, “so you remember something about me.” “I wish I could remember more,” I said, looking at her, “I, I feel so bad, we are married, yet I feel nothing, I just do not even know you.”
“Do not worry about it right now,” she said, “once we get home there are a lot of things waiting to help you remember who you are and who all of your friends are too. There are two girls here with us now. Come out for breakfast and we will tell you what is going on.” “That sounds good,” I said, “I am very hungry and I would like to know what is going on.”
“Well, I hope you are not too disappointed with our meals, we do not have much food here.” We went into the kitchen and the girls turned and said good morning at the same time. I frowned as I looked at them, not recognizing either of them. “Steve, this is Sigurbjorn, and this is Kristina, our cook,” said Sky. “Hello,” I said. The girls knew right away what had happened so they just went along with it. “Kristina, when I heard your name a picture came to mind,” I said, “but it was just water, and lots of it, like an ocean.”
“It was an ocean,” she said smiling, “I came to rescue you when you had nearly drowned.” I frowned again. “And Sigurbjorn, when I heard your name, it made me think of a large dark place, cold and wet,” I said. “Yes, we were tied up and locked into a cave,” she said, “that might be what you remember.” “Maybe that is it,” I said. While we ate they each took turns telling what has happened to us and where we are, as much as they knew.
Plus they told how I was the head of a private investigator business and they worked for me, plus several others. They mentioned names, but I remembered nothing except when they mentioned Muffin and MC. I saw two cats, one gray and one black and white. I could not remember Storm though. Everything the girls were telling me sounded more like a dream than reality. I started getting a headache.
“Do not try to think any more about things Steve,” said Sky, “it is a lot to take in for one day. Perhaps just concentrate on where we are and things we can do here. You can help me gather wood later for our cook stove. For now let us go outside and sit in the sun for a while.” “That sounds like a good idea,” I said, “there is too much information for me to handle.”
Meanwhile, back with the team. Carver and Ralph brought that drug dealer to the Major’s car. “People call me the Major,” he said. The man turned quite pale when he heard that. “I see you have heard of me,” he said, “now we are going to have some questions for you to answer. If you play straight, fine, you can go. But do not fool with me or you will be talking with the fish out in the lake, at the bottom.” “I, I do not know anything,” he said nervously, “I just deliver drugs that they give me.”
“Who do you work for?” asked Major. “Carnival,” he said, “but I never see him and I do not know where he is, except he went to Brazil.” “Very good so far,” said Major, “now, who do you answer to?” “Oh, um, that would be Snake,” he said, “he is one of Carnival’s top men. There is Snake, Red, Charlie and Bancroft. They are always together and easy to find. They know more.”
“Good,” said Major, “now, tell me where I can find them and what they look like.” The man told the Major and they kept him so he would not be able to warn those guys. They hit it just right on the first place they looked, some kind of cheap bar with gambling. It was not hard to find Snake and his friends. Major actually went in with the others and went right over to their table and just stood looking at Snake.
“You want something old man?” asked Snake. Ralph smacked him on the back of the head. “I am the Major,” he said, “we are going to have a talk, easy, or hard, your choice.” Rock and Benson then came in with the men from Baldwin and Mandar. Some of the other guys in the room stood up to fight, but Rock boomed out to sit down and look around.
Benson and the others had their guns out. Carver had a knife at the throat of Snake. So he and his 3 friends followed the Major outside. Major and Snake went into the car, after Ralph relieved Snake of a gun and knife. “Now we do some serious talking,” said Major, “cooperate and live, fool with me and die. Very simple rules.”
To Be Continued.
Β©2023 Steve McLeod.
Now we are getting somewhere!! They know where Alberto is and, they have the snake by the head! Now to get useful information out of him! It’s good to see that you are still docile ππ I think Sky has that effect on you!ππ
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Yep, Victor can have Alberto, Snake is more helpful at the moment, or his 3 friends. One of them will likely cooperate, especially if Snake does not. They will have Snake as an object lesson for those not cooperating. That should help. Hopefully these guys know where we were taken. Yes, you might be right about Sky. She wasn’t around the other times and her calm, soft voice really helps.π€π©π©π©π΅οΈββοΈ
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I agree on both points! But time is critical! No time to dance around with Snake!!π€¨
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The Major never likes people to think he is in a hurry or anxious about something, or they could use that against him. He likes to make people sweat a bit, they cooperate so much better that way.π€π©π©π©π΅οΈββοΈ
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Well of course! But if Snake isn’t firth coming quickly then make an example of him and get to the next one! But I’m sure that Major has him sized up already!!ππ€¨
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Yep, Major has a lot of experience with little guys like this. He can tell quickly if things are going well or not. If not, it will not go well for Snake. But it might help the others to think better.π€π΅οΈββοΈ
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I hope so! I hope we get to read about what Rock does to him!π€π€
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Actually it will be Tony’s job to deal with Snake if he does not cooperate. Tony is one of the Major’s men that came along to help. He is kind of like Carver that way.π€π΅οΈββοΈ
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Good! I hope we get to read all about it!πππ€
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Well, he’s kinda quick, uses a big knife, no second chances kind of guy. He also rarely talks.π€π΅οΈββοΈ
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The strong silent type huh?π He doesn’t need to talk when his knife can say it all!!π
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He is a rather big fella too. Like Ralph and Carver. Yep, he lets his knife talk. But he makes a good bodyguard for the Major.π€π΅οΈββοΈ
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I can see why!π
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Yep, the Major does know how to pick them. I am sure he would enjoy having someone like Rock working for him.π€π΅οΈββοΈ
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I don’t think Rock would fit well into that type of organization π€ π
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That’s true, not quite what he wants. And Annelie would likely beat him if he even thought about it.ππ΅οΈββοΈ
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I can understand her feeling that way!πππ
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Yep, she came from a gang and doesn’t want to go back to one. It looks like Aasta is firmly against drugs, considering what her dad is involved with, she certainly didn’t mind showing it yesterday.π€π©π΅οΈββοΈ
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Perhaps after seeing what goes into supplying it and what it does to people that have no willpower she got the message not to even go there! Smart Girl!πππ
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Yep, she seemed to make that decision at a young age too, according to Major. He had a good reaction to what she said too. I wonder if he will quit at some point?π€π΅οΈββοΈ
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I’m sure he gets tired of it… problem is getting out and feeling safe!π«£π¬
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That is one problem in that kind of business, usually there is only one way out, down.π²π΅οΈββοΈ
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Yep! In the ground!π¬
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Yep, grass fertilizer.
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Lots of green though!!ππ
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Yep, gets it growing good.π
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Feeling better today?
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Honestly, think I am worse today. Sigh.π
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I’m sorry to hear that…π I was hoping you were feeling better…. maybe tomorrow will be better? Was the sun shing today? The cute Boreal birds back again?π€
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Yep, the sun was shining nicely, not melting out there, but on the deck it sure felt nice anyway. Yes, the Boreal chickadees are still here and landing on my hand, plus the other chickadees and nuthatches. More and more are catching on and doing it, and the first ones are getting braver all the time. One Boreal chickadee even sat with his back to me twice. When animals do that it means they trust a person completely.ππ·π¦
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It sure does! It also means a person has a gentle demeanor. Animals can sense that!ππ
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Yep, they can tell a lot about people. I got a few more pics too, but mostly I was just enjoying watching them on my hand.πβπ¦π·
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That’s gotta feel satisfying ππ
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Yep, it sure enough is! Really helped this week too.ππΊπ¦β
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It’s the small things on a bad week that can help make it bearable!ππ
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Yep, that’s true, or in this case, makes it birdable!πππΉπ
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Birdable it is!!π
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Hey, that’s a good one, I must remember that one!ππΉ
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A finer moment πππ
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You do come up with good ones!
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I have a good teacher!ππ
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Those squirrels are busy again are they?π€ππΉ
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Everyday!!ππππ
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Smart lil critters they are!ππΉ
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I have one that sits on the step right outside the door to the patio and looks at me π πΏ
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He’s looking for a peanut butter sandwich.π
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I’m all out of peanut butter π₯ π§ maybe he would like a blueberry bagel? π₯― π€
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Not likely, but white bread would work. You could try a bugel though.
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All out of white bread… maybe I’ll offer a piece of bagel next time?π€
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You could try that, he might like it.
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I don’t know…ππ these are kinda upscale squirrels…they’re kinda picky eaters!!π€¨
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That’s why they might like bagels, other squirrels don’t have them. Our squirrels don’t eat them though, but red squirrels are even more picky than those gray ones you have.π
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True, I’ll give it a try!
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Good idea, give it a try!
I didn’t take many pics today, but they sure turned out nice!ππ·
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I’ll need to watch for them tomorrow!
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I will probably use some of them tomorrow in the morning post which is quickly becoming an afternoon post.π€π
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That’s alright… you’ll get back on track when you’re feeling better!π
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Oh good, I’m going to be feeling better at some point!π€ͺ
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Yes you will!π€¨ Maybe even tomorrow!!π€¨
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That would be nice, I have lots to do tomorrow.π
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Then maybe I should let you go and get to bed?
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It is getting late I see, maybe I should get to bed.π₯±π₯±π
Good night Dusty!π€ͺπ΄π΄ Sleep well and I shall return with more chattering tomorrow on the morrow!πππ¦πΊ
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Alrighty… you sleep goid tonight! Feel Better! Tomorrow is a new day!ππ
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Yepper!π
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How do you keep track of everyone ? π³ It boggles my mind π― Well , at least you are not attacking anyone on your team ! …yet…I hope that the drugs you need will soon be at your disposal ! π΅οΈββοΈπΊπΌπ©π©π©βπ¦°π©βπ¦±βοΈ
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It’s not hard, you should keep notes, it helps a lot. Yes, it could be that Sky is helping, her calmness and soft voice seem to help me out. She was not around the other times I had problems. The medicine will not likely work this time, now that I have gone to “nowhere” again. That is what the doctor said before, I will likely stay “nowhere” from now on.π€π©π©π©π΅οΈββοΈ
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You will come back to be your normal self, Steve. Sky is good for you. One of the men that were captured will talk about your whereabouts because they know they will be dead otherwise. It is time to get all of the team out of the mountain cabin!!!!
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I hope so, but my past is all recorded for me, so I can relearn my past if necessary. Yes, I am sure someone will cooperate, surely they can’t all be stubborn enough to die for Carnival. Yep, we need to get out of here before discouragement begins to set in. That is when arguing and fighting also begins and then we have real problems.π€π©π©π©π΅οΈββοΈ
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Good to have your past recorded. I think you will be rescued soon because someone will talk!
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Yes, but it could still take some time to find us. It is a large area that needs to be searched, and rough terrain. But there are 3 pilots in the group, so that will help. And we could get more from Baldwin. The new chapter is out and might tell us something.π€π΅οΈββοΈ
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Yes!
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