Everyone came running out of the house and down the driveway to meet me, most everyone anyway. “Steve, what happened?” asked Sky, “we lost track of you about 2 hours ago and got so worried, we were just getting ready to leave and look for you!” “I turned it off deliberately,” I said, “and hoped we would make it back before you came looking for me. Inside and we will talk more about this.”

I was hungry, not having had breakfast yet and fortunately there was still some pancakes and bacon left for me. Plus coffee, lots of coffee. “So, who is our enemy that is looking for our help?” asked Nelson. “Not an enemy at all,” I said, “the whole kidnapping was staged in case someone had been watching, so it would look like the police were just arresting some criminal.

We have been handed a case, but not a normal one, this one is a strange case. The 8 year old son of, well, a certain individual of a friendly nation has been kidnapped by an unfriendly nation. He will be returned, supposedly, if that country will withdraw its support of a third country which would be catastrophic right now.

They cannot send their own special ops teams in to get the boy since if they were caught, it would lead to war right away, and that would also be devasting. So, they have asked us to do it for them. But, we cannot expect any help from this country, if we are caught, they will just say they know nothing about us and they will not help to get us back. We would be totally on our own.

This is a very delicate matter, and very dangerous. Some of us could get caught, or even killed, but the most important thing is getting that little boy our safely, and quickly, even if it means we leave someone behind. We can go back for that person later, but that boy comes first, which is our usual practice anyway, but I am stressing it more this time.

This will be strictly voluntary, we cannot all go, too much chance of being noticed. However, I have a list of those I would like to come with me, because of certain abilities you each have that would be beneficial on this case. Rock will be in charge while we are gone and if something goes wrong, he will organize the right response.

Aari, I will be leaving you here to lead that second rescue team if it is necessary. I would like Sky along this time, because of your unique driving skills. Also Kat, Crystal, Astrid, Sigurbjorn, Catalina, Bridgette, Sapphire, Mac, John and Lars. Plus I want Muffin, Storm, Rusty and Tiia. You four have the most experience and that will be very helpful on this mission.”

Then I showed some pics on our projector so everyone could see what we were up against. “This is the target,” I began, “only one road in, right in the open, no trees around. They have some kind of radar device that is aimed at all times toward the front of this ancient fortress. The other three sides are steep slopes, so they do not need to worry about anyone coming up that way.

The steepest is at the back, as you can see. What do you think Astrid?” “Quite the challenge for sure,” she said, “no wonder they do not worry about that side.” “Can it be done on that side?” I asked. She looked closely, took a deep breath and said, “It can be done, but slowly.” “How about you Sigurbjorn and Catalina?” I asked. These are the 3 mountain climbers in our group.

“Yes,” they both said, “but slowly.” “Good, because that is our only way in,” I said, “and we all go in that way. If anyone is even the slightest afraid of heights and have not yet said anything, now is your chance. We cannot have anyone passing out on this climb, we start, we finish, or we die trying.” Everyone was ready to go.

“One more thing,” I said, “they were given 10 days for their answer, there are just 6 days left for us to do this, so we do it in 5 days.” “How do you get in the country?” asked Rock. “Quickly and silently, I hope,” I said, “this place is actually not too far from the border, about an 8 hour hike through forest.” “That is our first day,” said Sky, “um, if it is my driving skill you want, where do we get the car?”

“You will be driving into the country as a tourist,” I said, “so you will need to be very careful since you will be alone.” “So I just sit in a hotel until you need me?” she asked. “No, you are a tourist, so you will visit all the tourist sites in the area,” I said, “otherwise their security forces might start watching you, and that would be no good.

You will have a normal mobile phone, no weapons, just a typical tourist. Buy some souvenir items too, just to make it look good, and then when the time comes…”

To Be Continued.

©2023 Steve McLeod.