“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.

©2023 Steve McLeod.