06-04-2019, 06:17 PM
The first of the warlords arrived at dawn. Igazi's men opened the gates and let the convoy of vehicles into the compound. Two hours later, all had arrived and were gathered in the large tent. Mander entered the tent and greeted them.
"Morning, gents," he said cheerfully. "Mr. Igazi will be along shortly. Last night's meal didn't sit well with a lot of the men, I'm afraid, him included."
"What trick is this," one of the warlords demanded. "He calls us all together and does not appear himself?"
Mander nodded as the men around the compound entered the tent, their AK-47s covering the room.
"I did tell a little porky pie there, I'm afraid. Mr. Igazi has been called away on another matter, and I don't expect he'll return. I promise you'll not have long to wait, though. The air strike should be coming to level this compound and everyone in it in, oh..." he looked at his watch. "Ten minutes, give or take. These men are here to insure that none of you leave before that happens. You can all thank... what'd he call her? Oh yeah, The She-Demon Who Birthed All Witches for that. She says hello, by the way."
Several of the warlords reached for their weapons. More of Igazi's men stepped into the tent, cutting off all exits.
"She also had a word with these fellas, so don't worry, they'll be here to keep you company til the end. All rotten tossers that have it coming like yourselves. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go see a woman about an island. That's not a euphemism, either."
Mander left the tent, got into a jeep, and drove out the gate and away, singing the Beach Boys' "Kokomo" to himself and waving to the bombers as they passed overhead.
* * *
"It is done, Generalissimo," Ramirez told him from the embassy over Skype. "We have rescued Lady Maria. La Contessa's body will be found amongst the others after the air strike."
"This was not the optimal outcome, Capitano. Igazi was not a target. But I can still use it. Killed negotiating with him, and we responded with an air strike, excellent. Be certain to retrieve her body. The people will demand a glorious funeral."
"Her coffin will be the first off the plane, sir."
"See to it. And bring the bodies of the men killed in the crash as well. I know you must have found her assassination distasteful, but San Finzione owes you a great debt, Maggiore Ramirez."
"Thank you, sir," Ramirez said and saluted. The Generalissimo saluted back and ended the call.
"See," Helena said as she stopped the recording. "Cheap bastard. Major was the best you would have gotten from him. One rank! And the dead men were an AFTERTHOUGHT! He also didn't bother to ask if YOU'D lost any men, which should tell you something."
Downstairs, Stavro had regained consciousness two hours ago, and Maria hadn't left his side. She giggled at his joke about showing her how well he'd recovered.
"You're right about another thing, Countess," Mander said, sitting at the conference table on another laptop, looking up islands for sale. "He's gonna want coffins with flags on 'em so's he can look all boo-hooey for the media."
"Good point," Helen replied. "Ok, then, let's give him some."
"Morning, gents," he said cheerfully. "Mr. Igazi will be along shortly. Last night's meal didn't sit well with a lot of the men, I'm afraid, him included."
"What trick is this," one of the warlords demanded. "He calls us all together and does not appear himself?"
Mander nodded as the men around the compound entered the tent, their AK-47s covering the room.
"I did tell a little porky pie there, I'm afraid. Mr. Igazi has been called away on another matter, and I don't expect he'll return. I promise you'll not have long to wait, though. The air strike should be coming to level this compound and everyone in it in, oh..." he looked at his watch. "Ten minutes, give or take. These men are here to insure that none of you leave before that happens. You can all thank... what'd he call her? Oh yeah, The She-Demon Who Birthed All Witches for that. She says hello, by the way."
Several of the warlords reached for their weapons. More of Igazi's men stepped into the tent, cutting off all exits.
"She also had a word with these fellas, so don't worry, they'll be here to keep you company til the end. All rotten tossers that have it coming like yourselves. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go see a woman about an island. That's not a euphemism, either."
Mander left the tent, got into a jeep, and drove out the gate and away, singing the Beach Boys' "Kokomo" to himself and waving to the bombers as they passed overhead.
* * *
"It is done, Generalissimo," Ramirez told him from the embassy over Skype. "We have rescued Lady Maria. La Contessa's body will be found amongst the others after the air strike."
"This was not the optimal outcome, Capitano. Igazi was not a target. But I can still use it. Killed negotiating with him, and we responded with an air strike, excellent. Be certain to retrieve her body. The people will demand a glorious funeral."
"Her coffin will be the first off the plane, sir."
"See to it. And bring the bodies of the men killed in the crash as well. I know you must have found her assassination distasteful, but San Finzione owes you a great debt, Maggiore Ramirez."
"Thank you, sir," Ramirez said and saluted. The Generalissimo saluted back and ended the call.
"See," Helena said as she stopped the recording. "Cheap bastard. Major was the best you would have gotten from him. One rank! And the dead men were an AFTERTHOUGHT! He also didn't bother to ask if YOU'D lost any men, which should tell you something."
Downstairs, Stavro had regained consciousness two hours ago, and Maria hadn't left his side. She giggled at his joke about showing her how well he'd recovered.
"You're right about another thing, Countess," Mander said, sitting at the conference table on another laptop, looking up islands for sale. "He's gonna want coffins with flags on 'em so's he can look all boo-hooey for the media."
"Good point," Helen replied. "Ok, then, let's give him some."
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