Part 5 (1/2)
Chapter 8.
”I don't see how we can keep Lieutenant Barker alive eight more months,” commented Captain Lopez. ”Too many want to kill him, including me.”
”I know,” I said. ”It is all I can do to not shoot him myself. Keep reminding yourself of the big payoff.”
”The insurgents will probably get him anyway,” said Captain Lopez. ”They're doing something new. Spider insurgents are shooting at us from across the MDL with mortars and rockets. They think we can't shoot back without causing an intergalactic incident. The good news is that they're not all shooting at us. Other insurgents, maybe human, are firing from our side of the MDL at Arthropodan troops.”
”That's odd. Are the spider and human insurgents cooperating? Or is it just a coincidence they're using the same strategy?”
”I liked it better when they were shooting at each other. You better tell your spider commander buddy I don't like being shot at from his side of the MDL. Just today a rocket blew up the sidewalk in front of Walmart.”
I called the spider commander on the phone as Lopez suggested. ”If you keep supplying the insurgents with arms, you are going to find those same arms someday pointed at you,” I said.
”I think you may be right,” said the spider commander. ”I'll stop immediately.”
”What?” I asked. ”No argument? You're going to stop giving aid to the insurgents that quickly? What's the catch? What made you agree with me?”
”My spies tell me the insurgency is changing tactics,” said the spider commander. ”Spiders and humans are plotting together. I don't know what they are up to, but it cannot be good. I suspect they are giving each other arms, too. I was planning to cut them off anyway.”
”I want permission to strike at will at insurgents across the MDL,” I said.
”You do that anyway,” said the spider commander. ”And your aim is lousy. Do you realize how much collateral damage you cause? It's a good thing Uncle Sam has deep pockets.”
”Now I have your permission to cause collateral damage,” I said. ”Perhaps we can start getting serious about chasing terrorists. They can't survive without a safe haven.”
”I agree. I'll contact the governor about similar cooperation on a planet-wide basis. In the meantime, do not trespa.s.s.”
”And I'll contact General Kalipetsis,” I promised.
”Does this mean you will honor our extradition requests?” asked the spider commander.
”That is still a touchy subject. Extradition will still be done on a case-by-case basis. And you may not request to extradite any legionnaire, especially Lieutenant Barker. The publicity it causes every time you do that does not help things.”
”Only full cooperation will work,” warned the spider commander. ”Lieutenant Barker is a bad egg. You should cull him from your nest now.”
”Probably,” I agreed. ”But he is my problem. I will take care of Barker, not you.”
”Why did the T. Roosevelt bomb an office complex in New Memphis?” asked the spider commander. ”Not that I care when you human pestilence bomb each other, but New Memphis is under joint administration, and you should still inform the Empire before doing something so dangerous. We do not want to create a public panic.”
”I don't know anything about it. Was anyone killed?”
”Just a bunch of Mafia bookies. But gla.s.s windows were shattered in buildings a half mile away. I'm sending the Legion a bill.”
”I'll check on it and get back to you.”
I went to my underground bunker for some sleep. It seemed like there was too much drama seeking me out, and I just wanted to get away from it all. As I entered my quarters, I was smacked on the side of my head. I fell to the floor. At least four a.s.sailants kicked me repeatedly. I tried to protect my head and ribs with hands and elbows, covering in a fetal position. The beating continued. I was in bad shape. My right eye closed shut from injury. Someone put a cloth bag over my head and cinched tight a cord. Breathing was restricted as I struggled. Others bound my hands behind my back with handcuffs. They yanked me to my feet and pulled me along down a hallway. Every other step, someone punched or kicked me and told me to shut up.
”Get this bag off my face!” I yelled. ”I can't breathe!”
”You can breathe,” replied one of my kidnappers. ”Shut up, or I'll shoot you.”
”I have asthma,” I cried. ”I will die if I can't breathe. Take this bag off my head.”
”I'll shoot you now!” repeated the kidnapper.
”Look me in the eye when you shoot me, coward!”
”Don't worry, I will,” he said, laughing nastily.
”We will cut off your head,” added another a.s.sailant.
I was sure he was a spider. I could tell that a translation device was involved in the conversation. ”How did a spider get down here?” I demanded. ”Human traitors are working with spiders?”
”Shut up,” said the spider, striking me in the head again.
This time I lost consciousness as they carried me the rest of the way to wherever it was they were taking me. When I woke, a bright light shone in my face. The cloth bag had been removed. I was still bound, sitting on a chair. A spider calling himself Desert Claw loomed over me with a large sword. A human insurgent by the name of David Torres and another human were setting up video cameras on tripods.
”He's awake,” announced Desert Claw. ”Let's get started.”
Three humans and two spiders, all wearing hoods to mask their ident.i.ties, posed next to me for the cameras. Desert Claw grabbed my hair, forced me to my knees, and put his sword to my throat as he read a prepared statement. ”We are the Fist and Claw. We abducted the Foreign Legion war criminal and ma.s.s murderer Colonel Czerinski, the Butcher of New Colorado, to bring him to justice. We demand a free and independent New Colorado. We demand the Arthropodan Empire and the United States Galactic Federation both leave New Colorado at once. If you refuse to leave New Colorado, the sand will be nourished with your blood. We demand all freedom fighters be immediately freed from prisons on both sides of the border. Otherwise, by sundown tonight, I will cut off Czerinski's head and mail it to the Legion.” The cameras stopped, and the bright lights went out.
”So which is it?” I asked. ”Are you going to bring me to justice or trade me for prisoners?”
”We are going to chop you up a little bit at a time,” said Desert Claw. ”Then I will have your head.”
I recognized both Desert Claw and David Torres from wanted posters at the Post Office. Up until now, they were just local nuisances that operated mostly north of the DMZ.
”David,” I said. ”You are taking orders from a spider? Como puede esto ser? Amigo?” Como puede esto ser? Amigo?”
”Your Legion hunts us all like dogs,” replied Torres. ”The tables are turned now! How does it feel?” Torres slapped the side of my head.
”The planet is big enough for everyone,” I said. ”Friend, there are so many unexplored parts of New Colorado. This is not necessary.”
”You are not my friend, legionnaire,” said Torres. ”Entienda?” ”Entienda?”
”Si,” I answered. ”We have both fought the spiders. We have too much history and culture in common to fight among ourselves. It should not end like this between us. We are family. We are humanity.” I answered. ”We have both fought the spiders. We have too much history and culture in common to fight among ourselves. It should not end like this between us. We are family. We are humanity.”
”Enough!” interrupted Desert Claw. ”He only seeks to drive a wedge between us!”
”Men don't take orders from bugs,” I said. ”David isn't through talking to me, and will not take orders from you!”