a Psi-Kicks story by: GF Willmetts. Another Psi-Kicks where one of their number has amnesia and is hijacked to Somalia. Not helped by the fact that no one can say her name and she’s getting increasingly powerful.

‘Miss? Are you all right?? You must have been really unlucky to bash your head like that.’

Unlucky. I’m unlucky for everyone. I’m...I’m...

‘You seem bewildered. Do you know what’s happened?

‘Er...No! I’m not even sure who I am.’



‘Keep your voice down. This plane has been hijacked. No sense getting the hijackers any more upset with you. You got knocked on the head the first time you stood up. They didn’t like that. How many fingers am I holding up?’

‘Four and a thumb. I know yesterday was Monday allowing for regional time. I just don’t know who I am.’

‘Amnesia. You took a crack to the head.’

‘Shouldn’t I have a passport? That would tell me who I am.’

‘Should. The hijackers took it. Along with everyone else’s.’

‘Why?’

‘To tell whoever when they land. One of the other passengers said they might even take a lucky dip to pick someone to kill. We’re all guessing. All scared.’

She looked around. The expressions on the other passengers told their own story. The fear was palatable in all but her and the man beside her.

‘You seem calm.’

‘Beneath this calm exterior is someone willing to wet himself. Not sure if I want to sit in my own piss. Until that knock on the head, it looked like you were going to take them all on.’

‘Was I really? I think I must have better bladder control.’

‘I’m glad one of us has.’

‘Where did we land?’

‘Hargeisa Egal.’

‘Somalia. A move up from grabbing ships. I wouldn’t have thought a plane of passengers to be worth that much. Maybe they’re after freight?’

‘Let’s hope so. They can take it off and we can continue our flight.’

The silver-haired man took a deep breath and paused and stared into his hands.

‘What was it you were muttering? “People get upset when I leave the plane in flight?” Are you a parachutist?’

‘I have no idea. I’m not even sure I want to try it at the moment while we’re on the ground.’

‘Apart from the amnesia, you seem all right now but you’re not sweating.’

‘Why? Is it hot?’

‘Look at the people.’

The woman looked around again. The other passengers were fanning themselves. Why hadn’t she noticed that before? She wasn’t hot. The man was. Why hadn’t she noticed?

‘I don’t think I’ve reached my threshold yet. I like it hotter than this.’

‘A hot climate gal. You must live in the tropics.’

‘Haven’t a clue. I really don’t know who I am.’


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The aeroplane taxied to the end of the runway before making its return approach and took off. It had taken a few hours before they decided who to pick. They clearly didn’t want to keep the aircraft or most of the people, which clearly relieved them. Six passengers were left behind, surrounded by Somali pirates. The hi-jackers had left with the plane. They were each handcuffed, as if they could flee anywhere.

‘I wonder why they didn’t keep all of us?’ she pondered. ‘Or leave the plane.’

‘I heard this was a favour from the Taliban or al-Qaeda. Too many mouths to feed I’d guess to take us all. There is a famine here after all. Shame they didn’t give you back your passport. Might have a name to call you by. Any idea what makes you worth anything? It might give a clue to your name. You’re not royalty by any chance?’

The woman shook her head. ‘What made you so special?’

‘My family’s in oil. Must have recognised my name. Gavney. Jim Gavney.’

‘And the others?’

‘Never saw them before.’

The safeties on the guns clicked and the pirates pointed towards the fence. An exposed hole and more men there with jeeps.

‘Looks like we’re not going to walk all the way.’

‘Be still my beating heart.’

‘Are you always this cheerful?’

‘Wait until I’m really sad.’

At the jeeps, the six hostages were split into pairs and the woman and Gavney were paired. They drove off and after a few miles, the road forked divided and the jeep carrying them swung off in a different direction.

‘Are you sure you aren’t important?’

‘How would I know?’

‘Well, we’re the only two getting special treatment and not following the others.’

The two guards facing them raised their machine guns. The message was simple. The journey was to be a quiet one.

The next second they were firing up into the air as they fell backwards out of the wings of the jeep, which spun sharply and landed on its side.

Gavney and the woman slumped against the side of the fallen jeep for a few minutes before stirring.

‘What the freak happened?’
The woman shrugged. ‘I thought they were going to fire. Maybe the jeep hit a rock and we got lucky?’

Gavney reached around and touched the driver’s neck. ‘Dead.’

He struggled out of the jeep and examined the two guards. These, too. It’s amazing. We weren’t even scratched.’

The woman paused. ‘Aren’t we the lucky ones. Do they have our passports on them? I’d like to know who I am before I die?’

Gavney checked all three Somali pirates’ pockets. ‘No, but I’ve got the keys to our cuffs. If we’re going to get out of here, we’re going to need their jeep.’

After freeing themselves from their handcuffs, the woman helped Gavney move the driver from the jeep and together, manoeuvring some rocks under the side of the jeep rocked it back and forth until with one final effort, the jeep landed upright. Pulling a couple water bottles from the jeep’s pocket, they both drank. They hadn’t had an offer of something to drink since they arrived. Gavney had built up a sweat. She was still dry. Casting an eye in the wing mirror, the woman saw a dark haired woman stare back at her. The face meant nothing to her.

‘We’d better go.’

‘Which way?’

‘Best not that way,’ the woman said, ‘That’s where we’re expected. Let’s see where they’ve taken the other passengers and see if we can spring them.’

‘That’s going to be risky.’

‘I’m feeling lucky. Going with my instincts.’

Gavney shrugged. ‘For someone who can’t remember who they are, you seem to be taking charge.’

‘Maybe I’m a natural leader. Do you know much about Somalia?’ she asked. ‘Over that way is a long desert journey and we’d need supplies if we tried getting to get to Ethiopia. With the famine that might not be easy. If we find the other prisoners, we might be able to convoy out and might even have a pilot...

‘...or a ship’s crew. That’s the Somalian pirates main way of grabbing people.’

‘What? Go out by sea?’

‘You said you were lucky.’

‘I didn’t say who to. Can you drive?’

‘Can you give directions?’

‘The woman pointed, ‘That way.’

After several miles, The jeep drew up at a crossroads after following the route the other jeeps’ tracks. The crossroads had had a lot more traffic and it was harder to work out which way to go. A scattering of trees made it a landmark in the dusty wilderness.

‘They must have been travelling,’ muttered Gavney.

‘No speed limits.’

‘Which way?’

The woman pointed. ‘That way.’

‘How do you know such things?’

She shrugged. ‘I just know.’

‘Even an in-built compass couldn’t point to where the people went.’

‘Can I beg a lift?’ a voice asked from the trees. ‘You obviously know more about this land than I do.’

A rotund figure stood and walked towards them. Moving away from the glare of the sun, more details became apparent. An old man with balding whispery light brown hair and a prominent moustache. His dusty light suit had seen better days and a little threadbare and carrying a makeshift walking stick.

‘You wouldn’t have something I could drink by any chance?’

The woman offered a canteen.

‘Thank you, m’dear.’ He gulped some water down slowly, before handing the canteen back.

‘What are you doing out here?’

‘Like any escaped prisoner. Escaping. I assume you were equally lucky?’

‘We were split from the other prisoners,’ Gavney explained. ‘We...er...got away. We’re seeing if we can catch up and release the others from the plane we came with.’

‘A plane? I thought the pirates only took ships.’

‘We were hi-jacked. They took six of us prisoner. The Taliban I think. Thought we’d be worth more as hostages.’

‘Only six,’ the old man pondered. ‘So how do you propose escaping?’

‘One thing at a time,’ the woman finally said. ‘You must have seen the two jeeps coming this way.’

‘Yes. They went that way. You were quite right with your direction. I suppose there is safety in numbers. Can I join your team?’

‘Do you have a name?’ Gavney asked.

‘Boreas.’

‘I’m Jim Gavney. The lady was hit on the head and suffering amnesia. They stole her passport.’

‘Really. In that case, you are lucky. You can choose a new name or we shaln’t have anything to call you.’

The woman smiled, ‘I’ll think about it. Nope! I’d rather have my own name when I can remember it.’

‘Get on board, Mr. Boreas. We might catch up before they lock them up anywhere.’

‘How do you propose to get the hostages back?’ Boreas asked getting into the back of the jeep.

‘We’ll sort that out when we catch up.’

The woman smiled, ‘We made it this far. I’m really very lucky.’

‘They went that way,’ Boreas pointed again in the same direction they were going to drive.

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‘I’d slow down about now,’ Boreas called out an hour later.

‘Why?’

‘The camp I escaped from is over that rise. They might have stopped there.’

Gavney brought the jeep to a halt under a tree and all three gingerly walked up the rise and looked down. To the left was a fenced compound. A bus was outside the fence and people were milling around inside. There was no sign of the other jeeps. A couple turrets had men looking down, guns facing the sky.

‘They watch heavy for a few days. After a while, you realise you can’t escape because there’s nowhere to go.’

‘So why did you get out?’

‘I went for a walk. They probably figured I’d come back. There really was nowhere to go...until now.’

‘How did you get out?’ Gavney asked.

‘There’s a gap in the fence over there.’

‘Mr. Boreas could probably walk in that way but we couldn’t. New faces. They must be able to count.’

‘We can hardly walk in the front gate. They might not worry about numbers as long as they don’t drop. After all, as Mr. Boreas quite rightly points out, where can they or we go?’

‘A full-on assault would be suicidal. We haven’t the fire-power and they would shoot the hostages first even with whatever it is you do.’

‘Only from the outside. Better from within.’

‘And risk the hostages?’

‘From within, the other hostages can be told to hug the ground.’

‘You sound very professional’, Gavney turned to the woman. ‘Is this what you normally do?’

‘No idea. Just seemed the natural thing to do.’

‘So how do you get rid of the guards?’

The woman smiled. ‘I was thinking of doing whatever happened last time.’
‘And that’s lucky?’

‘Not for them.’

‘Yeah, but let’s wait until dark. I’d like to have half a chance.’

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Whatever’s been done to you isn’t a bang on the head.

It could be drugs.

How can we tell Libertine? She’s bad enough to spake to when she’s in her own body.
The woman looked around. She was in a cool greenish-looking room. Whatever was making the voices was making squiggly lines in sync with the wall.

‘Who are you?’

Do you remember who you are, %%%%%?
‘What was that you said?’

%%%%%.
I can’t even call %%%%% by her name. Whatever is blocking her memory is affecting our being able to tell her.

Must be the drug. Probably affecting the Broca or somewhere close to the speech centre of her brain. The same ability that allows us to be understood in any language.

A lucky guess on their part. We’re lucky she hasn’t lost more of her memory.

Will it last?

Depends on the duration of the drug. Whoever dosed her would have to do so again. It can’t last forever.

But it’s powerful if it can even affect us at a distance. What about her other talents?

At least under spake it sounds like some sort of word.

%%%%%? Can you hear us?

‘You’re not a dream?’

We’ve been trying to contact you while you’re awake but you’re shielding. Screening us out. Your natural reflex. You seem to be in control of your abilities even if you’re not fully aware of it.

This is your second REM sleep and you’re going to wake up soon. We need you to trust us.

There will be an unusual...person going to contact you. Has the ability to jump between bodies. Don’t worry how she does it. Quickest way to reach you even if it leaves a trail of bodies.

You’ll always recognise her. Voice doesn’t change between jumps. Broken English. Haitian. She’ll tell you she’s Samedi. Trust her. She’ll know you. Listen to what she says no matter the body she comes from.

Trust her.

She’s fading away.

She’s waking up. Someone is shaking her.

Will she remember?

Will she think she’s only dreaming. She didn’t ask any questions.

That’s far too passive for %%%%%.

She’s too strong-willed.

Maybe that’s in her favo...

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The woman woke up with Gavney looking down at her. ‘Are you OK? Are you remembering who you are? I thought you had a fever.’

She shook her head. ‘No. Just had the funniest dream. Almost like people talking inside my head. Reassuring me that everything was going to be OK and help was on its way. Silly things the conscious plays, isn’t it?’

‘I’ve got some tablets if you need them.’

‘Not right now. It’s not a headache. Not like the last time.’

Getting up, she dusted herself down. Boreas was sprawled out under another tree, gently snoozing although she was sure he wasn’t totally asleep because he suddenly moved.

How had she known that?

‘How long was I asleep?’

‘A few hours.’

The large moon looked down at them. ‘It’s going to be a bright entrance when we go in.’

Boreas shook his head. ‘It’s meal time. The guards eat separately but they won’t notice us sneak back in. That’s how I got out the other night. We might even have something there ourselves. I’m famished. They do an excellent stew considering we’re prisoners. Piracy has its benefits for them. They don’t want us to starve. Doesn’t look good when the ransom is paid to have hostages that are too skinny. Especially with what they make from the ransom.’

‘Won’t they be suspicious why we haven’t got back yet?’ Gavney asked.

‘It depends on how long it takes for the message to get back as to who you both are. If you’re VIPs, they might send you off to a different compound. They’ll ransom the others in there over the next few days.’

‘So what do we do when we get inside?’

‘Get something to eat and then tell them be ready to move out.’

‘You seem very confident, young lady.’

‘We can only fail.’

‘I trust your luck.’

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With Boreas aided under the fence by the woman and Gavney, they joined the queue for the meal. The man handing out the bowl of stew was one of the hostages, a raise of an eyebrow at the new faces but he kept quiet and they settled into different places on the three long tables. They had agreed that it would be easier to blend in that way than to sit together. It would also get them more information. There was more people here prisoner than the aeroplane.

A fair-haired woman got up and moved with her dish opposite the woman.

Looking up, she whispered in a deep husky voice, ‘Does youse knows who ah is, sug’r? Does da name Samedi means anytings?’

The woman shrugged, ‘Someone with a dual personality? Your accent doesn’t match your appearance. I remember someone telling me about that. Said it would be someone I should instinctively trust.’

‘Dat’s cos wease is friends, %%%%%. You’ds cal’eds dit foreign language syndrome doe its just parts o’me whenevers I jumps. Watch its comes from ah man. Sounds worse youse tol’ me.’

‘I told you? Are you real?’

‘Seein’s believin’, sug’r. Peeples says ah’s leaves zombies ins mas wakes ‘tls ah gets backs ta mas owns body, dat is. Dere weren’t many camps ta look. Ah’s gots lucky. Youse been havin’ anythings happenin’ odd to you? Udder dan mes nots beings ables ta says youse names.’

‘In what way? I don’t tend to be kidnapped by Somali pirates every day nor seeing people drop dead who are threatening me if that’s what you mean.’

‘An’ nots remembers who youse is?’

‘That, too. Although it doesn’t seem to bother me too much.’

‘Anyt’ing happ’n dat nots seems normal?’

‘You mean guards dropping dead is normal for me?’

‘Any ideas why, sug’r?’

‘They aimed guns at us.’

‘Dat’s cos youse shares wit dey Harbinger. Needs to be’s carefuls wot youse thinks. Dun wish anyones dead less youse haves to. Dey history. Does youse knows who youse is, sug’r?’

‘I’ve been having that problem ever since I got clipped by a hi-jaker on the plane.’

‘Youse %%%%% %%%%%.’

‘That sounds garbled.’

‘%%%%%. Ah’s knows.’

‘Still garbled. The voices said some sort of drug affecting some speech centre in my head. Said it spread to anyone trying to say my name. So you must have known me before.’

‘Ah’s can’ts hears dem likes dis. Anythings else dey tell youse? Any messages fer me?’

‘Only for me to trust you. They think it’s some sort of drug. No idea when it might wear off. Said you would know what to do.’

‘Dey thinks youse drugged? Only person wit’ youse since plane is him.’ The fair-haired woman glanced across to the other table. ‘Dun trust da American.’

‘Jim?’

‘He only constant since plane, ain’t he?’

‘Yes, but...’

‘Dey fact youse is nots tot’lly disbelivin’ mes cos it’s wearin’ off. ‘E may want ta dose ya a’gin.’

‘What if it is true? All he’s offered me is some pain-killers. How can I stop him?’

‘Ah bes youse guardian angel, sug’r. Buts dat not importent rights now. Wease plannin’ ta git all dese folk outs o’here ‘fore mornin’. Don’t wish anyones bad luck ‘less youse have ta. Onlys regrets its lat’r.’

‘So how do we get all of us out of here?’

‘Dat easy. Ah’s jump across da guards. Dey helpless. Wease takes bus out main gate. Ah’s controls da guard whose comes wit us.’

‘I don’t have to kill anyone else?’

‘Hows manys so far, sug’r?’

‘Only those three.’

Youse as powerful as Harbinger herself. Maybe more ‘til the share wears off. Kint ‘ave too manys mysterys deaths. Ah kin takes care o’ da guards but youse hav’ ta’ takes cares oft dis hostage body whens ah takes a guard. It’d be helpless ta her soul comes back. Easier ta pass thro checkpoints wit’ a uniform than as escapee.’

‘The voices said to trust you. What about Jim and Boreas?’

‘Tells dem dat youse bribes a guards helpin’. Ah’s takes control. Youse takes da lead.’

‘Where are we going?’

‘Wease ain’ts flyin’ out. Dere’s an’ther ships been pirated. Wease tak dat one back.’
‘Easy as that?’

‘Not’ings easys ‘tils done, sug’r. Wease hav’ deys local warlord ta face. Who dat watchin’ us?’

The woman looked around and spotted the fat man. ‘That’s Boreas. The escapee who decided safety in numbers and got us into the camp.’

‘He’s odd. Watch youse backs wit ‘im as well, sug’r.’

The other woman looked at the large moon in the sky. ‘Da voices ins yours ‘ead got any numbers fer youse?’

‘Twelve.’ That keeps coming up.’

‘Probably when ship at da docks. Wease ‘bouts ten hours away. Wease go at four. Tell everyones ta makes noise. Wake guards. Ah’s dos rest.’

‘Won’t the guards come after us.’

‘I’d Baroness Samedi, sug’r. Dey don’ts git dere souls backs ‘til ah’s in ma owns body. By den, wease longs gone.’

‘Where’s that? Just in case we have to get it back.’

‘Dun know. Caruthers tolds ta get ta docks or close kin be. Jist goes alongs wit’s anyone who’says she brings liberty.’

‘Liberty?’

‘Youse learnin’, sug’r. Libertine Choisi Eskow-Rush is youse friend. Dat mes. Only don’t tells dem dat name. Needs somethin’ dat onlys youse know. Quicker ta identifys me. Glads youse trusted dem voices in your head.’

‘I just thought I was going a little crazy. The headaches fade when I agree with them.’

‘Whats med youse changes youse mind?’

‘I was doing crazy things. Figured that had to be the way of the world.’

‘Reallys, sug’r?’

‘Nope. But they seemed to know more about what was going on than me. ‘Course, I could be imagining you as well.’

‘Seeing’s believin’, sug’r. Waits ‘tils four. Dey needs nap ‘fore weese go. Ah’s makes loud noise whens ahs start.’

‘I hope I’m not crazy. What do I tell them?’

‘Tell dem newse biological agent. Led dem fills in da gaps. Nows ah’s needs ones mores detail. Youse hav an ability ta scan. Which oh dem guards feels outta place ta you. Ah’s use ‘im as ma guard oh choice.’

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The woman woke up with a start then realised she was probably still asleep, relieving the past few hours again in her head as the green room appeared again.

Hello, %%%%%.

Have you met Libertine Rush?

You need to trust her.

We need you to tell her that the warlord Nergal has arrived back earlier than the ship. Maxine radioed his entourage passed her. They may be heading in your direction.

We tried scanning but there’s some sort of shield.

You must tell Libertine that Nergal shields.

She’s fading out.

I hope it’s just fatigue not more drugs.

Libertine must have spotted them by now.

How is he giving her the dru…?

[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[o]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

Dawn came early in Somalia, as the tower guard turned off the searchlights, he looked down at the fair-headed woman looking down at him and…

In short order, Libertine stepped from body to body with momentary eye contact, causing them to sit on the floor in passing. This was not a time to leaving them dancing. The choice of letting the guards flee was tempting but that could also draw more pirates in disbelief at what they saw. Somalia might be African but even they would need more proof of vudun back in their country. Doing this before the hostages woke up would spare too many witnesses. As tempting as it was to choose the senior ranking amongst them, she chose a mid-ranking whom she had agreed with the woman felt slightly out of place. High enough to have some authority but not someone who might have pissed them all off although that would be guessing. She doubted if any of these people’s captors would be liked by any of them. One advantage would be possessing a body that would match her own voice.

‘Times ta wakes ev’ryones, sug’r.’ Libertine shook the woman.

The woman looked up at the guard, who broke into a wide grin. ‘Alls da rests o’dem in nos statea ta worrys anyones.’

Gavney stirred and was up immediately. ‘Wha-What’s happened?’

‘Escape plan. I found our inside man.’

‘Dat’s me.’ Libertine held out the man’s hand and pulled Gavney to him to give a firm handshake. The American seemed reluctant at first. ‘Ah’s beens waitin’ fers de opportun’itys ta move. Ah’s hear youse a jeep. Youse ta drives da bus an’ wease takes point.’

‘Where are we going?’

‘Da harbour, mon.’

The reaction of the hostages was more passive agreement after being captive for so long. Gavney drove the bus with Boreas staying with him. The woman drove the jeep with the ‘guard’ as passenger.

As the bus followed them the jeep, Boreas turned to Gavney. ‘Did you see those guards? Nearly asleep but not quite. Like zombies in fact. I have heard of an individual capable of doing that. They stay like that for ages and then poof! Back to normal. That lady at the back there will probably come to.’

‘Who’s that?’

‘A chap from Haiti. The king of voodoo. Name of Eskow but more commonly, Baron Samedi.’

‘Samedi. Isn’t that voodoo?’

‘Myths are made from reality. It is said he can move from body to body,’ Boreas pondered, ‘much like you saw there. There’s no one else quite like him. Not even his mother or sister. I never met them. He might well be possessing that guard in the jeep. When he gets back to his own body, everyone is back where they started.’

‘What were you before you became a prisoner?’

‘An archaeologist. I travelled the world. I’ve seen a lot of odd things in my travels.’

‘What made you come to Somalia?’

‘I was interested in their warlord, Nergal. Have you ever wondered how he’s held power over a country such as this when other African states are in turmoil?’

‘Not all. Just another dictatorship. Let’s all kinds of people in who can lead.’

‘But they don’t go in for piracy.’

‘Piracy, sir, is just a means to an end. Mostly, they want power.’

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The sun was off to one side as they travelled, giving then a semblance of direction. Somalia was a mixture of plains and hills but for over an hour now it had been mostly flat. The drought was affecting the countryside generally but here and there were oasises of green to show that water hadn’t quite forgotten the land.

‘There’s something up ahead,’ the woman said. ‘Is there anything you can do?’

Libertine shook her head. ‘Ah’s needs ta be a lot closer. If wease sees dem thens deys sees us. Not enuff fuels to flee. Kins youse scan, sug’r?’

‘Scan?’

‘Reaches out youse calls it. Feels fer presence?’

‘Presents? Gifts you mean?’

‘Peeples, sug’r. Things. Youse yor mind ta feels. Youse special. Dat gift is sleep nots ded.’

‘Oh! Do I have to do anything special?’

‘Don’ts close youse eyes or wease crash. Reach out. Gathers dey infos. Youse head’s picks du usef’l stuffs.’

‘About twenty. No, there’s one more. I see through a soldier’s eyes but can’t feel him. Is that a Blank?’

‘Coulds bes shielding. Blanks tends ta bes seen ats all.’

‘I can see him. Big chap. They aren’t pointing guns our way but they are armed.’ She paused, then more incredulously, ‘Some of them are preparing lunch!’

‘Stops a mins, ‘sug’r. Gots ta gives orders ta dem back dere.’

Libertine put her arm up as the jeep halted and the bus eased up behind them.

Using the guard’s body, she walked over to the bus. ‘Wease company o’der theres. Maybes fer us. Dey prepping da picnic. Maybes fer us. Bes cordial but eat aft’r dey sample food. Same wit drink. Deys armed. Lemme dos dere talkin’ an’ stoppin’ anys harms comes tad hairs on youse heads. Youse got dat?’

Gavney stood up, ‘We could go around them?’

‘Youse knows ob nearest fuel pump? Dun fink so. Ah’s does de plannin’. Youse dos da followin’, mon.’

Libertine studied all the faces. Gavney sat down, a little dejected as if he was being pushed away from the action but still watching intently. Boreas just fanned himself. The rest of the hostages were quiet and just relived that someone was in control.

She returned to the jeep and they drove on. ‘Dis mights bes easier dens ah thoughts, sug’r. Drives on ‘fores dey loses deres nerve.’

‘My nerves aren’t too hot.’

‘Ah knows, %%%%%. But youse ‘membered what a Blank is. Youse mights ‘members youse name next. Dey aren’ts arguing. Youse urges dems ta bes tas bes calm?’

‘Was that me?’ She sighed. ‘Why is my name significant?’

‘Acts likes de floodgate. Alls ta do weeze yourse signature.’

‘Signature?’

‘Inner identity youse calls it. Ah’s de embodiment o’Libertine Rush youses calls mes moving bodies. Whats youse picks up whens meetin’ peoples. Drug ‘ffected dat. All fings Psionic begins with Es. Signature. Scan. Spake. Scoop. Shield. Screen. Scope. Skin. Scream. Share. Sprite. Shock. Skill. Stealth. Symphony. Spike. Alls dey thin’s youse explaineds ta me dat ah’s kin’t does. Den youse had problem callin’ what’s ahs do. Any dem names familiars tas youse?’

‘Not yet. Why S?’

‘Youse said dat’s dey ways deys happen. Sometings dons happens dats way. Harbinger ability hes one. Youse mights yousing it agin. Nergal lousy poker player. Shows strong hand, den hes hold back.’

‘You know this Nergal?’

‘Ma brother mets ‘im manys years agos. Mets lots ah people. Manys thoughts dey powerful. Dis ones was.’

‘But why lay a table and prepare to shoot us?’

‘He ruler. Does wots he likes. He dunno ouse we is. Wease needs demonstrate bys force as Tullius woulds say. Shows wease least ‘is equals. Tullius woulds kill to proves his him.’

‘What can he do to stop us?’

‘Has grip on Somalia. Kin devastate wit’ a look. ‘im beings heres damages Somali. His greedy wife, Ereshkigal, jist as deadly so’s ah heard.’

‘Can’t I just do this…the…Harbinger thing?’

‘E’s no Norm. Da guards yes. Ah’s ‘ave da plan. Youse stops any stoppin’ us, sug’r.’

‘How again?’

‘Fink dem history.’

Both the jeep and bus pulled up at the perimeter and were quickly surrounded by pirates, all releasing the safeties on their weapons. The one in front gestured them to get out of the jeep.

‘He wants us all out,’ the woman commented.

Libertine got out and called, ‘Outs youse people. Stays calm but stays here.’

She smiled at the pirate who raised his gun into her body’s face and then pushed it aside, ‘Takes mes to Nergal, fors ah’s makes youse eat dem bullets.’

He gestured the way to go and fell in with half a dozen behind them. The rest eyed the hostages warily. Both woman or rather one woman and one in a man’s body, strolled on, ignoring the pirates.

‘Looks likes wease expected, sug’r,’ Libertine muttered.

At the end of the honour guard, a man turned. Dressed in loose colourful robes, Nergal appeared to be a huge black Samali with a trim bead and sharp contrasting eyes. He studied both of them.

‘You,’ he pointed in a loud voice, ‘are not Baron Samedi!’

‘Ahm whos evers I’m walkin’ insides. Ah’s picks one’s o’yore guards dis tem.’

‘Would you like to confirm that by jumping to a fresh body?’

‘Ah’s beens jumpin’ bodies all cross Somali. All ta helps mas friend, Nergal. Ah’s nots dun do dis fur show. Youse need some ‘surance wit’ youse…new cargo.’

‘So?’

‘Puts dem hostages on-board. Stops silly ‘mericans attackin’. Dey reallys wants dat ones back.’

‘So why would you want to help me?’

‘Ah’s hav a share. Nouse ways youse givin’ its backs.’

‘Just like that?’

‘Prove who you are, Tullius.’

Libertine smiled. ‘Youse gives it youse best shot, youse bastard.’
Nergal reached around for a glass. ‘Kill them.’

‘History, sug’r.’

The guns fired but only up into the air as half a dozen pirates slumped to the ground. All dead. The remaining pirates stood agape. None of them made any attempt to shoot.

The woman shrugged and looked at the other pirates who involuntarily stepped back, crossing themselves. None of them pointed guns at the couple.

‘Youse good, sug’r.’

Spluttered, Nergal looked at Libertine, almost gesturing before shaking his head. ‘I didn’t know you could do that, Tullius?’

‘Ah’s tooks ah leaf froms dem vampiri, mon. Nevers leaves homes wit’out ah Psionic ‘cept youse pirates kidnaps hers an’ wiped hers memory. Ah’s gots her bak. Jist needs hers mem’ry.’

‘My pirates were kidnapping aeroplanes?’ Nergal’s composure returning. ‘That is new to me.’

‘Maybes deys moonlightin’. Gone freenlance. Thoughts dey hads precious cargo. Onlys kidnaps handful. Dey weres in one o’yore camps. Ah’s running one of dere bodies.’

‘Am I here for an inquisition from you?’

‘Youse owes me, Nergal. Wease stops somes ‘mericans stealin’ youse prize.’

‘I wonder how?’ Nergal puzzled. ‘Prisoners wouldn’t have done anything. Except you might well have them amongst those people on the bus. A bus you were going to take to the docks.’

‘Wease knows whos dey are. Woulds ‘mericans shoots dere own peeples? Wease show dems on-board. Dere won’t fire. Shite theirs plans, mon.’ Libertine smiled. ‘Even better hostages.’

Nergal pondered. ‘You speak some truth, Tullius.’ He poured a drink and handed it to her. ‘It’s a thirsty road.’

‘An’ ma Psionic, mon. Maybes its gets da cobwebs from hers mind. Tells us who’s drugged her.’

Nergal poured a second glass and handed it to the woman, poured one for himself before turning to the remaining pirates. ‘Move these bodies into the shade. No sense having the flies near us.’

Libertine raised her glass. ‘Mays yours body stays healthy.’

Nergal drank, unaware that neither woman drank but watched.

Libertine gently spun around and the woman followed. The other pirates were either guarding the bus or moving the bodies. Nergal stood but wasn’t moving. She took his glass and poured the remaining contents onto the ground and sipped her drink.

‘His alls right, sug’r. Jist hads ta makes sures hes dranks first. Is white wine. Little drys fers mas tastes. Drinks up, sug’r.’

The woman shook her head. ‘No thanks. I remember something vaguely that I shouldn’t drink alcohol. I saw you distracting him. What did you put in his drink?’

‘members dat drugs youse beens given. Wants ta sees it on someone else. Looks likes yourse dinna ‘ave anys chances, sug’r. Verys quick.’

Nergal just looked ahead.

Libertine waved her hand in front of his eyes. The big man didn’t flinch.

‘That easy?’

‘Nouse. Buts longs enuff. Watch ma back, sug’r. No nasty surprises.’

She stepped closer to Nergal. ‘Kins youse hears mes?’

He nodded his head. ‘I hear you.’

‘Youse obey whats ah’s tells youse?’

‘Of course, Tullius.’

‘Dats good. Youse ta tells youse mens wease allows ta goes on. Dat’s us two an’ da bus ah people. Den youse alls pack dis fine feast ans finds da nearest refugee camp. Leaves all da foods dere. Den drives youse alls outs ta the Ogaden Desert. Meets youse dere later. Youse understan’ me, Nergal?’

‘Perfectly.’

‘Fines. Den nos needs fer mes ta repeats maself.’

Libertine looked around and spotted an unopened hamper. ‘Wease takes dats one. Youse carry it, sug’r. Ahs gots ta looks likes ahs ins charge.’

The woman picked the hamper up.

‘Gives it ta the peoples ons da bus. Ah’s brings somethings fer us. Longs ways tas goes still.’

Libertine turned to Nergal. ‘Goes wit’ mas friend, Nergal. Orders youse peeples as youse normallies does.’

Nergal hesitated to move, struggling.

She poured some more wine and dropped several of the ‘painkillers’ into the glass. They briefly fizzled and were dissolved and she handed it to be big man.

‘Youse drinks it alls dis time. Youse thinks pal Tullius gives goods advice an’ obeys whens evers wease meets an’ ah’s says…’

Libertine paused as Nergal completed his drink and took the glass from him.

‘…ah’s says youse never mets my sister. Youse gots that, Nergal?’

This time the big man nodded his head. ‘Of course, Tullius. Shall I go and order my men now.’

‘Youse dos dat but bes natural. Ins alls others things, youse perfect an’ normal.’

Nergal suddenly relaxed and headed off towards his men.

The woman came back. ‘I’ve got them back in the bus. The guards stepped back when they saw me. Am I that scary?’

‘Onlys fer whats youse kin do, sug’r. Word spreads fast. Hope all ways to Bosaso.’

As they walked backed to the jeep, some of the pirates rushed the other way to pack Nergal’s feast. They drove off with the bus following behind. The woman drove with Libertine feeding her from the hamper.

‘That was easy.’

‘Won’t lasts, sug’r. ‘e’s fightin’ it.’

‘So how can he do that and I can’t?’

‘Diff’rent ‘fects fers diff’rents folks.’

[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[o]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

They drove on. There was more motion in the bus, no doubt caused by them sharing the food out.

‘Whats does youse ‘member whens youse didnna knows youse name?’

The woman paused before shaking her head, ‘I was asked if I was all right.’

‘Youse can’ts ‘member da exact words?’

‘Still a bit hazy. Jim said I was really unlucky. I think I said I was unlucky for everyone. Is that significant?’

‘Dat means youse ‘members youse a harbinger.’

‘Harbinger?’

‘Youse shared ability. Facts youse ‘members its alls overs natural ‘bility. Pervading thought youse called. Shames wease kins gist youse chances ta sleep. Gets ta voices in youse head ta guides mes somes.’

‘Why?’

‘Youse likes being harbinger toos much. Youse told mes once jewel womin nots always happys wis talent. Youse gist killed six peeple…’

‘They were going to kill us. You did say stop them.’

‘Nouse feeling? ###### woulds feels somethin’, sug’r.’

Neither of them spoke for a few miles.

Finally, Libertine spoke again. ‘Problems is, sug’r, ah’s needs youse mores as harbinger den as ######. Youse gets youse mem’re backs, youse mights nots dos dis harbinger ting.’

‘But I thought you’d got rid of Nergal.’

‘Wots youse thinks ‘e’s does ‘member?’

‘He doesn’t seem that powerful.’

‘Sug’r, ma broth’r Tullius dun rate mo’s peeple. ‘e respected Nergal. Crates pestilence an’ fever o’de land. Likes youse, kin kill wit’ ah thought.’

‘A harbinger?’

‘Nouse. ‘e death.’

‘So why didn’t he attack Tullius?’

‘Vodun, sug’r. Wease ‘ave ah reputation. Tullius did ‘im a favour.’

‘A favour?’

‘Youse. Onlys ah’s dunno wot.’

‘But won’t the drug take care of that?’

‘Nergal wus fightin’ it.’

‘But he thinks you’re your brother.’

‘Da minite e’ dun’t, ‘e figure ah killed Tullius.’

‘And kill you.’

‘Ah ain’t easy ta kill, sug’r, but da rests y’are. Kin youse puts youse foots down.’

‘Have I ever asked how long you can stay outside of your body?’

‘Nouse time at all. Dat’s whys ah’s enhabits ano’her body.’

‘So how long in each body? Is there a limit? When do you need your real body?’

Libertine gave the woman a long hard look. ‘Whys youse so concerns, sug’r?’

‘You’re in an awful hurry to get us to the dock. What if whoever’s getting the real you there is late?’

‘Den ah slaps her ass. One tings at a times, sug’r.’

‘Looks like we have another one,’ the woman said, pulling on the brake.

‘Whys you stoppin’, sug’r?’

‘Jim’s flashing the bus lights.’

Libertine turned and looked. ‘Don’lets hims toos close toos youse.’

‘I thought you took his drug supply.’

‘Dems secrets agents kins bes sneaky.’

They both got out of the jeep and strolled back to the bus. Gavney lit a cigarette and came out to meet them.

‘Hello, Jim. Food OK? No one sick?’

‘No, everyone’s fine. Appreciated that hamper you got for us. Who was that guy?’

‘Nouse ones fers youse ta worries abouts, mon. Less wease sees o’im da better.’

‘What’s the problem, Jim?’

‘Gas, ma’am. Think we’ll get there with a quarter tank?’

‘We should have begged some petrol from N…’

‘Somethings tells mes youse knows somethin’, mon?’

‘I told the lady here that my family’s in the oil industry. According to Boreas, there’s an old refinery in that direction. They might have left some gas there we can draw up.’

‘After all this time?’

‘I came that way when they brought me out here’, Boreas said coming out of the bus. ‘You won’t get to the harbour without it.’

‘Guards?’

The woman stared into the distance. ‘I see it. No guards.’

‘How would you know that?’ Gavney asked, throwing his cigarette down and crushed it with his heel.

The woman shrugged. ‘Second sight. There’s a tanker there and a tank. Both full. We aren’t the only ones to see it as a way station.’

‘An answer to our prayers’, Gavney said. ‘Are you beginning to remember anything else?’

The woman shook her head.

‘Wease bet’rs get movin’, mon. Mus’nt bes lates fer dey boat.’

[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[o]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

At the refinery, with the woman and Boreas distracted filling the jeep and bus with petrol, Gavney drew Libertine to one side.

‘You OK, Barney?’

‘Whys youse asks, mon?’

‘I felt you boost the AntiC?’

‘Precautions, Jim. Ah’s nearer ta hers thans youse.’

‘Take care. I saw her take out three people with a glance. Imagine what she would be like with her full memory back.’

‘Shes tooks outs six inna front o’me. Ahs bes carefuls, mon. Whos needs guns wit’ her ‘bouts. Wease stills ons plan?’

‘All depends on whether the crew is with the ship. If she seems like she’s getting her memory back, slip her another pill, OK?’

‘Sures, mom. Ah’s alsos gaves it ta dat pirate lord.’

‘Who was he?’

‘Nergal.’

‘That was Nergal?’

‘Dat’s rights.’

‘Must remember that for another occasion.’

‘Youse stills needs ta gets closes ta him, mon. ‘member, dat wiman tooks out six o’dem ta makes da point. Ne’der wooda slipped ‘im da mickey wit’out her.’

‘She’s our biggest asset to getting the job done. I hate improvisional cowboy jobs like this.’

‘Shes ain’ts likely ta likes it whens she’s gets her memories back, mon, buts ah’s tries to keeps hers cool.’

‘We get her back to the States as per orders. Remember?’

‘Sures, mon. Times wease weren’t here.’

‘Laying on the voice a bit thick, Barney.’

‘Thoughts best ta stays ins character, Jim. Youse nevers knows who’s list’nings.’

With the transport re-fuelled, they were off again.

‘Did you find out what was going on, Libertine?’

‘Ah noses whats was goin’ on, sug’r. Jist wants proofs. Dey wants youse for da finale.’

‘And he doesn’t think you’re not who he thinks he is.’

‘Ah tol’ hims safers ta stays ins character.’ Libertine smiled. ‘Peoples believes whats dey sees. Youse peoples nots useds ta possession. Alsos means ah kinna jumps bodies wit’out lett’n ons whats ‘appen.’

‘Nine-tenths of the law.’

‘Youse knows whos youse is yet? Dat’s ones o’youse sayings.’

The woman shook her head. ‘But from what you said, I think I’m affecting anyone who says my name. Am I supposed to be a powerful Psionic?’

‘Deres ats leasts six youse equals. Buts nots da same.’

‘And you?’

‘Ah’s olds world. Ones o’ a kind nouse. Youse mores o’ da future.’

‘Why are we going to Bosaso?’

‘Dat’s da nearest harbour.’

‘They’re bringing it in down the coast so they don’t need a tug.’ She paused. ‘Is this that scanning ability again?’

‘Probablies whys deys ‘mericans wants youse doing dis. Youse seeking. Youse was on da dat boat last week. Still attuned ta it ans goes wheres youse thinks tis.’

‘Seeking? That wasn’t amongst the ‘s’s you told me.’

‘Youse ones of a kind, sug’r. Youse da Stable recruiter. Abilities ta finds Psionics. Evens peeples likes me. Youse ah hunter, gal. Youse froms family o’ dem.’

The woman paused again. ‘Hunter…Seeker…’

‘Keeps youse eyes on das road, sug’r. Wants me ta drive?’

‘I’d have to give directions where to go. I’m finding it easier to get my head together while distracted. Tell me the names of my equals. Perhaps that will get my head into gear. If I’m going to navigate this ship away from further attacks, it’s going to need more than travelling across country.’

‘Wots dos its feels likes seekin’ ah ship’s youse nots beens near?’

‘But I have. I saw them load…load…whatever it is. When I reached out…I felt it near. Can I track inanimate objects?’

‘Nouse ideas, ######. Maybes youse mets da crew?’

‘Am I nice person? Other than when I kill people who attack me?’

‘Youse ah’s fairs person, sug’r. Evens somes o’der vampiri likes youse an’ dey is toughs ta likes anyones.’

‘We’ve got a few miles to the coast. They aren’t using the regular harbour. Using a tug wouldn’t be…appropriate.’ She pressed harder on the accelerator. ‘We need to get there before they shut down the engine.’

‘Whys shoulds thats makes anys difference?’

‘It takes a couple hours to build up steam if we don’t.’

Libertine turned back to the bus and motioned forward.

‘Wease musts bes doings whats this Gavneys wants.’

The woman looked in her mirror. ‘His primary mission was to rescue the ship, pick up the body you’re possessing and hostages if he came across them.’

‘Whats abouts youse, sug’r.’

‘Uh…He took an opportunity to save time. Oh, he wants to kidnap me when we get out of here. Is this what scanning lets me do?’

‘Somethings likes dats, sug’r. Sheenas tol’ mes likes its pickings ups ambients informations. Sorta likes divies youse tol’ mes.’

‘Sheenas…Sheena Ramone?’

‘Da booster rooster as youse calls her.’

‘I’m Sheena Ramone?’

Libertine cradled her head in her hands and shook it briefly. ‘Nouse. Sug’r. Buts youse goods friends. Is goods things youse don’think youse is Libertine Rush.’

‘Anyone else I’m good friends with? Apart from you.’

‘Dere’s da Lancier guy. Differences sex. Youse can’t bes him.’

‘Lancier…Kit? No, he doesn’t like being called that…Chris Lancier.’

‘What’s about da crazy ones. Duh ones whos thinks shes Mary Poppins?
’
‘That’s Mary Travers. How am I doing?’

‘Getting’ betters alls da times. Youse goods ats seekin’. Ahs bets youse could seek dem alls out.’

‘Seek. Seeker. Sara. Sara Seeker. I bet she could find anyone.’

‘Keeps youse eyes on da roads, sug’r. Just whose yous thinks yous is?’

‘You called me a Harbinger. Wouldn’t that make me…Jessie Opal? That name seems familiar.’

‘Youse shouldn’ts say those names ins da sames sentences. Youse tolds me verys secret.’

‘Very secret. I’m very secret?’

‘Nos. Youse nots Harbinger. Lasts weeks youse shared hers ability. Dey,’ Libertine pointed back at the bus, ‘Dey disn’t knows dat. Deys hads a reals tigers by dey tails. Joins da dots. ‘member whose youse is nows?’

The woman paused and continued driving, deeply in thought.

Finally, ‘So why do I think I’m Harbinger?’

‘Share. Youse share da ability an’ other tings. Describe youself.’

‘Short. Dark hair.’

‘Looks in da mirror, sug’r. Whats youse sees?’

The woman’s eyes briefly switched to the mirror and back then back. Several times before putting her foot on the break. ‘I’ve got dark hair. I thought I had dark hair. It’s gone now.’

‘Drives on, sug’r. Gavney wills knows fers sures udderwise.’

‘Sure. Just making a correction. Need to go a little more in this direction. Easier route. ‘

‘Whats youse discovers?’

‘I saw someone who wasn’t my face. Red head. Blue eyes.’

‘Dat’s youse, sug’r.’

‘But I kept seeing dark hair.’

‘Dat drugs called AntiC ans messy ups mores dan youse memories. Explains whys nouse ones heres coulds gets youse name rounds youse ors bothereds.’

‘How come you were so immune?’

‘Ah’s onlys heres ins spirit.’ Libertine chucked.

‘So I’m…I’m…’

‘Yous?’

‘My brain hurts. You’re so smart. You know all the answers. You tell me.’

This time it was Libertine’s time to be quiet. ‘Wease musts bes nearest maself. Youse powerful, sug’r, ifs youse affectin’ mes. Carefuls whos youse wish dead.’

‘Where did you leave your body?’

‘Caruthers keepin’ its safes.’

‘How does she know where you…we’re going?’

‘Blanks nots Psionics buts dos haves phones. Consultants scans tells wheres ta waits.’

‘I thought the Farsighters couldn’t detect Blanks.’

‘Nots her. Mes.’

‘Anyway, we’re nearly there.’

The horizon gave way to an expanse of blue. The Indian Ocean.

‘Over that way is the Yemen. The strait here is perfect way to trap ships. There’s a dock a little way up the coast. Probably going to leave it there before moving it further in…assuming they want to keep it.’ She paused. ‘The cargo is radioactive.’

They drove on.

‘You said I’m boosting you. But I don’t think I’m Sheena Ramone.’

‘Whys thats, sug’r?’

‘Can’t name the Ramone brothers.’

‘Goods as reasons as anys, sug’r.’

‘But why am I boosting?’

‘Whys youse sharin’?’

Libertine stared intently at the woman before speaking, ‘Its dones wit’ youse primarys powers buts ah’s…youse affectin’ mes, sug’r. Ah kin tells youse. Youse suppressin’ me nouse. Youse haves ta loves yaself.’

‘Huh?’

‘Sides effects o’da drugs, ‘spec, sug’r. Musts bes wearings off.’

‘Enough for you to tell me my name?’

‘#####. Sos muchs fer dat ideas.’

‘What other side effects?’

[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[o]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

The jeep and bus came to a halt at the jetty. Not totally make-shift with a couple lorries and a freight crane nearby. A couple ramshackle warehouses stood away from the dock. The ship was anchored with its gangplanks down.

‘Ares wease toos lates, sug’r.’

The woman look around, staring intently before closing her eyes this time before replying.
‘They arrived half an hour ago. The leader said to get their cars out of sight and get on-board as quickly as possible. The crew are still locked in below deck. The ship’s turbines are down but not cold. We could be away faster than I thought. They’re waiting for our arrival. Them, not the crew. There’s something fuzzy about the leader.’

She opened her eyes and looked at Libertine. ‘Was I really scanning?’

‘Ones o’yours betters talents, sug’r.’

‘And these people.’

‘Ifs youse harbingerings, den dey is outnumbered,’

‘Right.’

Gavney and Boreas came over from the bus. The faces of the hostages were pressed against the windows but not intent on doing anything without permission. Maybe they thought they were dreaming how easy things had been so far. Other than the gentle lapping of waves, it was very quiet.

‘I never thought we’d get this far without further more problems, lady,’ Gavney said with a big grin on his face as he approached them both. ‘You must be really lucky. You OK, Bar…’

Libertine turned and looked grim, ‘Mon, wease walkin’ inta ah traps.’

‘I want you all to stay here,’ ordered the woman. I don’t want to fall over any of your feet nor risk anyone getting killed. When it’s safe to come on-board I’ll shout.’

‘I am a member of the ground order of cowards,’ Boreas bowed. ‘I’ll stay with the bus.’

‘Youse, too, mon. Ah’s gots the guards uniform. Its alls works outs.’

Gavney stalled. ‘I’m good with a gun.’

The woman smiled. ‘This isn’t for amateurs..or pros like yourself. Remember what happened when we escaped. You really don’t want to be in the middle of that. I might not care who I lash out at this time.’

‘You know how to do that?’

‘More than you can think. You will obey me, right.’

Gavney stopped in his tracks, mouth agape, suddenly struggling to move.

‘Mr. Boreas, I think Mr. Gavney has just joined your cowards club, can you take him back to the bus please.’

Boreas looked at Gavney and then at the woman. ‘You have a way with words, Miss. Come along, old chap.’

The two of them watched the two men return to the bus, Gavney clearly subdued, and they walked up the gangway.

‘That felt good. He didn’t know what hit him.’

‘Probablies das sames as whens hes hits youse wits dat drug.’

‘Why didn’t I do it with some viciousness?’

‘Nots ins yours nature, sug’r. ‘cepts whens youse harbingering buts dats nots youse reallys. Youse prob’ly beens keepin’ da rests o’dem peeples calms, toos.’

‘What am I really?’

Libertine paused. ‘Strong character, sug’r. Nots muchs differences ta nouse. Youse goes ins wit’s reckless abandons sos dey others tells mes.’

‘You mean I’m reckless.’

‘Youse ah free spirit, sug’r. Youse does dey rights things.’

‘So let’s get the ship. What’s to stop us?’

CLICK!
CLICK!
CLICK!
CLICK!
CLICK!

‘Dems ahs tinks.’

Five pirates came out of the shadows, guns aimed at them. One of them gestured them to the poop deck. Waiting for them was Nergal with a black lady standing passively with her arms tied to her side. Her eyes glazed.

‘Tell me, Tullius, do you walk in a woman’s body these days?’

‘Dis onlys ones dere whens ah escapes ma prison. Thoughts youse was feedin’ da hungry, Nergal.’

‘I was and then my memory came back. You got to me, Tullius. I would never have thought that possible a few years ago.’

‘Was ah samples of da drugs ma Psionic beens feds. Strips da memories aways. Wa’ta sees its uses ons someones else.’

‘Did it enhance your abilities as well, girl?’ He addressed the woman. ‘It rejuvenated me. Almost worth the brief memory loss. My sources have found a name for you, girl. You’re…’

‘Sara Seeker. I’ve just remembered.’

‘Sara. Ah’s kin says its, too, Sara. Hopes youse kins stills harbingering.’

Even more pirates stepped out of the shadows surrounding them. All armed and pointing their way. About twenty of them.

‘Ifs Sara gots hers names backs dens she’s alsos full powers. Justs likes youse, Nergal. Onlys she’s news worlds Psionic. Destroyers ofs anys ins hers paths. Whys youse thinks shes ma allies wit’ mes?’

‘And you’re out-numbered?’

‘You jest. There’s only two of you.’

‘Likes ons da road?’

‘Only needs me and you’re still out-numbered.’

‘And I’m Nergel, death incarnate. I can wipe the floor with you without them.’

‘Want to find out?’ She turned and addressed the watching pirates. ‘I’m Sara Seeker, currently Harbinger and you people with guns ought to remember that I killed members of your group when they aimed their guns at me when they stopped us on the road. If Nergel unleashes his talent, he’ll wipe you out and he’s on your side. At least, you’ll know where you stand with me. I only kill those who aim at me. Which do you think deserves your support?’

‘Words, woman,’ but Nergal did seem uneasy.

Sara looked up at the pirates surrounding the deck. ‘The fact that you can understand me in all your native dialects should tell you I speak the truth. I speak in tongues. I don’t kill allies nor those who don’t have guns aimed at me. Can Nergal say that?’

The guns moved from targeting the two of them to Nergal. A choice had been made. Survival.

‘Ah’s ins dey lines ofs fires. Hopes deys good shots ,’ Libertine muttered. ‘Sees youse.’

The magic second of simultaneous events. The guard’s body dropped to his knees. Simultaneously, Libertine’s body suddenly flung herself forward and rolled away from Nergal as his pirates opened fire. Not at Sara but at their leader. Nergal went down on his knees as if in prayer as the bullets paraded themselves across his body.

Then there was silence as everyone appeared to be taking in what had gone on.
The man next to Sara pinched his eyes before looking around and standing up. Libertine returning to her own body had completed the domino effect and all the bodies she had owned in the past couple days would be coming to their senses.

‘Jim?’

‘He’s down on the quay. Go down to them and tell them to stay put until called, OK? Any pirates that follow are just going home.’

He nodded and made his way down the gangway, still a little dazed.

‘You OK, Libertine?’

The black woman got up, shaking the ropes that bound her off, looking disdainfully down at Nergal. The pirate guns had now moved to her.

Looking up at them. One threat removed. Would they take a chance with them now.

‘Ah is Baroness Samedi,’ she proclaimed loudly, kicking the ropes away. ‘Whats chances does youse haves whens ah beats ma brother, Tullius, dey once greats Baron Samedi. Does youse wants somes ofs ma vodun drowns youse ins dey sea?’

Libertine rolled her eyes and shook her body, giving a raucous laugh that echoed around the ship.

The look on the pirates faces of utter fear told its own story as they dropped their guns and fled. Not to the gangway but leaping into the sea.

Libertine chucked, ‘Fears ah greats removers, Sara.’

‘Especially as I was bluffing.’

‘Youse nots Harbinger?’

‘Must have happened when I remembered my name. That was some drug.’

Nergal’s body swayed but not to fall flat but started to get up.

‘A clever move, ladies. Without that drug, it might also have worked but it works like a salve to my wounds.’

The bullets fell out of his wounds as he looked around. ‘Now where was I? You’re powerless and I’m not. I’m death incarnate. It’s just us and no witnesses.’

Sara and Libertine looked up. Nergal looked down on them, growing in height, towering over them.
‘My brother made the mistake of under-estimating your kind. I haven’t and I’ve got the bomb material he craved.’

‘Only the core. No detonation device.’

‘What does that matter? The detonator can be built by anyone. It is still a formidable negotiation chip. Give me one country and I can work my way round to the rest of the world.’

‘Isn’t megalomania a bit old-fashioned? What do you really want?’

Nergal had a gleam in his eye. ‘Why, to be worshipped, of course. My mother’s previous children were looked upon as gods. It was only through their own bickering that they killed each other. Ragnorok. Twilight of the gods. That happens a lot. They made quite a name for themselves. All failures. If they hadn’t killed themselves, mother would have sooner or later. That or get killed herself. This time, she isn’t around to stop me.’

‘With you and Achillos, that’s only two. Hardly a pantheon.’

‘My sister is around somewhere. My lackadaisical brother, too. As to the others? We decided a long time ago, we’d kill each other if we stayed close. We don’t stay close. We’ll probably fight sooner or later. Better the occasional skirmish than an all-out war. When that happens, I want to be ready.’

‘Wit’ ma sword, I, Baroness Samedi, would kill you.’

‘But, my dear Baroness, you don’t have it with you. I found your body quite alone. Your mother had quite a reputation with it. You can’t even body swop without me killing your body. You would have nothing to come back to and easier to kill.’

There was a suddenly clump of a box dropping on the deck. Nergal turned as a sword blade scythed through his neck. The holder, Maxine Caruthers, looking down somewhat in disbelief as Nergal’s head rolled away from its body. Each of the women looked at each other before looking at Maxine Caruthers.

‘He…he wasn’t so tough,’ the Blank said after a minute but was physically shaking the sword, ‘Did I do right thing waiting? I had to leave…leave your body and wait.’

‘Youse di’ fines, childe.’ Libertine said, getting up, supporting Sara to her feet. ‘Youse beings ah Blank means ‘e dis sees youse. Saids I wou’ needs ma sword.’

‘I…I…just didn’t realise I would be the one using it.’

‘We did soften him up a little for you, Maxine,’ Sara added.

Libertine took the sword off Maxine and wiped its blade on Nergal’s body, which then moved.
‘He’s still alive,’ gasped Maxine.

‘Not fa’long, childe.’ Libertine took her sword from the Blank and with deft strokes, cut his body into bits before doing the same to the head. There was no blood but it did visibly shrink to normal size with each cut.

‘Youse burn ‘im in da ship boiler. Youse as fuels. Makes sures he’s gon’ completelys.’

‘He didn’t bleed,’ Sara said inspecting the pieces very cautiously.

‘His bads lucka, Sara. Ah’s heard ofs suchs things.’

‘Is it bad?’

Libertine pondered and kicked a couple pieces. ‘Coulds re-builds. Burns its alls, childe.’

‘Why me?’ Maxine asked.

‘Youse dids deys firsts chops. Wease can’ts ask crews ors hostages. Wease gots ah fews details tas sorts outs.’

‘You got the hostages?’

‘Youse deaf, childe? Deres ah bag dere. Drags his bones an’flesh ta dey boiler. Makes fuel fer da getaway.’

Libertine walked off with her sword, still unsheathed.

‘Only the shittiest jobs. She could have pointed out a fork or something.’ Maxine gingerly picked up part of Nergal’s head by its hair and dropped it into the sack.

‘Nouse bloods, childe.’ Libertine’s voice echoed back. ‘Cleaners den somes.’

‘There’s a brush over there,’ Sara said. ‘I’ve got to free the crew. We need to catch this tide. With Nergal gone, other pirate leaders may want to take on this bounty.’

‘And I wait all this time just to do the shitty work.’

‘Not so shitty, Maxine. Do you want him to get up and kill you?’

The Blank’s face dropped. ‘He can do that?’

‘I don’t want to find out. The same way we didn’t want a taste of what he could do.’

Down in the hold, Libertine stood watching the tubby Boreas looking at the nuclear material. The throbbing of the engines coming back to power. Sara must have released the crew and got the hostages on board. She quietly walked up beside him.

‘I’m just looking, Baroness. I have no desire to fall to your sword. I told you I was a coward.’

‘Wease nevers mets. Why’s youse tink ah’s nots Tullius alls dis time? Ah fools youse brother.’

Boreas turned to look at her. ‘Tullius would have known what I was. Would probably have killed me than turn my back on him.’

‘Ah’s mes?’

‘I didn’t think Tullius would have left his body so vulnerable. The only other black body jumper is Baroness Samedi. I heard you’d vanished somewhere after you disposed of your brother. Are his followers still tracking you?’

‘Maybes.’

‘Your secret is safe. I thought it safer to stay with the winning side. I’m not a threat. Any power I had was waning years ago. I’m just trying to avoid Medea’s curse.’

‘Medea’s curse. Youse means nouse off-springs survives cos deys kills eachs others. Ah’s heards o’dat. Deys so’s manys myths ‘bouts youse peoples evens ins Haiti.’

‘My generation has been quiet until recently. Especially when mother went missing. Some foolhardy trip to Oceania I heard. We collectedly wanted to prove mother had finally got it right and that we wouldn’t kill each other. Too much time on our hands. It didn’t work. Achillos went megalomaniac. Nergal got greedy. I just got old.’

‘Ands de others?’

‘Like you, I have no idea until they surface. We did start fighting if we stay around each other too long. It’s tradition or genetic. We stayed away from each other. We’ve only come out when plans are in motion. When I realised Nergal was in Somalia, it seemed best to hide under his nose in one of his camps as a hostage. I didn’t mind. I wanted to see what he was up to anyway. Then I felt both of you.’

‘Ands nouse?’

Boreas waved his hand. ‘I’m not that bright. I like the humble life. Keep this…material safe. You need to be careful transporting it in future. One of my family might well claim it again one day.’

Libertine turned. Boreas was gone, like the wind he was named after. If he was ever there in the first place. She shook her head but cautiously looked around. It was unlikely Boreas would attack her when she was armed with her mother’s sword but who knows what Medea’s children would do when they turned. Satisfied that the uranium was safe, she left the hold as the ship’s engines began to throb and was guided away from the Somali dock. It was still high tide and wouldn’t need a tug.

[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[o]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

At sea, Gavney joined Sara Seeker at the bow of the ship. Neither spoke for some time.

‘Would it help to say I was told to get you into Somalia as quickly as possible, Miss McKay, to rescue the uranium?’

‘Giving me amnesia along the way?’

‘I was told you were extremely dangerous. They were right about that. I was told the drug would keep you subdued until we landed and then brief you. No one told me about the amnesia side-effect. I had to improvise, especially when our guards dropped dead. As far as the pirates were concerned, it was the Taliban who dropped us off with four passengers as volunteer hostages. Nothing personal. I couldn’t afford you to say no. By the way, just what did you do to those guards?’

‘I was just lucky. They weren’t. You really wouldn’t want to know. Your people would raise your security clearance and never let you in the field again.’

The silver-haired man shrugged. ‘Perhaps that’s just as well. I appreciate you rescuing the other member of my team. I’m glad I didn’t bring more.’

This time, Sara shrugged. ‘More by luck than judgement on my part. You put us in at a disadvantage. We would have stepped in to sort this matter out if my people hadn’t had to focus on rescuing me.

‘We gave a message to the Russians when they tried manipulating us a while back. Ask. We would have gotten involved in this situation anyway.’

‘How would you know?’

Sara looked at him with a hint of contempt. ‘It’s what we do. It’s why we tend to defuse situations before they escalate.’

‘All situations?’

‘We pick the ones that normal involvement wouldn’t solve cleanly. We’re good at our job. It’s often asked why we don’t go into some extremely dangerous hotspots in the world and just sort it out. With our abilities, we could probably stop drugs trade or child prostitution in an instance, except that we’d have to go in and do a repeat six months later because we couldn’t wipe it out entirely. The toil in our own heads is also extreme. We have our own limitations. It is better to be a fine scalpel and take out the most shittiest people than ultimately wipe everyone out. You might also prefer us not to pay particular attention to the Agency in that regard.’

‘Is that why I was told your people aren’t welcome in the States? There was a rumour that one of your people stopped us being potty mouthed.’

‘Your people also have a paranoia that we would steal your secrets. Tell your people that we don’t care what secrets you have. We’re aware of what we need to do to succeed.’

‘And yet the world is still falling apart. We’re trying to save the world. We are still its policemen.’

‘A lot of the time for what’s in it for your country at the end of the day. A lot of countries do things like that. We don’t work like that. Your people are afraid that we’re better qualified at it with no hidden agenda. They find that scary, that’s all.’

Gavney paused to light a cigarette, only to fail to get it to light.

‘Dirty habit.’ He flicked the cigarette overboard. ‘Perhaps I ought to give it up.’

‘Remind your people that “God save America” only works if there is a god listening. As he isn’t, we’re the next best thing. The likes of Nergal here shows there are people who can’t be taken out at your level. He’d have wiped you all out at his party without a thought.
‘Like the third world countries, you rely on the belief that some greater being will step in, sweep away the bad stuff and make everything right again. That’s our job. We’re the scalpel to sort things out, you don’t even want us in your country and yet still want our help under your own terms. You people really need to get your act together or at least trust us to do our job without interference.’

‘That’s out of my hands…’

‘Of course. You’re not security cleared for our level. Your report will be self-doctored. All that you will remember is the drug was dangerous and shouldn’t be used again. We sorted out this problem despite you not because of you. They’ll expect you to have no memory of events. Your people see that as our trademark. Tell them kidnapping one of us would have made what we did in Somalia look tame in comparison. You don’t really want that. Now, off you go and sleep those memories away.’

end

© GF Willmetts 2011
(c) 2011 Psi-Kicks, Blanks, Sara Seeker, Libertine Rush and Maxine Caruthers
Boreas and Nergal can’t be copyrighted because they are Sumero-Babylonian Gods
All rights reserved
Ask before borrowing
If only the Somali pirates problem could be solved as in this story.