Date: Sun, 6 Apr 2008 14:36:13 -0700 (PDT)
From: E Walk <cane_lane_candy@yahoo.com>
Subject: Pinochle Chapter 30

Pinochle
By E Walk
(Copyrighted by the author)
Edited by Will B.

Chapter 30 - Finally Someone Talks

This is Grant.

As we were boarding the mini bus, Mr. Mason suggested, "Why don't we stop
at the Horn and Thistle for afternoon tea?  They have some of best scones
and clotted cream in all of England.  We could sit on the veranda and
perhaps there will be a polo match going on in the adjacent club area."

Shamus looked at Uncle Hank who nodded, "I know where that is Minister
Mason.  I'll direct Rafael to the establishment."

Brian asked, "What's clotted cream?"

Uncle Hank answered, "It's something like your whipped cream only it is
made by heating cream and I would suggest that you might not want to put
too much on the scones since it is something like whipped butter.  You
might prefer to stick with the marmalades and jams, but I think that you
should at least try some so you can brag to your friends that you had
scones and clotted cream."

The stop was about half way to London and I think everyone's adrenalin had
finally stopped pumping so it was probably a good thing we took a break,
since some of us had to go to the bathroom.  We stopped at the reception
desk and Mr. Mason asked, "Are there any tables available on the veranda?"

The young woman curtsied, "Yes Minister Mason, let me show you to the
tables.  There is a tea table set up on the veranda since it is such a
lovely day.  The afternoon rush is over so there will be no problem and
there is a polo match going on in the adjacent field."

A buffet table was set up next to the wall and there were four big carafes
of different kinds of hot tea and two of cold drinks.  There were four
large trays with different types scones and some dishes of clotted cream
and some small containers of different kinds of marmalades and jams.

We let the four older adults and the three young women go first to see what
they did.  The four adults, being British, took generous helpings of the
clotted cream as did Vicky. Maria and Inga were a little more conservative
so the three of us Yanks decided to follow suit.

The four older adults were seated at a table and we six teenagers were
seated at an adjacent table, but we were next to the wall beside the field
where the polo match was being played.  Brian was seated closest to the
playing field.  He was eating and started to yell, "Hey, you on the gray
horse, you aren't trying.  It's as if every time someone comes charging at
you, you veer away.  Don't let them intimidate you.  Keep charging and they
will pull away.  Now knock that silly croquet ball into the net."

Brian turned to everyone and asked, "Why would anyone want to play croquet
while riding on horses?  I guess they're too lazy to walk."

The rider, who was on the gray horse came over, "I heard that comment about
being too lazy.  If I had time, I would show you that this is a sport that
requires a lot of strength.  I guess you will never be able to play,
though."

Brian wasn't about to let this anonymous person get the last word.  "You
just wait, sir, the next time I come back to your fair country I'll take
you on.  I'll practice next week when we are at the nude dude ranch."

The rider turned to leave, "I'll be ready for you, Yank."

Everyone had been watching the exchange and finally Vicky spoke, "That
gentleman looked an awful lot like Prince Harry.  I know he is back from
Afghanistan.  Surely he wouldn't be taking his time to banter about with
us."

As we were getting ready to leave, after Mr. Mason had paid for our tea and
scones, Rafael announced, "Senor and Senora Montoya would appreciate it if
you all could join them for a small fiesta when we get back.  I took the
liberty of accepting, since Shamus told me that Mr. Peters and Mr. Cox's
cook was off for the evening.  Minister and Mrs. Mason, you have no one
home waiting for you do you?"

This is Brian.

I looked at Rafael, "Thanks for asking, but Vicky and I need to go see our
psychiatrists after today, and I think we need to take Ben and Grant to get
checked to make sure they haven't contacted some contagious disease from
our would be captors.  Next time do you suppose you might check with
everyone before accepting for us?"

Ben moved toward me and whispered, "Back off Bri, I agree with you, in a
way, but Uncle Hank and Uncle Rod paid our way here."

I looked at Ben and Grant and said loud enough for everyone to hear, "I
realize that we are Uncle Hank and Uncle Rod's guests.  Everyone has been
wonderful to us, but they haven't asked us for any input on what we would
like to do."

Uncle Hank had a funny look on his face, "Guys, we apologize.  Brian, you
have every right to be a little upset.  We should perhaps have checked with
you first about what we were planning, but even we didn't know that you
three young men were going to be involved with three beautiful young women,
and we certainly didn't realize that we were going to be invited to Maria's
parents' residence, not only once, but twice."

This is Ben.

I think Brian's bluntness rather shocked some of the people who didn't know
him.  Maria was the first to speak, "Brian, I'm sure my parents would
understand if you would rather not join us for the fiesta.  Rafael can take
you back to Mr. Cox and Mr. Peters' house."

Brian realized that he had made himself look rather foolish. He stood,
"Everyone, I apologize for my outburst, but it's not every day that one
experiences a feeling of being kidnapped and then informed that Vicky and I
were going to be sold as slaves."

Vicky joined in, "I agree with Brian.  We are the people that should have
been consulted because of what happened to us.  Please, in the future, ask
us for our opinions.  Maria, we will be glad to attend the fiesta.  Come on
Brian, let's go for a walk before we get back on the bus."

The rest of us were sitting at a picnic table in the parking lot, waiting
for the two fourteen year olds to return.  I looked at everyone, "Ladies
and gentlemen, I am not going to apologize for Brian.  Please consider how
you would have responded if you were fourteen and had just about been
kidnapped.  I don't think there are any emotional scars, but I think that
maybe Vicky and Brian will be having wild dreams for some time."

I was surprised when no one said anything.  Grant was sending me a message,
"Ben, don't say anything else.  Let everyone have his or her own thoughts.
You've planted some seeds and I am sure that something good will come out
of it."

Brian and Vicky came back to the bus and everyone boarded.  There was very
little conversation the rest of the way to London and the Montoya
residence.  Brian's interest sparked when we were stopped at the gate by
two armed guards.  Rafael spoke to the gentlemen in Spanish.  The gate
opened and Rafael started through.

Brian surprised everyone but me, "Rafael, why did you tell the guards that
you were bringing us here for our protection?"

Rafael stopped the bus and turned around, "Brian, you understood what I
said?"

"Yes, and I'm sure that Ben did too."  Brian answered.

I nodded, "Our father insisted that we learn to speak Spanish when we
turned eight.  Brian has a natural knack for languages."

Rafael shook his head, "Everyone, I will explain more about what is
happening, once when we get inside.  Brian, I apologize for upsetting you
without meaning to today, but I believe this is important and this is the
safest place for everyone to be right now."

As Rafael was pulling in front of the main entrance, Inga spoke, "I hope
all the dialogue isn't going to be in Spanish, because I, for one, don't
understand Spanish."

Brian must have been feeling better because he started talking to Inga in
Swedish which caused some people's heads to turn.

Inga laughed, "Bri, I think it might not be a good idea to be saying things
like that in Swedish.  Someone might understand."

This is Grant.

I swear Brian was like a chameleon.  As soon as Maria introduced everyone
to her parents, Brian turned into the charming innocent young teenager.
You would never have known that he and Vicky had been involved in a close
encounter.

The Montoyas were delightful people and they even offered us a wine
cocktail which the Masons approved.  The food was very different from
anything I had ever eaten and Maria explained what we were eating to
us. The paella was great.  Brian was having a difficult time with fried
calamari.

The adults, except for Jaime, Rafael and Shamus ate at one table and the
six of us teenagers ate at another.  Jaime, Rafael and Shamus were sitting
off by themselves.  During the meal, Rafael was on the phone several times.
When everyone was finished eating, he, Shamus and Jaime talked with
Ambassador Montoya, Mr. Mason, Uncle Rod and Uncle Hank and they went into
the house.

Shamus returned to get the rest of us.  When we entered a conference-like
room, Rafael, Uncle Hank and Mr. Mason were all on phones.  We couldn't
hear what they were saying.  As they finished their conversations, they
returned to the conference table and sat down.  Rafael was the last to sit
down.

I was surprised when Uncle Hank stood and started to speak, "Ladies, I
apologize for involving you in this matter, but you all have been
implicated and the matter is still not completely resolved.  Senora Montoya
and Kate, your daughters have been identified as targets of a slavery ring
as well as our three visitors from America.  The four perverts that we
caused to be incarcerated today have been spilling their insides.  It seems
that their two bosses and two more cohorts are still on the loose."  Uncle
Hank turned to Rafael, "Senor Ortiz, would you please explain what has been
happening?"

Rafael stood, "It seems that one or two of the leaders of the kidnapping
ring spotted the six of you young people when you arrived in London
yesterday.  They only know where Maria and Inga are residing as of now.
What makes this case so different is that they usually concentrate on
kidnapping young people about the age of Vicky and Brian; but for some
reason, the leaders of the ring are determined to get Inga, Maria, Grant
and Ben as well.  They must have had a special order for people meeting
your specifications."

Rafael continued, "As of now, Mr. Cox and Mr. Peters, your house will have
24 hour a day protection from the local police.  The same goes for your
residence, Minister Mason.  It appears that these people are determined and
no one will be safe until we catch the last four suspects.  I hate to ask
this, but perhaps especially Vicky and Brian could make themselves
vulnerable as they did today by leaving the group to wander on their own."

This is Ben.

My hackles went up when Rafael made that last statement.  "Rafael, why
would you put two fourteen year olds at risk, instead of Grant and me?"

Rafael wasn't to be deterred, "Ben, we know for a fact that young people
the age of Vicky and Brian are their mainstay.  They are especially
interested in fair skinned, blue eyed blonds.  I guess that is what the
market calls for these days."

Uncle Hank was very calm, "I suggest that we go to our respective homes to
think about what you have proposed, Rafael.  We would like to visit with
our guests' parents before anyone makes any commitments.  I am very
uncomfortable about exposing any of these young people to any more trauma
than they have already been exposed to.  Now why don't you have someone
drive Minister and Mrs. Mason and Vicky home.  We probably shouldn't all be
seen together until the proper time."

Rafael made a call and the Masons were escorted to the embassy's limousine.
Vicky was instructed to remain out of sight as they exited the compound.

After we said goodnight to the Montoyas and Inga, we were taken to a van.
Rafael instructed Brian, Grant and me to lie down of the floor, as we were
leaving the compound. Brian was having a field day, "Hey, I wonder if they
are going to give us a number like 007 or something.  Hey, guys, I'm
scared."

Rafael was driving and drove to the alley behind Uncle Hank and Uncle Rod's
house and we quickly exited and entered the house by the back door.  As
soon as Rafael had parked the van, Shamus let him in.

He had us all congregate in the sitting room.  Rafael took charge, "Mr. Cox
and Mr. Peters, I think that one of us should sleep with Master Brian
tonight.  I really don't want him to be alone.  I'm sure he is safe, but I
want to be positive.  Everyone would have my head in a noose if something
happened to him.  I figure that Grant and Ben can take care of themselves."

This was more than Brian could handle, "Wait a minute, don't I have a say
in this matter? Jaime, you can sleep with me; Rafael, you can sleep with
Shamus to make sure that we are protected from above.  Come on Jaime, I
suppose you are going to want to watch me take a shower too.  I don't think
there will be any fireworks tonight.  I'll probably need a sedative to get
to sleep."

Jaime followed Brian up the steps.  Uncle Hank looked at Grant and me,
"What is Brian's I.Q.?"

My mind was totally blown away by that question.  "Uncle Hank, I overhead a
conversation between Granddad Josh and Dad, and Granddad Josh said that
both Brian and I had I.Q.s in the high 150s whatever that might mean.  I
know that we are both very good students, and in fact, I was graduated
number one in my high school class."

I looked at Uncle Rod and Uncle Hank and pointed my finger, "I am assuming
that since you made Grant my equal he probably has an I.Q. about the same
as mine.  Now, if you will excuse us, we need to go to bed.  It has been
two very long days."

Rafael laughed, "Yeah, I guess you want to sample the goodies."

Grant looked at everyone, "I guess you'll never know.  We are going to bed
so you can enjoy your own passion fruits.

This is Brian.

When I came out of the shower, Jaime was standing there watching me.  He
pulled me close and I felt secure.  He kissed me on the cheek and
whispered, "Brother, I won't let anything bad happen to you.  Get into bed
while I take care of my needs."

I could hear him showering and it seemed to be taking a long time.  I guess
I must have been exhausted because I don't remember a thing until I woke up
about five o'clock in the morning and felt Jaime's arms around me.  He was
dressed in pajama bottoms and who knows what else.  I pulled away to go
relieve my bladder and when I came out of the bathroom Jaime was sitting on
the bed watching me.

Jaime smiled, "Brian, I can see why the slave marketers would be interested
in you.  You are a beautiful young man.  Now are we going to get up or
what?  Why don't we go to the basement and do a light workout before anyone
else stirs?"

I didn't feel like going back to bed, so I agreed, "Let's go do a light
workout.  I would really rather go running, but I guess that is not an
option."

Jaime surprised me, "Let me go alert the bobbies that we are going running.
We'll slip out the back door. And they can follow us to the park.  Surely
nothing can happen at this hour in the morning. Can it?"

Author's comment: If you would like to read more of this story and other
interesting stories, you might want to visit www.tickiestories.us.

Editor's comments: Our E. A. (Esteemed Author) never ceases to amaze me
with the twists and turns he comes up with in his stories.  I hope some of
our readers will write and tell him that they are enjoying the stories.