Greetings all as the week comes to another close. Before I begin allow me the pleasure of bestowing gratitude to Anna, Shilpa and Jo for reading my latest words which you took the time to read. As always it's much appreciated and thanks also to the silent ones who also had a view of my latest musings.
What comes to my mind today is that we ought to take the time to cheer ourselves up from time to time. With so much sadness around there comes a point where we need to brighten up our spirit. Always remember, a hint of a smile, a peal of laughter is some of the best healing you can enjoy. The saying after all is laughter is the best medicine and I do try to subscribe that point of view, even when there are times that it's hard to find that golden light. When we get times like this then there are ways we can try to ameliorate our dimming spark with that golden light.
Why not take the time to read an old book of cheer, play a funny song, a fine old amusing film or do what I do and search out some fine amusement with Laurel and Hardy. Yes, it's from a bygone age but it always brings forth a rise in our moods and for your delectation here's a link for you to have a look at : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_Y4Ep3z0cY
Upon the morrow I'm looking forward to leading a meditation, working with conscious creature cards in development and then a mini platform in mediumship. It promises to be a full day and I can't wait. There are literally just a couple of places left and should you like to come along then do get in touch ASAP and I'll try to fit you in.
Now it's time to enter the vaults once again. Ah, what have we here I wonder...hmm, quite topical and there are a couple of grisly bits so not for those who are of a nervous disposition, so please don't read if you are. For the rest of you, here's a story for you that did get published ooh, way back around 2010 or so I reckon.
Pest Control
He couldn’t believe the British were so unprepared.
‘On your feet.’
A confused young girl stares back.
‘You, get up.’
An unsmiling female martinet drags her victim from the floor.
‘Come on.’
Her colleagues look to the floor.
‘Hello Jaquleline’ says a man called Vasily who fingers a badge with her name.
‘What do you want with me?’ she asks.
‘I’m sorry but look at the laptop.’
The purchase ledger clerk for Specials observes two shadows edging along the side of their building.
‘The problem with your government is they think we’re playing games.’
The heat sources pause. The lowest figure on screen secures a rope to some masonry.
‘I have to show them I’m very serious about what we do.’
The man pulls a gun from his belt and fires. The bullet pierces Jaqueline’s forehead. He fires into a window and creates a glassy opening. Jacqueline’s body follows a trail of shards to the pavement.
The rest of Hanover Equities staff sit in silent terror. Jacqueline’s immediate boss; Susan Rowe remembers how bright and confident her colleague was. Her tears drip fast along with hysterical screaming.
‘Shut up.’
Vasily’s colleague punches Susan’s windpipe. Susan doubles over choking on starved oxygen.
‘Take it easy Imelda. Look, the sparrows are flying.’
Two invaders scuttle away from the laptop’s monitor.
A phone rings. Vasily ignores the sound and picks up a redundant shoe. He tosses it out the window to join its former owner.
Vasily beckons to a bespectacled hamster hiding behind a pencil of a girl.
‘You.’
‘No, please, I beg you. I have a wife and family.’
Vasily grabs the man’s collar. He drags him to the funereal window with a gun snuggled into the base of his neck.
‘I don’t want to die.’
A fetid odour escapes from Billy ‘have a laugh’ Jenson. No one giggles though. Vasily pushes his quarry onto the window ledge.
The phone rings in ever increasing urgency.
‘Do you believe they’ll take me seriously now Billy? Maybe then you won’t have to fly.’
The office manager yells when a chubby foot slips into vacant air.
‘Maybe, your government will talk sensibly now.’
Billy crashes to the carpet before scrabbling back to his friends. Vasily picks up the receiver.
‘You take me serious now?’
‘Always Sir. Please stop shooting the hostages , it makes the situation more complicated.’
‘You and I both know the only reason she’s dead is because of your impatience. It was your stupidity that caused her death.’
‘Look, we may have misread you but we must explore all avenues, especially when you haven’t told of us of what you want or who you are.’
‘Tell me your name first.’
‘Gordon Price.’
‘Well Gordon, for the rest of these negotiations you can call me Lenin.’
‘Thank you. Mr Lenin, perhaps you could tell me what you want.’
‘I want you and the American government to stop prying into Russian affairs. Too long has our great country been cowering like a beggar to your subtle games.’
Imelda draws a cup from a water dispenser and marches beside her fellow freedom fighter.
‘Now things change.
First, you will release the four diplomats you have falsely imprisoned for the murder of Stanislav Jirokowski.
Second, you will arrange for a fully fueled plane to be ready for us.
Third, you will hand over one hundred million pounds sterling in cash.
Finally, you will withdraw your forces to an exclusion zone of five miles. Mr Price, please understand any non compliance will result in liquidation of the hostages.
Also, as you are now no doubt aware, there are enough explosives in this building to cause unprecedented damage.’
‘Thank you Lenin. I need to speak to my superiors first.’
‘Fifteen minutes. When I see sixteen the next hostage will join Jacqueline. Twenty minutes, two more will follow, twenty five another two and so on.’
‘You have to give me more time.’
Vasily slams the phone down.
‘Well?’
‘We’ve got fifteen minutes.’
The commissioner scratches his head.
‘They know we can’t meet their demands. These bastards want to become martyrs. Gordon, try to keep them talking.’
Commissioner Graham turns away from his negotiator and stares at a uniformed rhino of a man.
‘Colonel Adams, what do you suggest?’
‘We go in hard. Casualties are inevitable whatever we do.’
‘Is there no other option?’
Steven Adams shakes his head.
‘I’m afraid not.’
The Commissioner prepares to agree.
‘Excuse me Sir, but there may be another way.’
‘I beg your pardon. I have no idea who you are but I suggest you speak fast.’
Colonel Adams frowns when he recognizes the head of the Vesparis project.
‘This, Commissioner, is Professor Louis Vivian. He is from cybernetics R&D.’
‘Thank you Colonel, I’m quite capable of speaking for myself. Commissioner, I believe we can neutralise the problem. A situation like this requires an unconventional response.’
‘Get to the point.’
‘We have a team of specialised units which could infiltrate the enemy position undetected in less than five minutes. They would probably eliminate the enemy with minimal friendly casualties. They have yet to be beta tested but preliminary results suggest a high percentage of success.’
Colonel Adams could stomach no more.
‘Commissioner, we need action not toys.’
‘Thank you Colonel, at least let him finish. Vivian, how high is the potential percentage of success?’
‘Our model believes there will be a ninety five percent chance of a satisfactory resolution. The units have been given the co-ordinates and await your go ahead.’
He was paid to make hard decisions. Mark Graham prayed he could live with the order he was about to give.
‘Soon Imelda. Not long before fatty joins his friend.’
Vasily glances below. The enemy would make their move soon enough. He’d then make his play and sign his name into history.
He doesn’t notice four strange wasps flying in.
Vasily looks to two of his men with their guns trained on the hostages. The plan had been easy for the squad to accomplish their objective.
‘It will soon be time comrades.’
The first wasp drops to the floor and scuttles towards Vasily’s boot. Its body is not striped in yellow and black. This strange creature and fellow insects are cloaked in grey. The creature waits for its colleagues to take position.
Vasily points to Barry and beckons.
‘No. They’ll be getting the money ready right now.’
‘Get to the window,’ urges Imelda, oblivious of the strange bug crawling up her back.
‘Barry, you don’t get it do you?’ asks Vasily.
‘Look, they’ll pay you. Don’t let me die.’
‘That’s the problem Barry. They most certainly will not.’
The soon to be ex office manager feels steel nuzzle into the base of his skull. With his legs shaking, he stumbles into Gemini daylight.
The wasp emits a static hum before moving with alacrity to the base of Vasily’s neck. Imelda stares at the curious insect, confused at the bizarre behaviour. The wasp does not slow. The insect readies a sting in perfect unison with its fellow warriors. Imelda means to issue a warning yet her voice makes no alarm. Her lips gurgle in destruction when her own wasp drills into her neck and into her brain. Blood and gristle splatters into a tray marked invoices pending.
The two remaining kidnappers collapse in their own dance of pest control. Vasily’s fate is no different. He folds forward along with Barry.
‘Mission almost a complete success Sir,’ beams an excited Professor Vivian.
‘The sky diving hostage was unfortunate. Still, all things being equal, I’d say a pretty good result Professor. Wouldn’t you agree Colonel?’
The soldier was appalled.
‘I respect the outcome but not the method. This is not soldiering.’
Four insects sweep onto the command table. Louis enters a few figures into a keyboard. The cyber-insects flap their mechanical wings several times before entering their recharge state. Professor Vivian cannot help feeling smug. He will approach the Prime Minister tomorrow and insist on phase two.
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