CHAPTER 10

Conner stood out because he was actually standing. That made Captain Mack stand out because, while her boss was not lounging around on wicker chairs, she was not about to do so either. The only good news about this, as Katie saw it, was the fact that she was not loaded down with all of her field gear. Usually when you got stuck with Conner, that was a perk. As Katie had long since noticed, the Major took every opportunity not to wear all the mayhem that was now standard for US soldiers. Since the guy in charge set the uniform of the day, in this case more by example, then you could get away with what he did and, right now, Phil Conner was that guy. He was the one that had command of the advanced detachment, an honor he seemed to always get stuck with.

Their hosts were not so formal and, as Katie had noticed, nobody around this place seemed to be, including the guy who owned it. As she understood, this plantation estate was owned by a human that was not from Earth. His name was Curwin Losmun, if Katie heard the pronunciantion correctly, and he was apparently a leading citizen up here around Uea-Au. Katie had seen almost nothing of the city, so far, but, this guy lived right at the edge of it and seemed to own every acre of land that was within sight of his house, plus some more. Back home, such a spread would be worth cold hard cash and Katie had no reason to assume it was any different here.

He looked to be almost Hispanic, maybe even Native American but, past the pure aesthetics, there was very little about Losmun that would tie him to any particular culture on Earth. His accent was certainly bizarre to listen too, as was some of his choice of words. Past that, the guy could have almost been British. He had a like for Beatles records, spoke of James Bond, and used common British idioms. His command of English seemed to be just as good as his use of his own native language. He claimed to have once lived in London and that might have gone a long way towards explaining his linguistic skills. It certainly went a long ways towards explaining his wife.

Kate was shocked when the woman spoke. Penelope Losmun saw the reaction as well. Without being asked she did admit, “yes Captain, I’m British, Welsh to be exact. I’m originally from Cardiff.”

That caused Katie and Phil to exchange glances of “I told you so.” It made Katie somewhat nervous but, her boss Phil, kept his usual poker face and calm demeanor. He still did not sit down when his hosts did and, so, Katie kept right on standing beside him. She then saw the other guy walk out. He had stuck out quite a bit around here since no one else wore a flowery like Hawaiian button down shirt. Finally, Katie heard his voice and it confirmed it, the guy was an American. Katie had to figure he was also a spook.

The man’s sides were graying and it appeared as if he used a little hair color to fight it back. It was obvious that, at one time, he had probably been pretty fit but, now, he had a little pot belly and the start of some descent sized jowls. The guy perpetually smiled and it made Katie a little nervous. He also took the time to shake hands. When he shook Katie’s he said, “and the answer to your question, Captain, is yes.”

Katie remained business like, “I didn’t say anything Mister Arbuckle.”

“No,” he pointed at her and winked with a click of his lips, “but you were wondering. So let’s just get the shit out of the way. I’m NSA.” Conner cleared his throat and Arbuckle replied, “what Phil? Like she’s not going to figure it out on her own?” As Arbuckle went for a lounge chair, and a drink, he told the army Major, “not a lot of secrets up here. Why bother?”

Before Phil could reply, and thankfully he did not have too, Arbuckle continued, “and Super-Seven Four just passed the last way point so your guests are going to be here faster than we thought. They caught a good tail wind on the way up.”

Katie mumbled to Phil, “the reporter?”

Unfortunately, everyone heard her since Katie had not made much of an attempt at hiding her words. Now she regretted it. Arbuckle rolled right back off his lounge chair, “whoa, Phil, Bubba, you didn’t tell me that Patty Walsh chick was on that bird.” He now looked like a man in deep thought and was considering a move.

Katie rolled her eyes at the guy. He looked to be way past his prime even if it was obvious he still thought of himself as a player. If Katie had to pick a word to describe this guy it would probably be, “lush.” He also noticed her reaction and asked, “you don’t approve?”

Katie now picked her words carefully, “well you’re not exactly my type, Mister Arbuckle.”

“Call me Bruce,” and he thought about it for a moment longer and then asked, “I thought the army had that don’t ask don’t tell thing?”

Now Katie rolled her eyes in frustration, “I’m not gay Mister Arbuckle!”

Bruce got defensive and shrugged it off, “hey, don’t sweat it Katie, I don’t judge.”

She snarled back, “and you can call me Captain.”

Fortunately it appeared as if some brilliant idea had just lit up in his cobweb infested brain. Bruce raised a finger as if to make a point and said, “I got to take a shower. See you guys later.”

Once the spook rushed off, Katie looked at Phil and was still a bit angered, “don’t tell me this is where our S-2 is coming from.”

Phil simply shrugged off the question about who was gathering their intelligence. He had figured it was probably coming from multiple sources or, at least, he hoped it was. He could not exactly tell that to Mack so, instead, “I have no idea.” It was close enough to the truth. Then he tried to reassure her, “don’t worry Captain. He’s an ex-navy S.E.A.L. and, I hear tell, he was even in Vietnam.”

That news made Katie blink and reply, “he couldn’t even have been born when the Vietnam War was going on.”

Phil calmly and blandly replied, “I didn’t say war. I said he was in Vietnam.”

“Oh,” Katie thought about that for a minute and then asked, “what was he doing there?”

Phil almost did not want to reply but, finally, he said, “if you believe him, he was getting laid.” Fortunately the sound of a helicopter interrupted the conversation and Phil noted that his hosts were getting up from their lawn chairs. They seemed to want to meet the new arrivals as well. As they walked out to the part of the lawn where the helicopter was preparing to land, Phil did note to his host, Curwin, “you do realize she’s going to take everything you say and spread it all over my world, right?”

As Curwin adjusted his spectacles he replied, “I hope so Major. That’s the idea.” The way the guy sounded so resolute and convicted made Phil wonder if he truly understood the media back home. He said he had lived in London, something of a contradiction right there, and that meant that just maybe he did understand? Phil had to wonder.

Then, out of the blue, Curwin said, “dealing with elves makes Sky News look like a primary school and the BBC a damn nursery.” This statement left Phil wondering if the guy had read his mind and subtle body cues. Maybe Curwin would not be so helpless, with the reporter, after all?