| Subject: Chapter 149 |
Author:
Lynuslinus
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Date Posted: Saturday, October 16, 05:53:36pm
In reply to:
Lynuslinus
's message, "Whispered Identities - Chapter 129 and forward" on Sunday, August 22, 06:05:27pm
Nikita woke with a start, and squinted at the bright overhead flashing lights of the petrol station. She frantically looked around for Michael and reached down for her handbag and the revolver contained inside. Suddenly, Michael appeared from the men’s washroom and disappeared inside the station; moments later he opened the car door and handed Nikita a tray holding two cups of steaming coffee.
“Where are we Michael....inside Portugal yet?”
“No....another few kilometers. I was going to wake you to stop for dinner but you were sleeping so peacefully.”
“Wow....I must have been tired....how are you doing? Want me to drive?”
“Let’s wait until we cross the border....then find a restaurant and....well, if you feel up to driving through to near Lisbon....we can save some money by not stopping for the night.”
“Yes....sounds fine with me.”
Michael snapped his seat belt in place and reached for his coffee. Nikita sipped her coffee and stared at Michael.
“You look tired....or worried....,” she reached over and touched his forehead as he put the vehicle into gear and re-entered the highway.
“I’m fine.”
“I’m getting to recognize little things about you Michael Samuelle....like this frown line on your forehead.....a stress line, I think.....when you’re under pressure.”
“I said I was fine.”
The Portugese border loomed ahead.
“Have the passports ready Nikita....hopefully these border officials are tired and not into checking closely.”
“You think MI-6 might have alerted border officials about us?”
“Possibly....no, more like probably....”
Michael edged the Mercedes to the border kiosk. A weary official glanced up from his newspaper and took their passports. He typed information into his computer and looked up at Michael.
“Please to be parking you car next to the customs building.”
“Is there something wrong?” questioned Michael.
“Ahhhhh....no....just a small flag alert on the computer about a couple matching your description....but with different names and the vehicle color....please just pull over there...my superintendent will speak with you.”
Michael flashed Nikita a quick glance, then threw the Mercedes into reverse and executed a one-hundred and eighty degree turn around. He gunned the car and shot back down the highway into Spain. The border official ran from his kiosk towards the main building, yelling obscenities. Michael’s eyes were riveted to the narrow strip of lighted highway ahead.
“Oh gawd Michael! They have alerted all border crossings!”
“Get the roadmap and turn on the over head lamp....there must be some other way over the border!”
Nikita peered at the roadmap, breathing deeply. “Yes....yes....but we will have to go all the way back to Salamanca, then head south on a secondary road....then after Caceres, it heads northwest to a tiny border crossing....only open during the day.”
“Look more closely...there must be an arterial road that possibly connects with the secondary road.”
Nikita squinted closely at the map. “Well....yes...back at the village where you stopped for petrol....somewhere around there....a dirt road...but....well....I guess we should attempt it.”
“Good....it must be south of the station.”
“Michael....if the daytime border crossing is gated....do you think this car will....you know...go overland?”
Michael shrugged and a small smile appeared. “I suppose I should have purchased a four wheel drive instead of this sports model....but we’ll see what it will do.”
The petrol station’s flashing lights appeared ahead as Michael slowed the vehicle. No arterial road had appeared before the station. Michael drove past the station slowly and proceeded back down the road they had driven only a short time before.
“Michael! There on the right...isn’t that a road!”
Michael stopped the car and switched on the high beams; a narrow arterial, gravel and dirt road twisted off into the darkness. Michael steered the Mercedes onto the road; the vehicle bumped over rocks and holes in the road.
“The going will be very slow on this road....if I drive faster, we might destroy a tire.”
Nikita switched on the overhead lamp and peered at the roadmap. “ Michael... the road looks to be at least one hundred kilometers before it reaches the secondary road. And that road has lots of twists and turns....we may not make the tiny border crossing before daylight at this rate.”
Michael stopped the car and took the map from Nikita; he stared at it for considerable time before speaking.
“Yes...you’re right...but we have no choice.....I’ll drive until we reach the secondary road, then you take over....we must push for the border....we should be able to go faster on the secondary road....I.....I should have planned for this....sorry Nikita.”
“For God sake Michael! Stop apologizing to me! We’re in this together...now let’s get going again.....here drink some of my coffee, it’s still hot.”
Michael sipped Nikita’s coffee as he steered the car over loose rocks and potholes on the road. After an agonizing two hours, the secondary road appeared ahead. Michael stopped the car, got out and walked to the passenger side. Nikita had already jumped out and stood stretching before slipping behind the wheel. She threw the vehicle in gear and turned the wheel to head south. The road proved much better and Nikita was able to drive faster than the arterial road. Michael lay back in the passenger seat, his eyes closed; but sleep would not come. His mind was overactive with possible scenarios they would be greeted with after making contact with his man in Portugal.
True, he had saved Richard Dalton’s life....twice...the first time when the operative was on a CIA abeyance mission and the second time, after Dalton started drinking heavily and was about to have his life snuffed out by a prostitute.
After Dalton fled to Portugal and started his own mercenary business, Michael had lost touch, and his only communication recently, had been from Italy, stating he needed his help. Dalton had replied immediately - yes. Anything for an old buddy who had saved his life. But what bothered Michael, was the fact that Dalton would sell his own mother for money - and therefore might do the same to Michael.
(('No doubt MI-6 and Interpol...or the faction within the agencies, would be offering a reward for my capture...or my body ...and no doubt Nikita’s. Could he truly trust Dalton? At this point in the game, he didn’t have any other options....he would have to believe the man’s honor and not money would be the main motivation. He must not worry Nikita with this...he would only allow her to believe they would be safe upon reaching Dalton’s villa in southern Portugal.'))
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