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section7mfuLinks to:
Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Part 2-Chapter 2 Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9
The prompt:
Several days passed; at least four feet of snow had fallen with drifts blowing even higher. Some of the stilts supporting the houses were barely visible under the blanket of white that covered the land and the water, so much so you couldn’t tell where one ended and the other began.
Ivy tried staying ahead of things; sweeping and shoveling her ramp and steps. Napoleon and Pete would hear nothing of it and did it themselves, banishing her indoors to keep Illya company. Clearing the snow seemed like a Sisyphean task, pointless as it just kept coming down to the point of becoming a complete white-out.
At last it did finally stop snowing and the village began the job of digging itself out. It was a routine the residents were accustomed to; it was simply part of life here on the island and they thought nothing of working at it for hours at a time.
The captive THRUSH guards and the two scientists were recruited to help as well. That was the way things were done in Diomede; everyone pitched in to do their part.
The prisoners had been locked in the the cinderblock school house, not the most comfortable of places, and were glad to get out for even a bit. Digging in four feet or more of snow was better than sitting in child size chairs staring at walls covered with simplistic drawings of seals and sea birds done by the children.
Thrush goons were apparently not good at making much small talk, and the remaining pair of scientists were too busy worrying about going to prison to say much of anything. With their leader Viktor Popsuy gone, they were simply lost without any direction; typical of the the type of people THRUSH recruited for their needs.
School had been cancelled of course until things were cleared, so the village children had fun with their sleds and playing with their dogs in the huge drifts.
Napoleon had just come in from helping with the clean up when his communicator called to him..
Illya was sitting on the sofa, reading one of Ivy’s books. He was looking better but still wasn’t allowed to help with any of the work.
“Solo here.”
“Ah yes,” Alexander Waverly cleared his throat. “I’ve been notified the storm has ended. However, I’ve also been informed that all air transport is at a standstill as runways have to be cleared. Most of the local helicopters are involved in rescue operations to extract people who have been trapped by the storm. The pack ice has built up, coming in from the North and is preventing most water transportation, with the exception of an ice breaker that is currently off near Ketchikan. However, that’s well over fourteen hundred miles away and will do little good in regards to your current situation.”
“I take it that means we’re still going to be stuck here sir.”
“No, not really.” Solo could practically hear the Old Man smiling.” I have arranged for you to be picked up by submarine.”
“I thought the Navy wouldn’t do that because of the proximity to Big Diomede...potential international ramifications as I recall.”
“That’s true, however, this is a privately owned submarine from the Nelson Institute of Marine Research, out of California.”
“Admiral Nelson’s sub... the Seaview?”
‘Precisely. It will arrive at your location in two day’s time. It was most fortuitous as they were doing research in the arctic, something about tracking UFO’s or some such nonsense. The Admiral has volunteered to have his people help disassemble the electronics in the rocket for us. Those bits will return to UNCLE with you by the way. Once the tunnels are inspected...if the spores were indeed destroyed as you say, then they’ll do some demolition work for us as well, though I do expect you to assist in overseeing that endeavor.”
“That’s terrific news sir.”
“How is Mr. Kuryakin?”
Napoleon looked to his partner. He was his usual pale self and the bruises on his face were turning the most vivid shades of blue and yellow, the swelling was finally starting to go down as well.
“Improving sir, but not ready for the field. He took a pretty bad hit to the back of his head...”
Illya tried waving him off, without success.
“The Seaview has a fully equipped sickbay so their physician should be able give him the care he needs. They’ll be taking you to down their base in Santa Barbara. If Mr. Kuryakin is unable to continue traveling, then you’ll leave him at the hospital there. You and Mr. Galey will return to New York as I have assignments awaiting your attention.”
“Understood sir. Solo out.”
“Napoleon why did you tell him that? I am fine.”
“Tovarisch, you’re not, so stop fighting it. You’re still getting headaches, nausea and dizziness, correct?”
“Yes, but what else is new?”Illya shrugged. Apparently Solo knew him all too well. “Napoleon I have a few ideas to help Ivy out and perhaps some of the others in the village as well. They are terribly poor and these houses have their problems.”
“As I’ve noticed. So what do you have in mind?” He was well aware Illya was deliberately changing the subject.
“The shed still has much usable wood in it; that should be given to people who need it for their homes. In the trailer, there were several doors and rolled up carpet remnants. Ivy here needs her doors replaced and carpeting on her floors. They help keep the place much warmer, as the heat would be better retained within.”
Napoleon nodded his approval.“Good idea. I’ll get Pete and we’ll work on it before we leave.”
“But I…”
“Not you. The last thing I need is you keeling over in the snow. Capisce?”
“Si Capo.Capisco.(Yes boss. I understand) Illya grumbled in Italian.
By the end of the day, the work was completed at Ivy’s house, though Illya insisted on supervising.
She was delighted with the improvements and couldn’t thank them enough, not for just what they’d done for her but the other villagers as well.
It was decided, because the former THRUSH trailer was so much more roomy, comfortable and well heated, that the school would be moved there. So THRUSH ended up making some positive contributions to the community despite their evil intentions; that was a rarity for them.
Napoleon and Peter having finished what they’d promised Illya they’d do; the two men settled down in the kitchen, drinking coffee while waiting for their ride to arrive. Their gear had been packed and ready, left waiting by the front door.
Illya was in the living room discussing some book with Ivy, conversing in Russian which seemed to please Kuryakin to no end.
Napoleon smiled as his communicator chirped.”Solo here.”
“Yes Mr. Solo," a voice with a thick Southern drawl spoke."This is Sparks the radio operator on submarine Seaview. We'll be at your location in approximately thirty minutes.”
“That’s a roger Seaview, Solo out.”
After saying their goodbyes to Ivy and the rest of the village, the three UNCLE agents gathered down at the helipad, watching a spectacular site as the submarine burst up through the pack ice, and continued moving forward, for a few hundred yards, clearing a path. It came to a stop, then reversed engines, and stopped again.
Roughly ten minutes later something yellow resembling a manta ray broke the surface of the water in front of the Seaview.
“A mini sub?” Peter asked.
“Not just that...watch,” Illya pointed. He was feeling a sense of anticipation as he knew of Seaview’s mini-sub, but had never seen it in action.
The little submarine suddenly took off into the sky, and came to a landing at the shore line where the ice had broken up, directly where the agents waited. A hatch opened, and a dark haired man dressed in a tan uniform and parka of the same color, exited.
Napoleon grinned as he waved, calling out. ”Lee!”
He carefully stepped across the ice to Solo and the two men shook hands, embracing in a back slapping hug.
“Great to see you Napoleon. Never thought I’d find you up this way...a bit cold for your taste isn’t it?”
“Hey, we go where the action takes us. So how’s Navy life treating you?”
“Well I’m technically on loan from the U.S. Navy so I guess it’s pretty good,” he smiled.
Napoleon gestured towards his fellow agents. “Lee I’d like you to meet my partner Illya Kuryakin and this is Agent Peter Galey. Illya, Pete this is Commander Lee Crane, captain of the submarine Seaview, and...my cousin.”
Greetings were exchanged, “So you’re the Soviet.”Crane said as he shook Illya’s hand.
“And what of it may I ask?”
“I meant nothing by it Mr. Kuryakin. I’m just glad to meet the man who works with my favorite cousin. He’s said some very positive things about you. Perhaps your presence here in the States can help soften relations between our two countries.”
“Would that might happen, but I have my doubts,” Illya said.
“All right then, if you’ll follow me to the flying sub?” Let’s get you aboard. I have men waiting to start the dismantling of the rocket as your Mr. Waverly requested, but I’ll need someone to supervise.”
“I’ll do it,” Galey volunteered. “I can wait here for your team.”
“Well that’s settled then, so gentlemen shall we?”
They boarded the mini- sub, buckling into their seats for their ever so brief trip to the Seaview. By the late afternoon, the work at the silo was completed, and after the demolition sealing everything, the scavanged electronics were brought to Seaview.
No one on board the submarine knew Solo, Kuryakin and Galey were UNCLE agents, though somehow members of the crew got wind that Illya was a Soviet, and that didn’t sit well with a few of them. The Cold War was ever present in their minds, and Illya became an instant symbol of it to them. His presence and the eight Thrushies in the brig made them uneasy.
The crew members behaved themselves in spite of their concerns, a credit to the Captain and Admiral no doubt.
Leaving Marty and Reuben to continue to mend, Kuryakin was released from sickbay. The effects from his head injury were merely temporary, no permanent damage. Rest was the best thing for him as per the doctor.
Once out and about, he received no more than an occasional minor shoulder bump when traveling the passageways.
Peter and Napoleon had been given a tour of the Seaview but since Kuryakin was in sickbay he missed it, though Illya would have enjoyed that guided tour.
Once released, he made a point of avoiding everywhere except the ship's library, the galley and the quarters he shared with Napoleon and Peter. He hoped it would help alleviate any suspicions among the crew.
It wasn’t always pleasant being watched by questioning eyes...even the Executive officer, Lt. Commander Morton and Chief Sharkey were nervous about his presence.
It seemed especially unfair since he was one of the good guys, but it was a situation to which Illya was accustomed, and he tried brushing it off as he always did. He could be tolerant when people were afraid; he would show them they simply had nothing to fear from this Soviet.
They would be in San Diego soon enough and after a brief layover the three agents would be winging their way back to New York city. Illya had been given the all clear by the ship’s doctor, only being told to ‘take it easy.’
Illya was sitting with Napoleon in the galley, having a cup of coffee and munching on some Boston cream doughnuts.
Solo had noticed his partner was being quieter and more invisible than usual, and was surprised his scientific curiosity didn’t have the Russian checking everything out on the sub.
“Illya is everything all right with you?”
Kuryakin swallowed his bite of doughnut. “Yes, why do you ask?”
“You just seem awfully quiet, are you sure you’re feeling better.”
“Napoleon I am fine. Did not ‘Doc’ give me a clean bill of health? Since when is me being quiet a problem?”
“All right then, you’re being more quiet than usual; I would have thought you’d be like a kid in a candy shop exploring the Seaview, knowing you and your insatiable appetite for learning.”
Illya shrugged, which told Solo that part of the conversation was at an end. Napoleon knew better than to pursue it further but to his surprise Illya offered an honest answer.
“I am aware there is some discomfort among the crew at me being a Soviet. For that reason I think it is better I lay low and not add any fuel to the fire. I will give them no reason to think I am spying on the Seaview and stealing its secrets.”
“I can talk to my cousin…”
“That is unnecessary. I am fine. Now, you never told me your cousin was Captain of the Seaview...quite a prestigious position.”
“Hey partner, like you, I have a few secrets to keep as well,” Napoleon smiled. He quickly changed the subject. “So how do you want report the matter of those lights back on Diomede?”
“I say we write it exactly as it happened, but make no speculation as to what the lights might have been. The fact that the Nelson Institute is investigating such phenomena offers proof we were not just seeing things or having flights of fancy.”
“True, I did discuss the lights with the Admiral and he didn’t bat an eye about them, on the other hand, he didn’t offer an explanation for them either.”
Illya let loose a barely perceptible smile.”A good scientist does not draw a conclusion until all the facts are in, to do so would be pure unsubstantiated conjecture.”
“Tovarisch, what do you think those lights were? Little green men in space ships, spirit lights, natural phenomenon?”
“I am a pragmatist as well as a skeptic, you know that. I will await the facts before I reach a hypothesis and not before. Now may I be so bold as to put the same question to you my friend?”
Napoleon scrunched up his face as he thought on this one before speaking. He hadn’t expected Illya to ask it of him and hadn’t really worked it out what he believed to his own satisfaction.
“I’d like to think there’s life beyond this world. We can’t be the only sentient beings in the entire universe, to think so would be pure arrogance. Now being brought up in the Christian faith, part of me wants to believe they could have been spirit lights or more precisely...angels. Perhaps it was the hand of God lending some help? Let’s face it, you and I have been in some pretty tight spots and our escapes could only be described as miraculous.”
“Miraculous? Yes, but not by any means other than our skill, ingenuity and perhaps a bit of luck.”
“Illya you can believe in luck or the power of fate but why not God?”
“I have my reasons.”
Solo wasn’t about to try to rationalize the existence or the Creator and religion with his stubborn partner; it was complicated enough Napoleon had brought up the possibility of men from Mars being involved.
“And you won’t tell me what those reasons will you?”
Illya shook his head. “You are a complex man Napoleon, you see the variant shades and nuances between colors, where as I am a man of absolutes, thinking in black and white,” Illya sipped his coffee.”We have our secrets you and I, and perhaps one day I will tell you some of mine, but not today.”
“Black and white huh?” Well you could use a little color beyond that burgundy blazer and the blue one too,” Solo quipped.
“Très drôle...ever the comedian Napoleon.”
“Ahem,” a voice from behind them coughed to make his presence known.
“May I join you gentlemen?” It was Admiral Harriman Nelson. He picked up white cup and saucer, plain and functional for use on a submarine, and poured himself a cup of coffee.
“By all means sir. This is, after all, your boat,” Napoleon replied
Nelson sat down beside the two agents. “I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation and I do apologize for eavesdropping. This might answer some questions for you both. As you know we’ve been investigating these phenomenon known as UFO’s for some time now, and without revealing specific details that are, at present, beyond your level of security clearance; these things are real. They are terrestrial vehicles that the United States government has been well aware of since the 1950’s.
“Are you referring to the supposed crash of a UFO in Roswell New Mexico?” Illya asked.
“I can tell you that’s one of many documented cases, all top secret of course. Many have occurred in the New Mexico, Arizona and Mexico, though New York State has had several. Some in Finland and Western Europe as well. What we’ve seen and documented here on Seaview goes well beyond corroborating the fact that life exists on other worlds and these beings have and are visiting our planet.”
“Wow.” That’s all Napoleon could say.
Nelson stood, placing his empty cup on the counter. “Do as you see fit for your report gentlemen, though Alexander Waverly does not have an open mind when it comes to this subject. I just might send him one of my reports to convince him otherwise; he does have the clearance for it. Yet to him it’s all some sort of evil plot by...what is that organization?”
“THRUSH,” Illya answered.
“Yes, and there are others as well. Good day gentlemen.” Admiral Nelson disappeared out into the passageway.
The partners continued drinking their coffee, saying nothing. Too much food for thought to do so just yet…perhaps another day, as Kuryakin had said.
FINIS
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Date: 2015-08-11 06:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-08-11 06:46 pm (UTC)Thanks so much for the compliment and comments. Glad you enjoyed the story. Been a while since I wrote a long one and this unfolded easier than I though it would.