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So here's the question, for both writer and reader as usual.
[Poll #1905733][Poll #1905733]
It had been nearly two weeks since they'd arrived at Cairo and began the healing process and now Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin were at last walking through the entrance at Del Floria's; hearing the familiar tinkle of the brass bell making them both smile. The Russian had responded quickly to his treatments and medications, and like his partner, was happy to be back on familiar turf at last.
Their ordeal in the Congo still weighed heavily on them, both emotionally and physically. Medical having determined the agents were too traumatized and would, therefore, only be authorized for light duty for the time being. Both men needed to gain back some weight, and of course there was the concern over Kuryakin having a relapse.
"Welcome back," Del nodded as they walked past, heading for the dressing room.
A new receptionist greeted them at the agent's entrance, surprisingly she was... a he.
"And you are?" Napoleon asked, disappointed there wasn't a lovely lady sitting there to pin on his badge, as he was so accustomed to having it done for him.
"Agent John Evans Mr. Solo." He handed the senior agent, and Illya their badges. "Mr. Waverly is expecting you in his conference room."
Napoleon scrunched up his face with a dissatisfied look as they passed through the secondary entrance, and there they spotted the UNCLE logo freshly painted on the steel-grey wall to their left.
"Wow, some things have changed in only a couple of months," Napoleon said.
"It is a cheerful sight, seeing some color on these drab walls, and I for one like it." The presence of the male receptionist gave him a sense of satisfaction, seeing his partner deprived of his morning flirtation. since the ladies never pinned the Russian's badge on for him. His musings on that subject, he kept to himself.
After their debrief with the Old Man, the partners headed to their office to catch up on the reports that had piled up in their absence.
"Never thought I'd say this, but I'm happy to see those files," "Napoleon said, staring at his desk, and the number folders sitting there.
"Why, when I am usually the one working on them for you?"
"Good your sense of humor is back chum. I wish I could say that..."Napoleon's voice trailed off. "This Congo business still has me churned up. That was some bloody mess we went through."
"Hopefully they'll come a day when this kind of thing won't happen anymore tovarisch, and things can be resolved peacefully."
"You are ever the optimist Napoleon," Illya shook his head. Deep down inside he was still angered by the wanton depravity they'd witnessed. He never took the loss or abuse of innocents very well.
"I'm not feeling as optimistic as you think...have you ever read 'The Lost World' by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle." Napoleon asked, sitting on the corner of his desk.
"No I have not." Illya replied while flipping through some of the folders.
There's a line in it that comes to mind, spoken by the character 'Lord John Roxton', to paraphrase it, 'There are times...when every one of us must make a stand for human rights and justice, or you never feel clean again.' "Right now lllya, I feel very unclean."
"Napoleon we have taken our stand, but there is not much that we can do about it at the moment. It is just too big even for UNCLE to tackle. No, I do not feel unclean, nor should you, though I am angered by the senseless killing and violence. That has no justification regardless of the circumstances."
Napoleon remained silent.
"We have saved the world how many times? This one instance is not a blot on our record, and only time will tell us if there is to be peace in that part of Africa. We are witnessing the birth pangs of new nations, and as with many revolutions, there is much bloodshed and suffering. These are things you and I could not stop, no matter how much we wanted to. We were lucky enough to have escaped with our lives, unlike so many others,"
"True partner mine, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. "
Illya stared into his friend's hazel eyes, normally filled with confidence and bravado, but at the moment they seemed sad and unsure.
"Do not punish yourself for that which you could not control my friend. We do what we can, and for now that has to be enough. One can only hope some good will arise from this bloody revolution. No country was ever born without blood being shed, it is a fact that we must accept."
"The women and children Illya...the innocents, they weren't part of the revolution, they were the victims of ignorance and of bigotry."
"Napoleon I have no clear answers for you. All we can do is watch and hope those guilty of such heinous crimes will someday be brought to justice. Now come, I am hungry and we have been told we still need to put on more weight, so come join me in the commissary. The paperwork can wait."
Napoleon finally smiled. "To hell with the commissary, let's go get some of the biggest, juiciest steaks we can get at Delmonico's. Since we're both under doctor's orders, I see no reason why we can't use our expense accounts as we'd just be following instructions," Napoleon winked.
"For once we are in complete agreement,"Illya smiled. "Do you think I might have a lobster with my steak?"
"Hmm, a little decadence partner mine?" Napoleon grinned. "Hey order anything. Have the Lobster Newberg if you like...we need to build up some strength to save the world don't we?"
Kuryakin nodded, glad to see his partner was at least showing signs that he was feeling better on the surface, though no doubt he was still troubled. They both were.
It would take time for Napoleon to get over these feelings, but Illya was a patient man...
.
Alexander Waverly spoke into the telephone receiver at his desk.
"Estelle my darling, for the moment all's right with the world again, at least within U.N.C.L.E. Let's say we take a quick trip to see our newest grandchild. That's a fine name Florence chose for her daughter, Emily Alexis..."
He took a long drag on his pipe, and smiled as he sent circles of smoke into the air...
A light on Waverly's console flashed brightly, forcing him to hang up with his wife. The news he received was most disconcerting, and it was at that moment he decided to withhold the information from his two top operatives, at least for now. They needed to continue their recovery and could ill-afford any setbacks.
The Kingsford plantation had been overrun and burned to the ground, by Mau Mau, lead by a man named Kwasi.
No one survived...