Fourth Vector Ch. 33

"That's a damn good idea," said Jack as his smile started to grow. "The ambush of one Swabian late at night wouldn't raise any eyebrows. And Ben is right. He just might have another proof on him of what we need to prove our case. With just one man, it would be easy to ambush him too."

"I volunteer to do it myself," said Ben. "I wouldn't mind getting my hands on a Swabian, especially if he's up to no good."

"That should work," said Jack. "I'll go with you. We can handle it ourselves."

To his surprise, both Ben and Bill raised their eyebrows at him. "Is that really wise, Jack? You're not just a naval officer anymore," said Bill. "You're our king. We can't have you doing the dirty work. What happens if this Swabian is armed and you get hurt?"

Jack rolled his eyes. "I'm well-aware of the risks involved but you can't treat me like I'm going to break at the slightest sign of trouble. I've faced worse odds before and still managed to win."

"I have to agree with Bill on this one," said Ben. "And as your head of security, I'd have to insist that we let my men be the one to capture the Swabian."

Jack could tell by the looks on both of their faces that they were deadly serious. It was something that had been a subtle but noticeable change ever since they escaped Kalmar. Galicians didn't want their king fighting alongside them or doing the work themselves. They wanted him just behind the lines in a safe position where he could command and encourage them. It was quite the change of pace from the life he was used to but he sensed no leeway on the matter.

"You're both entirely serious about this?" asked Jack.

Both men nodded silently.

"All right," said Jack grudgingly. "Ben can put together his security team to do the actual ambushing but I'm going along as well. If we end up having to question him, I want to be the one to do it. I take it that will still be acceptable to you both?"

"Better than what we could hope," said Bill innocently.

"Great," said Jack. "Then let's plan our stakeout for this evening. We have to hope that this man is making regular visits to the Tribune but my guess is that he is with how quickly he made it through the lobby of the office." Jack then turned to Ben. "Have your men ready by nightfall. No more than three of them should do."

"You still have that meeting with Hendrick this morning, right Jack? Are you going to say anything about this to him?"

Jack shook his head. "No reason to spook him. For now, we're going to keep quiet about the whole deal. Need to know basis."

"That gives us the rest of the afternoon then after you get back," said Bill. "What do you want to do during that time?"

Jack's look softened. "Only one thing we can do. We help Santino look for his family."

*****

"Ah, Jack! Good to see you again."

Jack walked inside Hendrick's office just an hour after speaking with Bill and Ben. It was already an overcast day, one where the clouds were heavy in the sky and the sun stayed hidden behind them. Jack followed the well-worn path to the People's Palace and was shown in to see Hendrick almost immediately.

"Good to see you as well, Hendrick," said Jack as he took a seat in front of the Tribune's desk. Of notice today was a piece of art directly behind him, a beautiful piece that showed a pair of hunting dogs frolicking in a rolling meadow.

Hendrick noticed Jack looking right away. "I'm afraid your visit yesterday left me a little self-conscious about just how bare it was in here. I arranged to have this piece hung yesterday. It's a good one, no?"

"Very nice," replied Jack with a short nod. "Do you hunt?"

"Not as much as I used to," answered Hendrick. "But my family's villa is about an hour outside of the city of Rukla. You can find verdant green meadows just like in this picture. I think that's why I chose this one to sit just behind me. I can look at it at any time and remember where I came from."

"It doesn't look too far off from the place I grew up as well," noted Jack.

Hendrick put his hand under his chin. "Tell me about it. I'm afraid I don't know much about Java."

Jack cleared his throat. "I'm afraid that I don't know much about Java anymore either. But the place I grew up was outside a small city called Lockhaven. If you got just outside the city, you could find those same rolling meadows. A lot more trees than in your picture, but plenty of open grassland."

"It's amazing, isn't it? Even though we grew up on opposite sides of the world, we still get to have similar experiences with nature. I think there's some poetry in there if you care to find it."

Jack let out a small smile. "Perhaps you're right."

Hendrick sighed for a moment before sitting more upright in his chair. "Anyway, that's enough small talk for one morning. I have good news for you."

"You do?" asked Jack. "Hopefully it has to do with Santino's family?"

The smile fell from Hendrick's face. "Unfortunately, no. I have my people searching for them but it's remarkably difficult to find a foreign mother with her two young daughters. More refugees from the war are arriving by the day and so far, no one has a good grasp on where they might be." Hendrick reached his hand across the table. "I'm sorry, Jack. I wish I had something more solid to go on."

"It's quite all right. I thank you for your help in the matter. As I'm sure Santino would too," said Jack.

"Of course." Hendrick cleared his throat again. "What I was going to say is that I have secured you an audience. Tomorrow you will most definitely have your audience with the Elders. I hope you're prepared for everything that will entail."

Jack wasn't about to give him the honest answer. He had no other evidence beyond what he hoped to procure from the Swabian courier tonight. No matter how flimsy, Hendrick didn't need to know that.

"We'll be as prepared as we can possibly be," promised Jack. "How difficult was it to secure the audience?"

Hendrick sighed. "I'm afraid I've earned the enmity of Anton for the rest of our term. He was positively frothing at the mouth when I told him just a little bit ago. Bram was upset as well but that was no surprise. If Anton is upset then Bram will be as well. Bram isn't the type to have strong convictions on his own and just goes wherever the wind blows him."

Jack raised an eyebrow. "Strong words for another fellow Tribune."

"It is what it is now, Jack. I know who I'm working with. I knew it so many years ago when I first met Bram and nothing has changed in the interim. Except perhaps Anton's lust for power but that's something else entirely. Anyway, I'm putting my neck on the line for you because I do believe there's a substantial threat to Samara. I need you to come through for me."

"We can and will," said Jack, hoping that Hendrick wouldn't be able to see through his lie.

Hendrick looked relieved. "Good. I'd hate to even tell you what will happen should this audience happen without a change in outcome from the day before. I think my career might be ruined in all honesty."

That admission hit Jack right in the chest. While Hendrick certainly seemed to play the role of politician, the man had a good heart and more importantly, an intelligent mind. Jack found that he quite liked the young Tribune and this admission about his vulnerability in his role made him all the more determined to get the right outcome.

That Swabian courier better be making the transit tonight, thought Jack.Or I don't know what I'm going to do.

"I think tomorrow then we're both going to get what we want," said Jack finally. "And hopefully we can take a first strike against any who would threaten Samara."

Hendrick actually smiled. "Your coming here has changed a lot of things, Jack. Let's see if tomorrow you'll be as good as your words today."

We can only hope, thought Jack.

*****

That evening, Ben's plan was put into motion. Shortly before dusk, Jack, Ben, and two other members of the security force left the house they shared and made their way into the city. Jack took no risks when it came to traveling through the darkening city. All four of them wore some form of cloak, their hoods up to conceal their blonde hair and hopefully their identities.

"I really hope this works," muttered Jack to Ben as they made their way closer to the palace. "We don't have many other options if it doesn't."

"As long as this Swabian shows up, it'll work," promised Ben. "There's no way he'll be able to get away from all of us."

Jack swallowed heavily. "That's the part that worries me."

They made their way up the palatial hill that contained the palace before starting the descent on the other side. Just like the night before, there weren't many people still out, and they were able to move quickly without having to maneuver through the typical foot traffic of the day.

Jack's heart beat rapidly once they were within sight of the commercial district where Roosa's office was. Like any commercial district at this time of night, the streets were practically deserted. Feeling exposed, Jack and the men hustled at a fast walking pace until they were right across the street from the building.

"Just over here," called Jack to the men. "There's an alleyway right here."

Sure enough, the alleyway was the perfect spot for them to hide. Secluded from any forms of light, it was situated at just such an angle that they could easily keep an eye on the upper portion of the street without being exposed. The other side of the street was less visible but to Jack that shouldn't have been a problem. After all, they were expecting the Swabian to come from the side of the embassy.

"Crouch down and stay in the shadows," said Jack. "Don't make any loud noises and let's see if we can catch our prey."

And thus they waited.

And waited.

And waited still.

They waited until the point that Jack started to get very nervous that the Swabian might not show. The streets were too quiet and he was certain that it was later in the evening than when the Swabian came through the night before.

"I've got a bad feeling about this whole thing," whispered Jack to Ben. "He should have been here by now."

"Maybe he took a detour to get a stiff drink first," replied Ben.

"If he did, then he got more than one," said Jack.

Behind them, he could hear a dog barking in the distance. Across the street, he could see that Anton's floor was still illuminated. The Tribune was still up there. Was he still waiting on the Swabian?

Or did Jack only stumble on him the one night he was making the trek? Surely he wouldn't be stupid enough to repeat it two nights in a row?

That line of thinking made Jack increasingly agitated. How could he have been so foolish to think the Swabian would come through two nights in a row? Maybe he got what he needed the first visit, leaving no reason for a second. Now here they were the night before the audience with the Elders with no additional evidence and no reason to suspect they would get Samaran aid.

Jack gritted his teeth and was just about to call the whole thing off when Ben grabbed his arm.

"Someone's coming this way," he whispered.

Ben's words were intense but softly spoken. Without so much as another word, the young lieutenant pointed down the street that had been under so much surveillance for the past two hours. Sure enough, someone was coming. It was obvious by two things--an ever growing shadow cast by the streetlight as it neared their position and the soft clicking of shoes on the sidewalk. That clicking was slow and methodical as if the walker was choosing his steps deliberately instead of a haphazard stroll down the street.

To Jack, it was a promising sign that perhaps their quarry had finally arrived.

Those footsteps teetered closer until finally the walker stepped out from the shadows.

Jack caught his breath when he saw the intruder for the first time that evening.

It was the Swabian.

He was dressed almost identically as the night before with a thick overcoat on to cover his distinctive gray Swabian cloak underneath. Today he was wearing some form of head covering, keeping his face well-hidden from any potential viewer. Jack was sure it was the same man though. Just by seeing his stride alone, he could confirm it was the same Swabian he'd followed through half the city.

"Get ready," whispered Jack to the men. "That's him. Take him in easy and keep his mouth covered."

Like a well-trained act, Ben and his men inched forward out of the dark shadows to the very entrance of the alley. Every move they made was deliberate and quiet, the result of years of self-discipline. Besides the outline of their bodies, Jack could only make out their eyes as they looked at each other, waiting for that telltale signal to spring the trap.

The Swabian neared their hiding place, reminding Jack of the night before how the same man had almost trapped Jack against that hidden doorframe.

Tonight, the hunter would become the prey.

The trap sprung into motion quicker than Jack could have imagined. Two of Ben's burly security men rushed into the street first while the third brought up the rear. In an instant, the lead man brought enough force down on the Swabian's chest to knock the air from his lungs. It made it impossible for him to call out into the night, ensuring that no one would come to his aid. That same man put his arms under the Swabian's shoulders while the other two each grabbed a leg. They hoisted him into the air like he was a child's plaything and brought him into the alley to Jack's hiding spot.

The Swabian made a gurgling sound as he tried to recover his breath but all it did was invite more attention to the fact that he was still conscious. One swift blow to the back of the head fixed that entirely, and his limp body was deposited at Jack's feet mere moments after the trap was sprung.

"Bring him back deeper into the alley," said Jack as his eyes centered on the empty street. "We're still visible in this spot if someone looks our way. Let's get around the corner."

He led them deeper into the alley until it took a hard right to cut around another building. The space narrowed but it also cut off visibility from the street, giving them the privacy that Jack required. He removed a flashlight from his pocket and turned it on, careful to point it away from the street so as not to gain any more attention from anyone else on a late night stroll.

Jack shined the light in his face. Ugly Swabian features were visible just under the brim of his hat, the first thing to be removed once they were able to examine their quarry.

"Looks like your typical Swabian," muttered Ben under his breath. "Hideous, isn't he?"

Ben wasn't exaggerating. His face was marked by a distinctive scar that cut deeply into his cheek. It was almost like someone had used a knife at one time to carve out a chunk of flesh, leaving the ensuing gash to heal on its own. Even if not for the scar, he wouldn't have been considered good-looking. His face was too angular and marked by the scars of an older disease.

"That he is," replied Jack. "Let's search and see what he has on him."

The men got to work, leaving no stone unturned in the process. In the proceeding affair, the Swabian man was relieved of everything down to his underwear which Jack was disgusted to see were stained a vaguely yellowish color. A small pile of clothing soon mounted next to him as well as personal effects that were relieved from his pockets.

Jack noticed from the beginning that he was one to carry trinkets and other items of no value. In no short order, the pile next to him contained several copper coins, two unknown buttons, a discarded wrapper for some form of chewing gum, copious amounts of lint, a watch that no longer ticked, as well as a comb that was missing several prongs.

Another hidden pocket revealed more coins but the Swabian wasn't carrying anything on his body of great value at that time. When it appeared that he'd been searched entirely, Jack found his hopes quickly diminishing. He seemed to be carrying nothing on him that could link him back to the Tribune.

"Fuck," Jack muttered to himself once the man had been thoroughly searched. "What could you be doing going to Roosa's office every day?"

"Perhaps we should have ambushed him after he came out of Roosa's office?" said Ben bitterly. "Maybe Roosa is paying him off and he just hasn't collected it yet."

Jack shook his head. "I'd expect it to be the other way around. Swabians are the ones usually giving bribes, not receiving them."

The longer that Jack thought about it, the angrier he got. They were no closer to figuring out what he was doing here and now more precious time had been wasted.

In a rage of fury, he swung his foot back and launched it at the pile of clothing, sending several pieces flying against the wall of the building next to them.

The pieces of clothing made a clanging noise as soon as they hit, falling with a jangle to the ground.

The noise was distinctive enough to earn their attention. Jack gave Ben an odd look, one that was swiftly returned as both men rushed forward to see what had made the noise.

"Something's got to be in here," said Jack as they again reexamined the Swabian's trousers and shirt. Ben grabbed the cloak and began to feel around on every square inch.

That's when he hit pay dirt.

"Aha! Something is right here, Jack!"

Ben's fingers tapped at a spot in the cloak where the lining joined two separate pieces. Something was definitely underneath and it was small, circular, and seemed to follow the lining around the inside of the fabric.

Ben grabbed a small knife from his pocket and inserted it into the lining, ripping away the threads that connected the two pieces of fabric. Once he'd ripped it entirely apart, he jammed his hand inside to find the hidden contents.

Both men gasped as a small band of gold coins became instantly visible. They were distinctive to Jack since they were of the Swabian variety and newly-minted by their appearance since they contained the name of Avila written along the outside.

"Quite a fortune by anyone's standard," said Jack as he examined the coins. There were over twenty of them tucked into the belt, secured in dug out wells of a piece of leather. It was a perfect way to conceal coins of value, unusually designed to be a simple belt where the coins faced inside. The Swabian had taken it one step further and hidden it inside the cloak where it wouldn't be visible even if he happened to be mugged.

"Hang on, Jack. There's more in here," said Ben as he thrust his hand back inside the opening of the cloak. "It feels like there's a note or something still in here."

"Pull it out and let's see what it is," said Jack, his hopes high that there might be something more there. Hidden gold was one thing but they still needed something to tie it back to Roosa.

Ben pulled out a piece of paper that Jack immediately identified as a dispatch by the distinct covering and seal on it. Ben handed it over and Jack unfolded the dispatch until he could read what was written on it.

As his eyes began to scan it, he started to grin.

It was all the evidence he needed and more.

"Men," said Jack finally. "We did it."

*****

The chill coming from the night air around Mount Tarpeious was biting tonight.

It was so chilly that Nikias found himself still shivering through a heavy cloak around his shoulders just to stave off the cold. Beside him, his wife, Elektra, tended a small fire, the flames barely enough to provide the warmth they were seeking. Firewood was scarce which meant their fires couldn't be too big. Despite it being autumn, the weather on the top of the mountain could have been mistaken for winter.

Feeling some warmth enter his body finally, Nikias raised his head and looked around. There weren't many people to see from this angle although he knew that was only due to his lack of numbers. There were only fifty fighters left in the small band that he led with Elektra. All of them were now using the abandoned Temple of Malicoe as their shelter. The old temple looked much the same way it did last year when they caught up to the minister Barak and his men, finding the stolen treasury and recovering it for themselves.