The Night Gods III- The Triumph Of Evil- XV: The Loveboat

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Ann and Przybysz' mutual respect and admiration was blossoming into a genuine love affair, much to Anica's delight. What had begun as a friendship had moved to the nexy level. In the flight to Catania, Przybysz had time to reflect on his good fortune... not only in terms of his wealth, but his relationship with Ann and the esae with which they were now able to travel. It was apparent that, as always, the elites hadn't been at all disadvantaged by the war and now that he was one of them, he silently vowed to use it to the advantage of the resistance. The occupation was only for the masses. Collins had made arrangements for a large yacht... one fit for an Arab prince as it turned out. They would sail up and down the Adriatic coast stopping briefly in Le Marche.

The yacht was huge coming with a captain two eckhands and a cook- a very attractive woman, tall for a Sicilian with jet-black hair and flashing hazel eyes. When underway, the captain knocked at Przybysz and Ann's cabin door...

"Good morning, Mr. Przybysz," he said in perfect English. "Mt name is Antonio, I've been looking forward to meeting you in person."

"Father Tony?" Przybysz asked incredulously.

"That's right," the captain smiled. "That's what they call me here, just Tony will do. Your Mr. Collins is a most resourceful man."

"And the cook?" Przybysz inquired.

"Alessandra," Father Tony replied, "the deckhands are also with the resistance. Alex's brother Gerolamo is running things while we're on vacation- so to speak."

"She's beautiful," Ann observed.

"Yes," Father Tony laughed dryly, "beautiful and deadly. The UN troops cpatured her husband and tortured him to death... she hates them with a passion. By the way- I wanted to thank you for the money you sent... we're very poor here. It was most helpful."

"You're more than welcome," Przybysz said sincerely. "If you need anything else, just let me know."

"Do you still say Mass, Father?" Ann asked.

"Every day," the priest replied. "Would you like one?"

"I'd like a Baptism Mass for our daughter Anica, Father," Ann said solemnly.

"It would be my honor," Father Tony said, "just tell me when."

"The sooner the better," Ann replied. She told the priest Anica's sad story- how her sister had been murdered by Denning.

"I'll include her in my prayers," he said.

"Thank you Father," Ann smiled. She could tell he was one of the few real priests left, not one of the Vatican II religious shills. "It's comforting to meet a real priest."

"Let me get Alex," Father Tony said. "You need to meet her. Her English is pretty good, but I'll translate if necessary."

"Speaking of English, Father," Yuri said, "your's is very good."

"I was raised in America," the priest replied. "I served in the Army there 82nd Airborne... I became a priest afterward."

"We have something for you," Przybysz said, "from Fawkes."

"It will be most welcome," Father Tony said gratefully. "As I said, the people here are very poor. Most of the guns and ammunition we have to steal from the UN forces."

When Alessandra joined them, Father Tony made the introductions.

"We have a message from Fawkes as well," Yuri told them. "China is lost for now... she advises to back off for a bit to see what the UN is going to do."

"But we must continue the fight," Alessandra said eyes flashing. "If we back off it will look like a sign of weakness- they will use it against us."

"I think what Fawkes means," Przybysz broke in, "is to take a defensive posture- just back off on the attacks for a while... long enough to see what they're going to do."

Alessandra's displeasure showed in her face. Father Tony tried to mollify her...

"We're not giving up Alex," he said, "just take a wait and see stance to see what they're going to do about China. The election is coming up and we need to watch- it's only temporary."

China was the topic of discussion in Geneva as well. Oliveira was meeting with Chancellor Behrmann.

"I've heard from Zhao," Oliveira told the Chancellor, "he's coming for a summit. He assures me now that Gao is gone, everything is under control."

"But what of the tongs...?" Behrmann began.

"Who do you think killed Gao?" Oliveira smiled. "Thr tongs are smart. They always back both sides in a fight... usually one that they start themselves. They always have- all they care about is business. In that respect they're much like the Councils... if we don't interfere, the Chinese will vote the way the tongs tell them."

"So, this is about the election," Behrmann mused.

"It's always about the election," Oliveira smiled widely.

"The Councils pick the winners, not the voters," Behrmann replied, "without their backing- you can forget it."

"But if we can bring the Chinese into the fold without violence, the Councils will be pleased and that means victory in the election," Oliveira informed the Chancellor. "Zhao is due any time now... my assistant is at the airport to meet him."

Asea in the Adriatic, Vanessa, Ann and Anica were sunning themselves on the deck of the yacht.Vanessa bought Anica a bikini, much to Ann's dismay and Anica was enjoying herself teasing the deckhands. She was becoming a beauty and at 15 her interests were turning toward the opposite sex.

"How beautiful everything is," Ann remarked. "The sun, the sea, the scenery... it almost looks like the world's back to normal from here."

"It's a pity we're not going to Croatia... there are some beautiful resorts there, or Montenegro," Vanessa mused.

"No Croatia," Anica jumped up with an alarmed look.

"No dear," Ann soothed her. "We're not going there. Vanessa was just saying how beautiful it is now."

"Yes," Anica said, "beautiful now... but not for me."

"Well," Vanessa said, "maybe the world will be back to normal soon enough... I pray it is anyway."

"I think that boy likes me," Anica observed, her attention away from her former home. She nodded in the direction of one of the deckhands loitering nearby.

"Forget about the boy," Ann admonished her. "He's not a boy, Anica, he's a grown man and if your father sees him, he'll be swimming home. Besides, you're getting baptised today- you need to think about that, not boys."

Below Przybysz, Father Tony, Yuri and Alessandra had opened the suitcase... there was cash and a letter from Fawkes instructing the patriots to use the money less for arms and more to provide food for the people of Sicily. It said with the election coming up that Oliveira would likely back off himself and not provoke things until afterward. Yuri confirmed what Fawkes' letter said:
"Moscow says the same thing... that what happened in Chyina would likely be used as a call to cease hostilities- at least in the short term. My intel says that Zhao is enroute to Geneva to meet with Oliveira."

"But we must continue to fight," Alessandra said. "It will look like we gave up."

"There are more than one way to fight, Alex," Father Tony told her.

He's right, Alessandra," Przybysz said. "We can use this time to regroup and plan worldwide. This is getting bigger now- not groups of nations, but a group of nations united against a common enemy. We musn't give up on China... Gao may be gone, but someone will step up to replace him."

"We can use the election to our advantage, to lull the enemy into a false sence of complacency and watch what happens," Father Tony said placing his hand on Alessandra's shoulder. "If the winds of change blow in an ugly direction, we can strike."

"Is there anyone in China we can trust?" Alessandra asked.

"Not yet," Yuri replied, "the Chinese are a funny sort... Gao was a good man- trustworthy, a real patriot... but like Prz said, someone will step up."

"I'm going to call my people in the US and have Bret Shoemaker broadcast a 'message of peace'. We haven't intercepted one of Oliveira's addresses in a while now," Przybysz said with a smile. "Let's leave the next move up to Oliveira. The broadcast will confuse him at the very least."

"If I know Behrmann, he's not going to like it," Yuri put in. "That Nazi prick... diplomacy with his boot on your neck and a gun to your head."

"Once we hear the campaign rhetoric, we'll know what direction to take- not that any of them ever tell the truth," Przybysz said. "I'm interested to see who the Council chooses to run against Oliveira... that's going to tell us a lot."

Well, it may be the "mystery man," U'Bamah," Yuri replied. "That would tell us all we need to know... anyway, I'm going on deck to join the women. This is your honeymoon Prz- I suggest you join me."

"Well, well, well," Vanessa smiled when the got on deck, "all done plotting the demise of the Evil Empire?"

"Maybe," Yuri laughed, "how about some wine?"

"Prz dear," Ann intoned, "you might have a word with your daughter- she's teasing the deckhands."

"I didn't do anything," Anica said innocently, rolling onto her back.

"Oh God," Przybysz said with an exasperated look. "What have I gotten myself into?"

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