The Diaries of Ayesha

Since I met her, I've firewalked , been buried under a load of cantaloupes, worked as a transvestite streetwalker, started a labor revolt in Hong Kong, and played the part of a fox in the hunt.

But of all of the things that have happened so far, this one takes the beefcake.

It was nearing closing time at the Bank and I was looking forward to leaving that night when Miss Dawes called me into her office.

As soon as I walked in, I was commanded to kneel before her desk.  This in itself was rather unusual, as she was always very careful to keep her life as Mistress Minx separate from her life as Minkin Dawes, but I am sworn to obey.

I dropped to my knees, head down and waited for her to speak again.

"M-5, you have sworn an oath to serve Ay'esha. You served us well in Hong Kong and are once again called upon to serve.", she said.

"I will serve as directed Controller.", I said, keeping my head down.

"You will never disclose the things you learn from this assignment with anyone, is that clear.", she asked.

"Yes Controller. I will not even make a diary entry if you so command."

"Depending on the outcome of the mission, I may permit it, after reviewing it for security purposes.", she said.

Now I really getting confused. If it was that secret, why would she even consider letting me write the story?

"Controller, may I ask the nature of the mission.", I asked quietly.

"Kali has turned to smuggling to raise money for their actions. One of our sources has reported that they are planning on smuggling a toxic substance into England.", she said in serious tones.

"Do you know what it is Controller?", I asked.

"No, and our source couldn't find out either. All they could learn was that it is a biotoxin of some kind and potentially very deadly."

"What about the British police or Interpol. Can't they stop it?"

"Michael, look at me.", Minx directed.

I looked into her eyes as she continued.

"If it was possible for any official body to stop Kali, they would be notified. But with as little as we have to go on, telling the police or Interpol would be fruitless. No , this is a job for Ay'esha to deal with. You and I leave for London tonight. We'll catch a train at Euston Station tomorrow afternoon and start for Shrewsbury which is where our contact reported from. Mistress Sheba and Mistress Majima will meet us in Herford and join us for the rest of the trip.", she explained.

London again. I thought about that foggy night in the park when I had shambled behind her naked in the cold and fog.

"Thinking about the last time we were in London?", she said, reading my mind.

"Yes Mistress. Things have changed a lot since then.", I agreed.

"Some things perhaps. But not my love for you.", she said softly.

As usual, I didn't sleep much on the plane flight to London, but made up for the lost sleep as soon as we started on the first leg of the train trip to Shrewsbury to Minx's vast amusement.

In fact, I didn't wake up until we got to Wolverhampton and then I had to in order to change trains for the rest of the trip.

"You're missing the scenery Michael.", Minx teased as I settled into my seat for the next leg.

"With all due respect Mistress, right now I'm carrying out an important test that has far ranging consequences.", I said closing my eyes again.

"And what test is that?", she asked sweetly.

"I'm checking my eyelids for leaks."

Her only response was a gentle swat on the leg as I dropped off to sleep again.

By the time we pulled into the station in Herford, I'd caught up on my sleep and was ready for action.

I looked out the window and saw Mistress Sheba and Mistress Majima waiting on the platform as the train halted. I hurried off the train and grabbed their bags and led them quickly back to the compartment Minx and I was sitting in.

The train sounded its horn and we slowly started up again, as I knelt in the presence of the three Mistresses.

Mistress Sheba looked down at me and smiled softly, while the look Mistress Majima gave me was a little less tender, but no less warm.

"And here we are again, only this time no ponies and no races.", Mistress Sheba said, hugging Minx.

"Yes, I let him retire his fox costume at last. He decided he'd rather be a potbellied pig instead.", Minx said, returning the hug.

"That sounds about right.", Mistress Majima commented dryly.

I kept my mouth shut. If I opened it, I'd only change feet anyway.

The rest of the trip I was mostly ignored, except for being sent to fetch tea for the four of us. Yes, I was even being permitted to have a cup of tea in their presence.

"Have you heard anything else from your informant?", Minx asked as the train rolled along in the late afternoon sunlight.

"Nothing since Dr. Morris's first report. Dr. Ruth tried to contact him, but there was no answer at his home. The first thing we need to do when we get to Shrewsbury is check in with the county constable.", Sheba said.

"Excuse me Mistress, but do we have a cover story, or are we just winging it?", I asked Minx.

"We're tourists. Nothing special.", she said.

"Are you disappointed slave?", Majima asked in amusement.

"Well it does kinda take the fun out of it.", I said honestly.

"Don't let your imagination run away with you. This is serious business. If Kali is smuggling a biological weapon of some kind, millions of people could be killed if something goes wrong.", Sheba advised.

The thought of that chilled me. Images of a dozen bad science fiction movies ran through my head, images of villages and towns filled with bodies.

I kept those thoughts to myself as the train arrived in Shrewsbury and we got off.

Sheba had already booked us a set of rooms in a hotel near the station, so I took the luggage there while Sheba and Majima went to see the constable.

Minx decided to rent a car, and left me at the hotel to wait for the rest of them.

The problem was, I was hungry. The solution was simple enough as there was a cafe in the hotel.

I sat down and flipped through the menu and then stopped. I was in England, the home of the Beefeaters. I'd order a T-bone steak.

When the waitress came to take my order, she shrugged her shoulders in denial.

"Sorry sir, but we don't have any. They're against the law.", she explained.

"A T-bone steak is against the law?", I asked incredulously.

"Yes sir. Ever since the Mad Cow outbreak, you can't have any meat on the bone at all."

"Can I get it without the bone then?", I asked, feeling like a character in a Monty Python sketch.

"I can get you a nice filet sir, but it has to be well done.", she offered.

"Fine.", I said in annoyance.

I'd just been served when Minx returned and joined me at the table. She ordered fish and chips, as I commented on the T-bone incident.

"Only in England.", was all she said.

When Majima and Sheba joined us they didn't have good news to report.

"The constable had a radio car check Dr. Morris's house and clinic. They reported that his house was empty and his clinic had been broken into. He's starting an investigation right now.", Sheba said.

"Who is Dr. Morris anyway?", I asked.

"Dr. Martin Morris is a vet. He's also a member of Ay'esha and treats the animals at the Institute as well as teaching. His primary field besides being a vet is virology. He's written a number of papers on animal viruses.", Majima explained.

"Well that would explain his interest in any sort of biotoxin.", I commented.

"He was also a research scientist at Pordon Down early in his career.", Sheba said softly after looking around carefully.

I thought about the name for a minute. Alistair McLean. The Satan Bug.

"Isn't that the biowarfare center?", I asked with equal caution.

"Yes. It was his time there that caused him to join Ay'esha. He felt that someone had to protect us from ourselves, and that women were better qualified to do the job."

"If he was doing that kind of work, then the British security services are going to be looking for him too. They never stop keeping an eye on ex-scientists.", Minx observed.

"So now it's a race between us and them, with Kali on the move all the time. We've got to check out his clinic and his house for any notes before the police do.", I said.

"Simple enough. One of us breaks into his place tonight before the police have a chance to start their own search.", Minx said.

I just sat there as the three of them looked towards me with anticipation.

"Oh no.", I said.

"Oh yes. Someone has to do it, and you're the best one for the job.", Minx said.

"How so?"

"You can talk your way out of anything. If you do get caught, you'll think of something."

"But I don't want to be a guest of honor.", I protested lamely.

"I'll go with you.", Majima added." At least I know what we're looking for. Unless you've studied biology?"

"Not at that level. Well at least if we do get caught, I know what names to give the police.", I sighed.

"What names are those?", Sheba asked.

"I'm Robinson and she's Scott."

"What's that supposed to mean?", Majima asked.

"Don't ask.", Minx advised." Really."

Midnight. The witching hour as the Bard of Avon put it.

I parked the rented car directly in front of Dr. Morris's house as personally I felt that would cause the least amount of comment in case someone came by while Majima and I were inside ransacking the place.

The door was locked of course, but Majima made short work of the lock and we slipped inside.

The first thing I did was to turn on the light.

"What are you doing!?", Majima hissed in horror.

"I'm turning on the light.", I replied in a normal tone of voice. "If someone comes by and sees a flashlight moving around in here, they'll call the cops for sure. If we just act normally, we'll probably get away with it if someone does show up."

She shook her head in aggravation and then started searching the doctor's desk for his notes. After a few moments of searching didn't turn up anything of use, we moved to his bedroom.

I wasn't surprised to find a neatly stacked pile of female dominance magazines in his room. I thumbed through them as Majima conducted her search and as I did so, a business card fell out at my feet.

I looked at the place that he had marked with it, and saw it was a personal ad for a Dominatrix that lived nearby. The card had her name and phone number written on it, and a time scribbled on it by someone else.

"Mistress, is this Dr. Morris's handwriting?", I asked showing it to her.

She examined it and nodded.

"Would you call this a clue Holmes?", I said in my best British accent.

"Yes.", Majima replied in her worst South-Central Los Angeles accent. " We'll check it out tomorrow."

The rest of the search proved fruitless, so we replaced things as we found them and retreated to the car after carefully copying the information from the card and the ad.

"Now what?", she asked as I started the car and drove back towards town.

"We check the clinic. He must have left some kind of notes behind, unless he kept everything in his head."

I had to remember to stay on the left side of the road, and noticed someone behind me had the same problem remembering which side of the road to drive on as well.

"Must be a drunk or an American tourist.", I commented to Majima, watching the lights in the mirror behind me.

She looked back and her eyes narrowed.

"Make a turn at the next crossroads.", she directed.

I did as I was told and soon had the lights in the mirror again.

"We've picked up a tail.", she said.

"Why do we always wind up involved with some sort of tail?", I commented, slowing down.

"Pull over and change places with me. I've been driving in England a lot longer than you have.", she ordered.

I stopped under a group of trees overhanging the road and turned out the lights. As we waited the lights of the following car passed us and we switched places.

A moment later we were headed back down the road towards town again, but at a far higher speed than I liked.

I learned later from Mistress Minx that all of the female members of Ay'esha have been trained in evasive driving by one of the leading security services in the world.

Which of course, Ay'esha owned a large part of.

Majima took the turn at the crossroads on two wheels and I was afraid that Minx was going to lose the deposit on the rental car as she almost plowed through a hedgerow, but she corrected and soon we were back in town and pulling up near Dr. Morris's clinic.

We were not alone however, because there was a large black car parked in front as well that might as well have had GOVERNMENT AGENTS written all over it in big letters.

This impression was confirmed by a man on the corner under a streetlight smoking a cigarette wearing ill fitting civilian clothing, but with the posture of a military officer.

"Now what?", Majima asked.

"I seem to recall that at one time you said it was the job of a Mistress to think and a slave to serve.", I commented.

"This is not the time to bring that up. I'm sorry I ever said that around you. Happy now?", she complained.

"Yes.", I said smartly.

"I am really going to kick your ass one of these days.", she groaned. "What's the next move?"

I looked up and down the street and spotted a telephone booth on the corner.

"Well we can be heroes, distract the guard, and take the place by storm. Or you can take your clothes off and run past him naked and while he's looking at you, I slip inside. Or we can report a robbery in progress from that phone booth.", I suggested.

"I'd rather see you run by him naked if it comes to that. If we call the police though, how do you know they'll come?"

"I have to admit I haven't got that part worked out yet. Hell, the police might already be inside with them if it is the military."

I sat and thought for a few more minutes, all the while watching the man on the corner.

As I did, I saw a young woman come up to him and start chatting with him. He reached inside his coat and showed her something that made her walk quickly away from him and towards us.

She passed us and I could see she was, as one poet expressed it, "A boon to all mankind."

"Either that was a badge or a gun he's got under there.', I said watching her undulate away from us.

"Or he's not in the market for a cheap fuck.", Majima replied sourly watching the woman as she turned another corner.

I looked at Majima.

"I have an idea."

"I don't think I'm going to like it.", she said warily

"I know you're not going to.", I confirmed.

A few minutes later Majima was running towards the man on the corner with me in hot pursuit yelling "Stop thief!"

The man turned towards us and before her could do anything, Majima was in midair and body checked him into the lamp post, cracking his head.

He fell to the ground and I fell on top of him while Majima scrambled to her feet and kept going around the corner.

If the plan worked, his friends, if any, would bug out the back door.

As I got off him, I felt the bulge of a gun under the coat, and tried to get his wallet before the noise of the yelling attracted his friends from inside the clinic.

I didn't have to worry about problems from that direction for very long, because moments later I could hear a siren in the distance coming towards us.

The police pulled to a halt and the two officers got out and started rendering first aid, after removing his gun and identification.

"Oh hell George. This man is in the army."

"Well that'll increase the number of reports we have to fill out. What station?"

"Says here a place called Pordon. Never heard of it. Seems to be a hospital of some kind."

"He'll need one. That's a nasty crack on the head he's got."

"I'll call an ambulance.", the first officer said, reaching into the car for the radio microphone.

As he did so, I saw a man come from the direction that we had parked the car in and casually walk up to us and look at the scene.

"Problem?", he asked mildly.

The police man named George looked up at him and explained that there had been a robbery and assault and that he should just move along.

I looked at the man carefully.

He was thin and had a pencil thin mustache, and his expression was impassive as he looked down at the injured man. I memorized his face and voice, and I got the impression he was doing the same thing to me.

"Terrible things.", was all the man said, got in the black car and drove away without a backwards glance.

They listened to my tale of being robbed by a hooker as we waited for the ambulance, and after the ambulance crew took the man off they offered me a ride back to the hotel and scolded me .

I accepted both the ride and the lecture and waited in the lobby for Majima to return.

I'd nodded off in the lobby and was nudged awake by Majima then carried like a small child upstairs to the room, where she laid me down on the floor and covered me up with a blanket.

When I woke up, sunlight was streaming into the room and Minx was standing over me with an amused expression on her face.

"Getting too old for this?", she asked.

"I was too old for this when you captured me.", I said sitting up.

"Last night's activities paid off.", she said as I rose to my feet. "I'll tell you about it over breakfast."

I cleaned myself up and we went down to the cafe where Minx filled me in on the details of our nocturnal expedition.

"According to Majima, a man walked out of the back door of the clinic like he owned the place and walked right by her without blinking or saying a word. He didn't even bother to lock the door behind him.", Minx said as she read the menu.

"If it was the same guy I saw, it doesn't surprise me. That guy could shoot you in the head and not even blink.", I commented as the waitress appeared.

"Do you know what you'd like?", she asked.

I looked at her and gave into a childish whim.

"Have you got anything without Spam in it?", I asked.

She took it without flinching.

"We've got eggs, bacon, sausage and Spam. That's not got much Spam in it.", was the cool reply.

Minx just sighed and told her to bring me two orders of bacon and toast.

"and tea. Earl Gray, hot.", I added.

For herself, Minx ordered sausage and chips and tea as well.

The waitress moved away as Minx continued.

"When she went inside, she found that someone had gone through his journals, but nothing was missing that she could tell. There were a number of papers on cattle diseases, but she didn't find anything specific.", she said.

"What about the card?", I asked.

"Sheba is checking on Mistress Eliza right now through our contacts in the scene."

The tea arrived and I sipped mine while I let my mind wander.

"Cattle diseases? Like Mad Cow disease?", I said suddenly. "And the guy that Majima laid out last night is with Pordon. Do you see a pattern here?"

"Kali is planning on smuggling in the virus that causes Mad Cow. They could destroy the entire cattle industry in England that way.", Minx said as the idea formed in her mind.

"Or, since the virus can be carried in humans, is planning on blackmailing the British government. That would explain the interest of the security people."

"This is getting too big for us to handle alone.", Minx said. "We're going to need some help at higher levels."

"When I was in Hong Kong, Mei Ling called someone here and got the police off our backs. Can't you call the same people?", I remembered.

Minx shook her head.

"No, our contact is ... no longer available.", she said choosing her words carefully.

I could make some assumptions, but I didn't really want to.

"So who do we call? I'm sure we're one step behind the Army at this point. And if we push it, we could wind up on the wrong side of the Official Secrets Act.", I said.

"What's the Official Secrets Act?", Minx asked.

"Well it's not so much that, as the penalty for violating it."

"Which is?"

"Nobody knows. It's a secret.", I said seriously.

"Michael.", she warned.

"Seriously. There is no listed penalty for violation. It's up to the Government."

Breakfast was served, distracting us from the untidy topic under discussion.

Sheba arrived about halfway through the meal and reported her findings.

"Mistress Eliza is a very successful Dominatrix. No police record, never been arrested. I did find one of her patrons is in the House of Lords. And that's about all I could find out so far. Her specialty seems to be medical scenes. I couldn't find any connection to Kali or any other group.", she explained.

"Medical scenes. How appropriate for a doctor.", I said. "Where does she live exactly?"

"She has a dungeon in an old farm house about ten miles south of here. Why?"

"Well, I was thinking of the direct approach. Perhaps one of you should go pay a call on her. You know, professional courtesy.", I suggested.

They both looked at me like I was crazy.

"What?", I said. " Come on, it's the fastest way to find out if Dr. Morris made his appointment with her, and it's the only lead that won't have the police and security services all over it."

"He's right you know.", Sheba said after a moment's thought. "One of us could talk to her Mistress to Mistress and not raise any suspicions."

"And while we do that, Michael can snoop around the grounds.", Minx said.

"I can? I'd planned on shaking Dr. Morris's clinic down again. Majima must have missed something.", I replied.

"I doubt it.", Minx said firmly. "You'll come with us and see what you can find while we keep Mistress Eliza busy."

A phone call was made and an hour later we were pulling up to the gate of Mistress Eliza's farm. Sheba pressed the buzzer and spoke into the intercom and a moment later the heavy iron gate swung open.

As she pulled through it, I slid out of the rear door and hid in the bushes next to the gate as the car drove away towards the farm house a half mile away.

I checked the items I had packed in the vest I wore while I waited for them to get there . A spyglass, Sheba's cell phone, small camera, notebook and pen, gloves, flashlight, and a length of rope. I'd also brought a sandwich with me, knowing I might be there for a long time.

I peered out of the bushes with the spyglass and saw a red haired woman I assumed was Mistress Eliza come down the steps and greet Minx and Sheba, and then lead them into the house.

I was careful to stay low to the ground as I made my way towards the barn behind the house.

For a small farm, she had a hell of a lot of cattle, and I was concerned about the hired help. She couldn't take care of all of these cows by herself, so somebody had to be helping her.

When I reached the barn I snuck a look inside and didn't see anybody, so I went in.

It was filled with hay and sacks of feed. A line of barrels sat along one wall and there was a brazier and a set of branding irons neatly racked beside it. I could see an office in one corner, so I stayed hidden behind the hay and crept up to it carefully.

Looking in the window I could see a large walk in freezer and a small laboratory bench set up with a microscope and a stack of slides.

I took a picture through the window and ducked back down as a black haired woman wearing a white lab coat and hard hat came out of the freezer and sat down at the microscope, and started examining the slides, making occasional notes in a journal.

Flipping the flash of the camera into the off position, I held it up and took another picture, then ducked down again.

As I waited pressed against the wall I heard a telephone ring and a minute later the office door opened as the woman passed me as I crouched against the wall.

I took a quick glance in time to see her leave the barn, and then I opened the door of the office and scurried inside.

I took another set of pictures of the work area, then slipped one of the slides into a pocket, careful to wrap it the plastic from my sandwich. I looked at the journal, but most of it was Greek to me. I mean that literally. The woman was making her notes in Greek. I settled for taking a close up of it, hoping that Majima or Dr. Ruth could translate it later.

I knew I was running out of time, so I slipped into the freezer for a quick look around.

From front to rear were hanging sides of beef, all of them tagged with dates. A table along the rear wall held dishes of brains, some large and some small. A set of unused slides sat on the table as well, along with a microtome for slicing the tissue into small samples for mounting.

Another couple of pictures and I was ready to get out of there before I froze to death.

I got out of the barn almost without incident. I accidentally knocked the lid off of one of the barrels and had to replace it. The barrel was full of little numbered plastic tags in multiple colors. I grabbed a couple on general principle before replacing the lid and then hid in the shadows as the dark haired woman came back in and reentered the office.

So far, so good.

I slipped out the door and went behind the barn to see if there was anything of interest back there.

Other than a cattle loading dock, there wasn't anything that caught my attention. In fact none of the things I saw would have been out of place on a Kansas farm. Small feed silo, more sacks of grain, some feed additives. Even the presence of the laboratory could be explained away.

The only thing that was still bothering me was the number of cattle in the pasture.

I looked around the far corner of the barn towards the house and saw Minx and Sheba sitting at a table while a maid served them tea.

The woman I assumed was Mistress Eliza was talking to them and pointing towards the barn.

I kept watching, and after a few minutes, they stood and began walking in my general direction.

Twizzle, twazzel, twazzel, twome, time for this one to go home.

I headed for the far side of the farm, careful to keep the barn between me and the house. I crossed a fence into another pasture and was most of the way across it when the occupant of that field decided to object.

And when a bull objects, you leave.

I ran for the fence as the bull closed the range and jumped over it and discovered I was over a three foot trench half filled with water.

When I splashed down the bull just looked over the fence with a self satisfied expression, proud of his defense.

As to me, I stood up dripping and climbed up to the road that ran behind the trench and crossed it to the main fence surrounding the property.

I was about to climb it when I noticed it had plastic insulators holding a strand of wire across the top.

Either it was an alarm system or an electric fence.

Whatever it was, I was in trouble.

I tried to see the main gate from my position, but the house was blocking it. I moved along the fence keeping low to the ground in hopes of spotting Minx and Sheba when they left, and jumping the fence when the power was cut.

That plan failed when I got around to the front of the property and discovered the car was already gone.

Oh well, time for Plan B.

I pulled the cell phone out of my vest and water cascaded out of it. I pressed the power button and was rewarded with a brief flash on the display and then a puff of ill smelling smoke as the battery pack shorted out.

Plan C then.

Plan C consisted of making my way back to the bushes by the gate and waiting for someone to either come in or go out.

The sun went down and the moon came up. The lights in the house came on and a set of floodlights shown down on the yard as well, but nobody came in or went out.

It was nearing eight o'clock when I heard a large truck pull up to the gate. I looked through the bushes as the driver punched in a code and the gate swung open.

The truck drove through, and I ran through the gate to freedom.

I walked down the road back towards the direction of town, and while I walked I was passed by three more large trucks going towards the farm, each one about twenty minutes apart.

When I called the hotel, Minx answered on the first ring.

"Rescue detail up and out on the double.", I said.

"Where are you?", she said. "Are you all right?"

"I'm calling from a pub near the farm, just off the main road and yes I'm fine, but I smell like a swamp and I'm starving. Could you bring me a change of clothing please?"

"Did you find anything?"

"I think maybe, but I'm not sure. We need to get the film in my camera processed, and I've got a slide from the laboratory I found in the barn." , I said looking back into the main part of the pub.

Just coming through the door was the man I'd seen the night before, only this time he was in a British Army major's uniform and was wearing a side arm.

"I've got company in the pub. Major Mustache, and he's in uniform.", I hissed into the phone.

"Get out of there before he spots you.", I was commanded.

I looked for a back way out. None that I could see.

"I can't. I'll leave the camera and the slide in the bathroom. One of you can pick it up in case the Major catches up with me.", I replied.

"We'll be there in twenty minutes. Try and avoid him and slip out if you can.", Minx said and hung up.

I slipped into the bathroom, locked the door, stole the plastic bag from the trash can, then hid the camera and slide in the toilet tank. After that I prayed that nobody would have to use the facilities until Minx arrived.

I guess my luck was still running true to form because nobody did.

I heard the door knob rattle, then heard her softly call my name. I unlocked the door and dragged her inside and relocked it.

"Is he still out there?", I asked taking the bundle of clothes from her.

"Yes, he's talking with the barman.", she said, as she helped me strip.

"Get the camera. I hid it in the toilet ", I said, untying my shoes and slipping them off.

She pulled the bag from the tank as I finished getting into the jumpsuit and boots she had brought with her. A patch on the shoulder read Special Assault Squadron and a British flag was affixed to the breast pocket.

"What the hell is this?", I asked gesturing.

"Majima's idea. If you're in a military jumpsuit, nobody will ask any questions and if they do, you tell them that you're under orders not to discuss what you're doing.", she said handing me a comb and a fake beard.

I combed my hair out, attached the beard with the spirit gum Minx handed me, and then put on the cap she pulled from her purse.

"How do I look?", I asked.

"Hopefully you can get through the room without anybody noticing.", she said.

"And what if the Major notices?" , I asked as she unlocked the door.

"Lie."

"Where did she get this thing anyway?", I asked as she opened the door and slipped out.

"I didn't ask. But when she came in with it, she was rubbing her hand."

Minx walked down the hallway and into the pub without fear, but now it was my turn. I walked stiffly down the hall and was halfway across the room when I heard the Major call for me to halt.

I turned towards him and waited as he moved his way across the room.

"You men were told to stay in your quarters at the hotel.", he said sharply.

"Sorry sir !", I snapped." I was searching for a missing man, sir!"

He wrinkled his nose at my smell.

"Have you been drinking?", he demanded.

"Sir, no sir!. Someone spilled his drink on me sir!", I replied.

"Get back to the hotel. I'll keep watch for your missing man."

"Yes sir!", I said and quick marched out the door before he had a chance to change his mind.

I didn't relax until we were safely back in our rooms and the damned uniform was tossed out the window into the street along with the false beard, and a bit of my skin.

Minx gave the film to Sheba, who left for Herford to process the film at the Institute, and I took a quick shower to get the last of the ditchwater smell off of me.

When I came out the lights had been turned off and the room, was awash in candlelight. Minx sat at the small table wearing a white silk gown, waiting silently for me, a meal untouched before her and a place set for me.

"Mistress, is there something wrong?", I asked concerned.

"No, Michael. Please join me for dinner.", she said indicating the place across from her.

I took my robe from its hook and sat silently across from her, looking at her image in the candlelight as I ate.

In that flickering light I saw reflected in her face every woman I've ever loved, from the first girl who kissed me to my wife, gone to the Goddess.

She smiled at my reaction and in that smile I saw the love she kept carefully hidden from me, like a diamond in the night sky.

She just watched me, saying nothing until I finished eating and then took my hand and led me to her bed.

"Lay down Michael.", she said as she pulled the covers back.

"Mistress ..", I started to say but she silenced me with her fingers across my lips.

"Shh, Michael. Please do as I say."

She removed my robe and I laid down on my stomach as she gently stroked my back, then laid down so that I could hold her against me.

I hesitantly put my arms around her and heard her soft sigh as I held her against my chest.

"I love you Mistress.", I murmured as I drifted off towards sleep.

"Minkin."

"I love you Minkin.", I repeated, my tone reverent

"I love you too Michael.", she said as I fell asleep.

I awoke the next morning before she did, and slipped out of bed careful not to wake her. I wasn't sure what had happened, but I would keep it in my heart forever.

I had just finished dressing when she rolled over and smiled at me sleepily.

"Good morning my love.", she said.

"Good morning .. Minkin", I replied.

She smiled wider at that and at my discomfort with using her given name.

"You might get used to it someday Michael."

I knelt beside the bed and for the first time kissed her without permission.

She drew back and then tousled my hair

"Be careful. People will talk.", she said.

"Let them. I do have a question for you though.", I said.

"Why am I treating you this way after all these years? Because last night I thought I'd lost you forever. The accident was one thing, and when you were hurt in the hunt I was concerned.

"But last night as I waited for the phone to ring, I realized how much you mean to me. I love you Michael Charles Forbin, and I want you to know that without a doubt."

"And I love you Minkin Christine Dawes. ", I said seriously.

She sat up in bed and her robe slipped open to show her perfect breasts.

"And I may still tell you to go out and get killed for Ay'esha.", she said.

"And I'll follow those orders. And I know you may have to give them.", I said taking her hand." I knew the job was dangerous when I took it."

"Oh Michael, you are such a fool.", she sighed.

"Well I am a self made man of sorts.", I agreed.

The discussion was interrupted by Sheba and Majima's return.

Minx gather her robe around herself, and retreated to the bathroom to dress while I ordered breakfast for all of us.

When she came back out, Sheba pulled out enlargements of the photos I'd taken of the journals and the jars in the freezer.

"I had the pages translated. They are notes about the progression of a disease. The slide that you stole was a slice of brain tissue from a sheep. And look at the jars in the picture.", she said. "The large ones are cow brains, but the small ones are sheep."

"That fits with what Mistress Eliza told us when we toured the lab. She said that Dr. Morris and Dr. Pappas were working on a study of scabies.", Minx said

"Dr. Pappas?", I asked looking at the translated report.

"That's the name of the woman in the pictures. She was working with Dr. Morris. According to Mistress Eliza, he didn't show up for his session with her. He started seeing her for fun, but when she found out he was a vet, she hired him to work with Dr. Pappas", Sheba told me.

"I take it scabies is a sheep disease?", I asked.

"Scabies is related to Mad Cow, but not as infectious.", Majima confirmed.

"So were back to square one. We still don't know what happened to Dr. Morris, and we still don't have any idea where and when Kali is smuggling in the toxin. Or even if there is a toxin involved.", I said sourly.

"I'm afraid so.", Sheba confirmed.

I sat and considered what I had seen last night.

"Wait a minute. What if the toxin is already here? What if Kali has already smuggled it in, and is working on spreading it around."

"How?", Minx asked.

"How now brown cow.", I replied. "How many head of cattle would you say Mistress Eliza has on that place?"

"A couple of hundred at least.", Sheba said after a moment's consideration.

"There isn't enough food there for that many cows for very long. And I didn't see anyone besides Dr. Pappas and the maid working there. Who takes care of them?"

Sheba sat up straighter in her seat.

"Are you suggesting ...?", she started to say.

"While I was walking back to town I was passed by three trucks, and a fourth one is how I got out. What if the cows are the carrier of the virus, and the trucks deliver them to the farm? They get infected, and then the trucks take them away.", I finished.

"But the health authorities would be able to track them by their brands and their ear tags.", Majima objected.

"Ear tags?"

"Yes, each cow gets a tag with a number on it. That lets the health authorities track the cattle if there is a disease, like Hoof and Mouth."

Tags.

"Mistress, where did you put my clothes from last night?", I asked.

"They're in the bathroom."

I fumbled through the sodden mass of stinking clothing and pulled the tags I'd discovered out of the pocket of the vest and took them into the other room.

"Like these?", I said handing them to Majima.

"Yes. Where did you get these?", she said.

"Mistress Eliza's barn. I found them in a barrel."

Minx shook her head in amazement.

"That is the wildest thing I've ever heard, even from you.", she said.

"We can prove it simply enough. Do a count of the cows in the pasture. Or tail one of the trucks.", I suggested.

"Both. Majima and Sheba will follow the trucks tonight, and you and I will go take a census today.", Minx decided.

After breakfast, Minx and I decided to take a walk through the town. We'd been so wrapped up with the bug hunt, that we hadn't even looked around.

Our walk took us through the town square and then down a side street named Butcher's Lane, which I thought was appropriate. We talked about a lot of things on that walk, of life and love, and of duties and debts.

It seemed strange to be able to hold her hand as we made our way through the narrow lanes of the old town until we came upon the river bank and walked along it.

For that morning, we were Minx and Michael, lovers.

When afternoon came around however, we were both aware of the call of duty and looked at each other and sighed.

"The time has come the Walrus said.", I commented, as the clock in the town hall chimed noon.

"Yes. Let's go.", Minx agreed.

We were walking towards the car when Major Mustache came out of the hotel and stopped us as we were about to get into the car.

"Mr. Forbin , My name is Descoyn, Major Descoyn. I think we need to talk.", he said, putting his hand on my shoulder.

"I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage Major." , I said. "I have no idea what you'd like to discuss."

He smiled at me coldly.

"You were outside of Dr. Morris's clinic the night before last."

"Was I?", I replied in mock confusion.

"Mr. Forbin, I have taken the time to investigate you and your companions since then. At this point I could have charges of assault and impersonating an Army officer filed against you for the incident involving my associate." , he warned. "The disguise was reasonably well done, but your nose is rather distinctive."

I looked at Minx and shrugged before returning my attention to Major Descoyn

"And I could make a counter charge of breaking and entering against you Major. Or even better, I could take the story to the local newspaper. I'm sure that you'd appreciate the publicity concerning your activities.", I replied smugly.

"They would never print it.", he retorted.

"Oh, I know. I'm sure you're a pretty fast man with a D notice, Major, but that still wouldn't stop questions from being asked. And I'm sure that your superiors wouldn't appreciate any further notice being taken of you and the SAS people in town.", I said knowingly.

"The whereabouts of Dr. Morris are none of your business Mr. Forbin.", he warned.

"And what I do with my vacation is none of yours.", I said shrugging his hand off my shoulder as Minx got in the drivers side of the car.

He glared at me as we drove away.

"I think we have a problem.", I said keeping an eye on the mirror.

"I agree. Incidentally, what is a D notice? "

"Oh, in Britain if the Government thinks a news story shouldn't be printed, they can issue a D notice which declares the story to be covered under the Official Secrets Act. One D notice equals one dead story."

"I'll bet the US government wishes they could do that.", she replied. " But first things first. We need to do a cow count.", she said keeping her eyes on the road ahead.

We drove by Mistress Eliza's farm and as Minx slowed down, I did a quick count. Fully half the cows from the day before were missing.

We continued driving until we reached Telford and then stopped for a cup of tea.

It was then that I remembed to tell Minx about our tail from two nights before.

"Majima told me about it. I'm inclined to think she was being a bit too paranoid and it was just a coincidence.", she dismissed.

"Or it might have been a member of Kali.", I warned.

"Well you were right about the cows. Now if we can figure out where they're going to, or coming from, then we can stop it."

"Sheba and Majima should have that part wrapped up tonight.", I replied.

"I hope so. But I was thinking we do need more evidence.", she said slowly.

"I hope you're not thinking what I think you're thinking.", I said knowing the answer.

"I am. Come on, we need to find an electronics store. I want a video camera.", she said, paying the check for the tea.

That night she and I sat in a darkened car on the far side of the farm waiting for the mystery trucks to appear. We were both dressed in ninja black jumpsuits and rubber soled shoes, and I had a small video camera strapped to my back.

The small radio in my vest pocket beeped and I heard Sheba announce that a truck had passed her position and was pulling up to the gate.

"The gate is open. Go!", the voice hissed.

Minx and I wasted no time in climbing the now disarmed fence and laying down as another truck came up the road from the other direction, its lights spotlighting the field as it passed.

I looked at Minx and almost laughed looking at her in black face from the camouflage and then restrained myself. I knew I didn't look much better.

We scampered across the pasture lands, our progress interrupted only occasionally by a land mine of cow shit.

By the time we reached the area of the barn we could see the truck backed up to the loading ramp and cows being driven down it into a temporary pen. I started taping and through the lens could see five armed figures keeping an eye on the movement of the cattle.

"We need to get closer.", I said softly.

"Ok, you're the cameraman.", Minx agreed as we moved closer to the barn.

From our new vantage point I could see two more people apparently doing something to the ears of the new arrivals and then throwing something in a barrel.

I shot a few minutes of tape as we watched silently.

"I think they're pulling the ear tags off.", I said softly.

"Michael, did you ever think you'd be spying on cattle rustlers in the middle of England.", she said in reply.

"I never expected to firewalk either Mistress."

    Soon another truck arrived and cattle from the field were driven up the ramp and into it. There was a delay and then the truck drove off towards the gate.

    "A truck is coming out.", Sheba reported a minute later. "We're following it. Good luck.", she said as the radio clicked off.

We continued to watch the activities around the barn and I shot some more tape. The armed figures took up positions around the barn and we settled in to wait for something to happen.

As I watched one of the figures walked into the barn and then came out with what looked like a set of field glasses and started scanning the pasture slowly.

"Keep your head down. There might be enough of your face showing to give us away.", I hissed to Minx as the person turned towards us. I could see the glasses sweep by us through the viewfinder of the camera and then they moved slowly back towards our position.

For a moment we were lens to lens and then the person put the glasses down and walked back into the barn again.

"I think we need to get out of here.", I said, and we started crabwalking away from the barn area, hugging the ground as we crawled away.

We hadn't gotten very far before the whole area lit up with light and I heard a rifle shot whiz over our heads.

"Don't move!", A woman's voice called over a loudspeaker.

I started to look back as another shot hit the ground next to my head.

"I said don't move!", the voice repeated.

Minx looked into my face as we laid there waiting. I hoped she couldn't see the fear in my eyes. All I saw in hers was confidence in me and love.

We were dragged roughly to our feet and marched into the barn and pushed to the floor.

"And what do we have here? A couple of spies.", a woman said .

I looked up into the face of Dr. Pappas.

"Get up both of you.", she demanded as the guards pulled us to our feet.

She pulled Minx's hood off and threw it on the floor in disgust.

"Miss Dawes . How nice to see you again. And this is a friend of yours I take it.", she said ripping my hood off.

"At your service.", I said bowing.

She laughed.

"Not hardly.", she sneered, taking the video camera from me. "Who are you working for?"

I looked at Minx who said nothing.

"I can see that you're determined to be stubborn.", Dr. Pappas said, "But perhaps I can make you change your mind."

"What's wrong with the one I have.", I said innocently.

She just ignored the comment and turned to one of the guards.

"Get the branding irons heated up. We'll test them on our guests before we rebind the cattle", she directed.

The other guard pushed us down onto a bale of hay and stood over us as Dr. Pappas continued her Mad Doctor act.

"I'm sure that Mistress Eliza is happy with your performance.", Minx said sarcastically.

"Her? She's blissfully ignorant of all of this.", Dr. Pappas said, waving her hand around. "It's amazing what a sleeping pill every night can do."

"Sleeping pill or Mickey Finn?", I replied.

"Just a little something in her nightly snifter of brandy. Marie is so efficient at that sort of thing."

"So you're telling me the maid did it? That's a switch.", I said, looking towards the brazier where the irons were being heated.

"What happened to Dr. Morris?", Minx asked.

"Dr. Morris is no longer with us.", she replied.

"Murdered?"

"Heavens no! A man of his talents and background is too valuable to kill. He's now working in a warmer climate for considerably more money.", she rebuked.

"But we're not.", I said.

"No, I'm afraid that you aren't.", she confirmed.

"Isn't it nice to know we're loved?", I said to Minx. "I'm sure Kali will approve."

Dr. Pappas froze in her tracks for a moment before grabbing me by the throat and pulling me to my feet.

"What do you know of Kali?", she said fiercely.

"What do you know of Ay'esha?", I croaked out.

She released her grip on my throat and pushed me back down.

"You are of Ay'esha. That explains the attitude. Men under the control of Ay'esha don't know their place.", she said.

"Oh we do. At the side of our Mistress, rather than under her heel.", I retorted.

"I'm going to enjoy using a branding iron on you, I really am.", she replied, then turned to Minx. "If you want to keep him alive for a while longer, I'd tell him to shut up."

With that she walked out of the barn, leaving the guard to watch us.

He may have been armed, but obviously his heart wasn't in the job because he kept looking out of the barn door.

After the third time he turned his attention away from us, I slipped my hand into my vest pocket and slid the switch on the radio to transmit only, then indicated to Minx she should stand up.

The guard swung around at the sound of her getting up and told her to sit down again as Dr. Pappas came back into the building.

"Bring them over here!", she ordered.

The guard prodded us to our feet and pushed us in the direction of the door.

The brazier was red hot and the branding iron in Dr. Pappas's gloved hand was smoking slightly as she looked at us.

"I could just ask you who knows you're here, but frankly it wouldn't be as much fun as using the iron.", she said with a twisted smile.

"I'm sure. But would you mind answering a question?", Minx asked, stalling for time.

"Of course."

"What exactly are you doing with the cows?"

Dr. Pappas looked at her and then laughed, before placing the iron back in the fire.

"Nothing. Why? Do you think I should?", she laughed.

There should be some rule preventing mad scientists from using maniacal laughter, I swear.

"Then I really don't understand.", Minx said in confusion. "We thought you were smuggling a biological weapon into the country."

"Is that what you thought? My dear Miss Dawes, there never was a weapon. No, the plan I devised is much simpler and more profitable for Kali. Although a few people might die from it anyway."

"Since you're going to kill me anyway, would you please explain it in simple words, so I know why I'm dying.", I said, annoyed by her attitude.

"Men! ", she spat. " Oh, very well. The cattle are already infected with Mad Cow, or are at least suspected of being infected. The government doesn't want to take any chances, so they ordered all of the cattle of a certain age to be destroyed.

"The farmers turn in their cows, they get paid for them, and then the cows are shipped off to disposal facilities.

"Our contacts intercept the cows, bring them here, where we change the ear tags and the brands to indicate the cows are younger than the cut off age.

"Then we sell them to the meat packers or back to other farmers at a very tidy profit."

I was lost in admiration. It was a bovine equalivant of the old shell game. As long as the tags and cows kept moving from place to place, no one would ever be the wiser.

"Doctor, that is one of the most stunning plans I've ever heard in my life.", I gushed.

"Yes, well it's the last one you'll hear too.", Dr. Pappas reminded me.

"How can you say you admire it?", Minx said in anger.

"Well it is very impressive. And it almost works too.", I replied.

"Almost? What do you mean almost? It works flawlessly.", Dr. Pappas protested.

"Well, she did only make one mistake.", I said apologetically, looking at Minx. "I have to give her points for trying."

Minx caught the cue and kept going.

"That's true. You're right Michael, I guess I am being too critical."

Dr. Pappas finally lost her temper and slapped me.

"Tell me!", she screamed.

"Why? It's too late for you to correct it now anyway.", I replied as blood trickled from my lip. "Major Descoyn is closing in right now with his SAS men."

She shook her head in denial.

"No. You're lying to keep me from killing you right now."

"Am I? Ask any of your men who were in the pub in town last night if they saw a Major talking with another soldier."

She hesitated and then walked outside again to confer with one of the guards, and then walked back in.

"They could be here for any number of reasons.", she said.

"The second Dr. Morris disappeared they started looking around. How long do you think it will take the Major to trail him here?"

"And he will find nothing. Nice try though.", she replied, regaining her confidence.

She picked up the branding iron which was now glowing white and ordered the guard to strip me.

The guard set the rifle down, then grabbed the neck of my jumpsuit and pulled it straight back tearing it down the middle and leaving my chest exposed for her abuse.

As the remains of the suit fell off , the radio fell out of the pocket and onto the floor in front of everyone.

Dr. Pappas grabbed for it instinctively and as she bent over, Minx kicked her in the face knocking her backwards and sending the white hot iron into a pile of hay that instantly caught fire.

The guard decided that he wasn't going to be a hero and took off for the far door of the barn as more of the hay caught fire, leaving his gun behind.

"Run!", I said grabbing the radio and the video camera from the haybale it was resting on while Minx grabbed the rifle. We headed for the door the guard had run out while at the front of the barn the cows started to panic seeing the growing flames.

As we neared it another guard came around the corner and started firing at us.

We dove behind a stack of feed bags as the bullets slammed into them.

"Now what?", Minx panted.

"Ever see a cattle stampede?", I said and grabbed the rifle. "Get ready to run."

I pointed the gun in the general direction of the front of the barn and started pulling the trigger until the hammer clicked on an empty chamber.

That did it. The cows started bawling in fear and the temporary barriers were smashed by the rampaging herd as the cows ran in all directions including into the barn forcing the guard to retreat or be trampled. By that point the barn itself had started burning, casting it's orange light over the scene.

Before the guard could get back on his feet we were on ours as the cows continued running through the barn. Without thinking about it, I threw myself onto the back of one of them like a bareback rider and held on as Minx jumped on behind me.

"I'd always understood that Yankee Doodle came to town riding a pony, not a cow.", Major Descoyne commented the next morning as we gathered for breakfast.

The incident had attracted the attention of the neighbors and they had called the fire brigade and the county constable. Our arrival in town on the back of a cow was enough to galvanize even the normally placid citizens, who had in turn allowed us to call the Major.

"It wasn't my idea, I can tell you that. I felt more like Ragtime Cowboy Joe, the way that thing walked." I said standing up and rubbing my sore ass. "Talk about syncopated gated."

"We picked up Dr. Pappas and the maid last night. They made a full confession in exchange for a lighter sentence.", he said. "The cattle are being rounded up and taken to the disposal site."

"What about Dr. Morris?", Sheba asked.

"We've contacted the United Nations inspection team in Iraq, and advised them of the situation. They assure me that if he's there, they'll find him and return him."

"Then, as the poet says, "All's well that ends well." , I said.

Before the Major could reply, a Sergeant stepped up to him and spoke in his ear. I couldn't help but notice that he had a very prominent black eye, and looked at Majima, who shrugged and did her best to look innocent.

"Very well.", the Major said to him, before turning his attention back to us ." Mr. Forbin, Miss Dawes, thank you for your assistance in this affair, but I'd like to officially remind you that it never happened."

"Major, who would believe us anyway?", Minx said looking towards me.

"That's right Major. Cows as a threat to England? Get crucial.", I said agreeably.

He gave us one last long look before leaving us to our breakfast.

"Do you think he bought it?", I asked Minx.

"No."

Ouch.

"Well, I just hope Mistress Eliza has insurance.", I said. "Burning down the barn was an accident."

"Don't worry about that. The Institute is going to pay for it and provide her with a new maid as well, in exchange for her promise of silence.", Sheba assured me.

"Then we can go home.", I said.

"In a couple of days Michael. I have a few things I'd like to do before we leave, including visiting the grave of a friend.", Minx said.

"As a candle in the wind.", I said softly.

"Perhaps.", she said. "And you still have business here yourself."

"I do?", I asked with a puzzled expression.

"Yes you do. Majima reminded me of a promise that was made to you. She'd like to keep it."

Oh shit.

Sheba smiled at me and patted my hand.

"And I also have a promise to keep. Jen is waiting for you as well."

That was a far more pleasant thought.

"As Lord Nelson put it "England expects every man will do his duty'", I remarked.

Chapter 15 Section 17

Ragtime Cowboy Joe