Chess Game

by Mr. David R. Dorrycott

the usual suspects copyright Mr. Simon Barber

Following by nine days An Extreme Confrontation, February 1937

Albert Sapohatan was currently sitting behind lowered bamboo curtains, enjoying the shade to be found under the a tourist umbrella at this time of day. For all the world he appeared as nothing more than a visitor taking rest from the noon day sun. Only tourists would believe that lie though, for Spontoon’s top Espionage leader was waiting for a meeting with three very special people, though he had only requested two to come. It would become a meeting that dozens of countries would have gladly paid lives to know about, especially Red Russia. As he sipped his tea he watched as seven figures approached down the beach. One was a native guide, a requirement for all non-natives visiting Main Island legally. The others were from the English Consulate. A bulldog who he knew went by the name of Major Thomas William Hawkins, a slightly younger border collie known as Jacob Dasher and a greyhound who could only be Captain Heller. They were accompanied by three young ladies ,and though two of them were unknown to Albert, the rather large chested tabby could only be his current problem. Millicent. Apparently hot and tired the group entered a nearby refreshment stand, vanishing inside where it would be cooler. It would also be impossible for any watchers to see what happened next.

There, unseen to outside observers the group separated. All three women remaining behind to chat as women tend to do while the men, after excusing themselves, vanished towards the water closets. Only that was not their destination, for within five minutes all three had independently joined the ferret at his table. “You do realize the risk we are taking” Captain Heller said as he sat. “Is extremely great.”

“Risk is our business Captain” Albert answered. “Currently there are two water taxis returning to Casino Island with engine troubles. One contains a French agent, the other a German. When risk is manageable it is acceptable. Currently at this moment there is not a single agent you need worry about upon Main Island.”

“Meaning of course” Jacob Dassher continued. “That we are simply surrounded by several hundred agents belonging to you.”

“Not quite that many” Albert admitted. “Still we are very well protected.”

“Accepted” the bulldog agreed. “Now to be rather less than social. What reason did you invite the three of us to this little luncheon? Have you abruptly discovered that our naval forces are even now steaming towards Spontoon, in a secret plan to invade?”

Albert grinned. “HMS Devonshire and London are currently docked in Hawaii. They are on a goodwill mission that will last nine more days. Currently they are the closest English ships to Spontoon, though HMS York and Exeter are due to pass through the Panama Canal tomorrow for visits to the American West coast.”

“So you know our ships disposition, that is easy work” Dassher admitted. “Should we speak of your own warship, and that Q-ship that belongs to the American Procyk? Coral Breeze I believe her name is.”

Albert waved his paw as though the information was nothing. “It is. Now that we have succeed in impressing each other with our secret knowledge, most of which was taken from the newspapers, shall we get to the business at paw? That being two young ladies. Tatiana Wei and your young Millicent.”

“Oh God. What has Millicent done now” Heller asked.

“Millicent” Albert answered, “Has done nothing worth mentioning that I am aware of. You certainly know of her actions within your Consulate better than I. She did pass the Harrods test I noted.” He smiled as the Collie’s mouth dropped open. “Oh please, it did take us nearly a year to understand that significance between a new courier carrying a large package between the American and English Consulate. Until someone noted that in certain trash the previous years copy of Harrods catalog appeared the same day. Followed soon by shipments from that same store to the American’s Major Dalmont. It was the Sears catalog you received, wasn’t it Mr. Dassher? I will let you know that we spent almost a quarter of a year of wasted time hunting secret messages or codes within those recovered Harrod’s catalogs, though we never have managed to recover anything useful from your trash Dassher. Tell me, am I correct”

“Yes. Sears” Dassher admitted. “They carry excellent fishing gear for very good prices. You have of course shared this information?”

“Not at all” Albert laughed. “You fooled us very well. Let everyone else puzzle out your secret. It is quite amusing and was a good test of our own people. Now to be serious.” He snapped his fingers and a young squirrel arrived to place a large case beside him. “Please have refreshments served now” he instructed as he opened the case. As quickly as she had arrived the young girl vanished. “She is really nothing more than an employee here. One who knows how to keep her muzzle shut when instructed to do so. You may have your agents follow her all you desire, but please remember that she has reached the age where a husband is very much desired, and we do have some interesting laws regarding what happens between males and females. If she is harmed, I assure you that the first response will be from her Great Aunt, who is a Priestess.”

Placing three small packets of papers on the table Albert leaned back. “Read carefully gentlemen. We all have a serious problem now. It is what this meeting is about.”

Selecting a packet each of the Englishmen read carefully while Albert waited. Finally as the last packet was returned to the table he spoke again. “Some background. Tatiana by being adopted by the Priestess Oharu Wei is now a full Spontoon citizen, with all rights and responsibilities. You note that she offered to take that long swim. That means she is well aware of what doing so would result in. She is not in love with Millicent, I doubt that she will ever be more fond of the girl than as a friend or sister. She is though an excellent actress. I can guarantee you that what she says is the truth, as much as we have been able to verify it over this last week. Amelia and her dorm turned in quite official passports to their tutors. Each with the name, position and information Tatiana gave our agent. How she obtained those passports I do not know.”

“Millicent arranged them” the greyhound admitted. “Quite unofficially.”

“And she is still alive? Impressive” Albert admitted. “I must assume that you are aware of the situation between those two. That you have not only allowed the girl to continue breathing, but have advanced her position can only mean that you have a use for this situation. But this changes a lot of things I believe.”

“Quite a few” Dassher admitted. “Tell me, how did you turn the Japanese girl.”

“She turned herself” Albert admitted. “Just like she turned Tatiana, with the truth. Oharu is one of those who can look at the truth and accept it, frightening as it is.”

Dassher looked to his two companions before continuing, having to wait as non-alcoholic drinks were placed on a lazy Susan in the tables middle. He watched amused as Albert spun the lazy Susan, allowing the others to select drinks before taking the last, immediately sipping its contents. “You want us to trust you” he admitted.

“Trust? Can we trust each other” Albert asked. “Maybe, but we do need to work together. At least here, today.”

“Very well.” Dassher drank from his own glass before continuing. “As I see it, if Tatiana wishes to remain alive and useful she has to follow those orders. Yet being with a woman is distasteful to her. So how does she fool Millicent?”

“I don’t know” Albert admitted.

“I see. Could this mouse. This Priestess Oharu know?”

Albert thought over that question. Answering it one way would give too much information. Answering it another might be just as bad. It was a difficult decision. He decided to sidestep, to open a false lead for his visitors. “You would have to ask her” he finally said. “We are all aware that Tatiana sold herself to Nikki, that Nikki then sold her to Oharu. Yet Oharu became her adopted mother and as we all know Tatiana has changed quite a bit since then. Oh she is still a communist, will be all her life I would guess. But she’s not doing the things she used to do. Perhaps Oharu is guiding her in this, though the why I honestly do not know. Maybe Oharu wants Millicent for herself, to replace that doe she loves. Maybe she wants both as Priestess in training. I honestly don’t know. You had best ask her that.”

“You will allow us to ask a Priestess such things” Hawkins asked.

Albert shrugged. “You can ask any Priestess anything, just be aware that you may not like the answer, or understand it. Some speak in riddles, some vaguely. I have found that Oharu speaks only the truth, but not all of it. From experience I will tell you that she cannot lie her way out of a Jay walking ticket. There is this to remember, she has just returned from her yearly retreat. She has, I have been informed, changed somewhat since losing the doe to another.”

Hawkins nodded yes as though he had experience in such things. “Then today, after this meeting I shall go and ask her.” He leaned back in his chair, looking up at the palm thatch roof while various light foods were placed before him. Ignoring the young squirrels presence he continued speaking. “Millicent is desperately in love with Tatiana, yet her loyalty to Crown and Country has proven to be unshakable. From the letters we have intercepted, Tatiana is reinforcing this loyalty. These are certainly not the actions of one trying to turn an agent. Tatiana is not in love with Millicent, so what use can she get from the girl. Remembering that she is going against her own nature by bedding young Millicent. Her nature mind you, not her training. I am quite certain that she has been well trained in such actions, wither she enjoys it or not.”

He paused to select a bit of sweetmeat, using a tiny fork to pop it into his mouth, then using the eating of that meat to buy time. “Russia is pushing hard. Why” he continued after swallowing. “What are they up to that they have so abused their best agent in this area. An agent they themselves admit is their best. Why would Starling want to get an agent into our works so badly he’d throw away his best tool trying to do so. If he suspected the girl she’d be recalled. He likes to watch slow executions I am informed.”

“She is your girlfriend” Captain Heller reminded the bulldog. “Maybe they are trying to play the jealousy angle. Could they have an agent ready, waiting to replace Millicent after your done with her?”

“That is a slim possibility. Still you will investigate it when we return. Tell me Mr. Ferret, who’s name cannot be spoken lest the universe stop. What do you know of this direwolf Tatiana spoke of.”

“Very little” Albert admitted. “And its Albert Sapohatan, as if you were not already aware. This is his third visit to our nation. When he arrives there is always a shake up at the Russian Consulate.”

“He is then, my alter ego” Hawkins decided. “I know more of him than you do it seems. Very well, now I do think I know what is going on.”

“Care to share” Heller asked.

“In this company yes. It is a game move. A Chess game. He is attempting to take one of my pawns with his knight, and Tatiana can be nothing less than a Knight in this game. Millicent, who is just starting, is no better than a pawn at the moment. This is nothing more than a move in his game.” Abruptly chuckling, the sound again causing his Collie companion to flinch, Hawkins raised his glass of fruit juice. “To the game gentlemen. Let us see if a Pawn will take the Knight, or Red shall sacrifice the Knight to hide their position.”

“And how will you manage this my English friend” Albert asked as he placed his glass back on the table.

“By cheating of course. By cheating. How else? If you will assist of course.”

Albert simply waited.

“I need your Queen to make a false move, drawing his attention for a moment. That would be the Priestess Oharu. I need also your Bishops, Amelia and Helen, to create a smoke screen for the Red Knight to retire too. For this game to end successfully I must distract our Red King long enough to turn his Knight without him becoming aware. Tatiana wishes to see Starling fall. To do so how better than to turn her double? Dangerous for her yes, but she is after all my enemies piece. Not mine. Her loss would cause neither of us harm.”

“There is young Millicent” Heller reminded his superior.

“Pawns are sacrifices we often must make Captain. If you cannot risk a Pawn you do not belong in this game. Losing Millicent, she is easily replaceable. Losing a chance to steal a Knight. I would sacrifice five Pawns for such a prize.”

“And my pieces” Albert asked, understanding what Hawkins proposed to do as he had done so many times himself.

Hawkins became deadly serious. “Your Queen, I am no fool Albert. She will easily hold against stronger attacks than this Red King may ever raise against her. She will also protect the Knight, for the Knight is her child. Adopted or not, a mother will defend with all she has a loved child. This may extend to my Pawn but that isn’t important. I certainly will not depend upon it. Your borrowed Bishops though. Some danger yes. One day I will take back my loaned Bishop Albert, but not just yet. Should we allow the American’s to play? After all the endgame will be upon their Hawaiian board and one of your pieces still belongs to them.”

“I think not” the ferret admitted. “They are such poor players after all. Very well, for a price I will loan you my pieces.”

“That price?”

“You are discarding a Pawn. I will pick it up.”

“Millicent? Albert. If that pawn falls to the Red King there will be nothing left worth picking up.”

Albert studied the three men across from him. “I did not say fall, I said discard. You are discarding her. She will, once she marries Tatiana become a full Spontoon citizen. She will belong to me. Or you may whistle into the wind for my pieces.”

Hawkins didn’t reply instantly, instead he thought over the implications. “A Spontoon citizen working in one of my Consulates with Most Secret Access. You do realize that she will not turn. We’ve already tried everything short of breaking her, and Tatiana has tried those things that we cannot.”

“I don’t need another agent in your consulate” Albert laughed. “I’ve enough as it is. I need Oharu. Would you like to see just how good she can be, when she needs to be?”

“Certainly. What great American secrets has the Japanese Priestess given you that you will share with us?” the bulldog asked.

Returning to the case Albert removed three sketch books, books sent to him by Oharu after her trip to Hawaii. “I believe that you will find these interesting” he answered, offering the books to his companions. What followed was more silence as pages were turned, broken by the occasional comment or question. Finally Hawkins looked up. “Here I suspected Annette as the spy, learning too late that it was the mouse not the thinly dressed otter who was dangerous. You do realize that it has been over fifteen years since I was so completely fooled. Why, I even sent a report to my superiors suggesting the same type of team to test our own people.”

“What was the decision” Dassher asked, still studying the art before him.

Hawkins shrugged. “They are trying it on a limited scale. If the truth comes out of course they will end such trials I imagine. Unless there has been acceptable returns by then. Very well, you may pick up my discards Albert. Be aware if I suspect that you have ever successfully turned her against Crown and Country that I will send you her head. This you may explain to your White Queen.”

“Turning her against you is not in Spontoon’s best interest Thomas. Truthfully, as far as I am concerned you may continue to use her as you planned. When I need to play her, then she will become mine. Of course just as you are doing, that play may be to sacrifice her.”

“Its those Kuo Han slavers, isn’t it” Dassher asked.

“It is” Albert admitted. “A woman of Millicent’s build will be impossible for them to ignore. Each trap requires a different kind of bait. To be truthful we have lost almost as many women as we have recovered. Those we have recovered, I fear that none were of any value. To anyone. Their minds had been changed. I need to find out where their training camp is. I have to use another woman next summer, it will be Millicent.”

“A Pawn sacrificed twice. Interesting idea Albert. Next summer? Your Bishops to follow and recover her?”

“My bishops, and our shared Red Knight Thomas. You are aware of a certain drug that has fallen into our paws, one used upon the Songmark girl Liberty?”

Dassher gasped. “So it is real. Any chance we can have a sample?”

“About the same chance as your granting me a private audience with the Crown Jewels, then looking away as I leave with a rather large and heavy suitcase. I will though have a report of all we know about it delivered to you in the morning. Including any updates. As we have them. We have just enough of this drug to maybe take over a camp for half a day. Maybe. I am not yet certain. All we know is that the main training camp is on an island near Kuo Han, but not which group. Certainly not which one. If we can take that camp, find the records. We might, just might get many of our children back.”

“Sounds like you have a hidden agenda” Hawkins decided. “And your secret weapon?”

“A woman named Illie.”

“Illie” Captain Heller squeaked. “Arctic White fox. Wears woven wire armor. Speaks only Cantonese?”

 “Why yes” the ferret admitted. “You are already aware of her?”

“I happened to see her in action outside your courthouse last year. She broke a sword canes blade in her bare paws, without injury to herself. Albert, I have never in my life seen anyone move that fast. She is frightening. She is a killer.”

“Assassin” Albert corrected. “I have spoken to her, through Mrs. Whitehall, about an action like this. She is, I will admit, rather hungry for the chance. Your answer?”

“Millicent is yours. Though she will be allowed to think she is still working for England” Hawkins decided. “We have lost citizens to Kuo Han ourselves, and every agent I’ve sent in this last year. Your Coral Breeze will supply transport I would guess. I will insure that at least two cruisers are in the area on practice maneuvers and just happen to be listening to the correct frequency. Still this has strayed from our original reason for being here. How can Tatiana possibly marry Millicent, and what do we do about the suspicions already upon her.”

Albert sat his drink down, signaling for refills. “I have a name of a Russian agent in Zemlya. One who has already approached the French about defecting. You have an agent in the area. I also believe that you have a code that the Russian’s have broken?”

“Dragon Two” Heller supplied. “They don’t know we know, not yet. So we have our agent send a message in Dragon Two reporting information given him by this as yet unnamed Russian agent. Interesting. We remove a Red Russian Rook. With no threat to ourselves other than by an already compromised code. At the same time clearing a future double agent from suspicion. That still leaves at least four Russians on Spontoon who need to be dealt with.”

“We cannot touch the direwolf or his secretary. That will tip our paw” Hawkins objected. “The other two, I’ll deal with them myself later this week. If you allow Albert.”

“Give me two days to get the word out, then enjoy yourself Thomas. Tatiana has already approached Amelia about joining her, and kept Millicent’s name out of the conversation. I will explain things to Amelia after this is over. So that she will accept Tatiana when that sable makes her move. When the time comes you will have to do the same. Spontoon law allows women to wed, and as you may remember. Our treaty with your country requires that you honor those marriages.”

“Not that many like the idea, but it is the law” Dassher agreed.

“Very well, a marriage well before Mayday. That’s enough time to prepare things, act, then let things cool down. You will supply the funds for a month in Hawaii for two yes?”

“US!” Dassher gasped.

“We are but a small country Jacob” the ferret explained. “A month in Hawaii? How could we possible manage to support that. Besides, I have a feeling that the Russian’s will be footing some of that bill. I will speak to Oharu. Perhaps she has enough influence over Tatiana to make her do this.”

“A Red Russian double agent. Whom the Russians believe is only following their orders” Hawkins whispered. “Red Russians believing that they have a secret channel into our business. Closer unofficial contact with your government. A chance to retrieve kidnaped British citizens next Summer with little danger to our own people. You wouldn’t happen to feel like loaning your Queen sometime would you?”

“When you loan me yours” Albert suggested.

“I don’t much think that the O’Flynn would like that” Hawkins admitted. “She is a touch picky about her loyalties. So we keep our Queens off each others table for now, least they crush each other. That I will quickly agree too.”

“Agreed. So Jacob, when will you use Tatiana as the missing Princess?”

“You know about that?” the bulldog asked.

“Guessed, now I know. I’m no fool Thomas. I can see how close the two are in looks, even though there are years between the Princess’s last photograph and the Tatiana of today. They could be twins after all. You will play her for all she is worth, then allow the wolves to tear her body to shreds.”

“If I have no choice yes. My country comes first, as your country comes first for you Albert. Then we are agreed. Tatiana will marry Millicent. Millicent, as long as she remains loyal, continues upon her current path. Tatiana joins Amelia’s squad with Millicent held in reserve. Two Russians will have tragic accidents. When it is your need, Millicent becomes bait for the Chinese. I will supply two ready warships at that time. Any records will be shared between us.”

“Agreed. I will speak with my Queen about pressing the Russian Knight into making the correct move. I gain a Pawn, two Bishops gain further experience. Experience they will both need when they become Queens. Russia loses this match. One day one of us will checkmate that Red King, and whomever does will inform the other. Thomas, this is a dangerous move you are making. All over the chance of capturing a single Red Knight.”

Hawkins sat back, relieved. “One wonders if the Knight knows that her mother is already dead. I do wonder how would that change this game.”

“None to the better” Albert decided. “She would attack the Red King. He would rip her to shreds without more than the effort to yawn. My Queen would destroy him, and all within his influence. It would take years to learn our new opponents play style. Years neither of us believe that we have.”

“Besides” Dassher reminded Hawkins. “We still owe his Queen for a returned Bishop of our own, and the saving of two Knights long thought lost.” He paused to drink the last of his fruit juice. “It is not a debt that any of us would dare repay by discarding her piece as though it were worthless.”

“You speak as though she were a player” Albert observed.

“Please Albert. High Priestess Huakava was a player. High Priestess Saimmi is a player. What fool would believe that one such as your Queen would not eventually become a player. If not by your order, than by Saimmi’s order.”

“Excuse us gentlemen” the collie Jacob Dassher said, breaking into the conversation again. “But I do believe that the two of us should have something to say about what happens here.”

“You do” Hawkins admitted. “Just not in this event. As to the why, this I will most happily explain when we are back within or own walls. Jacob, right now. What would you do with young Millicent, knowing what you know now.”

“At best, send her home with a letter to the Home Office regarding this. At worse, remove her from her position” the collie answered. “Still that will not do what needs to be done I think.”

“Heller?”

Captain Heller shook his head no. “I’m not really certain Major. My gut instinct is a bullet to the back of her head. Still. All things considered. As I look at things, she isn’t the problem. Young Millicent has been completely open with us. This Tatiana girl is apparently too well protected to safely touch. As I see it the problem is this direwolf, whom you tell us is also untouchable. I’m sorry sir, I’d ship her home too. For her own safety.”

Major Hawkins looked to his two companions. “Your both on the right track. Here is the benefit of Albert’s and my long experience. The facts are this. Russia has discovered that someone either turned, or was debriefed by White Russians at a certain place and time. Now Tatiana, whom I have begun entering a working relationship with, is a Russian agent who was at that place at that time. At this moment it is certain Starling has a death warrant signed. It is just waiting for a name. With me so far?”

“Yes sir” both hounds answered.

“Good. From what I know of events and rumors, Tatiana was tricked into revealing information she should not have. Now in the spy game we use Chess terminology. At the time Tatiana would be considered a Pawn, with a capital P. Millicent for example is a pawn with a lower case P. It is a matter of training and experience. Tatiana most likely ran across a Knight or Rook. One who simply outplayed her. Again, a matter of experience. Still with me?”

He waited until both men acknowledged they understood before he continued. “Very good. Of late Albert here has been training two Songmark girls for his own game. They have advanced to Bishop level, with a small b. In the same period Tatiana has only advanced to perhaps Knight, with a small k. These labels indicate the strength of each piece. Knowing these strengths we, Albert and I, are able to determine which piece to play against our opponents. But on Spontoon I will admit I am outclassed piece for piece, thus I do not desire to play against him. Or the Americans, as you can see from these books how a Queen was used, with a small Q. Or in this case the Russians. Questions?”

“If you two are so aware of each other, why are we even here. Why are we alive” the greyhound asked.

“Professional respect” Albert answered. “Thomas and I have known each other for a very long time. We have played against each other several times. Over the years we’ve discovered that when we support each other against a third player. It is not only a great deal more fun, but we lose fewer pieces, or lives, than alone. Not just that, I was best man at Thomas’s first marriage.”

“So its friendship, respect and mutual agreements” Jacob added. “And us?”

“Very strong Knights, with a capital K. Both of you” Thomas answered. “It is my hope to advance you both to player status soon. At least Bishop. Playing against Albert here will result in almost constant defeat, but he doesn’t tend to throw your pieces into the ocean as others would do. In a Chess game you can reset the board. In life you end up very dead, and a friendly Spontoon is one of the best places to learn the game without losing lives.”

Jacob laughed softly. “As long as your friends with He who must never be named?”

Hawkins smiled at those words. “Correct. Now we have Tatiana. Who has placed herself in a poor board position. At the same time she has aligned with me, making her controller believe that she is playing me. With only that little play to show, the Direwolf would know that the reverse is true. That in fact am playing her. He would wonder why. But Tatiana has also gathered young Millicent into her arms, placing her on the board. This our opponent will know is a successful capture, though a delicate one. Thus his demand that his Knight marry my pawn, to strengthen her position while weakening my own. As such he most likely believes that the doing so will check my movement against his Knight. Were Millicent or her father important it would. As it is, he has made a mistake but cannot know this as yet.”

Accepting a fresh glass of fruit juice Thomas Hawkins continued. “This White Queen we talk of is the Priestess Oharu. Once a Japanese pawn, with a very small p, she has changed boards. In changing boards she has strengthened her position to that of a small Q Queen. How? In several ways. By becoming a Priestess. One who is respected by everyone who meets her. By going to China and playing the game alone, and without training against her own people. Not only winning, but bringing three still useful if damaged pieces back with her. I think that should Oharu truly place her paws on the table this game would become exceptionally difficult. For all of us.”

He drank his juice before continuing. “Oharu has adopted Tatiana, which makes her a Queens pawn. As you know it is always exceptionally dangerous to take the Queens pawn. For the Queen can and will sacrifice herself to take your King. That would be you gentlemen. Or Albert or myself. Now this direwolf, who’s true name is Sidokha, has decided to play his pieces on Spontoon. We will eat two of his pawns and take his Knight. But he will not know that his knight has been taken. We will use a Pawn in another country to expose one of his Rooks. That Pawn will leave for Singapore as soon as he transmits his message. With luck we will not lose that Pawn, but it is possible. That nation is a very dangerous board to play upon after all. Red King will turn on Red Rook, allowing Red Knight to slip out of the trap she has created for herself. Behind the shielding movements of two White Bishops. Red Knight will join with White Bishops as instructed by the Red King in what looks like a delayed attack. Red Knight will take White Pawn captive, thus again following Red Kings orders. White King will, in apparent frustration of losing the Red Rook take two Red Pawns. Removing them for further play. Red King, if the play is successful, will retire believing that he has won this round. In his eyes he will have compromised two White Bishops, removed a turned Red Rook from play, captured a White Pawn and found influence upon a White Queen. All at the cost of two Pawns. In his eyes his position is a great deal stronger.”

“Except” Captain Heller continued. “He has instead removed a strong Red Rook from his own play. His Red Knight has turned herself under the protection of the White Queen, aligning herself in power with two White Bishops all at the cost of a single White Pawn. Which we still control anyway. At the very worst we lose one White Pawn in the Red Rook play.” Taking his own fruit drink in paw the Greyhound swallowed deeply. “I am not ready for this game yet” he admitted a few moments later. “I can’t play with lives as if they were Chess pieces.”

“And yet the game is not yet over gentlemen” Thomas continued. “In some months we will play the Knights Pawn to draw in the Chinese. Call them the yellow pieces. Yellow Pawns take White Pawn. White Knight and two White Bishops move onto the yellow board. Add to that a wild Bishop, that would be Illie. These are four major pieces played to not recover the Pawn, which is expendable. But to take the Yellow King and Queen. To throw over the entire Yellow board. If we play this right a major problem will be removed from this area. We will lose the Pawn, that is unavoidable. Even should she live she will become another’s piece, not ours. Still a Pawn twice played is a rarity. Destruction of the yellow King and Queen is paramount. To that we will add two Rooks in the form of warships. Gentlemen, we are looking at pushing back the Red King for at least a years play, while taking a strong Yellow King out of play. All for, at worst the loss of two Pawns. This could not happen without Albert’s assistance. Thus he gains the White Pawn should she survive. That is something I strongly doubt however. Either way, such a cheap price is more than worth this play. Questions?”

“It’s a little difficult to follow” Dassher admitted. “Since Chess only has a certain number of pieces. But I’ve managed. Still, out of all this it seems Spontoon gets the high ground.”

“Do they” Hawkins asked. “Spontoon is training a spy for us, not the first by the way. A spy who has created her own cell. We will also gain the use of Tatiana when we need her. A long term problem will be removed, one that has swallowed many English citizens and more than a few merchant ships. Over the long run it is we who gain, though I will admit that it doesn’t look that way right now. Simply by slapping Sopps paws we have already gained. You really don’t think that a young girl could have out swum the professional diver who was chasing her. Do you. Sopps came out with exactly what Albert wanted us to know, nothing more. She came out so frightened that it will be some time before she foolishly exceeds her mission parameters again. It was a chess game, though I would have dearly been saddened to have lost Sopps. She is a good agent and really rather pretty. Much like Amelia.”

Heller snorted. “It will be strange to have young Millicent wandering about with a wedding ring, and her partner being another woman” he admitted. “It will drive some people rather bonkers I am afraid. She will find herself alienated. Certainly married to a communist? How am I to deal with her difficulties.”

“You won’t” Hawkins explained. “She will. You and Dassher are to become her best friends. I know you act like you can’t stand the idea, but that act ends now in regards to Millicent. She will need strength to lean against, as her life is about to become interesting. Very interesting. Jacob, I want you to have Proud begin giving our Pawn further training. After hours advanced training. She’s going to end up in a girlfight within a week of her marriage. I want her to come out of it without a scratch, her attacker beaten senseless. It is the best way to stop petty violence. Is that clear? ”

“As crystal sir.” Taking out a pad the collie wrote down his orders before saying anything else. “What about discipline sir. A fight inside the Consulate?”

“Take everyone involved to the Red room, throw them in with nothing but their unders. If that. Winner take all. Just make certain that Millicent is the winner. Even if you have to drug the rest.”

“Yes sir. May I sell tickets?”

Hawkins did a double take. “Tickets? Oh, yes. Women fighting. Why not. The embarrassment alone may be enough to stop any further problems.”

“I’d like a ringside seat” Albert suggested. “If you do not mind?”

“Be delighted old man. We will sit together with fish an chips, betting on who falls next. Now is there anything else? Our ladies have been waiting for lunch quite a while now.”

“Your ladies are stuffed by now” Albert corrected. “You will have a very slow walk home, unless you take a taxi from here. I would very much consider the Taxi.”

“Then until we meet again. Gentlemen?” Hawkins and the rest stood, taking their leave before vanishing the way that they had come. After a while Albert observed the seven headed away, walking towards a pier and waiting water taxi. “Your opinion” he asked the empty air.

From a hidden booth his wife appeared, settling down in an abandoned chair as the waitress cleaned things up. “Cool sweet tea and something light please Oola” she asked the girl. “My opinion husband? My opinion is that Hawkins has the jest of it. His only difficulty is not knowing that I am still alive.”

“True. True” her husband admitted. “What is O’Flynn like?”

“She’s a skunk, really. A skunk. Sometime in her life she was captured and descented. While awake and without pain medication. It was an attempt by the Americans to break her. Torture to be honest. Instead she killed her captors, they hadn’t gotten around to declawing her yet. Their mistake. Professional. She plays the game by the rules. We spent a week together once. With the Americans hot on our tails, though luckily they didn’t know who we were. I’d trust her if I had too. Kill her if I had too. She really admires the Major, but she hates the Americans and distrusts the English. Strange, him being English and all.”

“Who knows” Albert admitted. “Maybe she’s in love with him.”

“Could be. So, your going to play this exactly like you laid it out?”

“Of course not. Neither will the Major. That was all for his mens benefit. Amelia and her girls will be gone before Millicent’s capture. That direwolf has to die. He’s way too dangerous and smart. He will pick up on the truth within days. Millicent though is truly expendable. Tatiana will be happy to lose her. Its not like the ermine is Sapphic or anything.”

“Expendable? I watched you looking at her as she came up the beach” Elizabeth giggled. “Your tongue was hanging out like a young pups. My god Albert, how can she walk with a chest that big.”

“Carefully. Very carefully. And that’s exactly what will draw Kuo Han to her. Like flies to honey, she’ll become their number one target. I can guarantee that. Especially if she starts wandering the less used beaches of Main Island. Say late in the evening. Alone?”

“It’ll take some doing” Elizabeth admitted. “I think that we can manage to make her think that its her own idea though. I hate what will happen to her. Even if somehow she’s rescued, it will be at least a few days before everything will be in place. Kuo Han’s slavers work fast, its how they stay in business. Tatiana will accidently have access to a long range amphibian?”

“I’ll see what Rain Island can spare around that time” Albert agreed. “Now lets have lunch. I’m starving.”