Enter Harper Calloway
After the meal, they climbed on deck. A cool breeze curled over the mountains west of the bay and swept across gentle waves. They sat on the deck with their backs leaning against the railing. Soft city sounds came from Suva.
The conversations were light and mundane, with short bursts of laughter. It was too early in the mission for anyone to be burdened by anxiety or feelings of trepidation.
“Pete,” Trace said, “what sort of weapons can you get?”
“Tomorrow, I will get four L1A1s,” Pete said, “and two more the day after.”
“Can you get some pistols?” Trace said.
“How many?” Pete asked.
“The thought of all of us being armed and paid is mercenary to me,” Trace said. “However, I see the possibilities and practicality—six.”
“Can you get us a box of rattlesnakes?” Coyote joked. “They’re for a friend.”
Adam leaned forward and looked at Trace. “I don’t think we have to be apologetic about any weapons. I’ve looked at some of the files. They will outman and outgun us, maybe ten to one. And they’re trained. All we really have on our side is surprise, trickery, and deceit. It’s like they know the martial arts, and we use bare knuckles and we bite. And the best way for martial arts to work is if the other guy fights fair. We will not fight fair.”
“I guess we’ll shoot first and not stick around to ask questions,” Sage said.
“That’s a good plan,” Adam said.”We’re not facing folks who think like anybody we know. Well, there may be a couple. They have the mentality of a nest of hornets.”
“There’s this pretty little bird. It’s sort of a red color, and some are yellow—they say. Not very big. About the size of a sparrow,” Trace said.
“I’ve seen that bird before,” Sage said.
“It’s called a tanager,” Adam said.
“They love hornets’ nests,” Trace said. “Learned about them in biology. We've got to be like the tanager.”
“The man I saw today,” Adam began, “He said an operation like I described to him would take a lot of money and planning. That’s why things like this are left to governments; they have unlimited resources. How much is Franks willing to spend?”
“He’s passed on a hundred thousand, so far,” Trace said.
“I’m not one to quibble about dollars and cents when Franks’ son’s life may hang in the balance,” Adam said. “A hundred thousand sounds like a lot. It takes a lot to run a first-class operation. But if we don’t at least finance a first-class operation, we might as well be hauling copra.”
“What kind of equipment does your buddy suggest?” Sage said to Adam.
There were two plunks on the deck. Everyone turned in the direction of the sound. There were two duffel bags.
“Permission to come aboard,” a man’s voice came from shore.
Everyone stood.
“Come aboard,” Adam said. “You don’t mind, do ya, Trace. That’s the guy I saw today.”
A man, average in height, thin, wearing khaki pants and shirt, came onboard. His clothes were neat and pressed. A well-trimmed mustache sat below a thin nose. His jaw was square with a butt chin.
“Allow me to introduce Harper Calloway,” Adam said, and introduced the crew.
“Just call me Cally,” he said. “I couldn’t help but overhear the conversation. That’s not the truth; it was more like I wanted to hear. Anyway, I’m signing on, whether you like it or not. You guys need me. And I’ve been itching for something like this for a long time.”
“Cally,” Trace said, “I don’t know if you heard the money part or not.”
“Yeah, a hundred thousand. For what we are going to do, that’s, none to very little,” Cally said. “If the government were involved, it would run into the millions. I’m used to working with less and still showing a profit. But here’s the real thing: years ago, Adam saved my life. That’s for another time. I’m not letting him walk into something without giving all that I can. The point is, this operation went from not a chance to one hundred percent doable. And nobody gets hurt.”
“I think you have our attention,” Trace said.
“First of all,” Cally said, “I’m not in charge. I’m an advisor. If I come in and take over, there’s only resentment. So who’s in charge?”
“I’m the captain,” Trace said.
“Give me an order,” Cally said.
“Let’s all sit down and you tell us what you have in mind,” Trace said.
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