Where Fox and Hare say Goodnight 5

»I know who has to do the dishes!«, Samantha crowed. Cordelia, who cooked best if she was left alone, had created a deliciously smelling vegetarian lasagna and the three returning from the sauna had deliberately laid the table. Now, they were waiting for Isabelle and Lioba to return from their canoe trip. Veronique looked at the clock.

»I saw them on their way back when I was at the pier – that was some 30 minutes ago!«

She longingly looked at the oven where the lasagna was just developing a golden crust. Samantha giggled:

»Perhaps, they are discussing Mike`s abilities as a lover!«

Veronique, who loved to put Lioba on a worse place, developed another scenario:

»Or, they quarrelled, because both still have feelings for him! Then, they tried to push each other overboard, but lost the paddles and now, they are too embarrassed to call for help!«

Her eyes sparkled when she remembered a detail about the two on the canoe:

»Now, as I am thinking of it, they didn`t have paddles – and they were sitting back to back! So, they are angry about each other! Poor Isabelle!«

Cordelia, who hoped that there would not be another quarrelling couple among them, had not participated in the discussion and looked out of the window. To her surprise, it had become quite dark – but in the light of the veranda`s lantern, she noticed something.

»It snows!«

This caused all to rush for the panorama window. Cordelia and Lalita were used to the grey English or Scottish winters, and both Samantha and Veronique lived in Paris that was also not blessed with snow.

In fact, there was quite a lot of snow coming down. Already, the grass had turned white, and they could hardly see the sauna and the outhouse, let alone the pier.

»Eww, I hope that we have a shuffle – otherwise, it could be difficult to get to the toilet!«

»Okay, if Isabelle and Lioba are still out there, they should better hurry! Not that the lake freezes before they have reached the shore!«

Veronique had to remember a fairytale of Hans Christian Andersen:

»Perhaps, Lioba gets stuck in the ice! Just like in ›The Ugly Duckling‹! Though I doubt she will become a pretty swan!«

However, as the heavy snowfall continued and neither of the missing showed up, their joking ceased and concern took over.

»Maybe, they have really lost their paddles and now, they are stuck!«

»I must see that!«, Veronique frolicked. She managed to be the first to have put on her coat and boots and then, she trudged through the snow that already reached up to her ankles. She had taken the lantern with her, and when she had reached the pier, she looked for the red canoe.

There, just some ten yards away, she saw an indistinct silhouette and she yelled:

»He, you owe me a cleaning of my shoes!«

There was no answer, and whilst now the others reached the pier, too, Veronique used the lantern like a flashlight. The spot fell on Lioba who was slightly rocking back and forth. Causing the canoe to sway slightly.

»I don`t like talking to you either, but that`s exaggerated!«

Lalita and Samantha now yelled Isabelle`s name, but after a few seconds, Cordelia told them to shut up.

»If you want them to answer, you have to give them an opportunity!«

They all fell silent whilst Veronique kept the light focussed on Lioba. The girl once again reared up, her eyes seemed to bulge and now, they could hear a faint sound:

»Mmhhrrrrmmmm!«

Veronique just frowned, but the mew sent a shiver down the spines of the three others. Cordelia remembered something and rushed for the boathouse where she picked a coiled rope with a small grappling hook fixed to it.

A few times, the hook landed in the water, but then, Cordelia managed to catch the boat and now, the three girls could pull it closer. Now, they could see another detail: Isabelle and Lioba were not only sitting back to back; Isabelle`s arms were slung around Lioba´s upper body and vice versa.

»Are you okay?«

»Uuhhmmmph! Nnnngggg!«

»They are tied! And gagged!«

Cordelia, hardened by the many occasions this had been done to her, wanted to fetch a knife. Since going alone suddenly seemed quite dangerous, she took Lalita with her who was waving a boat hook like a spear. The canoe was now parallel to the pier, allowing Samantha to bend over her sister whilst Veronique crouched and looked at Lioba.

»What happened?«

Lioba stared daggers at Veronique and mumbled something through her gag that didn`t sound like »Hello, nice to see you!«. Veronique felt a strange mixture of fear and glee, and she pulled the shawl from Lioba`s mouth and nose, revealing the several strips of duct tape plastered over her lips.

»Poor girl, let me help you!«

With a determined yank, she ripped away the tape, causing Lioba to groan with pain and anger. Veronique reached for her gag, but withdrew her fingers immediately.

»Eww, drool!«

She ostentatiously wiped her fingers whilst a fuming Lioba worked the sodden gloves from her mouth. Meanwhile, Samantha, who had been gentler, had ungagged Isabelle and stormed her with questions, but the two just panted and croaked with clattering teeth. Now, Cordelia appeared, waving a big kitchen knife, and two minutes later, they escorted Lioba and Isabelle into the house.

The warmth in the house and a few shots of Brandy helped the two to quickly recover enough to report what had happened to them. All four, even Veronique, listened with widened eyes.

»And they were real female Russian soldiers?«, Samantha finally asked with disbelief. »I mean, I haven`t listened to the news for a day, but that would be a quick escalation!«

»They didn`t show us their ID cards«, Lioba grunted, »but they had rifles, were wearing combat gear, and they were definitely talking in Russian, though I only speak a few words!«

She took another sip from the Brandy whilst Isabelle reached for her pocket, producing her phone.

»Okay, we are okay so far, but this hasn`t been a prank, though Mike is the godfather of bad humour. I will now phone him, and then, we call the Police!«

Four women agreed, but Lalita suddenly hummed and hawed. Lioba frowned:

»What, Lolly? If you are telling us that this was a practical joke by the boys, I will take care that Belle will need external help to ever become a mother!«

Lalita shook her head.

»No, of course not! It`s – quite the opposite!«

Lalita now confessed that Bishop had feared the other stags, at least those in relationships, would hang on their phones instead of enjoying the adventurous days he had planned for them. So, once inside the car, he had confiscated all cell phones, locked them inside a suitcase and deposited this at a rent safe at the airport.

»They have only one prepaid phone for emergencies – but I don`t have the number! Besides, I don`t know exactly where they are!«

Lalita looked as if she was responsible for all the misery, and Isabelle bent forward and took her hand.

»It`s not your fault, Lolly! Now, I just hope that the local Police has got winter tyres on their cars!«

However, bad fate had yet another bad news for them: none of their phones had access to the net. They cursed, but once again, Cordelia had an idea:

»The office! It`s just across the hill, and Kristin sure has a land line, or a satellite phone! Also, she has got a car, and I think I have also seen a snow mobile in the carport!«

They shortly discussed who should go, and finally, they all left, each carrying a makeshift weapon: Both Samantha and Cordelia had taken the two snow shuffles, Lalita still had the boat hook, and both Veronique and Lioba had kitchen knives. Isabelle had finally chosen a heavy frying pan.

»Wow! I love snow, but that`s ridiculous!«

The wind had increased, and still, big flakes were pouring down on them. They had to use both shuffles to pave their way, and when the group had reached the top of the hill, all felt warm, despite the low temperatures.

»She has left! There`s no light!«

However, Lioba pointed at a black shadow with a white snow topping.

»Her van`s still there! And I can`t remember another car standing around when we arrived!«

»Besides, she won`t have taken her phone with her!«, Cordelia added, and they worked their way down the hill and towards the house. At the veranda, Isabelle frowned, pointing at a small device at the ceiling.

»The motion detector! It doesn`t work! Is there a power failure?«

They entered the small lobby. Here, the light didn`t work either, but the flashlights of their phones (that were still lacking net access) showed them a row of hooks with two coats hanging from it, and a shelf with three or four pairs of shoes.

»Shall we take off ours, too?«, Lalita asked, involuntarily lowering her voice. The others hesitated. It was an unspoken law in Northern countries not to enter the house with street shoes. Isabelle whispered:

»If everything`s okay, we should respect local customs! And if not, we can perhaps surprise whoever is hiding inside!«

Trying to be as soundless as possible, they took off their boots. Now, as they carefully opened the door leading inside, they could hear a frightening, yet familiar sound.

»Mmhhmmmm! Uuhhmmmmm! Mmmmmmhhmmm!«

»Oh my God!«, Veronique breathed and all tightened their grips on their makeshift weapons. Then, Isabelle carefully pushed the door open.

They looked at a small corridor. It had four doors: two were marked with the usual pictograms, marking them as toilets, whilst the only iron door seemed to lead to some facility room. The fourth door, which had a window in it, stood ajar. From behind, they could now hear another muffled scream.

The six girls` attempt to cover all sides might have looked ridiculous, but they managed to reach the office and looked inside.

»Mmhhmmm! Hhrrrrmmmmm!«

Isabelle saw a moving shadow and she switched on her flashlight again. The spot fell on a pair of breasts, one covered by a white bra cup, the other naked.

»Kristin?«

»Uuhhmmm!«

»Are they still here?«

Before Kristin could make a sound, there was a screeching sound. Isabelle spun around and nearly stabbed Samantha who was right behind her. Then, there was a loud »FOPP!«, followed by a humming. Seconds later, the lights flickered and came back to life. With a triumphant smile, Lioba stood beside a red switch.

»It said ›emergency power‹, so, I thought I give it a try!«

»I nearly peed my panties!«, Veronique snarled. Lioba curtseyed and pointed at the door to the »Ladies« room, showing her opponent a sweet smile.

»Mmmhhmmm! Uuhhmmmm!«

They focussed their attention on Kristin again. Now, they could see her full predicament: the director of »Polar Paradise« was sitting on her office chair, the wrists obviously tied behind the backrest. Her legs were pulled backwards, with the tips of her toes just touching the floor. Horrified, the girls saw that the rope was the same that had been slung around Kristin`s neck, forcing her to sit straight and still, or risk strangling herself. In addition, Kristin had to keep her thighs apart, so her skirt had slid upwards, revealing her white panties showing under her black pantyhose. Her blouse was gaping, and now, they saw that not only had her right breast been peeled out of the bra, but the nipple was also sporting a clothespin. Kristin still wore her glasses, but the lower half of her face was wrapped with some white bandage.

Isabelle crouched behind the chair and cut the ropes whilst Samantha plucked the clothespin from the blonde`s nipple. Kristin let out a sigh of relief; then, she blushed as Samantha and Lalita couldn`t keep their eyes from her exposed breast. Lalita finally bent over her and began to unwrap the bandage from her mouth.

Isabelle had meanwhile cut the ropes, and Kristin tried with fluttering fingers to adjust her clothes.

»Hold still!«, Lalita barked, and Kristin now had to sit with her blouse open and her breast showing whilst Lalita unwound the seemingly endless bandage. Finally, she revealed Kristin`s plastered mouth; the way her cheeks bulged indicated it was packed to its fullest extent. Lalita picked on the tape.

»Slowly, or it hurts!«, Lioba ordered, glancing at Veronique.

»Oops!«, she replied. Lalita carefully peeled the tape away and then, she helped Kristin to work a dense wad of two sodden dishcloths from her mouth. She opened her mouth, and some saliva ran over her chin. With a croak, Kristin jumped up and rushed for the bathroom.

»No need to thank me!«, Lalita pouted. Isabelle had already picked up the phone on the desk, only to find out the line had been cut. Then, her eye fell on a small desk at the side. It showed a radio station that had also been brutally destroyed.

»Fuck!«

They heard a flush, and a minute later, Kristin came back. She was staggering a bit, and had missed a button when closing her blouse, but they could see she was physically unharmed. Cordelia escorted her to the chair and they listened to her report. Neither Lioba nor Isabelle were surprised to hear that Kristin`s attacker resembled one of the three Russians that had assaulted them.

»Sh-she tied me to the chair, gagged me – and then, she destroyed the phone, the radio! And then, before she left, she said just one sentence: ›Now, for some fun!‹ A-and then, sh-she – a-a-arranged me, l-like you f-found me!«

Kristin blushed and fumbled on the buttons of her blouse. Isabelle felt pity, but she also knew that more important things than the Norwegian`s modesty were on the agenda:

»So, you say you caught her cutting some cables and tubes on your snow mobiles?«

Kristin had no real weapons, but at least, there were two flare guns and with Lioba and Samantha using these to cover her back, Isabelle examined the van and the snow mobiles. All of them were destroyed in a way they could not repair with the little tools and knowledge they had. All they had was a few bicycles.

»If the snow has stopped falling, we should have at least a little web access, at least to call the Police!«, Kristin informed them.

»So, how long does it usually snow here?«

Despondently, Kristin looked at the dancing snowflakes.

»In November? Hard to say, sometimes just for a few hours, sometimes for days!«

For a while, they all looked at each other with sad expressions. Then, Isabelle slammed her fist onto the table.

»Well, as long as we are trapped here, these Russians can`t do very much either! I have no idea who they are, what they want, or who is that girl they have been looking for, but for the moment, we are save!«

With a humourless grin, she padded Lalita`s shoulder.

»Change of games, Lolly! Instead of ›Never have I ever‹, it`s going to be ›Besieged Castle‹!«

***

Once the Black had left the tent, Linnea had tried to get rid of her bonds. However, she soon had to realize that, trapped inside the sleeping bag and wrapped with the tension cord, all she could do was to squirm and wriggle. She could rub her face over the canvas floor, but it was too smooth to rub off her gag or blindfold. Nevertheless, she got an image of her prison.

The tent seemed to be of the tiniest sort, maybe one yard wide and two yards long. No matter to which direction she moved, after a few seconds, Linnea always touched the tent`s walls.

»At least, it is warm!«

In a strange way, her position had slightly improved. Her new captor seemed to have no sadistic intentions, besides, she also didn`t seem to be sexually interested in her.

»Perhaps, I should just wait what happens!«

Since she felt exhausted from her escape attempts anyway, Linnea just lay there. The silence was overwhelming. During her run through the forest, she hadn`t listened to the surroundings very much, except for any signs of the Russians approaching, but there had been the sounds of animals or rustling leaves. Now, it was as if everything was covered by a bed sheet.

»It snows!«

The thought alarmed Linnea. What if the tiny tent collapsed under the weight of the snow? What if her captor lost orientation, or just searched shelter somewhere? With renewed energy, Linnea squirmed, and this time, she felt a change. Some cold air blew over her, and there was a slightly cold feeling at her feet, too. Obviously, she had managed to partially get out of the tent.

A part of her told her to withdraw: being helplessly bound and gagged inside a tent was better than to be trussed up in the snow. However, Linnea knew that there were trees around her. Trees with protruding branches, or at least a rough bark, allowing her to rub off her gag and blindfold.

»If only I can see! Then, I can somehow loosen the lock of the tension cord, and then-«

It was quite a dissuasive what-if-scenario, but Linnea squirmed and crawled until she felt that she had worked herself out of the tent. Her shoulder rested against a tree, and she used that as a lever to get to her feet. Panting, she finally stood leaning against the tree she couldn`t see. When she moved her head, she felt the bark, cold and wet from the snow, brush over her skin. Carefully, she began to rub the tape against it. There! She could feel that an edge of the tape was getting loose!

Linnea moved with more effort – and staggered. Whilst falling, she just thought that landing in the snow would not hurt her. However, it seemed to take forever until the impact came, and when it came, she suddenly found herself upside down.

»Mmmhhrrrrrrmmm!«

Screaming into her gag, Linnea slid down a very steep hill, until suddenly, she felt she was flying.

***

»Billy Burgess is 55 and overweight, and yet, he now has at least earned himself the bronze medal!«

Ravi was a bit grumpy, though at the same time, he thought it was hilarious. He had started the course, determined to give his very best, and he had luckily balanced over a tree covering a ravine, when he had suddenly been attached from behind. It had been David, who had thought that he would do best waiting in a hideout and trying to »kill« his opponents by surprise. However, Ravi`s old Martial Arts reflexes had still been there and so, they had both taken each other`s life stick, unable to tell who had been first.

Since they now were both »dead«, and because the heavy snow had started, they had decided to get back to the hut.

»Maybe, Roddy will call it a day anyway! Jesus, that`s more snow than we had in a year in Edinburgh!«

The tree bridge over the ravine had become quite slippery, but now, they could aid each other and when they were on firm ground again, David nodded grimly.

»At least, now it`s just a few hundred yards and we are at our hut!«

»Just be ware of bear traps!«, Ravi joked and though he was referring to old movies and cartoons, both men watched the ground when stumbling forward. So, the surprise from above hit them off-guard.

There was a scraping sound, accompanied by a high-pitched humming. Then, Ravi saw something big at the corner of his eye.

»Davy, look ooouu-«

He pushed his comrade aside, but this caused the heavy thing to hit him directly. Ravi was sent to the ground and he slid down the now less steep ravine on his back, until he was stopped by a protruding root. His cap had softened the blow, and he felt that he was unharmed.

»Uff!«

»Ravi! Are you all right?«

David stood a few yards above, trying to get closer to his friend. Finally, he tied his rope to a tree and slowly abseiled to him. Ravi tried to get up, finding that something large and heavy was resting on it. He pushed against it, feeling something soft. Something soft that now moved and wriggled, and he could hear some muffled squeals.

»What the fuck?«

He felt again, and this time, he felt something soft and round. He suddenly had a flashback of when he had been 14. His first girlfriend had allowed him to touch her breast – through her coat, and the feeling had been-

»Uuhmmph! Mmhmmmph!«

He now worked himself free from under the heavy load and inspected it. It was a camo sleeping bag, wrapped with some cord, and it was moving. On one end, he could see some white blonde hair, and the bundle was mewing and grunting.

David now had reached him and looked down on both his friend and the trussed up woman.

»Holy fuck, is that a part of Roddy`s games?«

»Mmhhmmph! Uuhmmph!«

Again, the woman squirmed, and by sheer reflex, Ravi could prevent her from sliding further down the ravine. They decided that they had to get up before doing anything else and so, they tied David´s rope to the sleeping bag, climbed back to the top of the ravine and then carefully pulled the girl towards them.

Now, they could see her head, though there was little to see except she was a blonde, for her eyes and mouth were covered under swaths of black tape. Now, it was David`s time to have some flashbacks: not too long ago, he and Mike had gotten into a mission to rescue both Isabelle and Cordelia, and he had seen quite some girls bound and gagged during these days.

»Obviously, it haven`t been enough for one life!«

He embedded the woman`s head on his lap and began to unwind the tape from her eyes whilst Ravi, who had to deal with a trussed up girl for the first time in his life, but who was no fool, began working on the tension cord.

»Did Roddy send you? Roderick Bishop?«

»Mmhmmph!«

David tried to remove the tape without taking too much of her hair with it, and so, Ravi had already loosened the tension cord and removed it when the girl could see, but still was gagged. She seemed to have calmed down, realizing that these two men obviously didn`t mean new danger.

»We will have you free in a minute!«

Ravi zipped open the sleeping bag, unfolded it – and stared on a pair of naked boobs.

»Wow!«

Linnea mewed and blushed slightly. Ravi remained petrified for two more seconds, but then, he mumbled an excuse and closed the sleeping bag again, accidentally touching her breasts in the progress.

»Now, I am awake!«, he grinned. The girl just twisted her eyes as David now pulled the last piece of tape from her lips. Then, he told Ravi to get the canteen whilst he plucked a large sodden rag from the girl`s mouth. She panted and then, she took a sip from the flask Ravi held to her lips. Then, her eyes widened and she coughed.

»Geez, Ravi, what did you give her?«

Ravi showed him the hip flask he had smuggled into his combat backpack. David shook his head and reached for his own canteen. When he turned back, he saw that the girl took another sip of Ravi`s Brandy. It seemed to have a revitalizing effect on her, for after she had poured down the liquor with some water, she looked at them and said:

»Thank you! I am Linnea Andersen!«

Ravi and David introduced themselves. Then, David said:

»Our hut is less than half a mile away! Can you walk? I mean, if we aid you?«

Linnea showed him a wryly smile.

»I could, but I am still cuffed hand and foot. Besides, I am – a bit underdressed!«

»Definitely!«, slipped out of Ravi`s mouth before he could prevent it. David poked his shoulder.

»Stop grinning, you idiot!«, but he had to chuckle himself, and then, Linne fell in, too. She still felt embarrassed that the two men had seen her topless, but at the same time, she felt relieved and the sheer absurdity of her situation made her laugh.

They strengthened themselves with some more Brandy, and then, they found a practicable solution. Ravi cradled Linnea, still packed in her sleeping bag, in his arms, whilst David put his hands on Ravi`s shoulders and helped him to stagger through the snow.

»If you want to change, just tell me!«, David offered.

»Don`t even think about it, you are engaged!«

Though she showed some signs of her ordeal, Linnea was a pretty girl, and having her in his arms wasn`t unpleasant. The fact that he knew that Linnea was naked underneath the sleeping bag always made him want to carry her back to Kirkenes, or even Oslo, if necessary.

David shrugged, oppressed the urge to sing »Choo Choo Little Train« as they passed the last hill, and then, as they could just see the hut, Ravi got hit into his face. Surprised, he dropped Linnea who commented that with a squeal.

»Ha! Gotcha! In your face!«

It was Billy, a cigar in the corner of his mouth, and grinning like a Cheshire cat. Beside him, Mike and Bishop were standing, both also with cigars and each holding two snowballs in their hands. When the snow had begun to fall, Bishop had decided to call the game off. He had managed to tell Mike and Billy, and they had returned to the hut where they had decided to pass the time until Ravi and David would return by a little snowball fight.

Now, they also quickly realized what was going on, and one minute later, Linnea was sitting inside the hut where a fire was burning. They had placed her on the table so they could all gather around her. Quickly, Ravi and David reported what had happened. Mike found a paper clip and bent it, so one end was protruding.

»It`s been some time since I did that, but I don`t think a pair of handcuffs is a match for me!«

Ravi stepped between him and the table.

»Eh, Ozzy, there`s something else! She-, she-«

»I am naked, except for my panties!«

Linnea`s smile was showing some embarrassment, but also, she felt a little amused. These guys would have been a hilarious group, even if she had met them under normal circumstances! Besides, she was feeling a bit tipsy from a few sips of Brandy on empty stomach.

»Who are you, by the way? You aren`t Norwegians!«

Mike slightly bowed.

»It´s my stag night! You already know Ravi and David, these two are Billy and Roddy, and I am Mike – or Ozzy, depending on how long they know me!«

Linnea frowned, looking at them. Then, she giggled.

»Stag night? Well, then, it seems I am the stripper!«

Her shoulders twitched as she continued chuckling, and when Ravi offered her some more Brandy, she took it. Then, she smiled at Mike.

»Release me! I won`t die from it!«

»Me neither!«

Mike unzipped the sleeping bag and reached for her wrists. Whilst he worked on her handcuffs, the other four pretended to look after the fire or to search for some clothes whilst more or less subtly glimpsing at her. Linnea noticed it, but she just couldn`t feel angry about it. Instead, she was shaken by another laugh attack.

»If I were on duty, I`d even wear a Police uniform!«

»You are arrested because of being sexy!«, Billy neighed and opened another beer. Mike, who had removed Linnea`s handcuffs, playfully waved them towards David, whilst Ravi approached Linnea, holding a shirt in his hands. Linnea brushed over his arm and smiled.

»Thank you!«

Ravi grinned a bit awkwardly, and Linne put on the shirt which had white and blue stripes.

»Is that a football club?«, Linnea asked, looking down on herself. Mike also looked and said:

»Not a, but the one and only club, the Owls!«

At school, their English teacher had taught them about the nicknames of British clubs, ant the term rang a bell in Linnea`s head.

»Sheffield?«

Mike looked at her expectantly, and Linnea added:

»Wednesday?«

Now, Mike smiled and said:

»If you`d said ›United‹, we would have had to bury you six feet deep – after we had put a stake through your chest, of course!«

»Lucky me!«

Since she was wearing panties, freeing her ankles wasn`t much of a challenge for her modesty. Once she was free, Ravi handed her a pair of sweatpants and some woollen socks that more or less fit her. Linnea was 5`7``, so, the clothes of Mike or Ravi were of quite the appropriate length.

Mike now helped her to leave the table and made her sit on the bench whilst the others took place around the table, too. He still looked friendly, but he now had a more serious approach:

»Well, Linnea, thanks for saving the day and enriching my stag night! However, I somehow doubt that you did so intentionally. So, if you`d please tell us what has happened to you, we may consider how we can further help you!«

***