Where Fox and Hare say Goodnight 12

Kristin`s ties were a bit bothersome to undo, and this little delay allowed Mailin to get a little order into her confused mind. So, this was the real Linnea Andersen! Of course, she should have felt glad that Linnea hadn`t died in the snow, and Mailin was relieved about that, but Linnea`s appearance rose some other problems concerning Lenya. Or rather, Lenya and her.

»I won`t tell her! I mean, if she figures it out by herself, I still can play naïve, but I just can`t throw Lenya under the bus!«

For now, it seemed that things were slipping out of her control. Linnea left it to Kristin to untie Mailin, and so, she had to helplessly watch Linnea take Isabelle`s note and read it.

»If she had no idea where they were taking them, I have! For I have been there!«

They quickly exchanged what they knew about the Russians and the mysterious black American. Mailin did downplay the fact what role Lenya had played in her life the last two days, and just reduced her to a new colleague that had turned out to be a Russian spy.

Linnea mistook Mailin`s reluctant telling for exhaustion and she put an arm around her.

»It`s over now! We will put them to justice! Or, we wait for this American to fight it out with them, and then, we just take care of the survivors!«

Mailin forced herself to get to her feet.

»No! We can`t have some Wild West self-justice around here! Just let me get dressed, and then, we can go!«

She staggered and Linnea grabbed her arm.

»Okay, hm? Don`t be too harsh to yourself, I know how it is!«

She shuddered and glimpsed on a white piece of cloth on the floor. Trying to show some grim humour, she added:

»At least, they didn`t force me to chew on a pair of panties! Eww!«

This caused Kristin to gasp, and Linnea turned towards her.

»Oops, sorry, were it – were it yours?«

Kristin suddenly started to sob, and Linnea crouched beside her.

»There, there! We all don`t taste like pastry down there!«

This remark made Kristin giggle hysterically, whilst still tears were running down her cheeks.

»It`s not just that! 20 hours ago, I thought the worst to happen would be one of the women who had rented the house would break a window or throw up in the sauna when drunk! Then, I got kidnapped, I got bound and gagged twice, I got humiliated-«

Her words ended in more sobbing and now, Mailin took over:

»Let`s get upstairs, and see if we can find some fresh clothes for you!«

Indeed, Kristin was quite in a mess. Since the room was overheated, and she had still been in her down jacket, she had sweated profusely, and her blouse now stuck to her skin. Whilst the two staggered up the stairs, Linnea once again looked at the scribbled note.

»Wait a minute!«

When she had been together with her rescuers, Linnea had been most interested in Ravi, or in David, who had been wounded. Also, their interests had focussed on the sniper, or Russian agents, but now, she also remembered other details: Mike had mentioned that they were on his stag night, whilst his fiancé and her friends were celebrating at a resort around here. Linnea had no idea how many resorts there were around Kirkenes – but there were not many that housed a group of English women! The message was written in English, and the name was Isabelle Marceau.

»And Mike called his fiancé ›Belle‹ – Mailin! Kristin!«

Linnea rushed up the stairs. There, in one of the sleeping rooms, Kristin had stripped down to her bra and panties and was provisionally cleaning herself up with a moistened towel whilst Mailin was trying to find some fitting clothes for her.

»Kristin! These women that were abducted together with you – was there an Isabelle Marceau with them?«

The manager let sink the towel and Mailin turned around, a pair of pantyhose in her hand.

»Well, yes! It was her hen night!«

She quickly named the missing girls, and Linnea gulped at the mentioning of Lalita Singh. So, Ravi was married! She tried to shoo that thought and tried to concentrate on more important things:

»We – we have to tell them! I mean, they are out there, with one of them wounded, but – they are their friends and beloved ones!«

Mailin handed the pantyhose, one of Cordelia`s, to Kristin.

»Here, try these!«

She then withdrew to the corridor with Linnea.

»Look, I know that we both were not quite the flawless heroines so far, but we now have to call reinforcements! Maybe, we will need the Army, not just our colleagues!«

Linnea nodded, for this was an absolutely reasonable thought, but then, she said:

»They are no complete dumbasses, you know! When the sniper attacked us, they didn`t panic or so! If they had had guns, they would have kicked that Colleen`s ass!«

Mailin shook her head.

»I would love to help your new friends, even more as one of them needs medical care! However, even if we wanted to get to them, Le- the person pretending to be you took my snow mobile, and her accomplices destroyed those of the resort! And since we also have no phone, we have to walk to the town and ask for help!«

Mailin didn`t look happy; she had no relation to these men, but if they had taken care of them, it would have delayed the inevitable hunt for Lenya. And Mailin could at least say one thing for sure: Lenya was innocent of the kidnapping of Kristin and her guests!

»Maybe, I can help!«

It was Kristin. Measuring 5`9`` and being rather buxom, she had managed to squeeze herself into one of Cordelia`s pantyhose. It fit very tight, but it would go. She had also chosen one of Lioba`s leggings and a wide sweater from Cordelia, but not put them on yet.

»I mean, it`s a bit unconventional, but we could get your friend to hospital and then get to town before the night is over!«

***

Lenya wasn`t sure whether the Black was an expert torturer or if it was just a coincidence, but the effect was pure hell: the single aspects of her bondage were all ranging from inconvenient to painful, but added together, they made up a living nightmare, without the relief of fainting.

It all started down by her big toes – or rather up at her toes, for they were tied to the ceiling by a rope, so they had to carry a considerable part of her weight, and she could barely move her legs, except for a slight swaying around. However, Lenya tried to avoid swaying, for the rest of her weight was resting on her breasts that were mashed against the table and that grinded uncomfortably over the plate whenever she moved. She had managed to breathe more from her stomach, but still, her nipples hurt and she felt as if her boobs were squeezed by a vice.

Her leg ties that even went around her insteps were unyielding, but they only hurt if Lenya tensed her muscles or tried to wriggle. The real pain began between her legs, where the crotch rope was feeling like a red hot barbed wire running through her cleft and between her labia. Lenya had learned the hard way that things like moving her pelvis or trying to shift her position were very bad ideas at the moment.

The problem was emphasized by the reverse prayer position her arms were tied into. The same ropes that was bisecting her pubic area was stretching her arms painfully, put strain to her limbs and shoulders, and forced her to thrust her boobs even harder against the table. Never had Lenya thought that just being immovable could be so physically straining. Despite her being stark naked and the room still being chilly, beads of perspiration were glistering on her body, and she felt the desperate urge to scratch.

Then, there was her gag. Her mouth was crammed to the bursting with not only her panties, but also her bra cups and the crotch part of her pantyhose. Lenya could very well taste that she had sweated during the last hours, that she hadn`t been able to shower before putting her clothes back on after she and Mailin had climbed the peak of ecstasy.

»Some of this taste is her sweat!«

Under other circumstances, this thought would have made the vile taste of her gag a little less appalling, but now, the thought of Mailin made Lenya remember their more intimate moments – and with a tight rope pressing against her clit, getting aroused was just a new level of agony.

Lenya would have groaned, or maybe have lowered her chin to the table, but the Black had forbidden both. Whenever Lenya´s head sank down, or she uttered a sound louder than a heavy breath, she spanked her. It didn`t turn into a spanking orgy, just one hard slap on her buttocks. But with her middle hovering two inches above the table, this made her sway and caused her hips to wriggle, turning the aftermath of such a single slap into a minute of agonizing throbbing before she finally managed to hold absolutely still again.

»Seems your comrades have forgotten about you!«

Colleen was lying on the couch, looking treacherously relaxed. She had discovered the true nature of Lenya´s smart watch she had taken from her, but so far, she had neither tried to send a message herself, not tried to force Lenya to do so. Obviously, she feared that in both cases, she could involuntarily reveal that Lenya wasn`t alone.

Though she wouldn`t have told even if she had been able to, Lenya was also concerned where the others were. Even with their captives, they could not take that long. Had they run into the Norwegian Police? Or, even worse, had they decided to get somewhere else without telling her?

***

After some hours, Mike and the others decided that they needed a break; they were not completely exhausted, but thy had reached a spot from which they had a good sight and beside was a forest where they found enough twigs and branches for a campfire. They knew that the fire could be seen for miles, but if the American wanted to kill them, she would get them in the dark, too.

»It`s simple logic. A Black woman can`t go to Kirkenes and try to vanish I the crowd; in such a small town, with no black inhabitants and hardly black tourists, people would recognize her. So, if the CIA sent her, she must have other qualities that compensate her lack of inconspicuousness.«

Bishop had spoken with the authority of a few decades in the Service. So, they now sat around the fire and enjoyed their dinner, consisting of lukewarm beans, bread rolls and molten snow. As a dessert, each got a sip of Brandy.

They were about to improvise places to sleep when David suddenly asked:

»Can leg injuries cause brain damage?«

»Sure, if you fall down the stairs because of your leg, or when the wound gets infected. Why, are you feeling feverish?«, Billy asked and David shook his head.

»No, but I am hallucinating! I can hear sleigh bells!«

»We are in Norway! Here, they send Valkyries and not Santa!«, Mike joked, but then, they fell silent, as they could indeed hear a faint jingle that was getting louder. Mike reached for the knife when they heard a voice yell:

»Ho, Prancer!«

»Valkyries instead of Santa, eh?«, David asked. Ravi thought he had problems with his eyesight, for he could see not one approaching shadow, but two. As they came nearer, they could see it were indeed two sleighs, each drawn by a reindeer.

»Ho, Prancer, Blitzen!«

The sleighs had been parked behind the carport of the resort, and beside that was a small enclosure where the two reindeers were kept. As their names indicated, they played an important role in sleigh rides around Christmas, but since such tours were a tourist magnet all over the year, several hotels had booked some of the reindeers for the other months, too. And since Kristin had thought that her guests might enjoy a sleigh ride under the Polar light, she had kept Prancer and Blitzen a little longer.

Luckily, the two animals were used to their work, and so, the good-natured Blitzen had just followed the other sleigh that was controlled by Kristin. Both Mailin and Linnea had no experience in steering a sleigh, but all they had to do was to hold the reigns as the reindeer followed its fellow.

»Does anyone need a ride to Kirkenes?«

It was Linnea who was now cheerfully greeted by the men. Ravi wanted to hug her, but she was a bit frosty and just nodded towards him.

»I have some news from your fiancé and the others!«, Linnea said towards Mike, but loud enough the others could hear her, too.

They silently listened to her report that was sometimes interrupted by Kristin or Maili  who added some details, though both seemed to have a mutual agreement to leave out the raunchy details. Linnea noticed that Ravi seemed the most shaken, and she felt pity, despite her still being angry he hadn`t mentioned that he was married.

»My little sister!«, he suddenly whispered, and Mike put his arm around his shoulder.

»S-sister?«, Linnea croaked, feeling a wave of relief, though it was inappropriate under the current circumstances. Ravi didn`t notice her feelings, but he forced a smile on his face when she took his hand. Mike said towards his friend:

»Ravi, I don`t know how much Lolly told you about what happened when she and I met in London some weeks ago-«

Ravi looked at him, questioningly. Mike continued:

»I will spare you the details, but we had to deal with some criminals. What I want to say, Lolly`s a strong woman! It`s not the best solace in the world, but it takes more than a few Russian agents to break our Bengal Tigress!«

Now, Ravi gritted his teeth to oppress a sob, and Linnea spontaneously took his head and embedded it on her chest. Mike put his hand on David`s shoulder and pressed it.

»Same here, my friend! BTW, is she your girlfriend or your fiancé now?«

David scoffed.

»I wanted to propose if your wedding doesn`t become a complete disaster!«

Mike nodded grimly.

»Well, then we should see that the wedding can take place and that our girls have some time to refresh their makeup before!«

He turned to Kristin and asked:

»Sorry for skipping the preliminaries, but could you tell me where we can get some firearms?«

Kristin just stared at him, but now, Mailin stepped forward, looking down on Mike who was three inches smaller.

»Sir, I can understand that you are upset, but this isn`t Cops and Robbers! We will now get your friend to hospital, and then, the Police will take over!«

»Says who?«

»Me! And I am a commissioned Police Officer!«

Mike now straightened and replied:

»And I am a Captain of the Royal Marines! And freeing damsels has somehow become quite an important part of my life during the last years! So, I may pretend that my expertise on the current situation beats yours!«

Before Mailin could say something, Bishop stepped beside Mike, also standing straight.

»Commodore Roderick Bishop, Royal Navy! I have been this man`s commanding officer, and he may not look the part, but he`s not the most incompetent man I ever had under my command!«

Mike smiled at the compliment and pointed at David.

»This man stood alone against a bunch of Somali pirates, armed with an unloaded gun!«

David shrugged and grinned. What Mike said was technically true, but these pirates hadn`t known he had previously emptied his magazine and also had already been overpowered. However, Mike was already continuing his laudation:

»Ravi is a middle school teacher – and I am sure among his rich ancestry is one of those heroes Bollywood makes movies about!«

»Fuck off, you racist bigot!«, Ravi complained, »you could have mentioned my second place in the 2006 Sheffield Under 16 Ju Jutsu Championship!«

»And Billy – oi, Billy, help me, what`s your qualification?«

Billy had stepped towards the sleighs and now stood between the two reindeers. Currently, he was patting Prancer`s neck, whilst Blitzen was either licking his ear or trying to graze from his remaining hair.

»I can make you look presentable if you get killed!«

Mailin hesitated. It was against all orders to get civilians involved in any dangerous Police operations. However, at least two of these men pretended to be British Officers – so, they were no real civilians. Mike seemed to notice her concerns and said in a calmer tone:

»What I want to say, I had to deal with such situations before! And so far, I was successful, both in solving the problem and in getting out all captives alive! How often did you have to deal with such criminals since the beginning of your career?«

Mailin`s silence answered his question. Her own part in the game had been to get overpowered, bound and gagged twice, plus sleeping with one of the criminals. However, the Policewoman didn`t want to give up yet.

»We have SWAT units!«

Mike nodded.

»Stationed at Tromsö, I presume. Even if we inform them right now, we will waste at least 24 hours. Call me overprotective, but I would prefer my fiancé to be set free asap!«

Mailin had to admit that indeed, Tromsö was the closest city that had a SWAT unit. Of course, due to the close Russian border, there were also military units, but that would cause so much bureaucracy struggles that they would waste even more time. A bit weakly, she shot her last arrow:

»Your friend is wounded! He needs to go to a hospital!«

Mike once again nodded, but then, he said:

»We have got two sleighs!«

»And I think I can ride such a thing!«

It was Billy, who was trying to persuade Prancer not to steal his cap. Now, he stood straight and proudly announced:

»I am one of only two undertakers in Yorkshire that offers funerals with horse-drawn hearses! If I can steer a hearse through the traffic of fucking Sheffield, I should be able to handle this – ah, good boy! Yeah, you are a beaut! Oi, don`t get jealous, you are a fine boy, too!«

The last sentences were addressed at Prancer who had let his cap go, and Blitzen who had pushed against his back with his snout. Mike grinned:

»You see, we have everything we need for a quick rescue mission, except firearms!«

»Well, we only have these, too!«

Mailin handed him the two flare guns from her belt. Lenya had taken her gun with her, and so, they had decided to take these with them, albeit their intention had been to make it easier to signal their position if necessary. Mike checked the two guns and saw that there were three shots left.

»Your fiancé fired one shot«, Kristin informed him. »She directed our defence – and we pushed back the Russian`s first attack!«

»That`s my girl!«

To Mailin, he said:

»So, we are mobile, we have the element of surprise, and we even have something close to a weapon! Now, how about less chit-chatting and more damsel rescuing?«

***

Colleen had left the barrack and was now preparing a trap. Still, the other Russians hadn`t shown, but she had a feeling that this was just the calmness before the storm. If her instincts betrayed her, she had at least passed some time, and trained her skills.

»Three against one may sound unfair – but maybe, these Russians will bring some reinforcement!«

***

The sleighs were light calashes, with two benches opposite to each other, so four people could sit in it. In addition, each had a single seat for the driver. So, they could be five in one sleigh, and this caused a short discussion who would accompany whom.

Billy was designated driver, and Mike and Bishop also would be on the sleigh that went out for the criminal`s lair. Linnea had to join them, because she was the only one who knew at least parts of the abandoned post, and Mailin insisted to participate as a representative of the local authorities. Ravi now didn`t want to stay behind, especially when his sister was in danger (and Linnea was also risking her health), but that would have been one person too much.

»I think David can do unchaperoned!«, Ravi insisted, though he had been intended to accompany him on the other sleigh. Kristin had gladly volunteered to get him to the hospital. He was a bit grumpy that he could do nothing to save Cordelia but praying for her well-being, but he accepted the fact that he was handicapped.

Linnea finally decided that she would follow the attack group on her ski, and so, they parted and now, David sat in the second sleigh alone, covered under blankets and staring at the back of Kristin`s head.

»I am really the hero of the day!«

His thoughts wandered back to when he and Mike had first met. Both Cordelia and Isabelle had been kidnapped – like now! – and they had worked together to free them. He vividly remembered how he had knocked out one of the pirates, how he had indeed stood against a group of opponents, though it hadn`t ended up in an actual shootout. But they had saved the day – and the girls.

Now, he saw Cordelia in front of his inner eye, how he had found her back then. Naked, bound and gagged. Beautiful as ever, and he had been her hero.

»And now, I am lingering in a sleigh whilst right now, she is praying for me to come and rescue her!«

However, he could not make Kristin turn the sleigh. Or could he?

»She didn`t seem very adventurous to me! So, if I ask her, she will most likely refuse!«

The rational part of David`s mind accepted that Kristin was absolutely right, but what had love to do with rationality? He loosened his blanket and checked his leg. It hurt if he moved it, but it would carry him for a little while, also, he could put most of his weight on the other.

David felt for his knife, remembering he had borrowed it to Linnea. Then, he reached inside his jacket. He could feel something cold in it. It was his favourite fountain pen, made of silver and a present from Cordelia to his 40th birthday.

»Sometimes, the pen is mightier than the sword!«

David knelt on the bench behind Kristin`s back. His injured leg throbbed, but it was okay. Slowly, he loosened his scarf. Then, he took a deep breath and waited for a good opportunity.

Kristin shrieked when he slung the scarf around her neck from behind, but before she could even think of letting the reigns go, she flet something cold at her throat.

»Don`t think that I like what I have to do, but I love her! Now, turn the sleigh and do as I say, then, no one gets hurt!«

***

»There it is!«

The watchtower was visible between the trees, maybe some 300 yards away. Billy stopped the sleigh and Bishop brought the binoculars to his eyes.

»Someone`s up there!«

He pointed at the watchtower and indeed, behind the panorama window, the silhouette of a person could be seen.

»Is it just a precaution, or are they waiting for us?«

Mike shrugged.

»Dunno! If it`s just the three we know of, I think one is with the girls, plus one up there, means there is one more somewhere on the area, or in one of the barracks. Besides, it can be that the false Linne has joined them.«

Mailin gulped when Lenya was mentioned. Not the least reason for her insisting to participate was the fact she wanted – what? Just make sure that Lenya didn`t get hurt, or did she want to help her escape, though it would mean that they would never again see each other?

»I wonder what the one up there is doing!«, Bishop grunted, and Mailin raised an eyebrow.

»Isn`t it the obvious thing to do to man the tower?«

Bishop shook his head.

»This isn`t a fort in the Old West! This tower was meant for equipment like radar or radios, not to fight off attackers! I doubt that the windows can even be opened!«

Mike agreed to that. Sure, a post up there could see an approaching enemy once he had left the cover of the trees, but then, it would be him who would be exposed whilst he was unable to repeat fire. If the Russians were really just three or four, this was a waste of manpower in times of electronic alarm devices.

»What about alarms?«, Linnea asked as if she had read his thoughts. Mike once again shrugged.

»You have been there, not me! But no offence, there are now devices that don`t require large cameras and screens. So, it could be they have detected us already!«

Linnea involuntarily looked over her shoulder and lowered her voice:

»You seem very relaxed for such a possibility!«

»If I weren`t relaxed under duress, I would have died some ten years ago! Then, we wouldn`t have this conversation now!«

He let the words sink in and turned towards Bishop.

»Roddy, since they maybe already know we are here, we should not let them take the initiative! You are the highest ranking Officer, so, what do you say?«

It was a rather rhetorical question, for he knew that Bishop`s active field days were long gone, and that his last promotions had been honorary ranks. So, he was given full command and he explained his rather easy strategy:

»Now, our biggest problem is that they have rifles and we don`t! So, some of us have to distract them, whilst the others get into melee distance!«

He looked at Linnea and asked:

»Have you got some stamina left?«

The girl looked as if even the question was an insult and he handed her the flare guns.

»You will zigzag through the woods, and once you hear the bells, you fire one shot! Then, you change your position and repeat the game! Just keep moving, try to avoid the open field, and wait until we call you!«

Linnea nodded, hiding her excitement and fear. Ravi approached her and gently took her arm.

»Take care of you!«

»Of course – I still want my beer!«

They quickly kissed and then, the girl disappeared between the trees. Mike turned towards Billy.

»You will now put the bells back on the sleigh and then, you tour around the post, too! Make some noise!«

»So, no more hiding? That`s the best news for hours!«

Billy lit a cigar before he put the sleigh bells they had removed for obvious reasons back in place and fed Prancer a piece of chocolate before he mounted the driver`s seat.

»If the reindeer gets hurt, I will refuse to arrange your funeral, Ozzy!«

He then drove off, and soon, not only the bells jingled, but they heard Billy`s trained baritone (he was an estimated member of his parish`s church choir) sing »Hi Ho Sheffield Wednesday«, the club`s anthem.

»Anywhere you go, baby!«, Mike cited the next line and looked at his crew. Bishop showed a mixture of calm determination and »I am too old for that crap!«, whilst Ravi`s eyes were sparkling, like this was a repetition of the 2006 Sheffield Under 16 Ju Jutsu Championship. Mailin showed that she was coping with less enthusiastic emotions. Mike waited until a red ball shot hissing into the air.

»Let`s go Owls!«, he yelled and stormed forward, his knife in his right.

***