KC Frantzen - May the K9 Spy 03 - May Leads the Way: Trouble Near Tofino (13 page)

Chapter 28

T
aking cover among the trees, I watch a sportsman in his life jacket and gear, returning from the almost-drowning rocks. Hmm. Something about the way he moves… It’s Agent Michael, incognito!
Wshew.

Where are the others on the team? Idea. Maybe they responded to the beacon. Which means… it’s Rukan versus me and Agent Michael.

Rukan yells out, “Help me nab my dog, would you?”

Mossad Agent Michael speaks in a mid-western accent. “I was about to leave but can spare a few minutes. Wouldn’t want something bad to happen to a cute little dog in these parts. Okay, come on, no one’s going to hurt you.”

This wasn’t part of the original plan so I’ll follow his lead. I show the whites of my eyes, tuck my nub and lead them on a chase. Seeing Rukan out of control twice in one day is something I could get used to.

Agent Michael is working his way towards the kayak. Better get ready.

Just as the perfect wave hits, he jumps in and me after him. He tips the kayak and we take off. Rukan dives and grabs onto a rope.

Agent Michael beats him with the paddle but Rukan hangs on, then rolls us and I’m thrown clear. I swim through the waves and watch.

The two humans swing and pound each other, then, in a frenzy of punches, Rukan knocks Agent Michael unconscious.
Gulp.

Rukan mutters, “You will go under, Agent. Then the dog. An unfortunate accident…” He capsizes the kayak, which immediately rights itself. Rukan beats the side and tries again, with the same result.

I dogpaddle, fast as I can. In moments I’m beside them. Rukan smells deadly. Without further thought, I surge straight at him and chomp his nose.

He shrieks.

I take in saltwater but hang on like a barnacle.

His face morphs from rage… to panic. He jerks, and jerks again, splashing through the water and thrashing his arms, yelling about his leg while trying to detach me from his nose.

A dolphin leaps proudly into the air. “Cllllliiiiickkkity Clilliiiccckkkityyy Clicckittttty.”

Nolly! She must have attached the retrieval system to Rukan’s ankle, so the Tennessee is nearby. Things will be alright, if Agent Michael is okay.

I release Rukan’s nose and watch him pulled farther from shore… thrashing for all he’s worth.

Nolly helps me into the kayak and I start kissing Agent Michael’s face. Bruises are starting to form but his breathing is okay. I bark, “Wake up, wake up my friend.”

But he doesn’t.

Nolly grabs the kayak rope and tugs us along behind Rukan. He’s being reeled through the waves, nothing he can do about it except try keep his head above water. With that look of resolve he’s got a plan, but what could it be?

KA
BOOOOOMMM
.

Smoke rises over the trees. Did Rukan booby-trap his own lair? Figures. Hope the rest of our team is alright… Red Squirrel and his family, the wolf cubs.

Agent Michael stirs and I kiss his face and hands in encouragement.

My friend moans, then manages to open one eye. “Mullet. You’re okay. Did we catch him?”

I nod in Rukan’s direction and woof, in the affirmative.

A gentle smile washes over Agent Michael’s face, then he winces.

I rest a paw softly on his shoulder. “There was an explosion.”

Suddenly his eyes clear. “That’s what woke me. Stand by.” He pulls out his comm unit. “Team Nootka, status report. Over.”

“Nootka. All present and accounted for, Sir. We located the perfectly positioned beacon. Unclear how Mullet managed placement. Explosive device discovered and safely detonated.”

“Understood.”

“Removed papers and boxes of hard-copy plans, along with a laptop. Packing now for transport. Squad Otter located the NAST aircraft through Mullet’s excellent directions. They are securing. Over.”

“Excellent work. Asset apprehended, minimal injuries. Returning to ship. What’s your ETA? Over.”

“Eighteen minutes, Sir.”

“See you on board.”

I wiggle my whole self in Agent Michael’s lap. It’s the USS Tennessee!

After she surfaces, the hatch opens and uniformed men train their weapons on Rukan. He’s spotted with lots of red dots. Someone tosses him a floaty ring.

“Cccllliickityiickityyyy click-
click
-click!”

Nolly’s Handler jumps in and tosses her several hake. “There’s my good girl.”

“Clickity
click
.” Yes.

After a good scratching, he salutes my friend. “Agent Michael, welcome to the USS Tennessee.”

“Thank you, Lieutenant. Permission to come aboard.”

“Aye aye. Good work, Mullet.” He gives me a grin.

I grin back.

“Nolly will pull you on in, won’t you girl?”

The dolphin splashes him playfully. She takes the kayak rope again and pulls us towards her chamber. Two men assist Rukan onto the submarine, hastily placing a hood on his head and cuffs on his paws. Good.

After the hatch closes behind us with a
whumpf,
Agent Michael and I disembark onto the grate. I bark a quick “Thanks Nolly.”
Thlbpt, thlbpt.

“Clicckkk clickkkkity clickkkk.”

Agent Michael leans down to give her a friendly scratch, then I lead us through the open doorway.

Nolly’s Handler meets us just on the other side and escorts us towards the Pharmacy. Agent Michael waves them off.

“I’ve had worse. Let’s get to the Commander’s office.”

Both Agent Michael and I offer a snappy salute when he greets us at the door. When we’re alone and seated, the Commander once again accesses the secure comm.

“General, Agent Sandy, we’re assembled for the debrief.”

Seeing them both, I want to wag my nub, but dare not. Wouldn’t be proper.

General Jim starts. “Due to this excellent mission, we have captured a state-of-the-art enemy aircraft. Our engineers will begin reverse-engineering immediately and re-confirm their NAST technology is functional. We will monitor important intelligence from the Major as he makes it available.”

Miss Sandy speaks next. “Good work, Agent Michael and Only Small May.”

I allow myself a little wiggle.

She continues. “State has contacted the First Nations Council as well as the Provincial government to begin Rukan’s extraction. We have been assured they are pleased to have this evil agent removed from their lands, though some remain disappointed our Ohio class submarines operate in nearby waters.”

The Commander says, “If I may… The asset, Rukan, is incarcerated. Agent Michael?”

My friend stands. “I will begin the debriefing and attempt to turn him to our side.”

I swallow a gasp. Almost.

Chapter 29

M
iss Sandy scowls at me from the monitor, then turns to Agent Michael. “Thank you for your help, agent. Keep us informed. Get those wounds tended before meeting with Rukan, okay? Dismissed.”

After the door closes, she narrows her eyes. “You have something to add, Agent May?”

“I sure do,” I snarl. “I… I thought Rukan would be brought to
justice
for his crimes. How can Rukan be our agent? Have you forgotten he set a bomb in Washington, DC? Attacked our Embassy in Paris?” I stamp my paws. “He launched an EMP, right by my house! My family…”

“Understood.”

Her expression doesn’t change. Unbelievable. She does
not
understand. I begin to cry. What can I say to make her get it?

While my tears flow I whimper, “Don’t you even care that Agent Doherty died?”

Miss Sandy leans forward. “
Many
lives will be saved when we catch Overlord. We will be in a much stronger position to accomplish that if we recruit Rukan.”

I whine, “But he tried to kill me and my family. Yesterday, he tried to kill me,
again
! He’s evil and cruel. He’ll never change.”

“Only Small May…”

I turn away.

“Agent May, look at me.”

I show the whites of my eyes from under my eyebrows.

“Have we given
you
up as a lost cause?”

I shake my head.

Miss Sandy speaks firmly. “Yet you compromised years of my work, my hard-earned undercover status, not to mention indirectly caused severe injury to a senior agent. My dear Sassy is still in the hospital. Your brash actions fueled Rukan’s suspicions, ultimately leading him to arm and fire the missile. Correct?”

I try to keep eye contact but blink and look away. She’s right.

“You continue to disobey direct orders, yet we have shown patience… understanding… grace… even forgiveness to you, time and again.”

I hold her look for a few moments. Yeah, what she says makes some sense, but I want to be angry right now. I have a
right
to be angry. They can’t do this! I caught him to bring him to justice!

She softens her voice. “Is there never opportunity for someone’s growth or transformation? May, none measure up to perfection. It is an absolute. There is always an accounting some how, some where, some time. But forgiveness, releasing resentment, is something we hope others will offer us, isn’t it?”

True.

General Jim says, “On a personal level, Agent, it is also a mark of maturity to offer grace to those who have wronged us. Bottom line? There is always hope when someone hears the truth. It is up to him or her to decide what to do with it.”

Miss Sandy asks, “Now do you see, May? We must continually focus on our objective. In this case, Rukan will be offered an opportunity. He will be useful if he leads us to Overlord. If not, he will be charged as an enemy combatant. His choice.

“Agent Michael is an expert in psy ops. If anyone can turn Rukan, he can. That’s why he was brought in for this mission. You might be interested to know, in spite of your record, Agent Michael wanted to work with you, and still does.”

I softly woof, “He does?”

General Jim nods. “Correct. I was ready to recommend disciplinary action for you. The agent reminded us that though you disobeyed his direct order at Resolute Mountain, you redeemed yourself by not blowing the Major’s cover and you led us to Rukan’s HQ on Vargas Island near Tofino. The USS Tennessee is safe, plus we have captured their NAST technology aircraft. Now we have an opening to get Overlord.”

I don’t want to listen any more. When the Skipper shuffles some papers I see my chance. “May I be dismissed?”

Miss Sandy says, “Yes. Think about what we’ve said, Agent May.”

“Yes Ma’am,” I whisper.

I wander the passageways, gladly receiving more pats and well-wishes from the crew. Some offer to share their meal.

Thanks. Not hungry.

I check Nolly’s place, but it’s empty. Probably wouldn’t have understood her anyway. Nolly’s Handler is asleep too.

I roam past many closed doors, but there’s no place to be alone and think. How do submariners cope for weeks with no privacy? It was tough in the bunker under the shed, and that was for only six days.

Finally, I spy a hidey hole among some canned food boxes. I curl up, making myself very small.
Whimper.
The way Rukan makes me feel. Small and worthless. I keep trying to hide the feelings, even from myself, but they’re always there, buried deep.

Grrr.
Rukan’s never even tried to know the real me. He believes lies and hates me just because he thinks I’m a “filthy dog.” But I’m not. The Creator
made
me a dog.

I readjust, resting my head on my paws. One thing for sure, what Miss Sandy said rings true. I do keep messing up. And she forgave me though I almost got her and Sassy killed in Paris.

But Rukan? Can I really forgive, after all he’s done to me? To my family… and his own? To my country? The dark thoughts are overwhelming.
Sigh.

Here I am, with a darkness test again. But different than the crypts and tombs in Paris. That was physical, and I passed. This is mental.

Will Rukan keep ruling my life? I’d like my thoughts free of him. It’s really more about my attitude than his. I think that’s what Miss Sandy meant. Like she said, Agent Michael will present Rukan with truth and an opportunity. He will have to decide what to do, just like me.

Gulp.
Now I know.

I must confront Rukan.