And now someone was after him.
‘So where’s the memorial?’ asked Clio.
‘St Bernardus. 11am. I think we need to stake the place out. I also think there's a problem with Julius. Someone’s following him. Other than us, I mean. If we're on the ground and we can save him some unnecessary torture, then I say we should be the cowboys,’ I replied.
‘The cowboys were responsible for the attempted genocide of the native American race,’ Clio drawled.
‘Oh, I always get that the wrong way around. We be the injuns, then.’
Now Clio was openly laughing at me. ‘But the Native American Indians were responsible for the slaughter of thousands of innocent women and children settlers.’
I shrugged my shoulders and smiled, ‘We be the Curators?’
The other three responded with the time honoured refrain, ‘We preserve!’ and chinking our beer glasses we started to wind down for the evening.
The following morning we had taken up our places around the church. Clio thought this was overkill and had been suggesting that, whilst the service was taking place, that we search Julius’ office and home. She had a point, Paul backed her up, and I was almost convinced, until Ramin asked if I could live with our target being tortured. I agreed with him, despite Clio's annoyance. I loved her dearly, and at times like these she would put me to shame. She was so focussed on the objective, which made her invaluable on the team, but it was my job to focus on the bigger picture, and that included collateral damage.
Sure enough, no sooner had we arrived than I noticed a group of men heading towards the church who did not look like mourners. They didn't look like mourners in the same way that a little old lady doesn't look like a shot putter. Those black suits weren't fooling anyone. Maybe it was the gun-shaped bulges that were the problem. Guns and churches, that age old tradition.
We slipped into the church behind them and flanked them on either side. I didn't think they would try to do anything in the church itself. This culture had big taboos about disturbing a religious service. I mean, they were British. There were some places they just didn't kick off. Churches were one, as were opera houses and school assemblies. On the other hand, WI meetings were a positive powder keg and only marginally less flammable than a football stadium. No, for my money they were going to mingle with the mourners, and then quietly grab Julius outside.
As we made our way into the church I could see Julius up at the front talking, and everyone was listening to him attentively. His speech faltered briefly and I saw him look over at me. I probably shouldn't have done the thumbs up, but he seemed so cross that I just wanted to try giving him some encouragement. On reflection, it could have been my presence that was making him cross.
As he finished speaking, instead of sitting back down he stormed down the aisle. We quickly followed him back out the door and watched in horror as a second team of strangers was already dragging Julius towards a black van.
‘Clio, Ramin! Get Julius to the house. Paul, with me!’
The four of us ran forward, all attacking the two men who had Julius, and then Paul and I split off to tackle their reinforcements. Soon it was two on one, hardly a fair fight, and I laughed as I saw Paul spin on one leg under the arm of one thug, whilst his outstretched leg, still spinning, caught the man on the back of his calves and brought him to the ground.
I was similarly engaged. The larger, bulkier men were no match for my small stature and speed. I glanced over to where Julius was standing like an idiot trying to assess the situation. He could have been Nelson surveying a lack of ships. One of the men came charging towards him, and would surely have had him, if Clio hadn't also come running, and with a flying kick to his stomach, sent Julius safely out of harm’s way. It seemed unclear if he would appreciate her intervention, laying as he was on the ground and gasping for air. I'd remind her later about the appropriate use of force. For now I gave him a quick salute, and watched as Ramin and Clio got him to our car and screeched away.
Thankfully, no one from the church had come out. A lusty rendition of All Things Bright and Beautiful will drown out the loudest of street fights. As I looked at Julius staring out of the back of the car, he seemed to give me a wave and stupidly I waved back. That's when my lights went out.
#20 Julius – Beta Earth
Julius wasn't certain if he had just jumped out of the frying pan and into a steaming pile of dung.
The chap in the front seat turned around to smile at him. ‘Put your mind at rest. We're the good guys. I'm Ramin, and this is Clio. Neith and Paul will re-join us soon.’
The foul giver of kicks was driving like Miss Daisy. Having screeched away from the scene, they were now driving sedately through the Cambridge back streets and attracting no attention.
‘If Neith is your colleague, I just saw her punched on the back of the head and go down.’
Clio laughed. ‘Man, will she be pissed off she let someone get the better of her.’
Ramin seemed less amused. ‘Did she get up?’
‘Not that I saw. It was quite a blow, but then we flew around the corner and I lost sight of her. I think we should go back.’
Ramin seemed prepared to agree
