Leopard Dreaming (58 page)

‘Like you’d piss off a lot of good men who’d deserve it before me. Don’t I need years of training first?’

‘Ask any of the lower ranks, and they’ll say the only skills you need include marksmanship enough to avoid shooting yourself, and the ability to speak to other animals.’

Gabby chuckled. ‘Thanks, but no thanks. I’d rather be queen of the swamps and wetlands.’

‘And seas too now, I hear?’

‘Yes ma’am, and thanks for making my boss disappear. Makes commanding the new cat all the sweeter knowing he can’t assign me to all of the crappiest jobs. I can finally get back to some serious conservation work.’

‘Give thanks where thanks belong,’ Garland argued. ‘I can only lay claim to putting the rush on your new skipper’s licence. You earned captaincy of the new cat by yourself, and as for putting your boss behind bars, I suspect you’ll need to have a private word with Sergeant Delaney. I believe she may be the one
who triggered that little chain of events, albeit from the shadows. In the meantime, you may wish to pop out to help that pet rock star of yours. I heard him calling for a wheelchair, but the only thing he’ll find heading down in that direction is more trouble than he can handle. Which is considerable. That’s where the wipeouts from SAS recuperate and they tend to get a bit cranky.’

Gabby saluted with a smile and bounded out with a promise to Mira that she’d be back in five minutes.

Once they were alone, Garland withdrew a small grey tin from her pocket, opened it briefly to show ’n’ tell the breath mints inside, and then set the small tin down on Mira’s bedside table.

‘We found that at the bunker. A dried form of the Chinese concoction that we found in your blood stream. Ben’s too, and the couple who died. One of my men took one by accident, thinking they were breath mints, and now he believes he’s Superman. His favourite hobby is paragliding, and apparently the drug shores up psychological weaknesses while reinforcing strengths by stimulating the growth of fresh synapses. Highly addictive, if taken repeatedly or in high enough doses, but either way, preliminary tests suggest that any side effects can often be permanent.’

‘Not for me, but too bad for Superman.’

‘Actually, he’s now in training for Special Ops. He was already in contention, but the dramatic increase in his skill set is tangible, which also explains why Kitching had been developing and selling those tablets, along with all the other stolen weaponry and technology. I’m leaving the tin here for my medical teams to run further tests later, after they’ve come to check on your progress. So if you could please explain the effects you experienced, without revealing that little thing you can do with colours and time, that would be greatly appreciated.’

Mira answered her with a frown and stony silence.

‘You are not a prisoner here, Mira. Or a lab rat. Let me be clear. Absolutely
no
more tests will be done on you without your express written consent. And if you’d be so kind, I’d prefer it if you called me Caroline.’

‘Okay, Caroline. So how did you know those little addictive tablets were the same substance in my blood, if you didn’t do tests on me?’

‘We had to take samples to ensure we had your right blood type for surgery. And a good thing we did, because apparently your eyes aren’t your only anomaly. If we hadn’t switched to artificial blood which permitted us to tweak electrolyte levels for a precise match to your unique set, then you would have died on the table.’

‘Thanks then, I guess.’ She folded her arms without lifting her frown. ‘But really, a military base? Come on. You couldn’t think of a faster way to upset me?’

‘Not my decision. Ben insisted on it for security reasons.
Your
security, that is. Not his.’

‘He did?’

‘He also enlisted.’

‘He did
what
?’

‘I know,’ Garland said, waving her off. ‘Don’t blame me. I’m as stunned as you are. I offered him a rank in a medical division commensurate with his social therapist skills, but he’s having none of it. Determined to start at the bottom, same as Lockman did, apparently.’

‘But he’s injured.’

‘He’s healing. Just ask him. He’ll make the next intake and I’ll make sure he gets his first choice of postings. But by all means argue it out with him. His mother certainly has been. Ordinarily, he wouldn’t pass muster on psychological grounds, as she keeps reminding me. He still needs months of therapy, so
the paperwork and counter-paperwork are climbing higher than my desk already.’

‘So reject him. Shred the paperwork and make it easier on everyone.’

‘Can’t, sorry. That would mean going back on a promise. I offered him financial compensation with the bounty for Kitching, but this was all he wanted.’ Something about her expression also warned Mira there was more bad news coming.

‘What about Lockman?’

‘Oh, he already had his wish to leave. The best I could do this time was smudge over his first enlistment and discharge papers to help protect his family from a few old nasties still floating around out there. I also replaced the Hilux and all your camping gear. It’s garaged down at hangar three with the Blackbird until you’re both fit enough to leave.’ Garland sighed heavily. ‘So that only leaves me with your little wish list. Without you, we never could have gutted such a huge organisation so thoroughly, which means you’ve got a big pay cheque coming.’

‘I don’t want your money.’

‘I expected as much. But I’m required by law to compensate all civilians for any harm or damage brought about by military operations. Then there’s the bounty. Perhaps you’d permit me to make a sizeable donation to Serenity on your behalf?’

‘Sure, you can do that.’

Mira scratched her chin wondering how far she could push the general. She’d never slept well under sedation, since drugs always filled the dark shadows of her mind with monsters, so she’d had plenty of time over the last twenty-nine hours of hell to push all the demons she’d been dreaming into shapes she could handle. In one permutation, the final stage for that perfect future fell into place with all its strands plaited into a leash that she laid into the hands of General Garland.

‘Are you feeling generous?’ she asked slyly.

‘I believe your share of the bounty is in excess of eight figures.’

‘No, huh? Why didn’t you just say so, instead of expecting me to believe that depth of fertiliser? Six figures would have been more credible.’

‘I’m serious. I believe the precise amount will be closer to thirty million, based on a very small percentage of the colonel’s proceeds from crime to date. The military weapons and tech he’d been selling on the black market were our very best, and our country was only one of ten that had set a bounty on his head.’

‘Get out.’ Mira gaped in stunned amazement.

‘I assume you mean metaphorically?’

‘Yes, metaphorically. Dish it out. They should each get an equal share. And don’t miss anyone — Ben, Gabby, Mel and Tarin. Darkin too, if he’s not already sick of money.’

‘Do you mean on top of the five million they’ll each get paid directly for their roles in the recovery?’

Mira fell silent briefly, gobsmacked. ‘Really?’ she croaked, and had to clear her throat.

‘Ten countries, ten bounties, plus a small cut of the total value of weapons, technology and subs recovered. It all adds up.’

‘Wow. Okay, then you know what? Ask Gabby to decide the best way to dish it up. I’ll be busy anyway. Better get your notepad, because first up, I need a new codename. One that Lockman gets to choose. I want security teams for my friends, whenever they ask for it over the next five years, at least. And I’ll be moving home to my Poet Trees, just as soon as I get back from a little trip to meet all my relatives. So I’ll also need all your furniture out by then, to make room so I can redecorate.’

Garland stepped back in surprise, but cracked a grin. ‘Well this is certainly a day for the calendar. I’ll
be very honoured to have you come to work for me, Miss Pernel.’

‘Oh, no. If we do this, you’ll be working for me. You can bunk in my basement with a battalion or two, if you want, but there’ll be house rules. Top of the list; you’ll have to lock down two rooms and part of a corridor so I’m the only one who’s ever allowed in that part of the bunker — and I mean for a whole century, long after I’m old, dead and buried.’

Garland raised a quizzical brow. ‘I can’t approve that.’

‘You’ll have to.’

‘I’m not sure I understand.’

‘I’m sure you don’t. They’ll be my “dreaming rooms”. Little places I can go whenever things get really bad, so I can dream how things could work out for the best, with a little help from Freddie Leopard.’

‘But he’s dead.’

‘Only to you. The Leopard is changing spots again, General. He’s just become a valuable resource. My own little ghostly sage. I know how to understand his riddles and metaphors now, and his motives.’

Garland nodded. ‘I get it. So long as you always return to tell him how things worked out, he’ll be able to warn you of anything you need, before you need it. Provided he plays your game. Provided he had enough time alone before he died to answer any questions you may ask. And provided the future doesn’t change again.’

‘Don’t be so negative. Would you rather do nothing?’

‘About what, in particular?’

‘You say you’ve gutted Kitching’s organisation, but I say it’s an international network that is just getting started.’

‘How? All the top heads were chopped off down here. We captured his submarines. Emptied his warehouse and jailed or extradited most of his people.’

‘Only the ones you know about.’ Mira offered her wrist for a blood sample. ‘Check my DNA with the colonel’s, if you need proof. I’m taking charge of the family business.’

‘As a criminal?’

‘To clean it out. They don’t know it yet, but I just inherited a multinational force of dirty mercenaries and relatively innocent islanders — all trained to specialise in production and deployment of advanced weapons technology. From what I saw, they’re all devoted to defending the untapped oilfields of the disputed islands between Japan, Russia and China. So I’m going to do what Kitching wanted me to do. I’m going to find all the strategic plans made by the UN, Russia and America for that area, and you can either accept this chance to help me clean up the rest of the operation, and advise me on how to negotiate a new world treaty to protect all the little people — or you can become my enemy.’

‘Never any middle ground with you, is there, Mira? Always just black and white.’

‘Actually, I’m just beginning to see that way.’

‘Which reminds me,’ Garland said, ‘I did want to reaffirm my offer to fund any upgrades to your sunglasses. Or hues, now, if that’s what you’re calling them.’

‘So you can keep an eye on my progress and developments? Okay, I get it. But only if the team remains headed by the two docs who designed my first sets.’

‘I’ll have them on a plane within the hour.’

‘No need for that. And don’t think I didn’t notice you changed the subject. I still need to know where you’ll stand with me in the bigger scheme of things.’

‘Where else can I stand? You’ve just informed me of a power vacuum in a fledgling superpower that operates privately and primarily outside of my regional jurisdiction.’

‘It doesn’t need to be. I can funnel the leaders down here, and since you know people in every allied peacekeeping force around the world, you can arrange support for me wherever I go. I’m offering you the reins down here in exchange for your advice and networking contacts to ensure I can seize control before it’s seized by somebody far worse than me.’

‘Aren’t you worried that more nasties will learn of your status as a national secret?’

Mira shrugged. ‘People talk. I’m betting there’s already somebody else who knows how hard Kitching tried to get to me, and I know they’ll eventually start snooping around, trying to figure out why. So I’m starting the hunt first this time. I’ll help you get all the dirt you need to prosecute anyone who deserves it. Anyone like Kurst certainly needs the roughest end of the justice pineapple to be shoved somewhere uncomfortable. You also get to decide the fates of all the borderliners, like Patterson and Pobody. Or let Lockman, if he’s in the mood for holding a grudge. Primarily, I only care about protecting the little people who’ve always had their hearts in the right place.’

‘Would that include Airman Lasso?’

‘You tell me, General. You’ve worked with him. Is world peace his primary goal? And if so, does he deserve a lash, a leash or a free rein?’

‘A leash, obviously.’ She paced away and back again.

‘Mira, what you’re proposing here is all very impressive and well planned, but what you’re asking of me is —’

‘Inevitable. No more hiding in the shadows, General. No more spying on me, either. Pick a side, and I’ll respect your decision. Pick mine, and I’ll put you in charge eventually. Either way, I’m doing this. I’ve killed five men who were basically only protecting their homes and families, and I aim to atone for each and every one of them. I’ve got my whole life ahead of
me now, and I’m going to start it afresh, finally, if it kills me.’

‘I’m sympathetic, Mira. I really am. But you have to understand, I can’t just pick a side and walk away from such a big mess here.’

‘I never expected you to. What else do you need from me to make it work?’

‘An end to thefts from our research labs, for a start. And at least one more head to roll on my report, below Kurst and Kitching. If we put Lasso back to work on a tight rein, then I’ve lost the golden trifecta that comes with nailing him as Kitching’s primary agent. Specifically, I need to justify the expense of chasing down the local network all these years, and I can’t do that if all I’m left with is Lina Creed and a ragtag bunch of foot soldiers and foreign submariners.’

‘You’ll have to, because you can’t have Lina either. She’s been through enough already. She’s also laundering a few billion for Kitching International — payments from terrorists and crime cartels mostly, so cutting that thread too soon could put it all back in their pockets, along with their goods received.’