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SNAFU Part 34

by Angharad

This is a work of fiction any resemblance to anyone alive or dead is unintentional.

*****

I began to flick through the file. It seems the intelligence services were watching three groups who might want to assassinate a president. The first was the obvious mad Islamist group; the second was a different Arab group; and third was a group of Americans. I was shocked.

“Don, I cannot believe that a group of Yanks want to kill their own president.”

Dumping my coffee on the desk, he replied, “Why not, they’ve done it before.”

“They have?” I asked.

“Geez-usss Jamie, where have you been? Haven’t you ever read up on the Kennedy murders?”

“I thought there was only one.”

“Only one was a president, but the other was favourite in the then forthcoming elections.”

“JFK and his brother, Bobby.” I said, smiling with triumph at recalling this ancient fact. It had happened before I was born.

“Those two were killed by Americans with links to the mob and possibly some ultra right wing group, it’s all a bit shadowy. They’re still arguing about it now. Remember how one group tried to destroy Bill Clinton by a number of methods, including his spurious impeachment, and the Whitewater investment thingy, which was a fiction.”

“I wasn’t aware of that.” I said.

“So it stands to reason, our current client may be as much at risk as her husband, and from her own side.”

“You’ve been watching too much television, the X Files; or 24.” I shook my head.

“Conspiracy theories abound in the States. But if it was so true, why aren’t they sending for Jack Bauer, instead of us?”

“And I watch too much TV? Look here, just ‘cos you’re bright and beautiful don’t make you right. There is so much that goes on behind the scenes, as we both know. In the US the stakes are bigger…..”

“I know,” I interrupted, “I couldn’t eat a whole one. No wonder they’re all so big.”

“Stakes, as in taking you out and burning you at one! Now stop interrupting, ma’am, and listen.”

“Sorry,” I squeaked.

“The stakes are higher in the US, simply because of the amount of money involved. Many think the war in Iraq was about oil, although the US and UK governments denied it. How many weapons of mass destruction did they find? We also know, that much of the terror stuff was exaggerated in the early days to boost the Conservative/Right wing vote.”

“Was it?” I was appalled. I was also very naïve.

“Of course. One of the ways to make people vote for you is to offer to protect them against a mythical enemy.”

“It is?” I said my voice rising in pitch.

“Christ, Jamie, you don’t have much of a research background.”

“Until a month or two ago, I was a nurse. I didn’t ask to be brought into this murky world. In fact I tried to avoid it, but I keep being brought back, so there must be some reason for it.”

“Must there. I keep buying lottery tickets, but I never win anything worth having.”

“That’s because you choose the wrong numbers.” I quipped back.

“I suppose you could give me the correct ones.” Don threw back at me.

“Probably, but I’m not going to waste time on trivia.”

“You could predict the lottery numbers, and you call that trivia?”

“Yes. Life isn’t just about money.” I tried taking the moral high ground.

“I know that, but it would ruddy well help.”

“What if I said there was a price to pay for it?”

“What do you mean?”

“Say I told you the jackpot numbers.”

“Yes.”

“And you did them, and won several million….”

“I like it so far.” Said Don, beaming.

“If it wasn’t in your destiny to win it, or to acquire all this cash, then in altering your destiny, you also alter those around you. In order to adjust the balance something else has to happen. The consequences may not be what you’d like.”

“Oh I think for several million, I’d learn to live with the consequences.”

“What if it involved losing your wife or children?”

“Don’t be ridiculous, how would that balance anything?”

“If you’ve drawn more out of the bank than you put in, the bank will repossess what it can to repay the debt. The universe does the same, if you claim something to which you are not entitled.”

“Are you serious?”

“Deadly.”

“So people who get things they don’t deserve, have to pay it back?”

“Effectively, yes.”

“I don’t think I’ll ever buy another lottery ticket; as long as live.”

“That would be different. If you won by pure chance, either choosing the numbers yourself or getting a lucky dip, then it would be your destiny to win. If I reveal the numbers and you win, you have taken advantage of something you shouldn’t. It is not your true entitlement, you would therefore pay for it.”

“I don’t see much difference.”

“Shall we concentrate on more mundane things?” I brought us back to the task in hand. “According to this, you and I will be part of the official entourage for the State Visit. It lasts four days. I’m down as a liaison officer, and will be present when the president leaves anything but secure accommodation. You’ll be liaising with US and British intelligence, on the ground teams.”

“Food’s usually good when there’s a top VIP around,” said Don.

“We’re not paid to eat. I’m going to be so nervous for four whole days, I won’t eat much anyway. Secure accommodation, why does that worry me?” I’d felt this unease as soon as I’d read it.

“Maybe your conjunctivitis has cleared,” offered Don.

“What?”

“Conjunctivitis, your second sight, remember?”

“That was a joke.”

“Yeah, but your feeling isn’t, is it?”

“No it isn’t. My feeling says she is most at risk when we think she is safest. Her greatest danger is from those she thinks are friends.”

“What does that mean? Jamie…… Oh shit, she’s gone off again……Jamie, you alright?”

“Beware those you think are friends, they are enemies in disguise.”

“Jamie……Why the funny voice?......Jamie, can you hear me?.............”

“Oh my God, Don. They are going to kill her. They are going to blow up the US embassy. They are going to fly a plane into it, but that’s just to disguise a bomb which is hidden inside.”

“How can you know that?”

“I just saw it. That is how it is going to happen.”

“How do we tell anyone that?” Asked Don. “I believe you, but I’ve seen you in action. Who the hell else, is going to believe us?”

“I hope the PM, but I’m not entirely convinced. Besides, we have no jurisdiction in the US embassy.”

“That didn’t stop us wiring into it.”

“We didn’t did we? But it’s sovereign state stuff.”
“You are so naïve, girl, so is the Russian, the Chinese and all the others, but we monitor them. In Washington, the Yanks do the same to us. It’s all a big game.”

“I don’t think the murder of the US president is much of a game. I think it’s a tragedy, and what would it do for Anglo –American relations? Not to mention the wider view. The neo-cons, for I’m pretty sure it’s them who’ll do it, have some Arab crash a light aircraft into the embassy. The plane has a bit of a bomb on board but they have a larger bomb inside and nearer to where they will take the president under the attack.”

“You saw all that?”

“Most of it. The rest is intuition, but it is how it will happen.”

“How are we going to stop it, Jamie, without alerting the would be perpetrators? They’d just go to ground or try something different,” said Don, shoving his hands deep in his trouser pockets while pacing up and down the room.

“I don’t know yet, but there has to be a way. We need to tell Susan without anyone else finding out. Maybe, I’ll get a chance during the first day.”

“I doubt it, she goes to the US embassy on the first night.”

“I thought it was a state visit?”

“It is, but the Americans were so alarmed about security, they insisted she slept at the embassy.”

“That’s just dandy.”

“Can’t you send her a lioness to warn her?”

“No, I tried that once before, there’s some shield or other which prevents me from doing so. I can’t think why.”

“Maybe someone has tried a psychic attack before.”

“Quite possible.” I answered casually, while trying to think of how I could prevent the attempt but catch the would be assassins. If we could, then the stupidity and nastiness of this group could be shown up for what it was. Except, I doubted the US public would believe it, even if I could prove it.”

“Well you’re the officer. What do we do?” said Don, bringing me back from my reverie.

“I think we plan how we can stop them,” I said tersely.

“Fine, I’ll follow your lead,” he said sarcastically.

Now it was my turn to pace. “We don’t know who we can or can’t trust, on theirs or our side. Except each other.”

“Agreed.”

“So we keep quiet. To start with, I could be wrong.”

“True.”

“Thanks for your confidence, but I’m not. I can feel it in my bones.”

“Oh well, that’s different, that makes it certain.”
“Unless you want to wake up every night with a lioness licking your face, I’d be careful about your wit, if I were you.”

“Sorry ma’am. I believe you, I do. But like you said, we don’t know who’s in on it and who isn’t, and those who aren’t wouldn’t believe it anyway. Hang on, what about the PM, he’s seen you in action?”

“Are you certain whose side he’s on?”

“Ours I hope, but I take your point. What would he gain by helping to kill the US president?”

“I don’t know, but we can’t trust anyone. Not yet.”

“So it’s just you and me Batman?”

“Looks like it.” We looked at each other and simultaneously said, “Oh shit!”

“Don, can you find out who compiled that report for us?”

“I can try. Where are you going?”

“I need to look for some clothes and check out a hunch. Then I’m going home. I need to pack some stuff and tomorrow find somewhere to stay.”

“You can stay with me. I’ll get Sonia to make up the spare bed.”

“That’s very kind but it would be too dangerous for us both to stay together at night.”

“Why, do you snore or something?” asked Don.

“No you idiot, look there is a group who are trying to kill me. If I stay with you it could harm you or your family. Besides, if my hunch is right, and they find out, and we are together all the time, it’s easier to silence us.”

“Can you send your family on a little holiday, to relatives in Scotland or France or somewhere?”

“Is it that dangerous?” He said looking paler.

“It could be. If we take the lid off this can of worms, some of them are going to be senior people in government and industry. As you said, the stakes are high and they won’t be taking prisoners.”

“Will we?”

“Until they tell us what we want to know.”

“You’re a hard nut under all that hot chick stuff, aren’t you?”

“I have no sympathy with traitors. Geburah, is ‘justice’: it is the energy which drives me. It is balanced by ‘mercy’, but the mercy may be surgical strike to protect the innocent. Like removing a cancer.”

“Crikey Jamie, you sound like a terrorist.”

“Terrorists and the folk trying to catch them are often equally ruthless or pragmatic.”

“I suppose we are. I had never quite thought of it that way before.”

“I’m off, see you tomorrow. You’ve got my mobile number.”

“Yeah. See yah.”

I had remembered my appointment that evening with Andy Wilson’s group, and felt in need of a sleep and shower before then. I got home by lunch time, and after a snack and a two hour nap, felt a bit more human.

The shower was bliss, and I relaxed under its soothing waters, as they cleansed me. The warm dry towel was as soft as cotton wool, and it too felt delicious. I dressed casually and sat to meditate for an hour, contemplating the Qabalah and how I might meet with this group.

I’ve got quite good at meditation, practise helps, and I do as much as time permits. It helps to keep my blood pressure down and mind calm. I have every confidence in my protection, so can really lose myself and just be at one with the universe.
My parents came home around six, and I helped my mother make a meal, of which I ate a small portion, then left to attend Andy Wilson’s house.

It was a lovely Victorian house, made of yellow and black bricks. The drive way was full of cars and the street outside was also pretty congested. I’d borrowed Dad’s Rover, and being bigger than Mum’s car, took me ages to park. In my defence, I can say that the space was only just large enough to put three buses in, so you will appreciate I found it tricky.

I trotted up to the door and rang the bell. Thank goodness, it just rang on a single tone. I hate those things that play three movements of Mozart before they stop, which is usually after you’ve left.

A middle aged woman answered the door. “Yes?” she said.

It rather startled me for a moment. “Dr Wilson,” I replied, glad I had actually remembered his name; “Invited me around for seven thirty.”

“You must be Jamie Curtis.” Said the woman, smiling half heartedly.

“Yes I am.” I smiled back, trying to defrost her.

She led me into a hallway which was tiled in red quarry tiles interspersed with decorative ones, making a sort of chess board design. “Wait here.” She bade me and went into a room through a thick, multi-panelled door. I could hear muffled voices, then a moment later Andy Wilson appeared.

“Ah, Jamie, glad you could come. Sadly the group isn’t all here tonight, two members had to cry off. But the others are happy to meet you. Do come in.”

He led me through the same heavy wooden door, into a large sitting room. On the various sofas and chairs were seated six others, not including the woman who’d let me in. I was invited to sit in an easy chair, in the middle of the semi-circle of seats.
I wasn’t sure what to expect, a temple or something normal. It was obviously the latter. The energies felt okay, so I knew they were friendlies. Andy introduced them all, but I’m hopeless with names and had forgotten them as soon as he said them. Except for the smiling one who let me in. Her name was, Sandra, his sister.
They all smiled a greeting at me and I responded. I told them my background was Egyptian magick, I also mentioned my reincarnation link with Sekhmet. They found this interesting and we talked about it for quite a while.

While we were talking, I became increasingly aware of a group of people standing outside the seated semi-circle. They were listening but not saying anything and I recognised them as spirit folk, but they were as clear to me as the seated group.

“I’m aware we have others listening to our discussion and wondered if it was protocol to allow them to speak as well.”

“Can you see them?” asked Andy.

“Yes, very clearly.”

“Some of us have an impression of the others, but our seer, is one of those absent tonight,” said a youngish woman, wearing a hand-knitted top and corduroy skirt. I think her name was Chloe. “Can you hear them as well?”

“Yes, I can. Only one has spoken, an elderly gent, who tells me his name is known to you as Rabbi Eli.”

“Indeed it is. He is one of our guiding lights,” said Andy. “Does he have any advice for us.”

“He’s nodding. He says, “To read your Zohar. The answer is there if you look for it.” Is that any help?”

“He couldn’t be more precise could he?” asked Andy again.

“He could, but he won’t. He is shaking his head and telling you, you need to research whatever your query was. He is suggesting the group needs to read it together.”

“Okay. Thanks Eli, we’ll start next meeting. Thanks Jamie.”

“I need to talk to you about a personal difficulty I have.” I said quietly, looking around the room. The Rabbi was nodding, so at least he thought it was an appropriate time to discuss it.

“Did you want to speak to the group or me individually?” asked Andy.

“The group, if that’s alright?”

They all nodded assent, and he encouraged me to start.

“I told you about the past life link with the Egyptian goddess, Sekhmet. What I didn’t tell you was that she acts through me, sometimes with devastating effect,”

“What you mean, you can call her up?” asked a young man sitting opposite me.

“I become her, grow in size and throw lightning around the place.”

“Cool,” said the young man, whilst everyone else looked on in horror.

“It isn’t cool, I’m afraid, it gets very hot. However, that isn’t the problem.”

“It isn’t?” said an astonished Chloe.

“No. The Sekhmet stuff only happens when I am threatened.”

“Cool,” said the young man again, it seemed to be his only response to anything. I had a lioness sit beside him. He suddenly added, “Fuck me,” then wet himself when it licked his hand and began purring.

“Well Daniel, you always said you wanted to see or feel something. Now you have.” Said Andy, but Daniel went very pale, and I think fainted. He slumped back in his chair. The woman next to him went to look at him, but Andy said, “He’ll be okay.” Then to me, “You can materialise things as well then?”

“Yes.”

“If you are such a competent and powerful magician, why are you here? None of us have skills or powers anywhere near yours?”

“I need your help.”

“You need our help? How?” asked Chloe, now suitably impressed.

“Despite all the Egyptian stuff, I can make things happen, play with time, read your mind, heal the sick occasionally, I am being pursued by a group from the dark side, who are trying to kill me.”

“I don’t wish to sound unhelpful,” said Andy, “but with all these powers, how do you need us? Are they just pissed off with you for something you did?

“No. I haven’t done anything to any of them except when they have attacked me first.”

“Look I’m sorry, but it isn’t the place of this group to get involved in magick fights. We try to rise above the level of Yesod and the lower triangle.”

“Rabbi Eli, thinks you can help.” The old fellow was gesticulating like mad to me.

“How do I know you aren’t just making it up?” said Andy.

“She isn’t,” said Chloe, “I can hear him too.”

“That might just be one of Jamie’s tricks, too.”

“I need your help. There is no trickery, and I hope no danger to any of you.”

“I’m sorry, Jamie, but I don’t think it’s appropriate for this group to get involved in personal feuds.”

“Very well.” I said, “I’m sorry to have wasted your time. It isn’t a personal feud, it’s something across the ages, and I have a feeling that unless I can resolve things in my favour, something awful is going to happen. Then you will become involved.”

“That’s a risk we’ll have to take,” said Andy, indicating I should leave. “Thanks for an interesting evening, your tricks were very accomplished.”

“I don’t do tricks Dr Wilson. I am trying to save the world. It is that important.”

“I’m sure it is to you.”

“Don’t patronise me. Goodnight.” I said curtly and left.

As I drove away, I felt saddened that they couldn’t help because they didn’t understand what was happening. This wasn’t some petty squabble between two oversized egos, this was the forces of darkness trying to destroy the forces of light, viz. moi. I was sure that the threat to Susan Carlton was part of it, but I couldn’t prove anything. Surely, there had to be someone who could help. But who?

I drove home in despond, and did my ritual homage to my goddess. Time was running out and I needed what help she could give me.