21 Without Backup

Stefan's smile broadened at my expression. "My own, brother."

"I don't know that."

The smile faded slightly, then returned as he shrugged. "It is unimportant; for I know what you are, and even if we assume that I am not what I claim, I know those that are." He nodded toward the scale that I still held in my hand. "I am here to bring you to them."

Well, it would certainly explain how the hell he managed to disappear from that alleyway. . . . I stared at him; his manner, Germanic accent and appearance seething in my mind. I felt an icy chill go through me. "Stasi?"

Stefan's eyes widened for a moment at the name of the dreaded East German secret police, then he smiled once again. "Very good, brother. Yes, once, but they are no more."

"And who do you work for now?"

He laughed quietly. "Those whom I have always worked for in truth. Ourselves." He sobered. "There is an open field perhaps 1500 meters north of the hangar where your aircraft lies. Meet me there after the moon sets tomorrow night, in your true form. From there I will take you to those who can answer all your questions."

He began to slowly rise to his feet, and my weapon snapped up. "I don't believe I gave you permission to move, friend." I snarled.

Stefan smiled. "I have brought my message, and now it is time for me to leave." He glanced at the automatic. "Will you still shoot me? Then you will never have your answers."

I looked at him coldly for a moment, then eased down the hammer and gestured. "Get out."

Still smiling he gave me a slight bow. "Until tomorrow night."

I stared at the door long after he had vanished through it, then slowly laid the automatic down. I uncurled my stiff fingers from the grip of the weapon, then wiped my sweaty palm on my trousers as my thoughts chased each other around in circles.

Stasi. I shivered. If I was really facing one of their field agents, then I was horribly outclassed. Had I really taken him so easily? And who had actually controlled that conversation? Damn. Any other time, I'd be screaming for help at this point. But who could I call upon for this? For the first time in decades I found myself without support.

I was alone in this.

It was not a good feeling.

"Until tomorrow night, you bastard. . . ."

"Hellooo! Earth to Sarge! Earth to Sarge!"

I blinked and looked up at Austin. "Hm? Oh. Sorry, Austin. Did you say something?"

Austin gave me a disgusted look. "You haven't heard a damn thing I said in the last fifteen minutes now, did you? What's wrong with you, Sarge?"

I shook my head. "Sorry, Austin. I haven't been getting much sleep lately. Too much on my mind."

"Yeah? Who is she?"

I snapped my head up to see Austin grinning at me. He threw up his hands. "Just kidding, Mike. Just kidding!" He sobered. "Really Sarge, I know we're getting a little behind, but it isn't our fault that damned supplier sent us the wrong stuff. Can't them fools down south understand that?"

I dropped my head to hide my relief at Austin's mistaken assumption. "Nobody ever understands anything, Austin. No excuses, remember?"

"Yeah, yeah . . . but sometimes don't you get the feeling that those idiots think they can order the stuff to work?"

I choked a little as I felt a grin battle its way across my face. Finally I laughed out loud, unable to banish from my mind's eye the image of some pompous ass with more rank than sense trying to browbeat a piece of hardware. "I've seen a few of them get pretty close to it, Austin." I chuckled again. "As far as they were concerned, it was a humbling experience."

"Wish I could'a seen it. Got anything goin' for dinner? I found a great seafood place over by the interstate."

"No," I sobered, "Not tonight. I have . . . an appointment tonight."

"Hah! I knew it was a woman! She good-looking?"

"Austin, you're incredible."