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| Illustration for "ALEXANDRA AND THE BALKAN BAD BOYS" created by the author. Copyright © 2011-2025 Stephen J. Williams. |
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| EPISODE INFORMATION |
SMOKING - ALCOHOL USE - VIOLENCE [INCLUDING SEXUAL VIOLENCE, BDSM] - STRONG LANGUAGE - GRAPHIC HARD SEX REFERENCES & DIVERSE SEXUAL PRACTISES.
This episode has a reading time of approximately 60 minutes.
This story can be found in "The adventures of Alexandra" BOOK SERIES 3 - Episode 9.
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1. MOSCOW; 3rd November 1958.
The big black car slid a few times on the ice and snow; but the roads were in quite good condition considering the amount of snow that had fallen in the last few days. The driver slapped the wheel a couple of times and really wanted to cuss - loud and frequently - but held his tongue and his temper in check. He glanced into the mirror and watched District Commander Leon Nebcheski, sitting back and reading his little red notebook. He was the Police Commander of this affluent suburb of Moscow.
The other two passengers were unknown to him; but he knew the pretty young
woman was also a Police Officer, he had caught her name; Tatiana Obski, a
detective from the same District office. The other man, a tall thin and very
unpleasant looking individual; he didn't know, but guessed he was from the KGB.
They all seemed to wear the same cheap black suits and hats. Some fucking
undercover outfit he thought.
He pulled up at the address he had been given and jumped from the car, opening
the door for the Commander, who stepped out and pulled his coat around himself.
The KGB man followed and then did Tatiana. They stood on the icy street
and stared up at the apartment block. The doorman was waiting to open the
building doors, brushing snow from his face and gloved hands. The Commander walked
up and nodded; the doorman pulled open the door and saluted like the old
soldier he was. Leon just grunted and they made their way to the top floor.
The two young, uniformed police officer heard the lift arriving and quickly
threw their cigarettes through the slightly open window and adjusted their
jackets and ties. They knew who would be stepping out. The pair came to
attention and pushed open the apartment's door for him and his two
colleagues. They said nothing. The Commander stared at the younger one and asked;
"Is the building empty?" The young man straightened himself,
saluted and said, "Yes Comrade Commander; all the residents have been
taken for interview at the station Sir." He saluted again. The Commander just
grunted again and pushed into the spacious apartment.
The KGB officer wrote down their badge numbers in his notebook and followed the
Commander. Tatiana smiled at the pair and also entered. The place was a
small palace, the furniture was mostly antique, and the rooms were well
heated. She sighed; how the other fucking half lived, whatever happened to the
revolution?
But she kept those very dangerous thoughts to
herself. The missing tenant had some pretty powerful relations in the party. If
she hadn't, then a District Commander would certainly not be assigned to her
case.
The KGB man gestured to one of the rooms; "It's in here Comrade Commander.
It's quite unbelievable, almost like a shrine to the incident." They
pushed into the room and Tatiana switched the light on. Leon chuckled; "I know
she was a student of history, but why all this, for an
Imperialist dog?" They looked about the room; the walls were covered
with maps, pictures, drawings, anything relating to the assassination of
Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo, in 1914.
There was even a full itinerary of his visit, detailed, almost minute by
minute. His murderer: 19-year-old Gavrilo Princip, took up one whole wall.
The tables and even the chairs were covered with books, newspapers, and magazines
on the assassination. Leon stared at the photograph of the Archduke;
basically his death had started the glorious revolution of 1917.
Tatiana stood with her notebook open but didn't speak until the Commander gestured her to do so. "She was last seen on Monday afternoon, carrying a large canvas bag into her apartment. Several people saw her enter the building and two cleaners working on this floor actually saw her go into the apartment at about three o'clock. That is the very last time anyone saw her alive, not that she may be dead, Comrade Commander." She didn't smile and closed her notebook. Then added; "She has now been missing for five days. Nothing. No one has seen her, and all shifts of the doormen have been questioned closely. They are all good party men and swear that she never left the building. Nothing appears to have been taken from the apartment including money and clothes. Her cousin confirms this Sir."
The Commander pulled a silver cigarette case from his pocket and lit a smelly
yellow cigarette, he smoked slowly; "Any known lovers or really good
friends?" He asked Tatiana. She shook her head; "All the students at
the university that knew her have been questioned. Apparently, she kept herself
to herself. Quite unusual for a young woman at University Sir."
The Commander nodded and stared at the covered walls. He already knew that this 'disappearance' wasn't the usual running off by some love obsessed young woman. There was far more to this and the clues were all over the walls. He had been privy to a very confidential KGB file on the girl and her frequent visits to her university professor, who taught history. The old man also had several reports about straying from official party doctrine; yet no action had been taken against him. Leon guessed that the old professor had very powerful friends in the party elite, as well.
He picked up a silver framed photograph and grunted; young Katerina Potoski
with her mother and her uncle. He smiled to himself. Her uncle was known to
have quite a passion for young girls. He replaced the picture and walked to the
door. The KGB man asked nervously; "Do I have anything to report...to
update the Bureau on this matter Comrade Commander?" The Commander stared
at him and almost smiled; "Yes Comrade. That I'm on the case." They
headed for the lift in silence.
The two young officers' sighed and relaxed, lighting up more cigarettes.
One leaned against the wall and stared out the window. He watched as the
big black car pulled away into fresh falling snow. "Do you think the
stories are true about her, the uncle and mother?" The taller one asked and
turned back to his colleague who shrugged his shoulders; "Who knows, but
he really is a kinky bastard." He spat the words out and pushed his cap
up; "Anything perverted said about him could be true." He added
and blew smoke into the air.
The other one chuckled softly and went back to staring out the window; he
would be glad when their shift finished. That's when he heard some noises from
the sealed room; he slapped his colleagues arm and threw his half-smoked
cigarette down and pushed open the door. His comrade had already pulled out his
service revolver and the pair entered the apartment slowly.
Tatiana sat in her drab grey office and shifted in her chair. She had pulled her boots
off and sat with her bare feet on the thin carpet. She picked up a couple of
pictures that had been spread across her desk. The investigation into Katrina
Potoski disappearance had drawn a large blank. No one had seen her leave the apartment;
yet she had simply vanished. The grey canvas bag she hauled into her home on
that faithful day; what the hell was in it? Her uncle wanted answers and there
were - apparently - none to give. Why the total obsession with the Archduke and his wife, who were assassinated in Sarajevo,
the capital of the Austro-Hungarian province of Bosnia and Herzegovina,
back in 1914? She [Katrina] had covered the bloody day, almost minute by
minute; but for what purpose, it was just history now?
Tatiana sighed and picked up the photograph of Gavrilo Princip - the young assassin - sitting on a bench with two other men, outside a big house. There were two well dressed women, with parasols, standing some yards behind them. Tatiana fumbled in her top drawer and produced her large round magnifying glass and held it over the picture.
She stared good and hard for a few minutes and then slowly placed the big
magnifying glass down on her desk. That's when she realised her hand was
shaking a little. She clasped her hands together and took a couple of deep breaths.
She picked up the glass and again studied the women in the picture. She lowered
the glass and stared hard at the small, curtain less window; the snow was
coming down heavily now. She rubbed her face a little and her mouth was dry; if it
wasn't fucking impossible, the younger woman in the picture looked a dead
ringer for missing Katrina Potoski!
2. WALKING ON THIN ICE.
Jericho stared at the file for some minutes before closing it and replacing the brown folder on the coffee table. He leaned back in his well-worn, but very comfortable armchair and folded his arms. The contents of the file had made uncomfortable reading; anything that may change the historical events of 1914 was considered dangerous to the current human timeline.
That year changed human history and culture forever and apparently not for
the best. The rise of Nazi Germany and the horrors that inflicted upon the
world came directly from that year and the disastrous world war that followed.
The outcome of that war started in 1914 had been the rise of Hitler to power.
All the rest of human history now followed those two titanic events; the First
World War and Adolf Hitler.
There had been other attempts to change that faithful year, but this one was
different for one reason; Jericho knew that a History Professor teaching
at Moscow University at the time, was none other than his old adversary; Wolfgang
Leitcher. [See episodes, 'The man who died in the future to save his past' and 'The Dunmore
Witch trials' From the Temporal
Detectives series, if you can] That simple fact made this mission dangerous and
complicated. The assassination of Archduke Ferdinand had been a major success
for the 'Dark Side'. Why would they wish to change that outcome; now?
He sighed loudly and picked up his coffee cup. Then replaced it and heaved himself from the armchair, snatching back up the file. The coffee would have to wait and headed for the dining room; the dinner would have to wait as well. Jericho knew that Team 74 would be walking on very thin ice with this new assignment.
Radovan the handyman watched from the dining room window - he had been cleaning the ceiling lights since the villa had electricity - as the two cars swept into the drive of Villa Teodora, which had been rented to a mixed party of American & English journalists for two weeks; no doubt here to cover the Archdukes visit. Jana the housekeeper stuck her head around the door and shouted; "They’re here! You best get downstairs and collect the bags. Hurry up please!" Radovan nodded and wiped his face and neck; "I'm coming woman." He muttered, straightening his shirt and waistcoat. It was too warm for a damn jacket. He made his way downstairs and into the courtyard.
The young woman stepping from the first big car made he stop in his stride; she was utterly stunning. He removed his greasy hat and bowed a little. Jana was immediately behind him and whispered; "By blessed St. Mary, that is a real beauty." Radovan nodded; he couldn't take his eyes off her, especially when she smiled directly at him. He grabbed her bags with some relish. "I will show you to your suite Ma'am." But Jana slapped his arm - quite hard - and said, "Take the bags upstairs and I will show the lady her rooms; see to the men."
Alex followed the middle-aged woman up the big staircase and into her rooms. Radovan dropped the bags inside the door and bowed; again. Alex gave him some Krone as a tip and he was most happy with that. But Jana was not happy about it; "You do not have to tip household staff Ma'am. That is for waiters and hotels. Radovan will only spend it on drink." She smiled and offered to help unpack Alex's two cases. But Alex declined;
saying her maid Ruth would see to that. She
removed her hat and stared through the French door to the little balcony, which
overlooked the beautifully kept rear gardens. "Some tea would be most welcome."
She told Jana, who hurried away, back to her kitchens.
Ruth appeared in the doorway carrying her own bag and dropped it by the small
table and chairs. "Bloody typical, he didn't rush to collect my bags. Owen
carried them up." But she grinned and dropped into a chair and gently dabbed
her face and neck, adding; "It's bloody hot!" Alex chuckled and
joined her at the table. "I don't think we need to unpack much. I believe
Jericho won't hang around this time and place too long."
Jericho was standing in the doorway - discretely consulting his mirror - and
said quietly; "You've got that right Alexandra. We're here until the assassination
and then we're off." He looked about and saw Wilson and Owen at the top of
the stairs, Radovan just behind with their bags. Owen stood in the doorway
and grinned; "The Housekeeper said you ordered tea, which will be served
in the Morning Room apparently." Jericho nodded, his mirror now out of sight,
and gestured to the other doors on the small landing; "Take your pick, there's
three other bedrooms up here. We have one each, sheer luxury. It's nice to be
back when the world was actually civilized."
Radovan couldn't take his eyes of the graceful Alex and stared through the door,
wiping his face. He saw Wilson smiling at him and he nodded; "That Sir, is
real beauty. You could mistake her for a Hapsburg Princess or one of those
American actresses." He grinned and walked away. Wilson just sighed and
spoke to Jericho; "Do all the staff speak good English?" Jericho
nodded; "That's why Operations booked the place." He picked up his
suitcase and pushed open a bedroom door and just threw his case in. "Now for
a bloody lovely cup of tea." He said and headed down the stairs. Wilson
did the same with his bag and followed him.
They assembled in the 'Morning Room' and Jana served tea and dainty little sandwiches.
She bowed and left them to it; after announcing that dinner would be at seven.
Alex had told Jana to ensure that her 'maid' Ruth received tea and sandwiches
too. She was preparing the rooms and unpacking her 'Ladies' bags. Jana nodded
and smiled to herself; the visitor was clearly a great lady and like true 'great
ladies' she looked after her personal Maid. The conversation in the kitchens was all about
the great lady.
After tea, everyone retired to their rooms - mainly to rest from the heat and change
for dinner - Alex enjoyed a warm bath and the admiring servants would have been
a little shocked to find that the 'great lady' shared her bath with her maid;
to save time and precious hot water! If she hadn't, poor Ruth would have
suffered a lukewarm bath. When Owen found out, he actually groaned at the thought
of the pair, naked and splashing about in the same bath. Wilson and Jericho just
sighed and muttered; "Bloody Monastery."
They were just about to sit for dinner, when Jana appeared - not with the soup
- but a message. The woman looked quite concerned; there was a Captain of
Police at the door and several police officers on horseback accompanied him.
Jericho just smiled; "It's all just routine Madame Jana. He's here to check
our papers." But Jana shook her head; "You are supposed to report to
them. They don't come to you." Jericho shrugged his shoulders and told
Jana to show the officer in.
Captain Advija Kovac strode in the room and stopped. He stared at Alex -
standing by the fireplace - waving a silk fan across her face - and slowly started
to smile. The young Police Captain simply had not seen a more beautiful woman
in his entire life. He stood for a good few seconds before realizing everyone
was waiting for him to speak. He politely coughed and smiled; "My English
is said to be good. So I will know what you speak about and what I speak
about." He finally managed to say; still looking at Alex. She was wearing
a formal dinner dress that would not be out of place in London or Paris or the court
of the Hapsburgs. She smiled at him, and his heart leapt about his chest. His
mouth went dry, and he quickly removed his hat.
He didn't hear Wilson whisper to Owen; "Another bloody moth." Jericho
offered the young captain a drink and he accepted quietly. Jana poured him cold
lemonade; she knew the captain was a Muslim and certainly wouldn't offer him
any form of alcohol. She smiled to herself, as she watched him continuously
glancing at the 'great lady' - despite speaking with Jericho - she would wait
outside until called and left the room quietly. Soon as she heard the laughter; she smiled and
relaxed. Very few people would laugh before being arrested and dragged away to prison and torture.
The captain quickly accepted Jericho's offer to join them at dinner. He sent word - via his sergeant, who stood in the doorway - staring at Alex - for his men to stand down. Jericho told Jana to give the men some tea. The captain relaxed in his chair and smiled at Alex. Jericho had quite deliberately placed him opposite her. She was the best distraction for any young man. Captain Advija sipped his lemonade and made everyone chuckle as he explained - in quite good English - about the report of desperate looking strangers in the Villa Teodora, who had not reported their presence to the local Police, which was to him, in fact.
Jericho had shown him their passports and journalist credentials. He was really
interested when Jericho explained that Alexandra Cappanni was the court
reporter for several French and English newspapers; here to cover the Imperial
visit. He was both surprised and amazed and just came out with it. "Why would
such a beautiful and clearly educated young woman bother to earn a living? She
could have her pick of any rich or royal man, who would be more than happy to
keep such a wife." And he meant it. Alex just smiled and kept her thoughts
to herself on that matter; they would not have been pleasant, out in the open!
The impromptu dinner party broke up and the captain lingered over saying
goodnight to Alex; he kissed her hand farewell; twice. The team enjoyed some brandy
in the evening sitting room and played cards. But Jericho was concerned; who
had informed the police about their arrival? Who would even know that the team
was here? He sipped his brandy and didn't smile as one name popped into his head:
Wolfgang Leitcher.
3. PASSION AND DISAPPOINTMENT AT VILLA TEODORA.
Alex lay in bed listening carefully, her hand gently caressed her crotch in anticipation, and she waited with little patience. Then she heard the welcome slap of pebbles against her window and was out of bed and opening the balcony doors in seconds. The moonlight allowed her to peer down and give a little wave to Captain Advija who pushed the note that Alex had passed to him during their goodbyes, back into his pocket. He waved back and climbed the trestle with some strength and agility. That impressed Alex who now knew he was fit – physically - for the task ahead: fucking her! He slipped onto balcony and smiled; Alex’s nightdress was thin silk and almost transport and he could clearly see that she was naked underneath. They came together and kissed frantically for a minute or so with Captain Advija surprising Alex by heaving her up in his arms and carrying her to the bed. He placed her down gently and pulled of his jacket and trousers with some speed. Alex reciprocated by slipping her nightdress off and laying on her back against the pile of pillows. She watched with mounting excitement and lust as the young man pulled down his underpants and now was as naked as her.
She really smiled as he climbed on the bed: his cock was already erect and was a good size with a thick girth. They lay kissing, their hands exploring each other’s bodies, with their tongues continuing where they left off. Her hand ran down his supple torso and took possession of his cock with her fingers caressing it at first, then they closed around it, and she jerked it gently, ensuring her hand moved up and down the shafts full length. She caressed his balls and found they felt huge to the touch. His hand was between her legs, and he was delighted to find her very wet already. Gently he pushed open her legs and Alex took a couple of little breaths as he lowered himself between them, resting on his outstretched hands. His cock seemed instinctively to know where to go and he slowly entered her as she ran her hands down his back and gripped his hips: pulling him into her.
Very slowly at first, he moved back and forth, and Alex encouraged him by pulling at his hips and buttocks. Then she whispered, “Harder, please harder!” He smiled and speeded up a little which made Alex dig her nails into his bum cheeks as she raised her legs a little and whispered again, “Don’t tease! Fuck me harder!” He now chuckled and said softly, “As you wish my dear.” And started to fuck her hard and fast. Really hard and really fast. Alex groaned a little under his powerful thrusts and nodded her head vigorously in appreciation of his efforts. She now pulled her legs right back to allow him to thrust even deeper which he did. She could now feel a little orgasm on the way and grabbed her ankles and moaned with some pleasure.
That’s when the young captain groaned loudly and his face screwed up, Alex felt him cum and he pulled from her and lay on his back, smiling to himself. She really had to restrain herself from saying “Is that it?” But clearly it was. He kissed her and said ‘thank you’ a few times, then slipped from the bed, promising to visit her again. Apparently, he was going to be busy over the next few days, with the Imperial visit. He dressed quickly and the pair said their farewells on the balcony, where he enthusiastically kissed her: she didn’t really respond with anything like passion or enthusiasm. He didn’t notice that which annoyed her even more. It was a very unhappy Alex that said goodnight to her useless lover. He climbed over the railings with a little wave and descended into the dark gardens.
Alex watched the young captain disappear into the darkness of the gardens with some disappointment and unfulfilled sexual lust. She sighed and turned back to the balcony doors and stood still, folding her arms, a little shocked and surprised. Radovan stood by the doors, with a flickering lamp held up in one hand. He didn’t smile, “Captain Advija is considered by many people in the village to be a traitor to the Serbian cause my lady. I heard someone in the gardens – I sleep in the small hut by the gates – and watched him climb your balcony. I thought you were in danger, but I was clearly wrong. This will not go down well with Serbian patriots when I report it to the resistance. They will probably drive you and your friends from here. I am sorry my lady, but I am a patriot and must speak up.”
Alex knew this was a bad situation for her – and the mission – and feared exposure, not just to the resistance, but to Jericho. She smiled and shook her head, “I’m sorry Radovan but I thought the young captain was a patriot, but clearly, I have made a terrible mistake. Please forgive me and give me another chance?” Radovan lowered his lamp, staring at her naked body and particularly those magnificent breasts, oh, how he wanted to possess them and that shaven little heaven’s slit. Even if Advija had just soiled it. He took a breath and ran a hand over his face. “You put me in a bad position my lady. How could I ease my conscious if I stayed silent?”
Alex now smiled and walked slowly over to him. “Well, Radovan I can help you with you conscious and you’ll sleep well at night and so will I.” She gently ran a warm hand down his face. He took hold of her hand and placed the lamp now. “I think you will ease my conscious and this.” He guided her hand to his trousers, and she ran her hand over his crotch. She stared at him, totally surprised. Finally she whispered; “Radovan, you appear to have a cricket bat in your underpants.” He now smiled and took hold of her right breast and squeezed hard. “I don’t play cricket my lady.” Was all he said, taking hold of her.
He pushed her on the edge of the bed and stood between her open legs, pulling off his clothing. Alex sniffed and ran a hand over her face: Radovan reeked of tobacco, booze and sweat. His body odour was very strong and distinctive, then realised it was like the fertilizer she had smelt in the gardens. Having discarded his clothes, he gripped his big cock and slipped it between her open thighs and into that ‘heaven’s slit’ he desired so much.
Alex was about to find out that Radovan wasn’t
just an experienced and excellent gardener and handyman. He took possession of
her body and fucked her. He didn’t just fuck her but caused her to have two
large orgasm’s that made her entire body shake with uncontrollable passion and sexual ecstasy, not
to mention she sobbed a few times.
They fucked in several positions over the course of two solid hours of unbridled, dirty sex. She even disgusted herself by ‘rimming’ his unwashed, sweaty arse at one point: but loved it. Radovan held her face down against the pillows, holding her arse in the air with both hands, whilst he fucked it with some passion, deep and hard. She then rode him, gripping the headboard whilst almost jumping up and down on his big hard cock. That brought on a huge orgasm which made Alex collapse on her skilled lover, groaning and crying a little. He simply rolled her over and continued to fuck her relentlessly in the missionary position. Alex was almost ‘tapped out’ but gritted her teeth and like a true sexual trooper, she carried on. Alex rode him in the ‘reverse cowgirl’ position frantically squirting at one point, her orgasm splattering his belly and thighs, it was so powerful that she slipped from him and lay face down on the bed, panting and groaning. But Radovan simply climbed back on her and fucked her arse again. That lasted until she managed to turn over and he carried on fucking her cunt without stopping. She was about to call it a day, when he cussed and called out for God. He came in her and didn’t stop.
Alex lay panting, trembling and crying as she felt her fanny fill with his seed. Finally he lay back and the pair didn’t speak. Not a word. After a few minutes, he rose from the bed and dressed, gave Alex a smile and left quietly. They had fucked almost non-stop for nearly two straight hours.
Alex lay back against the pillows with her legs open, breathing deeply and wiped her face with both hands, feeling her breasts rise and fall. She had watched Radovan finish dressing and without a word slip from the room. She could smell her own, now stale perfume and perspiration mingling with Radovan’s distinct body odour and sweat which seemed to cling to her body. She slowly sat up on her elbows and started to giggle softly. Talk about never judge a book by its cover! The young athletic Advija couldn’t hold a candle against Radovan in satisfying a woman in bed! Despite an age difference of about thirty years, he had proved – by far – the better lover. She slumped back against the pillows and ran a hand over her gaped, wet sore fanny and smiled. Radovan had pumped so much cum into her, she would probably still be leaking next week! Chuckling to herself, a very satisfied Alex drifted off to sleep, still with a smile on her contented face.
4. SARAJEVO; FRIDAY 26th JUNE 1914.
Jericho - chuckling to himself - finally had to swap with Alex and take over the
driving. The sight of a well-dressed young woman driving a big car around the
streets of Sarajevo had generated far too much interest in the team. Crowds
actually blocked their progress on several occasions, simply by standing around
the car and staring at Alex behind the wheel.
A couple of times, the crowd turned a little ugly and several rough looking men shouted at the cars; about the 'abomination against God' by a woman driving a car. Alex would normally have complained - loudly - about being replaced for such a sexist reason - but seeing the mob mentality growing right before her eyes, she kept her own thoughts and stayed silent.
Owen was in the first car with Wilson - who was driving - and discretely read, the little map of the Archduke’s route on the tragic day, which would be the day after tomorrow. The team were familiarizing themselves with the streets and the place of the assassination. They stopped in the ill-fated road and watched as several carts passed them, pulled by brown and white bullocks. Several men on the various carts all raised their hats to Alex. A couple shouted some dubious 'compliments' and laughed amongst themselves.
Jericho jumped from the car and strode to the corner, followed by Wilson; Owen and Alex remained with the cars, parked outside a small bakery called Schiller's delicatessen. The smell of fresh bread and cakes was far too much for Owen and he was in the shop in an instant. Alex sighed and stretched her legs by walking between the two cars. Jericho and Wilson returned, and Owen emerged from the bakery with a box of assorted cakes. They gathered around the cars and Jericho spoke quietly - in French - about what happened on the dreadful day.
"The bloody driver took the wrong turn and drove right past Gavrilo Princip. He should have taken the other road [Jericho gestured to the other turning] but he turned down here. Had he not taken the wrong turn, Princip would have simply walked home; disappointed and that would have been that. Princip shot the duke and his wife, just about there." Everyone started at the most important piece of roadway in world history.
"Are there any explanation recorded, as to why the driver turned down here?" Alex asked and nibbled at her little chocolate cake, which was quite delicious. Jericho shook his head. "The official record states that the man simply got confused with the streets and Princip got very lucky; very lucky." Wilson grunted; "Lucky is not the word I would use; If I was the Archduke." and ate his little pastry in one hit.
They finished eating their little treats and Owen discretely tapped his mirror; he looked a little amazed. "Do you know that someone threw a bloody bomb before the actual assassination and blew up the following bloody car! And they just carried on after that! I mean, you would have thought that the Archduke would have said 'fuck this for a game of darts; let's get the fuck out of here!' But they didn't and just carried on. Now that's fucking nuts." The amazement was clear in his voice. "Bloody nutters." He added and jumped in the car with Wilson who chuckled; "Which nutters are you talking about? There were plenty around on that day; on both sides."
Jericho and Alex climbed back into their motor car and the team headed back to Villa Teodora. They were stopped by a crowd of men, some carrying the Serbian Flag. The cars halted and Jericho said quietly; "Let me do the talking and keep calm people." One young man, tall with a small black beard approached Jericho and Alex's car. He stared at Alex, but spoke to Jericho; firstly, in Serbian and when Jericho shrugged his shoulder and replied in English, that he didn't understand the young man [which of course he did] Dragon switched effortlessly to good English; he was clearly an educated man; probably a student. He asked politely what the English party was doing in Sarajevo. Jericho told him their cover story and smiled a little.
Dragon nodded and gestured to Alex; "The dress and coat she wears would feed a starving Serb village for months my friend. That is what you should be reporting about our Austrian allies, who are de-facto our rulers."
Jericho nodded again and explained they were only here to cover the Arch-Duke's visit. But would seriously consider writing about the situation of the people. Dragon rubbed his bearded chin and slowly smiled; "If you really wish to report the truth to your people then allow me to show you the truth." He turned and spoke to his men, who all muttered and nodded. He stepped on to the running plate and another man; a big burly fellow with bad teeth, jumped on the running board next to Alex and grinned at her. He reeked of sweat and strangely enough; horses.
Alex just smiled and held a hankie to her nose, pretending to wipe it. Two other fellows, equally rough looking joined Owen’s and Wilson's car.
Jericho followed his directions and found themselves outside the city at a small ramshackle village, filled with equally poor looking people. Alex immediately noticed the sad looking children and couldn't help herself; "Some of those children are malnourished and some need medical care." She said to Jericho. The look Jericho gave her was priceless. Dragon nodded and jumped from the running board: "The beautiful woman does notice the truth. I hope she has the courage to write about it."
The villagers crowded around the car and stared at the 'foreigners'. He told the team, he would 'show' them around. Jericho slowly eased from the car and walked around to open the door for Alex, but the big man had already pulled it open and took hold of her arm. Alex pulled away, but he dragged back. Typical of Alex, she slapped his face hard. He just smiled.
Jericho turned to protest and found young Dragon had a very old looking pistol in his hand, he smiled; "You can immediately help the impoverished people of Serbia by donating something to our cause, like your money, watches and cars and of the course, the beautiful lady. She will buy many guns, when sold in turkey; many guns."
The two men on Wilson's and Owens’s car had also produced pistols, Jericho shouted for them to remain calm and sit still. He turned to Dragon and shook his head; "An incident like this will show your people in a very bad light. You will gain no sympathy or help by doing this." Dragon sighed and nodded; "But it will fill many empty bellies with real food and not empty promises." He told the big man with bad teeth to take the woman. That's when a deep voice boomed across the village centre and everyone turned.
There was a strapping young man in boots and sheepskin coat. He had a black beret on and a 'Lee Enfield' rifle in his hand. Alex noted that he was ruggedly handsome with a body to match. He smiled broadly and shook his head; "No Dragon. What the English says is true. This will do the cause no good. I'm sure they will donate something to our cause. But it will not be their cars - they can be easily traced and the taking of the beautiful woman would appear as headlines all over Europe and do our cause much harm."
Dragon just stared at him. It was clear by his face that he wouldn't go against the big man. He lowered the pistol, then chuckling, pushed it back into his trousers. "I accept your advice Zoran; on this occasion."
Zoran smiled and slung the rife over his shoulder and smiled at Alex, now released by the big smelly man. He bowed a little and said; "Please forgive us beautiful lady, but desperate people do desperate things." He waved to the men and said quietly; "Let the English strangers help us as best they can." The men all laughed at that; except Dragon, who just stood with his arms folded, unsmiling.
5. THE RENDEZVOUS; SATURDAY 27th JUNE 1914.
The cars pulled into the driveway of Villa Teodora and the engines were switched off. Radovan stared from an upstairs window and just laughed out loud; "Welcome to Serbia!" He said loudly to himself and headed downstairs; he wouldn't miss this for a fucking gold bed. He stopped and scratched his head; "Well maybe a gold bed." He forced the grin from his face and walked slowly down the stairs.
Jericho sat in his underpants and folded his arms. At least he still had his mirror; the Serbian rebels could find no use or value for that. He turned to Alex, wrapped in a dirty piece of canvas and said quietly; "You did good there. If you had opened your trap, as you usually do, it may have been much worse." Alex just stared at him; "Worse?" She said, then added; "They left me just my bloody panties and bodice. I had to give them my bloody silk stockings and boots. Never mind that gorgeous hat. I loved that hat."
Jericho sighed and eased from the car. He was joined by Owen and Wilson, also in their underpants. Alex glanced at the bulge in Wilson's 'long John's' and that made her smile. A big man in every respect, she thought and stepped from the car, clutching the canvas around her.
They walked to the doors and Owen just had to say it; "That went bloody well, didn't it? Welcome to bloody Serbia!" That made Jericho chuckle and the rest laughed too, even Alex; despite losing that bloody gorgeous hat.
Jana rushed out, more upset than they were. She fussed over Alex, but also stared at Wilson; she wasn't looking at his face. They made for their rooms to acquire some clothes and Jana helped Alex dress, apologizing profusely about the Serbian rebels. Alex waved her apologies away with a smile and asked about Zoran. Jana sighed, buttoning up Alex's dress; "He's the only one with any brains. There is a huge reward for him and yet he walks about untouched. The people love him; they know he's their only hope for freedom from the damn Austrians."
Alex found out that Zoran had managed to keep the Serbian rebel underground together, despite the in-fighting and bitter factions between the groups that made the organization up. Jana was clearly a great admirer of the man. The team ate dinner - which was excellent - and laughed about what had befallen them.
Jana interrupted the meal and whispered into Alex's ear with a big grin. Alex just nodded and Jana disappeared, returning a few moments later with a huge basket of fruit and flowers. On top was Alex's 'gorgeous' hat! Everyone gathered around and Alex unfolded the note that accompanied the basket. It was blank except a large, capital 'Z'. Wilson sighed and said to Owen; "Chalk up another bloody moth." Owen shrugged; "Well he did get to see her in just her bloody underwear. That alone must be worth some fruit and flowers." The pair laughed and took an apple each.
Jericho stood rubbing his chin; this contact could prove interesting and was potentially useful. He needed to find out more about the man simply known as 'Zoran'. He smiled at Alex and knew the very person who could do that. Alex saw Jericho smiling at her and just sighed; she knew Jericho well and how he thought.
Jana just smiled at Alex's request, as they sipped morning tea together in the music room. You wouldn't be the first woman to fall for his looks and charm. She thought and placed her cup down and nodded at her request. Jana insisted that the meeting should take place somewhere safe for Alex - from the other rebel men, of course - Zoran could be trusted around women. Well, as much as a decent man could be!
Alex had told Jana that she wanted to write about the man, and have it published in the European papers; a rebel's view of the Austrians rule of his occupied country. Now that did strike a chord with Jana and sounded excellent for the cause. She agreed to arrange it. Jericho was happy, but Owen and Wilson were not.
They insisted that Alex had company when the meeting took place. Jericho finally agreed, but Zoran probably wouldn't appear if they [the men] were there.
It was Alex that solved that one. Her idea was greeted with muted approval. But it was the only solution that they could see. That early afternoon, Alex dressed in a lovely dress and coat, with her gorgeous hat of course. Jana was impressed with her. But she was overwhelmed by the appearance of her companion. She spoke with real disbelief in her voice; "I cannot believe it is the same person. Utterly gorgeous, stunning even." She shook her head in amazement and the two women waited for Alex's new friend to appear.
Alex actually grinned and shook her head too. Owen looked absolutely stunning. He was dressed in a similar fashion to her, including a wonderful hat and white parasol. He actually looked beautiful. Alex still couldn't believe what a stunning young lady Owen made. He smiled at both and did a little twirl and curtsied. "Will this do?" He asked in a soft and very feminine voice. Jana clasped her hands and just smiled in wonderment. "Stunning." She said simply and Alex had to agree.
Ruth stood in the doorway and smiled too; she was well pleased with her efforts to dress Owen as a lady. Jericho had been really firm about not allowing young Ruth to accompany Alex on her mission. Owen would have to become his female 'alter ego' - Jacqueline - for this particular job.
As Alex put it; "He could fool his own bloody mother!" No one disagreed with her. The two ladies pulled away in one of the cars; Alex driving. They took a quiet road out of the city - mainly to avoid the crowds that would gather around the car - and headed for the rendezvous point. Owen - sorry Jackie - checked her mirror; "Just a few miles down this road is a shepherds hut. It’s built of brick with a straw roof. The local shepherds use it in winter." Alex nodded; she loved driving and wasn't really listening.
Alex pulled the big car up and the girls sat waiting. The place looked totally deserted. "You sure we're in the right place?" She asked Jackie after a couple of minutes. Jackie nodded. "We certainly are I'm great at map reading." She adjusted the wing mirror and checked her makeup and hair. The car had an open top and both 'ladies' had tied their lovely hats down with scarfs.
Jackie gently tapped Alex's arm; "I don't want to alarm anyone but there are several men in uniform with guns coming up behind us. I think it’s the bloody coppers!" Alex glanced into her wing mirror and saw them; Jackie was right, it was the police. Alex sighed; "I think we've been set up or betrayed."
Several policemen stood around the car - pointing their rifles at the girls - Alex just smiled and slowly opened the door and eased out. Jackie did the same. She asked - in perfect Serbian - if the ladies could assist them. The police all looked at each other and the skinny sergeant walked up to Jackie and grinned. "So, you speak our language woman. I understood that none of the journalists spoke Serbian." Jackie smiled and gestured to Alex; "I'm not with the journalist party. I'm Mademoiselle Alexandra's friend. I'm here to translate." The sergeant scratched his beard, thinking, finally he grinned; "Never mind that. You are all under arrest for helping terrorists and bandits!"
That's when the first bullets struck the ground
around the policemen and the car windscreen shattered. Alex and Jackie dived under
the car as the policeman scattered, firing their rifles at the surrounding
hills. Alex looked out from under the car and tapped Jackie. "There's
loads of bullets flying around and not one policeman has been hit. Odd that?"
Jackie nodded, keeping a firm grip on her hat. That's when she saw the knelling
figure by the door of the shepherds hut; it was Zoran. He was gesturing to
them, rifle in hand.
Alex sighed; "Come on. Let's hope the bloody coppers are rotten shooters too." They scrambled from the car and dived through the door of the hut followed by Zoran, who was laughing loudly. "They have no stomach to face real men. They run away. We don't shoot rabbits except for the pot!"
He leaned against the wall, beneath the window and smiled at the girls; "I told my men not to harm any of the pathetic creatures. That would just bring hundreds more and they would be made of sterner stuff than these. Captain Kovac is a different matter in a real fight. He is brave and intelligent; quite a formidable foe." He slapped Alex on the bum and gestured to the open back door; "Come on, before they return with more men, and some may have the stomach to fight."
6. REBELS, BANDITS OR TRAITORS?
The little group made its way up the mountain pass in single file Zoran’s men were impressed by the stamina of the two ladies. They seemed to take the hard mountain path in their stride. Franz – Zoran’s number 2 – kept a close eye on the young dark-haired beauty and smiled. “Now that is a woman for a mountain man and dedicated traitor to the Austrians. I have never considered marriage, but I think she could change my mind on that.”
Zoran nodded his agreement with that; both the women were special. They hadn’t moaned once about the hard climb through the ravines and gully’s of the mountain. Darkness was coming down when they stopped at the abandoned villa. Jackie stared at the place; “It must have been magnificent in its heyday. How could anyone just abandon such a place?” She asked Alex who shrugged her shoulders; she didn’t know.
It was Franz that answered her question; “The family who lived here were all Serbian patriots, Jan who owned the house was known to hate Austria and its influence; he spoke out against them.” He gestured towards the ruined stables and grunted; “The Austrian Secret Police came one night. They lined them up against the wall there and shot them; two old men, four women and three children. One of the children – a girl – survived the bullets and so they ran a pitchfork through her. Then the murdering dogs crept away in the dark. They wanted to leave a message for other Serbians who spoke out.” He wiped his face and headed for the villa’s big doors, followed by a very subdued Jackie who wished she really hadn’t asked.
Zoran turned to Alex unsmiling; “This was his father’s house, and the little girl was his young sister; she was nine. He hates the Austrians with a passion. This you can understand; Yes?” Alex nodded; she understood all right. Zoran sighed; “Our own people cowering down in fear; frightened of upsetting the Austrians. To some we are nothing but bandits. To others – many others – we are freedom fighters.”
The group settled in for the night and Zoran gestured to a room with the door hanging off; “There are good chairs in there and I have this for our little interview.” He held up a bottle of brandy and that really did catch the girl’s attention!
They sat around a small struggling fire and drank brandy from China cups. Zoran made it clear that he would only discuss the struggle for freedom; he would make no comments about himself except to say that he was Serbian patriot. That puzzled both Alex and Jackie; normally such men would wax lyrical about their lives and adventures. Alex wondered why the big man was so reticent about himself.
But they did discover one very important thing; there was a young Russian woman called ‘Katina’ assisting the rebels; with money and documents – apparently stolen from the Austrians – that showed the Austrians wanted to crush the upstart Serbians underfoot. Zoran explained that the Tsar and the Russian Empire was considered a ‘protector’ of all Slav people. He smiled; “The little father [the Tsar] will not stand ideally by why Slav’s are butchered. He will come to our aid.” Zoran grunted and refilled the cups and lit his pipe. The smell was gorgeous. Jackie took a couple of deep breaths and suddenly realized that she had smelt the strange, sweet aroma before. But when and where?
Jackie complimented Zoran on his delicious smelling pipe tobacco and asked where he obtained it. He just shrugged his big shoulders; “I was given a few good kilo’s by an old friend. I think it’s American.” Jackie nodded and continued to write into her notebook as Zoran spoke about the struggle for his people’s freedom.
Alex asked Zoran about the group of patriots called the ‘Black Hand’. He laughed with undisguised contempt. “Students, teachers, men of books; not a real fighter amongst them; they do not seem to understand the big picture and I feel their amateur plotting will only bring disaster to the cause.”
Alex and Jackie cast a knowing glance at each other, the little group of ‘amateurs’ will certainly do that; Gavrilo Princip was a member of that group, and his assassination of the Archduke would be the spark that caused a terrible World war.
Franz appeared in the broken doorway and smiled a little – especially at Jackie – He pulled off his rough hat and spoke to Zoran; “Katina is here with donkeys. She has brought food and more ammunition. She has brought several more men and there’s some information about our guests friends.” Alex interrupted the pair; “What news about our friends?” She asked with some trepidation.
Franz clutched his hat with both hands; “Captain Kovac has taken them into custody, he’s questioning them about you [indicating Alex] and your dealings with us. He is a clever man and believes there is more to you journalists than meets the eye.” Alex sighed; the captain was right about that!
Zoran jumped to his feet and gestured towards the doorway; “Come on ladies and meet another woman of courage and dedication.” Franz stepped forward and offered his arm to Jackie as she rose from the straw covered floor. Jackie gripped it slowly and smiled a little. She caught the big smile on Alex’s face despite the news about Jericho and Wilson. Alex gestured to Zoran and smiled, he leaned his ear against her mouth and a smile slowly crept across his face. “We have time.” He said simply and nodded at Franco who also smiled.
They rolled about the hut’s floor until
they both stopped on some half-filled flour sacks. They felt good against Alex’s
bare arse: certainly, better than the damn dirt floor. So, she managed to get his
tongue from her mouth and nod. “Here, we’re do it here, it’s bloody more comfortable
than the floor on my damn arse!” Zoran laughed outright; “I fucking love it, a
real lady with the sexual manners of a Vienna Street whore!” But he already had his big cock out and was gripping
it firmly, he’s other hand helping Alex pull up her skirt and petticoats. He
smiled broadly as she gripped her frilly panties and pulled them down and off.
Alex now lay back on the flour sacks and Zoran was quickly between her open
legs. He smiled broadly and shook his head with anticipated pleasure, staring
at her exposed crotch. “Now that is a thing of beauty my sweet lady. May I just
get a taste of Heaven?”
Surprised by the big, rough man’s politeness Alex nodded, slowly smiling. Zoran was down there in an instant and Alex almost giggled; his beard tickled! But his tongue and lips were something else. He went to work on her open moist fanny with real skill and determination. She moaned a little almost immediately, then felt his hard probing fingers. She gripped the flour sacks and groaned a little as his mouth found her clitoris and worked it with some passion. She lay back against the hard brick wall and smiled at Jackie, who was astride the rough little table, legs open with Franz between them, his hands in her blouse and his tongue buried in her mouth. That’s when Alex felt the little orgasm which caught her by surprise, and she moaned loudly. Zoran raised his head and grinned; “Now my lovely lady that was sweet wine indeed!” He went back to work, encouraged by his little ‘gift’.
Jackie was whispering to Franz, who reluctantly nodded his agreement and Jackie slipped from the table and knelt before him; “I’m not married Franz, so I will only do this. Alex is fine – she’s married, unhappily, but married – You understand that?” He nodded as she pushed his cock into his mouth. Jackie knew full well that Franz wouldn’t be too happy about a transvestite sucking his cock. But she also knew that he would be capable of violence if ‘she’ didn’t! Franz – the rough mountain fighter – was about to get the best damn blow job he was ever likely to have in his entire life. Jackie worked the tip first with just her darting moist tongue and Franz groaned already, then she slowly worked her way down the shaft with her mouth, until his balls touched her chin. Franz gasped at the superb deep throating he was getting and stared up at the ceiling and thanked God for young women of loose morals. He gripped the edge of the rough table with one hand whilst the other patted Jackie’s bobbing head, “That’s it my little whore, that’s just….” He groaned again as he felt her tongue back on the tip of his throbbing cock. He was having real problems holding back his ejaculation, he didn’t want this to finish.
Zoran knew what he was doing between a woman’s legs and feasted on Alex’s cunt with some delight. Alex lay back and groaned quietly, her stomach was already tight, and she knew that the big man could give her some really big orgasm’s. She ran her fingers through his rough hair and whispered for him to mount her. Zoran chuckled and stood gripping his ready member with both hands and asked quietly; “Like a stallion at stud my dear?” And Alex nodded vigorously. Zoran smiled and pushed between her legs and was inside of her in an instant. He pressed both hands against the wall and started to thrust.
Alex also had to press her hands against the wall as the big powerful man fucked her hard, slowly at first then faster and faster. The wall actually started to shake, and Alex moaned loudly. Franz was watching carefully as Jackie licked, caressed and sucked his cock with great skill. He looked up at Zoran and grinned; the big man was certainly fucking ‘the lady’ like a stallion at stud. He groaned and cussed as he shot his load suddenly and unexpectedly into Jackie’s mouth. He patted her head as she pulled off his cock and wiped her mouth. “Sorry about that my sweet little thing, but the sight of Zoran fucking your lady friend was too much.” Franz smiled and pushed his cock back into his dirty trousers as Jackie stood and reached for the bottle of wine. He snatched it first and took a large swallow, then handed it to her. “Only wash your mouth out, my lady doesn’t drink strong liquor.” Jackie just stared at him and was about to say something when she heard Alex moaning loudly as she orgasmed.
“Now that’s one dirty whore masquerading as a lady. Does she spend her spare time working in a brothel?” Franz said and chuckled, then slapped Jackie hard across the backside. “Fetch me some stew my dear….and get yourself some.” He settled back on the table, lighting his pipe and watching Zoran fuck Alex in the doggy position. Jackie walked to the door in angry silence and headed towards the smell of cooking. Then stopped, staring at the people gathering by the fire. The woman who had just arrived struck her: the face was familiar. She stepped back to speak with Alex, but she was currently a little busy.
Alex had another big orgasm under Zoran’s skilled fucking and groaned loudly, then the big man cussed loudly and came too. He lay over her and stroked her hair, “Thank you for that my lady.” He managed to gasp out, panting a little. Franco stood by the door waiting for Jackie to return with his supper and sucked on his pipe. He turned and smiled at Zoran, “These two are little better than street whores but I’m not complaining. Are we going to share them with the men?”
Zoran pulled from Alex and stood stretching, like an athlete after a hard session of training. He stared down at Alex who was slowly rising from the floor and rubbed his beard and sighed; “Well, it would certainly keep the men’s moral up. And they are both whore’s really, so I can’t see them arguing too much. Tell the men to have a collection for their services.” Alex – her legs still shaking a little – realised what the pair were talking about and slowly pushed her hand into her skirt pocket and gripped her mirror. “I need to pee.” Was all she said and headed for the door, only to have her arm grabbed by Franco who grinned; “Oh no you don’t my little whore, you’re not getting away now, You and your friend have some more work to do. I’m sure that a dozen or so fucking you is all in a day’s work.”
Alex now realised what the pair had gotten themselves into and they needed to exit and fast. Zoran grunted; ”Let them go, they will need to meet the men anyway!” Franco chuckled at that adding to the conversation, “Where can they go? We up the side of a mountain, it’s almost dark and they don’t their way back. They know the police or wolves would have them!” The girls slowly walked from the hut, exchanging glances of concern.
‘Katina’ was a small blond woman in her late teens, wrapped in fur against the cold of the mountain night. She gripped a mug with both hands and sipped black coffee laced with brandy. She pushed back her dark fur hat and stared at the two strangers. Zoran introduced them to Katina who just nodded; both girls noticed the thick leather belt and holster slung about her hips. She looked like she knew how to use the damn pistol.
The men left the women alone and checked the supplies and equipment on the donkeys. Katina lowered her cup and jerked a thumb towards Zoran; “He’s a good man in a fight. But lousy in a ballroom.” Alex wrapped her coat about herself and smiled; “I detect a Russian accent, probably Moscow. Am I right?” Katina stepped forward and poured the dregs of her coffee cup at Alex’s feet and didn’t smile; “I detect an English accent with a slight Italian twist, probably Cappanni. Am I right?” She grinned and walked away.
“Fuck.” Was all Jackie said. Alex straightened her hat and tapped Jackie’s arm; “Come on. Let’s find a quiet place and contact Jericho; he needs to know about this little revelation. She [Katina] knows who we are.” Jackie sighed; “This mission is turning shitty by the minute.” Alex could only nod her agreement with that. They walked to the derelict stables and found some old chairs by a broken window. Jackie stood watch, keeping an eye on the small camp.
Alex operated her mirror and called Jericho; there was no answer even though her mirror indicated that Jericho’s device was ‘online’. “He must be unable to answer.” She muttered to herself and sent a message. She tried Wilson’s with the same result.
Alex searched human records for ‘Katina’ and
‘Zoran’. Just as she expected; Katina was Katrina Potoski; the missing soul
from 1958. But a check on Zoran shocked her; there was no trace in human
records, which she knew was nearly impossible! “Now that’s a bloody turn up for
the books.” She muttered. Then heard Jackie hiss a little and whisper; “You’ll
never guess who just rode into camp, bold as brass perched upon a bloody donkey?”
“Well, I bet it’s not bloody Jesus Christ.” Alex whispered and joined her by the window and stared at the figure being welcomed by the little group; it was Jana! She was wrapped in furs and carrying a rifle slung over her shoulder. Jana slipped from the donkey and pulled her rifle from her back. She was speaking to Zoran and waving an arm about. “I don’t like the look of this.” Jackie spoke quietly, gripping her mirror.
They watched as Franz gestured to the old stables and several men grabbed up their rifles. “Time to go.” Alex said and the pair operated their mirrors as the group approached the stables, rifles at the ready.
The villa was in darkness and Alex slowly pulled the curtains aside and stared down into the courtyard. There was a single motor car parked there and she could see the glow of a cigarette as the occupant smoked. She then saw the other figure standing by the ornate gates; a police officer with his rifle cradled in his arms. She wondered where the hell was Jericho and Wilson.
Jackie crept back into the room and spoke in a low voice; “The place is deserted apart from those coppers guarding the gates. All our bedrooms are a total mess; they even tore open our coats and dresses. What they were looking for is anyone’s guess.” Alex eased herself down on the bed; “There is still no answer from Jericho or Wilson.” She stared at her mirror and called up the Duty Time Controller – it was Janet; Jericho’s lady friend – and spoke with her briefly. Finally, Alex smiled a little; “According to Operations, their mirrors are located at Villa Opao just outside the city. That’s where we’re headed.” Both girls operated their mirrors and found themselves in woods, overlooking an impressive three-story house, standing in its own grounds.
Alex sighed loudly; the place was lit up like Blackpool Tower and there were several vehicles parked in the courtyard and on the road leading up to the villa. Two armed policemen stood by the gates. They watched from the trees as, yet another motor car entered the gates with police inside. “Bleeding busy little place ain’t it.” Jackie whispered.
“Well, we need to get Jericho and Wilson out of there and recover their mirrors. Time – for once – is not on our side. The bloody shooting is tomorrow; Sunday and we still don’t know what Katrina has planned.” Alex spoke quietly and pulled her coat around; the summer night was quite cold. She heard Jackie chuckle and turned back to the roadway and saw – about a kilometer away – a small black car, jacked up with a lone policeman changing a tyre. “I think I’m about his size, don’t you agree?” Jackie said with a small grin.
The girls disappeared back into the woods; heading for the policeman who was just finishing his task. He looked up and actually smiled at the two young women as they approached his car. Alex operated her mirror and he fell silently to the kerbside; she had stunned him. They hid the young policeman – still smiling – in some bushes. Both girls noticed he smelt of alcohol. “The bugger’s pissed!” Alex muttered and they stripped his uniform off and it did; indeed, just fit Jackie.
Owen managed to remove most of his makeup and gloves covered the nail polish he couldn’t remove. He chuckled; “I bet I’m not the only copper wearing stockings tonight.” Alex just sighed and pulled the boot open. She wasn’t happy; she just squeezed into the small boot and Owen started the car. He headed for the gates.
7. SURPRISES AT VILLA OPAO.
Owen pulled his cap down and didn’t smile; the gates were approaching. The little car reached the gates and the wheel fell off. He just managed to avoid the two shocked guards on the gate and stop several meters inside. “Never trust a piss head.” He cussed and jumped out; the two gate guards were laughing and slapping each other. The big sergeant who appeared from a nearby doorway wasn’t laughing. He threw down his cigarette and booted Owen up the arse. “Get the bloody thing fixed you moron. I bet your from Cavljak; their all-bloody useless bastards from that station.” Owen rubbed his backside and nodded.
The sergeant called over two big men who were smoking and told them to help push the damn heap to the stables [which were used as a garage] he sighed and shouted for them to hurry up; they were going to move the prisoners to Sarajevo. He chuckled; “They will find that our Austrian allies don’t ask questions as politely as we do.” The two big men nodded and told Owen to steer the damn thing while they pushed.
They managed to get the car inside the garage and walked off; cursing Owen for being an idiot from Cavljak. He checked the garage and found one other car inside: sitting on four bricks with no wheels. He pulled open the boot and a relieved Alex slipped out. She also kicked him up the arse; “You idiot, I thought I was going to bloody die again!”
A disgruntled Owen rubbed his backside – again – and told Alex about the prisoners being moved into the city. Alex brushed herself down and checked her mirror. “A body check tells me, they’re on the top floor in a back room.” She grunted and almost smiled; “Just one guard sitting on a stool outside. The mirrors are downstairs in a room off the ballroom.”
The pair slipped into the kitchens which were strangely deserted and cold. Alex tapped the big stove and whispered; “That’s strange Owen; the ovens are not on and there doesn’t appear to be any kitchen staff about. With so many men to feed the place should be packed with cooks and staff.” Owen nodded and pulled open a door; it was the entrance to the back stairs.
“I’ll deal with the guard.” Alex muttered – unsmiling – and they reached the top. Owen suddenly gripped her arm and gestured through the dirty small window that allowed a little light onto the dark staircase. He said softly; “That bloke talking with those two coppers; isn’t it that Dragon fellow who wanted to sell you to some bloody Turks?” Alex peered over his shoulder and grunted; “Whose side is that bastard really on?”
They heard movement around the corner and Alex lifted her mirror – ready to strike – when Wilson appeared, grinning. “I could hear you two dumbo’s from a mile away. At least you’ve turned up.” Jericho appeared at his shoulder and smiled; “The bastards jumped us at the villa. They strip searched us and took everything including our….”
He didn’t finish because Alex interrupted him. “They’re in a room downstairs, but all the bloody soldiers and police appear to be down there.” She said quietly and Jericho nodded and held out his hand. “I’ll enter my Inspector code into yours [her mirror] and stop time; then we’ll get the bloody things back.”
Alex smiled and handed over her mirror. Owen asked the big man about the guard outside their door. Wilson just grinned and held up a big fist; “You don’t need a mirror sometimes when you have one of these. I told the idiot I needed a crap and when he opened the door; bang!” Owen chuckled at that. He also told Jericho about seeing ‘Dragon’ – the supposed patriot – talking with the police. Jericho operated Alex’s mirror and the team ran down the stairs and into the grand hallway of the villa.
Everyone was still; caught in stopped time. Owen – using his mirror – pointed to a small door of the hallway and Wilson pulled it open. It was a small room covered with shelves, hooks and glass cabinets – all empty – and Alex pointed to the small centre table, where an old canvas bag lay. “They must be in there. This was probably the bloody gun room of the villa. Used to store and maintain the shotguns for shooting parties.” Owen grabbed the back and pulled out the missing mirrors, handing them to Wilson and Jericho.
“You need to bring us [Wilson and him] up to date with our rebel friends and their plans.” Jericho spoke whilst checking his mirror. He had several messages outstanding. Owen – who was rummaging in the old sack – suddenly held up a wad of banknotes held in a silver note pin. “Are there any other prisoners here?” He asked and then held up a little necklace, a snake and circle of gold. Everyone knew that meant a follower of the ‘Dark Prince’.
He emptied the bag onto the table and picked up a small black notebook and flicked through the pages; “Sweet Jesus! It’s a complete timetable of the assassination, with times, positions of the cars and even the bloody times! It’s written in old hieratic script so that no-one in this era could understand it; well, except a bloody expert Historian I suppose.”
Jericho took the book and read a couple of pages; he almost smiled. “Some bugger from the dark side is here. I wonder if they’re here to ensure the assassination goes ahead. It was a great day for them; the First World War created Hitler and the Nazi’s.” He checked his fob watch and cursed quietly; “Come on; we only have ten minutes left before time restarts itself.” The team headed out of the villa and walked to the gates. That’s when Owens’s sharp eyes spotted the figure crouched low in the bushes.
He pulled back the foliage and everyone was surprised to see Zoran staring back at them. “How the hell did he get here so bloody quickly?” Alex said loudly what the others were all thinking. Owen lifted up his mirror and told Jericho that ‘Zoran’ had no file in Human records – which was almost impossible – so who the hell was he?
Jericho rubbed his chin; “Well, with have no time to find out and time is about to re-start. Let’s go.” He operated his mirror and the team walked back to the lighthouse. They had been seriously compromised on this mission and Jericho would need to bring the angel up to date on what had happened. Wilson sighed; “How the hell do we return and ensure the assassination is not stopped; everyone back there now knows that we’re up to something.”
“Now that’s a bloody good question big man.” Muttered
Owen, who was wondering what Mrs. Harris had prepared for dinner. Jericho
sighed and held up both hands; “People, we’ll be back there after a good dinner
and some brandies.” He lowered his arms and headed for the big doors of the
lighthouse. “How the hell can we return without being spotted?” A puzzled Owen
asked Alex, who just shrugged her shoulders.
Wilson couldn’t stop laughing; every few minutes he would turn around and just stare at the three nuns sitting in the rear of his car. Sister Geraldine [Jericho] adjusted his wimple and gestured forwards; “Please keep your eyes on the damn road Father.” That made Wilson chuckle: he was dressed as a Catholic priest from the Ottoman Empire; strangely enough a black Catholic priest wasn’t that unusual! Serbia had once been part of the vast Ottoman Empire and so the locals were used to seeing priests of all colours about the place.
Sister Alex just sighed but had to smile at Sister ‘Geraldine’; Jericho did make a good nun – a big ugly nun – but she looked the part, as did Sister Olive [Owen]. The car parked in a quiet side road and Sister Geraldine gave a final briefing before they would join the crowds gathering along the route that the ill-fated Archduke and his wife would traverse this morning.
“Keep an eye out for Katrina; she’s not here for sightseeing and we still don’t know what the hell the character ‘Zoran’ is or what’s he’s up too.” Sister Geraldine discretely checked her mirror. “Everything is currently running as previous happened and the royal couple is due to enter the killing zone in about twenty minutes.” She added and sat back, staring at the passing crowds of people.
“Come on people; let’s mingle.” Sister Geraldine pulled open the door and the team decamped onto the buy pavement. Some passerby’s lifted their hats to the nuns and Sister’s Alex and Olive made for the pavement opposite. In the distance they heard a sharp explosion and Sister Olive pointed to some dark grey smoke rising behind a large office building; “The bomb’s been thrown at the car following the Arch-duke!” She spoke quietly, clutching Sister Alex’s arm.
Some of the crowd was running towards the noise and smoke from the explosion. Alex nodded; “They will restart the bloody visit and come back along Appel Quay and the first three cars will turn down the wrong bloody street and Gavrilo will be standing right in front of them. We’ve about twenty minutes before he shoots.”
The pair headed for the street corner that would host one of the most important assassinations in human history. The crowds were milling about, talking and shouting amongst themselves. Sister Olive consulted her little fob watch; “We’re just minutes away now.” She whispered to Sister Alex who wondered where Jericho and Wilson had disappeared too. Several police officers rushed pushed dragging two rough looking peasants, held firmly between them.
Sister Olive stared at one of them and turned away quickly; it was old Radovan from the Villa! They watched the old man dragged away and bundled into a big black police car. Sister Olive also recognized the sergeant driving the car; it was the same one who had kicked him up at the arse at Villa Opao.
“Sweet Jesus! Did you see who that was?” Sister Olive asked Sister Alex who wasn’t looking at the arrests. She had seen their quarry; Katrina Potoski and the man standing with her; it was Dragon Milenković. The pair was staring down a small street. Alex followed their gaze and saw why; it was the young assassin Gavrilo Princip.
8. THE KILLINGS; SUNDAY 28th JUNE 1914.
“He’s walking away; he thinks he’s missed the bloody car. But he’s walking down the very road that the couple’s driver will turn down in error.” Sister Alex said quietly, and the two nuns’ quickly re-crossed the road. They watched as Katrina and Dragon started to follow Gavrilo. “I think they’ll try and take him out before he gets to the kerbside as the car passes.” Sister Olive whispered, and the pair of nuns speeded up to a fast walk; well, fast for nuns!
Sister Olive could see the remaining cars of the Imperial entourage turning into the roadway ahead. “Come on; their bloody here!” she said, and they quickly came up behind Katrina and Dragon who were both reaching under their coats. The nuns operated their mirrors and the pair collapsed on the pavement. A small crowd gathered about the two and watched – a little amazed – as the two nuns dragged the unconscious pair down a side alley.
The pair were placed against a dirty wall and the good sisters pulled the two pistols from their coats. “Jesus, you could kill an elephant with these buggers.” Sister Olive muttered, hiding the guns in her big handbag. That’s when the nuns heard the shots ringing out. “And twenty million dead later.” Was all Alex said.
But the shooting drew the crowds away from the nuns and their casualties. Sister Alex slapped her friend on the arm; “Come on, let’s get this daft bitch back to her own time. We need to find her time controlling device so she can’t slip back.” Sister Olive nodded; “We can leave dragon here. He won’t have a clue what the hell happened to him or Katerina.” They checked the entrance to the alley – again – and disappeared, leaving Dragon to awake alone and somewhat confused.
They dumped Katrina on her large bed and stared about the apartment; “How the other half live, some bloody revolution for the poor.” Owen muttered as Alex searched the young woman. She carefully pulled a small Icon of Christ from the deep pockets of her coat. “Got it. A bloody time portal.” Alex pushed the fragile little painting into her habit’s pocket and sat on the bed as Katrina woke. She sat slowly up and stared at the two nuns.
“You stupid bastards! Do you realize what you’ve done?” She collapsed back on the pillows and sobbed. “Yeah, we know. The bloody Archduke is dead and so will some twenty million other poor sods will die. But that’s how human history played out and you had no right to change it.” Alex replied and Katrina shook her head and wiped tears away with both hands.
“No, you dumb, stupid bastards; following orders you never even questioned; you’re worse than the fucking Gestapo or the guards on the Concentration camps. We were sent to RESTORE the fucking real current human timeline. That little shit Gavrilo missed the Archduke originally and walked home. There was NO assassination and no great war that changed everything and allowed fucking Hitler to seize power!” She collapsed back on the pillows and sobbed some more.
Alex just stared at her; “What do you mean; you were sent back and how the hell do you know what the original timeline was supposed to be?” Katerina sat back up and wiped her face. “Zoran is from the bloody alternative future; the one that was supposed to have existed. He was part of a time travel experiment in the year 2061. He was supposed to go back to 1905 and interview Einstein, but something went wrong, and he realized that the past and the future had changed. That change was someone telling Gavrilo to wait at the crossroads on Appel Quay for a few minutes more. Those extra few minutes changed the entire history of the human race and you two idiots have allowed it to happen all over again.”
Owen and Alex stared at each other; little wonder Zoran didn’t show up on Human Records; it only covered the current humanity that existed in the current human timeline. Owen headed for the large ornate drinks cabinet and pulled out a decent bottle of brandy and some glasses. Katrina accepted her half-filled glass and had calmed a little. She sipped her brandy and shook her head; “Now millions upon millions will die in wars, humans will use atomic weapons and people will live daily in fear from their fascist controlling governments; all thanks to you two stupid unquestioning buggers.”
She placed her glass upon the bedside cabinet and rummaged in her pockets. “Where the fuck is my time device?” She shouted and Alex tapped her dress; “Sorry, but we need to take that.” Katrina slumped back and picked up her glass; she actually smiled; “I bet you didn’t even bother to look at the painting of our sweet savior; No, you just grab it and carry on following your stupid evil orders. You pair of dumb fucking imbeciles.”
Owen held out his hand and Alex slowly pulled the little Icon out and both stared at the painting; they recognized the face immediately. It was Prince John. “Oh, fucking shit!” was all Owen could manage to say. Alex slowly pushed the Icon back into her pocket as the sheer enormity of what Katrina had said, swept over her. John had been the ‘Messiah’ all along in the original timeline; little wonder he had become a recluse and lived on Jericho’s Island. She also realized why Prince Jesus was the way he was, with his father and the holy family. He had been the ‘changeling’ for their plans.
Alex took a big gulp of her brandy and coughed a little. “That’s why Zoran didn’t register on our mirrors; he shouldn’t exist.”
Owen nodded; “I wonder what differences there are with his timeline?” Katrina pulled herself up and slapped the glass down on the bedside cabinet. “Everything. Everything is different. There was no poverty, no hungry nations and very few wars; one world government that actually served the people and not just themselves.” She stood and laughed, hands on hips; “All gone thanks to you fucking stupid pair of idiots. I hope you sleep well at night now. I’m going to take a shower.”
She strode to the bathroom and turned at the doorway; “You can show yourselves out. Best run back to the big puppet master; Mister Jericho fucking Tibbs. He likes to keep his brainless little lap dogs on a tight leash.” She disappeared into the bathroom and the somewhat subdued pair operated their mirrors and were gone.
The apartment door creaked open and the two police officer’s crept in: their service revolvers in their hands. They could hear the shower running and burst through the door to find a naked Katrina standing in front of them. She sighed and grabbed up a towel. “Here we go again.” was all she said.
They walked back to the lighthouse in silence, and both headed for the drinks tray in Jericho’s study. Owen poured a couple of large brandies and Alex slumped into her favourite armchair and accepted her glass with a quiet thank you. Owen sprawled on the sofa and sipped his drink slowly. “Do you think there was any truth in what she said?” he finally asked, and Alex shrugged her shoulders; “We’re tasked to protect the current human timeline as designed by the BOSS. That’s the bottom line really.”
Owen nodded and sighed; “What the hell will happen to Zoran’s soul; he can’t be collected in our existence, and he can’t travel back to his own time because it no longer exists. He’s lost.” Alex eased in her chair and stared at the fireplace; “Maybe Jericho’s worked something out.” She said quietly. That’s when they heard voices in the hallway; Mr. Harris was talking to Jericho and Wilson.
Wilson pushed through the door and smiled. “That went well; did you get that troublesome lady back to where she belongs?” Alex nodded and held up the small icon and tossed it to him. “That was her time portal; except it’s not from our version of existence.” Wilson caught the object and studied it carefully; “It’s our John.” he muttered; the surprise in his voice evident. He poured himself a brandy and dropped on the sofa next to Owen. He shook his head and almost smiled; “Sweet Jesus, Jericho was right – yet again – about this job.”
Owen sat up; “What did he say about this job?” he asked and rolled the glass around in his hands. Wilson laid the Icon down on the coffee table and sipped his drink. “He said that that there was more to Zoran than meets the eye. Especially his involvement with Katrina; you guessed that the pair was related. She was some sort of distant ancestor of his. Jericho believes it was him that influenced her to jump back in time. He probably gave her the Icon. The time portal it contained would work in our existence but couldn’t take him back to his; that existence was gone with the shooting of the Archduke and the timeline that created.”
Wilson looked up at the door and said quietly; “Jericho told me that in the original timeline Gravilo walked away, thinking he had missed the royal procession, and that was that. No First or second world wars, no atomic bombs and no revolutions. We all thought that it hinged on Gravilo but it bloody didn’t. He didn’t actually, change the timeline; someone else did that by exercising human free will in an instant, less than a second.”
Both Owen and Alex sat forward; intrigued. Jericho wandered in and clapped his hands together; “Well, that went off all right and curry is on the menu tonight!” He smiled at his team and then just chuckled. “Wilson told you about the big, unexpected twist in all this?”
Jericho walked to the drinks tray and poured himself a large one. He spoke quietly, almost amused. “Everyone thought it was Gavrilo that changed everything using human free will in an instant. But the bugger responsible remains lost and unknown to history. But he changed the world completely in less than a second by pure chance.”
Owen actually laughed and shook his head; “The fucking driver of course!” Alex sat back and sipped her drink. The driver in a split second – when he decided which road to take – had changed the course of human history. In the original timeline he always turned left. But with the gift of free will; he had simply changed his mind at the last moment and drove right past Gravilo. It was as simple as that.
“No bloody wonder the Dark Prince wants to remove free will from humans. It even fucks up divine will and plans.” Alex said softly and finished her drink. Jericho sighed; “I have reported Zoran’s situation to angel Margret. His fate is out of our hands.”
Wilson hung back as Jericho headed for the dining room. He gestured for Owen and Alex to do the same. The three waited until Jericho disappeared from the room and Wilson turned to them; unsmiling. “It wasn’t quite that simple, Gravilo was about to walk away when a nun stopped him for a few seconds. He turned back and the rest is history as we know it.”
Alex ran a hand over her face; “You mean Jericho changed history and not the bloody car driver?” she whispered; a little shocked. Wilson nodded and said softly; “It must have been a terrible decision for him. He always says that real civilization ended in 1914 and that end started with this assassination. But he knew what his duty was and carried it out regardless; you have to respect the man for that, his loyalty to the Temporal Department came before everything he believed in.”
The three walked slowly to the dining room;
each with a real respect for their Inspector.
Jericho sat at the table sipping his wine as his team took their seats. He placed his glass down and pulled open a brown paper file; “Let’s enjoy this dinner.” He said, adding: “We’re jumping to England in 1977 tomorrow. We really need to look at that strange case of that woman bricked up in Canterbury Cathedral back in medieval times. I can’t put it off any longer.” [See episode: ‘Alexandra and the hidden lady’.]
Everyone nodded and set about the soup; they all saw their Inspector in a very different light now.
“All that bloody horror, war and death because someone followed their ordained duty to protect the current timeline.” Owen whispered to Alex who just shrugged her shoulders; “The BOSS may have plans, but humans will always throw a spanner into them and sometimes it takes a very brave human to correct things.”
Owen nodded his agreement with that. Wilson grinned and held up his glass to her and muttered; “Amen to that.”
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“A mission – if a failure – that could have changed everything. But Jericho and Team 74 succeeded in keeping the human timeline on track. The driver of the Arch-Dukes car was Leopold Lojka, but it was a certain Mayor Fehim Efendi Curčić who was actually guiding the convoy at the time. It appears that Lojka simply followed him; so, the error may have been someone else’s change of ‘free will’? But Jericho stood by his oath and loyalty to the temporal department regardless of his own feelings; little wonder he is highly regarded and trusted within the Department. Alex discovered that some bad boys are REALLY bad boys! Her and Jackie escaped being used as 'Comfort women' by the rebels and helped the mission stay on track."
CHARACTERS
Katerina Potoski wasn’t able to travel back to 1914 again; her time portal had been taken from her. She graduated from the University and taught History for several years. She married a high ranking member of the Communist party in 1963 and had three children. She died in 2001 and her soul was collected and processed. It received no quarantine for her little time travelling escapade.
Gavrilo Princip was arrested at the scene following the murders. Three weeks too young for the death penalty, Princip was given a 20-year sentence, but contracted tuberculosis and died in jail in April 1918, at the age of just 23. His soul was collected and processed. It was quarantined for half a human century for the two murders.
Detective Tatiana Obski remained in the Moscow Police Service until 1966. That year she – with several friends – took a ski and hiking holiday in the Urals. She had a terrible accident and was seriously injured. She lingered for several months in a Moscow hospital but died of her injuries. Her soul was collected and processed.
Radovan Berković was charged with various acts of ‘treason’ in autumn 1914 and sentenced to 15 years in jail. He was released in 1919 and simply disappeared. He died in Constantinople in 1924. His soul was collected and processed.
Jana Jacimović was a police informer and had to flee Serbia at the end of the war; she had picked the wrong side and ended up working on a farm in Bulgaria. She died in 1929 and her soul was collected and processed.
Captain Advija Kovac was killed in 1915 fighting for Austro-Hungary. He had never married nor had children. His soul was collected and processed.
Dragon Milenković was killed in 1916 fighting for the Serbian cause against the Austrians. He had been a ‘Double Agent’ but his true loyalty lay with Serbia. His soul was collected and processed.
Zoran ? – This mysterious character’s whereabouts or fate
remains unknown to Human Records. But Owen was later to realize where he had
smelt the man’s strange pipe tobacco before; the elusive McIves smoked the same
stuff! That would answer the question about how Katerina knew about the
temporal detectives, if McIves was somehow involved in all this. Jericho never
– for whatever reason – didn’t report McIves suspected involvement in this
particular mission.
Franz Vukomanović
survived the war – he fought on the Serbian side – and moved from his beloved
Serbia in 1921. Nothing is known about his fate until his soul was collected
and processed in 1931. The Collector reported that he had been shot several
times and dumped in an alley; in New York City! He made no comments to the Collector,
at the time, about his murder. His soul was quarantined for a full human
century for three murders he had committed. It appears he had joined a gang of
Prohibition ‘bootleggers’.
Comrade Commander Leon Nebcheski remained the Police
Commander of the affluent Moscow District until he was found dead in his
private car, in a quite Moscow Street in the winter of 1964. He had been shot
through the back of the head – execution style – and it was believed he had
uncovered something big on his current assignment; the brutal rape and murder
of two young schoolgirls. His soul was collected and processed. He worked as a
collector for a short time before being transferred to the Temporal Detectives Department.
He is now a sergeant on Team 49 and is headed for promotion; he is quickly
becoming an asset to the department.
Wolfgang Lietcher - Jericho’s old enemy - was believed to
have been concerned in this, but no link was actually found. Nevertheless, he remains a thorn
in the side of Jericho and Team 74.
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