Vincent de Boer; No. 1 Marine Commando Headquarters, Donze Harbour, Merinan Free State
Vince regarded the Achkerinese with equal parts astonishment and incredulity. He sighed, looking out across the blue water in thought for a moment, before turning back to the little group.
"Right... right" He responded, a little more distantly "You're a nutter, you know that? If that's true, you're nuts, and if it's not you're fucked. Understand? Good" He didn't wait for a response, turning instead back to the hapless Corporal Leland "Corporal, take the girl ashore and stick her in the mess. Get some hot food in her, silly bitch looks like she needs it. She's our guest, for now, but she's not to be let out of your sight. If there's any funny business, stick the cuffs on her and chuck her pretty little features in the cells. Understood?"
"Yes, Sir" Corporal Leland responded, with more enthusiasm than he felt, relieved to be getting away from his boss' irate gaze.
"Take Private Smuts with you" Vince added "No fuck ups now. Dismissed"
Vincent shook his head as the pair politely encouraged 'Flare' off the ship and towards their simple, brick-built accommodation block a little way back from the quayside, inside which the little mess hall was located. Leland was a good lad, he thought, though quite remarkably unfortunate. 'Calamity James' the lads called him. Private Smuts was a few years younger, barely shaving, and seemed a little uncomfortable around the girl. Vincent made a mental note to introduce the lad to one of Madame Fifi's girls when they got back, should sort the little lad right out. With another huff, he pulled out his phone and dialed a number, walking up to Fotspur's bow for a little privacy.
"Dirk" He began, as the line connected, addressing the Free State's head of Free State Intelligence "Have you got a minute, might have something for you?"
"Hey Vince" The disembodied voice of Dirk Williamson responded "Sure bud, go for it"
"Two of my lads pulled this sheila out of the sea maybe, I'd say twenty minutes ago. Trying to land in some sort of raft, she was. Clams to be from Achkerinese Intelligence, knows about your little adventure in Belmont, so could be the gen article. Wanna come take a look?"
"I do" The voice came back quickly, before pausing for thought "Tell you what, if you hang on to her for half an hour, I'll come down myself. That good?"
"Yeah mate, no dramas" Vince smiled, though for obvious reasons to no effect "That's just the job. I'm aboard Hotspur, come find me when you're down"
Hazel was led away gently, but firmly, with Leland on one side and Smuts on the other. While it was beginning to heat up outside, the inside of the block was like a furnace, despite the best efforts of a multitude of anemic ceiling fans. Leland led her to the back of the mess hall, which was even hotter, while Smuts went up to the kitchen, where two other men were making a great show of mopping and cleaning. Leland sat her down at the white plastic table in the far corner, before himself perching on the edge of the next table, a few feet away.
"Right" He began "Lets have no trouble from you, else we'll have to stop playing nice, and trust me neither of us need that today. If you've anything you shouldn't have on you, stick it on the table now, nice and slow like, and we'll say no more about it. If I think you're hiding anything, dirty Dave Drinkwater over there" He gestured towards the kitchen, where the man with the mop looked up reflexively at mention of his name. He was shirtless and sweating in the heat, a huge tattoo of a stylized wallaby across his shoulders "Will be more than happy to take a look at what you've got, if you follow. Yes you will, Dave, you pervvy sonofabitch" This last epithet was aimed at the meekly protesting Dave Drinkwater "Pick that mop up, lad, else you'll be eating your next meal off that floor"
At this point, Leland's monologue was interrupted by Smuts returning. He gingerly placed a small plate of Biltong in front of Hazel - the strips of dried meat were a traditional snack food in his native Kaedwen - smiling nervously. This did not go unnoticed.
"Buy her some flowers while you're at it, why not?" Leland scathed the younger man, before turning back to their not-quite prisoner "Come on then, Sheila, do us all a favour and come clean"