* * * PARTHIA – MARKOWITZ * * *

The four misplaced agents were sitting on a tree trunk at a small distance from the north gate of the town. From the assorted debris and the blackened fire pit they assumed the tree trunk had been left for the use of people like them.

Finally, Markowitz exhaled noisily, giving in to the inevitable. They had checked and were sure that they could enter the town by trading Durrell’s swiss army knife. However they wouldn’t have enough cash to manage to spend the night, other than on the streets, and they all reckoned that would be a bad idea.

“Fine! So be it, Durrell pass me one of those sat phones. We need to risk making a call.”

The other three barely glanced at each other, but they all seemed to relax. Durrell reached into one of the backpacks and produced the sat phone. Then he passed it to Markowitz who had his smartphone in his hand as he consulted his contacts.

“This is Markowitz. Please put me through to director Perez.”

There was a long period while inane music played; then Markowitz heard, “John, Where the hell are you? Have you any idea the mess we are all in?”

Markowitz felt the beginning of rage, “We are on Parthia director. Outside the gates of a small town named Barcolton. We are unable to enter because we don’t have any local currency.”

After giving a brief report, and adding some more details culled from their map Markowitz switched the sat phone off. He looked up and almost snarled. “Director Perez is chasing some things up. She asked us to phone again in an hour’s time.”

* * *

They spent their wait watching the scanty coming and goings along the road. The most interesting thing occurred when two scruffy looking individuals were almost turned away when the gate guards refused, vociferously, to accept a silver coin they offered for the toll. They were finally allowed through when they dug out some copper coins. Just before entering the town they threw the offending coin away.

Finally, after what seemed like far longer than an hour Markowitz grunted and made the call. He didn’t have to wait as long this time.

After the call he looked grim. “We can wait here for a bunch of special forces guys and some specialists. They are already on the way to one of the portals. Or we can head back to the dungeon. If we do we might have to return here. The portal we used was a one way one and we can’t get back home through it. Ideas?”

Helli looked at her sore feet and said, “I vote for waiting here. That way, worst comes to the worst we will only have to make the walk once. And I suspect it will be dark before we get back.”

Smyth looked at the town. “This is an easy spot to find.”

Markowitz frowned. “We’ll wait. Did anyone catch what was up with that coin?”

Smyth looked up, “The guard was rather profanely stating that Alsaam’s Shekel is worthless as it contains virtually no silver.”

* * * THE MOON – MARY * * *

Mary stepped through the portal to the moon, on arrival she greeted Lewis and Alice even as she made her way to the starlight lounge surrounded by her guards. She grinned as she proceeded through the public spaces at the sight of all the tourists and workers.

« I see the rentin’ of offices is going well Lewis. »

« It is indeed Mary. We have many rentals from all over the world. Mostly multinationals looking for a prestige address and intelligence agencies. »

« Intelligence agencies? Are they mad? »

« They haven’t figured it out yet Mother. »

Mary took a seat in the corner of the room and inspected the harsh view before looking up at the Earth shining in the ‘sky’. Her guards dispersed to cover the whole room. Only then did the main doors open and the small group of well dressed men and women enter. She rose to greet them before resuming her seat.

“Now what can I do for you?”

The delegation managed to overcome their awe of the view and took the seats they were offered. Their spokesman cleared his throat and started. “Ms Silvestre, how should we address you?”

Mary noted the two security specialists eyes dart around nervously. “As you are doing. Ms Silvestre works and is polite enough. We might progress to Mary. Now in my palace on Parthia or on Tarifax, My Lady would be appropriate.”

“And on Fragatta?”

“Fragatta is different. I have no country there, but the whole population owe me for their lives an’ know it. Just be polite, Ms Silvestre or my Lady. Just be careful, if you call me Mother then the locals will make assumptions you might not like.”

“Mother? I’ve heard... what assumptions?” asked a grey haired man who was sitting almost bolt upright.

Mary showed a lopsided grin, “Why, that you were one of mine. That you looked to me.”

After a very short pause the spokesman said, “We have much to discuss. But first we must arrange for the recovery of Markowitz and the three agents with him.”

Mary just looked at him and waited.

“Will you allow us to send a group of special forces people with some specialists to recover them. Can you help?”

“Do you know where they are? And under the circumstances the only help I will give, is access to my portals an’ a basic guide of the location you wish to access. I will sell you local currency, equipment and usage of the portal.”

“You expect us to haggle now?”

“No. I expect our subordinates to haggle. Here we will discuss the outlines. What exactly do you want?”

“We want to send some thirty men to Parthia. The dungeon near Barcolton. And then to pass the agents back to Earth.”

“Barcolton?” Mary looked blank for a moment. “Ah, so that’s where Lewis’ random portal dumped ’em. Sixteen at most, that’s a raid. Unusual but not unheard of. Thirty would make the locals uneasy an’ make misunderstandings more likely.”

“Could the rescue party stay on after they return the agents to the dungeon for return.”

Mary cocked her head to one side. “They can do what they like. I don’t own Parthia. But you misunderstand. Lewis’s portals to Parthia are one way only. If you want to get back you need to use one of mine. And those are in Blue Lagoon.”

“And how are our men going to get to your island?”

“I can have captain Tomcat and his Alessandrina’s Glory at Suz in about a week. Suz is the port on the estuary of the river Dracos. The same river Barcolton is on. You can pay their passage in USD here or in the States.”

Mary watched the delegation leave with a grin. ‘Oh Tomcat; I hope you have fun; you’re goin’ to find Helli irresistible. She looks and acts very like most of your wives.’

She rose and headed back to her private portal surrounded by guards. ‘Got to maintain the image of a tin pot dictator. Let them underestimate me, I can’t believe how many still do. The Navy seems to have figured it out but seem to have difficulty communicating with PC civs. Well got to see what to do with the kid Frog wished on me. I wonder if Rickie’s up to takin’ in another stray? An’ if she’s goin’ to be one of mine then I gotta fix her, a goblin’s lifespan is obscenely short.’

* * * EARTH / PARTHIA – CORPORAL ROY ANDERSON * * *

Roy was feeling distinctly out of his depth. He had been seconded to the recce team as a specialist with some local knowledge. Nobody paid attention to his explanations regarding his paucity of said experience.

So here he was in a bus with eight fully equipped lunatics who liked to jump out of perfectly good aircraft, along with their lieutenant and a captain. The other specialists were an odd bunch. All young and fit naturally, the medic’s presence was reassuring. The padre struck him as a bizarre choice, almost as strange as the marine biologist. She looked bewildered. The Gunny was reassuring.

They filed off the bus and into the Portals shop under the full glare of publicity. Then he stepped through the portal behind the first fire team and the lieutenant.

They were met by a couple of guides on the portals hall on the moon. The rabbit girl smiled when she saw him. She stepped forward and handed him a small envelope. He opened it and smiled at the two rings and the pendent it contained. He vaguely noticed that Claire exchanged a few words with the marine biologist and she also handed her an envelope much like his.

Roy blessed Gloria for the suggestion. It had reduced his savings but his purchases from MagiTech could prove a lifesaver.

They moved forward to a roped off portal that had a flashing red light above it. One by one they stepped through and found themselves in a stone room. The only furniture was a wooden table and five chairs. There was a pile of ring binders on the table along with fifteen envelopes. Then there were four canvas backpacks against the wall. There was only one door in the room.

The captain picked one of the ring binders and found the envelope with his name. He ripped it open and used the skill crystal it contained, then he fastened the pendant next to his dog tags.

“Right. Find your envelope; use the skill crystal to learn the local trade language. The pendant is a small storage device. Currently all it contains is a small amount of local currency. Silver and copper coins. I’m told the copper coins are called bits and the silver usually go by guilders. There are twenty bits to each guilder. You all know what we have been tasked with. Let’s go.”

Roy transferred the coins to his new storage ring, joining the considerably greater store of coins that already resided therein.

Then they applied the insect repellent they had been advised to fetch and left the dungeon in the swamp. Night fell as they left the swamp and it was dark when they reached the main road. Using their torches the group headed west.

They found the FBI paranormal agents huddled together around a meagre fire. The town was closed for the night so Roy was soon helping set up their tents.