XIV. Mousetrap. Desiree regain counstiosness, when get heavily dropped to ground. "Damn, why i get so drunk... Head blows up from katzenjammer..." "Earl, remain there..." she whispered... Then she remembered. O, God! Earl was gone. And then the rats... "Our Sleeping Beauty is waking up," she hear jerking voice. "Stand up! Patron wants to speak with you, and soon!" Desiree opened eyes and closed again. Light caused new wave of pain. When she opened them second time, world stop whirling, and she can even sit. But she feel like sitting on strawberry jelly. "Now, you are decided - to die, or to wake-up?" again stated voice from behind. Other attacker was before her - ugly looking rat into jean shorts and chesscoloured shirt. Both not first-fresh. Fresh scar on his right cheek don't help his attitude as well. "But how... I... My plane..." "Fly to Tundra bay," rat ended for her. "Only good thing is, Kalle gets his money back. But he will be still disappointed." "But..." Desiree doubted. "Patron always know all about his employees. Even about some losers like your group," into her eyesight stepped second assaulter. He grin evilly, showing his yellow teeths. He wear sailor-type shirt and long jeans, and too had signs of heavy fighting. "But i... Yes, i agreed to lift that beaver-food from museum, but that's all!" Desiree shouted, into shock looking at grinning rats. "Its not a France, mis," scared one showed teeths. "Anyone who works into patrons territory, automatically becomes member of his gang," other added. "Yes. Kid get a right order here, into this sleeping place. And we choosed to start with your gang. Or, better say, what remained from it after war with rivals." And both rats grin again. Desiree opened her mouth to object, to shout something in anger, but then thinked a little over and closed it. These rats was so sure about their strength and rights. But they was misinformed. This city was under that fat parody of feline, who lived at roof of cat food factory. There was some rival gangs, but noone even thinked about throwing Fat Cat over. If only Earl was with her... Or better Monty... "So you get her anyway?" Desiree turned head toward new voice, and immediately winced from head-aches. There was third rat... with Earl... "Earl!" she jumped to feets. Only to be thrown back down by heavy blow under breasts. "Get away your dirty claws!" Desiree hissed and try kick closest rat on knee. Unfortunately, 'Scar' avoided it, but 'Sailor' catched her hands from behind, pinning her against cushion. "Cowards!" Desiree hissed. "Fil, come faster!" "Im coming, im coming... Nothing you can do without me, poor Fil. Even girls you cant catch without me..." Desiree drop only one eyesight at entering rat and immediately start regret her protesting. "Fil... Filomeness the Player?" "O, how beautiful! Young lady knows me?" Fil smiled. Desiree bit in her tongue. Suddenly into her throat appear a hard chow, she cant swallow. This foolish smile, this crying colored dress... And under them - the maniacal killer... One of the gang world legends... "Fil, check this lady, while im busy with dog-food," third rat ordered, dragging Earl near Desiree. Desiree looked at him more carefully. Dressed into black suit, more cleaner that others, even with white gloves, he was like a white sparrow in gang of gray ones. And for sure he was leader here... "Hold her closed, Billy," Fil grinned, cracking fingers. Desiree shivered, when rat's hands start checking her. They found all her arsenal. Sharp hair-needle. Knife at leg inside. Gun into hand-bag. "Weak creature was well armed," Fil grinned, placing his loot on paper piece. "You sure, it's all?" Bill gulped. "I newer made mistakes. You had enough time to learn this," Fil said with could voice. Force, holding her hands, disappear, and Desiree start breath more freely. Into same time she tried to panically seek any way to escape. But at moment she cant do anything - one against four. And still there was "Patron" and "Kidd" somewhere near. Nothing she can do. Even, that Filomeness haven't found all inventory, she possessed. "Maybe now you will say, what you want from me?" she whispered, massaging her neck. "You don't explain to her the current situation, do you?" the leader grinned. "I only started, Johnny... Uu, snake-woman!" 'Scar' cursed. "Let me work little with her, before..." "Patron will be unhappy," John noticed, and Pit's blood-thirst noticeable reduced. "Okey, i can wait. But you owe me, snake," And Pit lumped away. Suddenly Desiree hear over her head lour roar, and all room start shackle. "We are into car?" she asked. John nodded, continuing to bind Earl's head. "And here we will travel?" "To patron. But now come help me with your boss. He really get some trouble from that pair of terriers, before i get him out." John grinned. Desiree relax inside. Her scheme still worked. Now Earl was her hope. He was near, and still her boss. And noone knows about their right places in gang. If only he will stay silent... She leaned over to her boss. Earl was in bad shape. Shirt stripped and covered with blood. Right hand and shoulder covered with bands, John make, another band was around his waist. Traces of blood on forehead and cheeks. Suddenly his eyes open. "It's you, Des... I even don't hope more..." his tongue limped. "You will be okay." Desiree sit near Earl and hold his hand into her, with one ear catching pieces of conversation between rats. When John get away for a second, Earl again opened his eyes. "I'm not as bad hurt as i look, Des," he said silently. "I don't trust them." "I too. But now we cant do anything with it.. Later... later..." Desiree whispered back, catching each louder said phrase from gangsters. They was newcomers into this city, as they had wrong information about forces here. But they was well organized, and only forpost of much bigger band. Desiree now know, that this force is to test resistance of natives. And always there was easy rule, known for a thirty centuries at least - part and rule. Use 'natives' against each other, till they weaken each other, and then destroy. And place is free for you... She himself considered like-vise scenario, when arrived there first time, but give up. Too much bothering for little reward. Obviously, these guys thinked differently. "And so, mis de Lury? You can choose - with us, or we will see, how good you can swim with your feets in cement bowl," said shadow on wall. "I'm with you. May there be any doubts about it?" Desiree smiled sadly. "Don't hope, that later you can catch moment and run away. Sooner or later you get caught, and then you will swim into acid." "O, how you can think so badly about me, mister Kidd?" Desiree broader her smile. Now see-point shifted, and we can see the Kidd sitting at big table. He relaxed and massaged his small black moustache. "Good. Then this will be your first order. Gather, what remains from your old gang, and bring them here. Your boss for a moment will remain here, he anyway need serial medical treatment," Kidd lighted cigar. "And more. I also want all info, you know about your rivals - the Rangers? - those, who beat you at airport. All info. Address. Names. All. Understand?" "Yes. I will summarize it to tomorrow." Desiree bowed. "You free." Kidd turned to window and puff out a patch of smoke. "Get Rangers stuck in you throat," Desiree grinned by himself, leaving empty, by human minds, number of hotel room. Sure, there was 'tail' after her, but that don't bother old thief. Let him run, if have nothing suspecting to do... XV. Decision. Jack make sad face. Pain live into his side, shoulder, arm. Hell, it was into all his body. He start stretchen. "Damn... Im gonna die, so bad i feel newer... Auch!" With heavy thud mister Monterey found himself on floor. "YAUU!!!" he make wild yell. "Cant carry me to bed at least?!" As response there was burst of laugh. Both chipmunks twisted into nine knots from laughing. "And these is friends... So do with old gentleman," Jack slowly straightened his painful body. "O, Jack! If only you can see himself! I cant more!" Dale shaked in laugh. "Chip. Dale!" Gadget said into could voice, entering with glass with orange liquid into it. "Here, Jack. Drink, you get feel better." "Thanks, dear. You're only one that understand me here," Jack slowly sit at soft chair and gulp half glass of orange juice at once. "Yes, you make overboard with these spagetti with cheese, Jack" Chip smiling said, sitting down at another chair. "Dont mention cheese!" Jack's face twisted in pain. "Okey, what on dinner?" "Dinner? It's breakfast time now, Jack! You sleep for a near full day and night," Chip grin. "Yes. And it's Gadget's time to cook," Dale sighted, wisely choosing his place at other side of Chip, so cutting him off from Gadget. Chip noticed it too late, gritted teeths but stay calm. "If you dont like, cook himself!" angry Gadget look out of kitchen for a second. "Anyway, soon you will be forced to do that himself!" Door slammed shut. "Gadget, luv! I dont say, i dont like your coo... What?! What you do mean with that "soon"? Gadget? You don't quit, do you?" Jack immediately lost any interest to juice and breakfast. "No," both chipmunks sighted. "Gadget get know, that she have rights to property in England. >From her grandma," Dale said. "She need travel to England, to get her rights," Chip added. "And what's wrong with that?" "She will be rich," Dale sight. "I dont understand well today. What's wrong with being rich?" Dale sight. "Nothing, if you dont forget about your poor friends and start make new, rich ones..." "By gods sake, Dale! Chip!" Jack faced serious painful grimaces from fast jumping on feets. "Do you dont know Gadget? She will be back! Sooner as you will imagine!" "Yes, but..." "I dont want to listen any more 'But...' today! When she get rich?" "Half a year ago..." Chip answered. "No, when she get know that?" "Ah... Yesterday morning, while you was out cold. There was one young mice reporter, Syril, i think, and they talked half day inside Gadget's bedrom." "Yes, she also asked, who made that strange sounds here," Dale grin. Jack's face twisted as into tooth-pain. Gadget's preparation, in spite of Dale's pessimism, was wery tasteful. Even Jack remain satisfied, and his mood changed to much better one. After removing dishes to kitchen, Gadget sit at company. "Now we need to choose, what to do, while our little milady made her trip to family reunion," Jack said in preachers voice. Gadget blushed. "Dont worry, dear. I well know, that this case may be longer and harder, that you imagine. Nor you, nor your father don't know about his parents and their family. You dont have any papers, that you are the girl, they look for, that confirm your relations..." Monterey continued. "Monty..." Gadget try weakly. "Stop raise fear, Jack!" Chip ordered strongly. "Maybe we all can travel with you, Gadget?" Dale smiled and winked to her. "I mean, get a free week or two and..." "Even full month wasn't over from our last free weeks!" Chip cut it off sharply. "Calm down, friend, make a life! City is calm and quiet. And what's wrong, if we again travel to London? Last time we dont get enough time to look at it closer," Dale pulled himself "Being objective, Chip is right," Monterey stated slowly, playing with his moustashe. "We have had full month free in the three last ones, counting together..." "Stop it, Monty! You now say, that you don't like relax, make you-ride and completely forget that de Lury!.. Ow!" Chip had stomped on Dale's feet, but too last. "Dale!" Gadget shout together with Chip. Dale, shocked, close his mouth and start peer on table. "Calm down, friends," Jack sighted. "Dale is right. I need forget her. This time - forever. As sooner, as better. And good travel is the best way to do that." Dale stop look down. Looks, this time he too get out with dry skin. "Chip, you minority," he even risked grin. Chip glared at him, but said nothing. Instead he turned at Gadget. "What you think, dear?" he asked. "I really will like, if you all be together with me. And Syril too will be happy." "Syril?" chipmunks asked. "Yes. She said, she will travel with us, and in way write few stories about our group and our deeds." "Hear, Chip?" Dale elbowed friend. "Stop it." "As i remember, into Cairo you was her hero," Dale smiled. "And she dont have ring on finger. I looked." "I said - stop it!" Chip hissed. "Talking about rings," Jack pressed his moustashe, pretending to look at Zipper, not at Dale. "As I remember, that time into Cairo Dale too was cool - with that Pharaon's ring stuck on him." "Ha!" Dale pull up his red nose, while Chip and Gadget start laughing. "Ring-Dale!" Chip squeaked into tiny-tiny voice, calling new burst of laugh. "And not at all is funny!" Dale turn back af friend. "Boys," Gadget suppressed laugh outburst. "Boys, we haven't choosed anything, but you already start squeaking and fighting." "Sure, we will travel all. Someone need to guard the new millionaire," Jack made the end of discussion, standing up from chair. Chip sighted and pulled up hands teatrically. Dale grin. "Okey, guys. I go to start packing, but you - make the last trip to Spinelli's office, by chance." Gadget said and leave upstairs to her room. "You hear, Dale? Come!" Chip pulled away from table. He get his jacket and hat from wardrobe. Dale simply brushed his shirt cleaner and follow friend. "Right. Maybe Spinelli will place fresh cheese into mousetrap? But these cheese-creckers too wasn't bad ones..." "Monty!" both chipmunks yelled from outdoors. "Im coming, coming..." Door after Monterey closed, and there again was only silence. |