Not long after midnight, the boat named Bess drifted along the coast of a place called Starfall, and on this night, it was a place that lived up to its name. Vitus and Jenn stood at the bow, leaning against the metal railing in their black clothing that reminded them entirely too much of the stuff bad guys are supposed to wear, and watched a meteor shower overhead. It felt momentous, as if the entire universe was trying to tell them something or warn them of their impending destinies. It didn't help, though, that the spectacle was accompanied by a sound track of obscene sea shanties spewing from the cabin, where Hayes was making preparations of his own.
When Philip emerged from the cabin, he wore night vision goggles that were pulled up against his forehead. Holsters filled with guns were scattered strategically across the sleek, tight suit that revealed a physique that instantly made Vitus ashamed of his own. Of course, when Hayes emerged, Vitus suddenly felt much better about himself.
"Vitus, do you know what we need to do?" Philip asked.
Vitus nodded. "Just buy me some time to look through his collection. I should be able to identify the items worth the most relatively quickly. Then it's just a matter of moving everything back to the boat," he said.
"It's a good plan, kiddo," said Hayes.
Jenn squeezed his elbow as if to say, "See? I told you it was good."
"I agree," said Philip. "If you don't mind, though, I have a tactical suggestion."
"Be my guest." Vitus didn't mind at all. In fact, he was happy to simply be useful for a change. He was proud to imagine his idea as the basis for their entire plan, like the foundation of a terrible, violent house that commits burglary and arson.
"I should go first to clear the path," said Philip. "When I've completed my initial recon, I'll radio back. Hayes, you'll then dock the boat at Ivanovich's pier. Then you and Jenn stay here. Keep watch and keep us covered. If there's trouble, use the radio and let us know. If there's more trouble, well, you both have rifles, and you both know how to use them." Though he was speaking to them both, Jenn was relieved to realize the latter statement was deliberately pointed more toward Hayes.
"Vitus, at that point, you'll need to breach the warehouse. Hopefully, I'll have already disabled the security and be inside, so once we rendezvous, I'll stay with you and make sure you're covered while you make your appraisal. Then we'll gather what we can and fall back to the boat."
"How long we got?" Hayes asked.
"Depending on security, I'd give us an estimated max time of twenty minutes to get in and out," said Philip. "So, do we agree?"
"Okay," said Vitus, rather stunned at Philip's apparent knack for spontaneous tactical planning. "I'll go with that." Jenn, speechless, simply nodded.
"Good," said Philip. "Now get ready. We're heading in."
Though he felt more than a small amount of confidence in his plan, Vitus Bethel was uneasy as his scheme was enacted. Perhaps, he thought, this anxiety was brought on by his blooming love for Jenn Korova or, at the very least, by his discovery of a dead mouse in the cabin of the boat. It reminded Vitus of what Robert Burns had written some three hundred years prior--that the best-laid plans of mice and men go oft awry.
Philip had been gone a mere five minutes after slipping off toward the shore in a small inflatable raft, and Vitus already expected to hear the sounds of gunfire and ringing klaxons. But there was only silence. Jenn and Hayes were in the cabin below deck, preparing their rifles and minds as Hayes gave her some last minute advice about how and where to aim. Needless to say, Jenn was not looking forward to whatever would happen within the next hour. Vitus, then, was left alone with his thoughts, which is often a terrifying place to be.
The radio in his hand crackled, and from the static came Philip's whispered voice. "I'm in. Dock the boat," he simply said.
So the antique-dealer ran to the cabin to rouse the grizzled captain, who had already started drinking in celebration.
"Helps keep the edge off," Hayes replied when questioned about his decision, and then he offered Vitus a sip of whiskey, which Vitus immediately took before his common sense could stop him. It did, indeed, take the edge off.
As Hayes piloted the boat toward the main pier outside Ivanovich's coastal warehouse, Vitus and Jenn sat at the picnic table and searched for words. Neither of them liked to say goodbye, which became apparent every time they tried to part.
"Promise me you'll be okay," she said.
"I promise."
They pulled alongside the pier, and Hayes tethered the boat on a large pillar. When everything was ready, he walked up to Vitus to let him know it was time.
"Philip's been in there a long time now," said Vitus. "Will he be all right?"
Hayes laughed. "Philip Renard had been Jacobi's only bodyguard since he was thirteen years old. His dad had the job before him and zigged when he should have zagged. That boy turned himself into a living, breathing weapon when he signed on. It ain't his fighting and sneaking I'm worried about. Just get in there and be glad he's on your side."
Vitus hugged Jenn and took one deep breath, summoning all his courage, before stepping up onto the dock and disappearing into the shadows. He held his pistol in his hand and hid behind the large crates and objects covered by tarps as he ran toward the warehouse. He stayed low and before long, he'd reached the main building without any sign of trouble. A heavy metal door was ajar. Figuring this was Philip's point of entry, Vitus squeezed through.
Back on the boat, Hayes had watched the antique-dealer's progress through the spotting scope that had once belonged to the man called Hemingway. Once Vitus reached the warehouse, though, Hayes turned to see Jenn pacing up and down the deck of the boat
"Here," said Hayes, handing her a pair of high-powered binoculars, "have a looking glass, and keep your eye to the north. It'll keep you busy."
Jenn agreed and began scanning the area around the warehouse for any movement. She was worried. She couldn't lie to herself and pretend she wasn't, but she felt even worse just sitting there and waiting. She felt useless.
When Philip emerged from the cabin, he wore night vision goggles that were pulled up against his forehead. Holsters filled with guns were scattered strategically across the sleek, tight suit that revealed a physique that instantly made Vitus ashamed of his own. Of course, when Hayes emerged, Vitus suddenly felt much better about himself.
"Vitus, do you know what we need to do?" Philip asked.
Vitus nodded. "Just buy me some time to look through his collection. I should be able to identify the items worth the most relatively quickly. Then it's just a matter of moving everything back to the boat," he said.
"It's a good plan, kiddo," said Hayes.
Jenn squeezed his elbow as if to say, "See? I told you it was good."
"I agree," said Philip. "If you don't mind, though, I have a tactical suggestion."
"Be my guest." Vitus didn't mind at all. In fact, he was happy to simply be useful for a change. He was proud to imagine his idea as the basis for their entire plan, like the foundation of a terrible, violent house that commits burglary and arson.
"I should go first to clear the path," said Philip. "When I've completed my initial recon, I'll radio back. Hayes, you'll then dock the boat at Ivanovich's pier. Then you and Jenn stay here. Keep watch and keep us covered. If there's trouble, use the radio and let us know. If there's more trouble, well, you both have rifles, and you both know how to use them." Though he was speaking to them both, Jenn was relieved to realize the latter statement was deliberately pointed more toward Hayes.
"Vitus, at that point, you'll need to breach the warehouse. Hopefully, I'll have already disabled the security and be inside, so once we rendezvous, I'll stay with you and make sure you're covered while you make your appraisal. Then we'll gather what we can and fall back to the boat."
"How long we got?" Hayes asked.
"Depending on security, I'd give us an estimated max time of twenty minutes to get in and out," said Philip. "So, do we agree?"
"Okay," said Vitus, rather stunned at Philip's apparent knack for spontaneous tactical planning. "I'll go with that." Jenn, speechless, simply nodded.
"Good," said Philip. "Now get ready. We're heading in."
***
Though he felt more than a small amount of confidence in his plan, Vitus Bethel was uneasy as his scheme was enacted. Perhaps, he thought, this anxiety was brought on by his blooming love for Jenn Korova or, at the very least, by his discovery of a dead mouse in the cabin of the boat. It reminded Vitus of what Robert Burns had written some three hundred years prior--that the best-laid plans of mice and men go oft awry.
Philip had been gone a mere five minutes after slipping off toward the shore in a small inflatable raft, and Vitus already expected to hear the sounds of gunfire and ringing klaxons. But there was only silence. Jenn and Hayes were in the cabin below deck, preparing their rifles and minds as Hayes gave her some last minute advice about how and where to aim. Needless to say, Jenn was not looking forward to whatever would happen within the next hour. Vitus, then, was left alone with his thoughts, which is often a terrifying place to be.
The radio in his hand crackled, and from the static came Philip's whispered voice. "I'm in. Dock the boat," he simply said.
So the antique-dealer ran to the cabin to rouse the grizzled captain, who had already started drinking in celebration.
"Helps keep the edge off," Hayes replied when questioned about his decision, and then he offered Vitus a sip of whiskey, which Vitus immediately took before his common sense could stop him. It did, indeed, take the edge off.
As Hayes piloted the boat toward the main pier outside Ivanovich's coastal warehouse, Vitus and Jenn sat at the picnic table and searched for words. Neither of them liked to say goodbye, which became apparent every time they tried to part.
"Promise me you'll be okay," she said.
"I promise."
They pulled alongside the pier, and Hayes tethered the boat on a large pillar. When everything was ready, he walked up to Vitus to let him know it was time.
"Philip's been in there a long time now," said Vitus. "Will he be all right?"
Hayes laughed. "Philip Renard had been Jacobi's only bodyguard since he was thirteen years old. His dad had the job before him and zigged when he should have zagged. That boy turned himself into a living, breathing weapon when he signed on. It ain't his fighting and sneaking I'm worried about. Just get in there and be glad he's on your side."
Vitus hugged Jenn and took one deep breath, summoning all his courage, before stepping up onto the dock and disappearing into the shadows. He held his pistol in his hand and hid behind the large crates and objects covered by tarps as he ran toward the warehouse. He stayed low and before long, he'd reached the main building without any sign of trouble. A heavy metal door was ajar. Figuring this was Philip's point of entry, Vitus squeezed through.
Back on the boat, Hayes had watched the antique-dealer's progress through the spotting scope that had once belonged to the man called Hemingway. Once Vitus reached the warehouse, though, Hayes turned to see Jenn pacing up and down the deck of the boat
"Here," said Hayes, handing her a pair of high-powered binoculars, "have a looking glass, and keep your eye to the north. It'll keep you busy."
Jenn agreed and began scanning the area around the warehouse for any movement. She was worried. She couldn't lie to herself and pretend she wasn't, but she felt even worse just sitting there and waiting. She felt useless.
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