Episode 11 -Touch down!

I was on the roof of Blubersvale. I walked over to the edge and looked down. I felt like I had conquered something, I was probably the first 57 year old to stand on the roof of Blubbersvale. I reminded myself to ask Justin for an award for it later.

I walked over to the center of the roof, where I knew the ventilation pipes were. Of course, I wasn't going to climb in. This wasn't a movie. It's common knowledge that those air vents were built to take AIR, and not an aging tub of lard like myself. If i had climbed in, I would have fallen directly onto Lukinor's bed. Hmmm... maybe that wasn't so bad.

I opened the vent and i dropped in the remote-controlled camera ball Justin had given me. That ball was magic, the size of a toddler's fist but equipped with night vision, infra red detectors and a camera that gave the controller a 360 degree view of it's surroundings. It had a foam coating which made it silent too. It looked exactly like a child's toy. Completely nondescript, perfectly sized, and most important of all, it gave me a free look at Lukinor while she was sleeping, hopefully in a transparent nightie. The wonders of Justin Twubber would never cease.

The ball rolled. Silently, stealthily, it emerged in Lukinor's home. I followed the balls movemment through a lens placed in my goggles. I navigated the ball through her living room and into her bedroom. i could hardly see her through the green glare of the night vision but there she was, sleeping like a baby. Albeit in pajamas and covered with a blanket but at least i knew she was sleeping. i didnt come all the way here just to look at her in a nightie anyway.

I navigated the ball out of the bedroom and began to explore the whole house. Once my reconnaissance was complete and i found no living soul other than Sleeping Beauty, I checked my watch. 4.06am, more than enough time to break in, plant the cameras and beat it before she woke up.

I walked over to the edge of the building, and stuck yet another wonder of Twubber onto the ledge. This was a tiny disc, about the size of a music CD, and about 2 centimetres in height. From it, I pulled out a thin line of wire, and secured the wire to a little device on my belt. I had never used a device like this before, and if the wire snapped i'ld fall to my death, but i had to trust Justin's equipment now. I stood on the edge, staring down into oblivion for the second time in an hour, again thinking about how fast the floor would rush up to me if i fell, and again, i stepped over the edge to possible death.

Episode 10 - Riding along

Here I was, a man halfway to death, getting ready to risk my life for a man who already had his foot in the grave. I looked out the side of Justin's stealthed chopper. That feeling of vertigo came over me, a feeling I had become very well acquainted with after 20 years of being in the Special Forces and queing up to jump out of an aeroplane every other week. My instructor's told me it would go away after the first hundred or so jumps, apparently the 'or so' ran to infinity, because I had been on more than a thousand jumps, and vertigo still came. The difference was, once upon a time I was forced to jump, now I was stupidly volunteering myself for this.

The rooftops of the buildings below cascaded by. I tried to pull my mind away from the image of a smashed version of me splattered over one of the rooftops below. I tried to think of the mission at hand instead. The plan was, that i'ld rope down onto the roof of Blubbersvale. There'ld be no chance that Lukinor's bodyguard would be around because his working hours were far over. If he was there, I would be in SERIOUS trouble because my research showed he was a black belt in some form of martial arts and an ace shooter with a handgun. But... he couldnt be there right? Unless of course he was sleeping with Lukinor, which would not only make him a killing machine but a very very lucky killing machine. I almost laughed at the thought. No chance that would happen. So, it was a simple in and out job. Go in from the roof, pick her door, plant the cameras in her bedroom, living room and maybe the shower. Then get out. No problem. Hmmm... on second thought, even if I couldnt plant a camera in the bedroom, I HAD to put one in the shower.

I smiled at the thought. I just realized why I was risking my life. Being single at 57 had its benfits too. It gave me a reason to be here.

The chopper began to slow to a hover. The pilot turned and gave me the thumbs up. We were there. My nervous jokes weren't going to help me now. Vertigo came again. I looked down to the rooftop of Blubbersvale 50 meters below. I grabbed the rope. The fear multiplied a million times. One slip and I'ld be dead.

I remembered my first roping, when my Sergeant behind me was screaming "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU THINKING OF MANN!!! GET YOUR FAT PUSSY ASS OUT THAT DOOR!!!" yeah, he made it seem like it was just walking through a doorway. No problem. All I had to do was forget that the floor stopped beyond the door. That I would step on it again in 7 seconds time. That if I stepped on it any sooner than that I'ld never take another step ever again. No problem Sarge, it was just a step out the door.

I took that step.

Episode 9 - It's here

I awoke to the monotonous buzz of my alarm. It was 3am. I could barely remember driving home from Blubbersvale last night, much less showering and lying down for a nap. Did I even shower? I couldn't remember. At least I was in a fresh set of clothes. But I still smelled like shit. I headed to the shower.

As the water poured down on my body, I recounted the events of the day: 10 hours ago, I got a phone call. 9 hours ago, I met a teleporting blob of fat. 7 hours ago, I met another blob that could read minds. 5 hours ago, I lay on my bed, possibly showered but still smelling like shit. 10 minutes ago, my alarm rang. One hour from now, I'ld be in the apartment of Lukinor Twubber.

Why was I risking my life for a dying old man? I mean, other than the obvious fact that he was paying me enough to start life anew, I didn't know the guy and couldnt really care less about him. I think deep down inside I heard my conscience speak up. Finally, after 52 years of life growing up with liars and thieves, I finally heard my conscience. My dad would be proud, in his whole life I dont think he ever heard his conscience.

I turned the water off. I dried myself. I covered myself in black; black jeans, black top, black balaclava. I picked up the suitcase Mr. Twubber gave me. 20 years I was in Special Operations, and the first time I was going to apply my knowledge to an actual opearation was after I left the service. How ironic.

I left my apartment and drove down to the park. I checked my watch. 3.30am. I was 10 mins early. I got out and locked the car. No breeze. No babes walking dogs. Not a soul in sight. Just the way I liked it.

I checked my watch again. 3.39am. Where was it? Didn't Justin say it would be here at 3.40? Just as that thought shot through my mind, my phone rang.

"Bo! Is it there yet?" Justin's voice whispered.

I was just about to reply him when I felt it. The blast of wind on my face. The sprays of water from the puddles. The sand it blew into my eyes. I felt it, but I could hardly hear it. This guy had better equipment than the Special Forces. Amazing.

I turned my eyes against the tornado. And I saw it. Just on time too. The chopper hovered 20 meters behind my car, its black coat making it almost invisible against the night sky.

I shouted back into the phone.

"Yes, It's here."