Work During Wartime

The conversations on the veranda were lively above the music of the string quartet. Waiters milled with hors d’oeuvres and wine. Suddenly there is a crashing of platters as one clumsy waiter spills his appetizers at the feet of a rather large man. Apologies and fussing as the help appears to clean the mess away.

That’s him, that’s the target, some general on his way to Shadow. Well, we’ll see about that, in the meantime, continue making Cali rolls, and smile, don’t forget to smile.

The string quartet finishes an old Earth tune to a scattering of applause, and the lights dim for the next act, fire dancers.

This will be your best chance, while everyone is watching the young girl swinging a flaming ball on the end of a chain. Now, reach back and take the tube from your hair where it is in plain sight with the chopsticks.

Keeping my eyes fixed on the target, I slowly edge to position, not more than 2 meters behind him. The dancer is spinning the flame, and jumping over the chain, building intensity towards a finale… this is the time.

Steady your breathing… control your heart rate. Relax.

Casually I place the tube to my mouth and shoot the modified bee stinger at the fat Purple Belly. It hits him on the neck behind the ear, I watch as he swats at it and curses.

The act is over, applaud and cheer! You’ve forgotten your work to watch the show… look busy… soon it will be time to clean up. They are already starting to head inside to dinner.

The specially formulated ‘venom’ will have its effect, in a few hours, causing a massive heart attack, almost certainly fatal. By then Chen the waiter and Shen the sushi chef will already be off-world.