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Subject: +*+*+*+ Solomon's Private File #118 "Moscow Irregular" +*+*+*+
Date: Mon, 30 Nov 2015 23:13:18 -0500
From: " +Grant. " <+Grant@grant.grant>
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Solomon's Private File #118
These stories about Stephen and Solomon take place starting in
1950's. Stephen wrote about his life in letters to a penpal, and then
in a secure blog, in case he lost his memory again, in the master
computer in his school for gifted students, which he started attending
in 2016 in a new incarnation, until his death. Now his son Solomon is
attending the same school, and is writing in his own secure blog for
his future incarnations.
All characters are fictitious, even if some of them might have names
that belong to some actual people, or act like people we know.
Solomon is 18 in this story, in the Spring of 2045.
Solomon's Private File #118 "Moscow Irregular"
START Page
There was noise at the back. We were prepared. I dropped down from
the balcony at the rear, very near to the boy. I grabbed him and put my
hand over his mouth. I said, "Please be silent. I will not harm you,
even if you ask me to. Unlike the people who operate the store. I would
like some information. It would be of great benefit to both of us if
you will allow that to happen. Do not be afraid. Well, any more than
you should be in talking to strange man at night. If I release you,
will you be very quiet so we can have a conversation? You can always
run away. But I know very well what curiosity does to us." He nodded. I
released him, and he made to run. I didn't move, so he didn't. I said,
"I am Ivan. You are? Silence is an odd name." He returned my grin. He
said, "Vas." I said, "Sounds as if somebody cut off half of your name.
I hope it recovers." He tried not to laugh. I said,
"My associates have a similar reaction to my er, unusual comments.
Please come with me to meet them. Oh. Look at me." I said with extended
Ki, "You will be safe. If we don't count the damage my humor can
cause." He had to smile. He followed me up the stairs. We went in, and
he looked around in high interest. I said, "Yes, our establishment is
good for encouraging neck exercises." He laughed. We went into the
living room, and he was in delighted awe. I introduced my comrades.
Vas said, "The store people would hurt me?" I said, "If they would
you see the interest of my friends?" He grinned and they chuckled. I
said, "After I took possession of this place, I went to the store to
tell them not to bother me and my people. One tried to draw his gun. I
jumped over the counter and kicked him into the back room." He was
delighted and said, "He must have been very surprised." I said, "I
think so, but probably not as much as the man who was already there,
who suddenly discovered a new intimate friend." They all laughed hard.
Major said, "I know their kind. It didn't end there." I said, "Who's
story is this? I am the writer of this group. But yes, there was more.
Another man also drew his gun. Very fast, I had his arm twisted in
front of him, while I was behind him. His gun barrel was pushing into
his stomach." I told them what we said. I said, "Now they show me much
respect." Smith said, "And a little fear?" I said, "Maybe. I do not
plan to complain about that."
Major said, "We are investigative reporters. We are working for a
major international publication, investigating unusual crimes." Smith
said, "A small person who goes out er, investigating things at night,
could be of some help to us. If he wanted to. Paid help." I said, "Such
large interest is inspiring." Grins. I said, "I apologize for this
serious moment, but you are NOT to do or say anything that would place
you in danger. Do you understand and accept that?" He was serious and
said, "I do. No danger. I see you really care." I said, "We do. Who we
are investigating are VERY dangerous people. We are not afraid for
ourselves. We're professionals. But for you, very much. We are seeking
information about these people." I showed him the tablet. He said, "I
know now. Yes, they are secretive. No children. A woman who cooks and
cleans. I know this because a boy asked to wash their car. They beat
him!" I hugged him. When he could continue, he said, "A man came out. A
boss I think, who yelled at them. He made them take Greg inside and
help him. He is my cousin. The boss paid him to wash their car every
week but not to bother them."
I said, "This is very interesting. Almost unbelievable." My two
nodded. I said to Vas, "We were looking for a way to plant a locator on
their car, and planned to ask for your help in finding somebody who
could do that for us, who would not appear out of place in that area."
He said, "Wow!" I said, "Consider that duplicated, with interest!"
Grins and chuckles. I said, "What we are doing might eventually cause
the arrest of those people, causing your cousin to lose some income. We
should replace that in advance. For at least a year." He said, "Yes you
should." I said, "What, a full partner already?" He grinned. I said,
"We should meet your cousin so he knows from us that we care about him.
And so you can look important to him." He grinned really wide. We had
to respond in kind. I said, "Here is your employment payment for this
week." He took the money and said, "That's a lot!" I said, "Expense
account. It isn't ours." We got up and went into the kitchen. I said,
"Please don't talk about us, and warn Greg about that, too. If we are
discovered, there could be some deaths involved." He said, "I
understand." I said, "More. If people know you have that amount of
money, they might want to know how you got it. Insist on it, actually.
Some might want to take it from you. PLEASE be careful!" He said, "I
will." I said, "One last thing. It wasn't very smart for you to try to
break into that particular store that buys and sell stolen things. They
are violent people." He said, "I think you are correct. But how did you
know?" I said, "It is our job to discover things. You saw the
equipment. We have extra eyes and ears all around this place." He said,
"Oh!" I grinned and poked him. He laughed. I led him downstairs and
out. He left.
Back in the living room, Smith said, "You were amazing!" I said, "I
disagree. I just did what would work. You saw that." Major said, "I see
what you did. Simple, but what most people wouldn't think of. You
treated him as a person, not a child, but aware of the needs of the
child." I said, "Correct. For our needs he needs to be as he was
treated. It will work for him because he is courageous but cautious,
adventurous but sensible, and learns well. Such children are much more
capable than most people believe. I was." They nodded. I said, "A spy
is one who spies on people. To do that well, one must understand them.
ALL kinds, because people are rarely without associates. Unfortunately,
most people don't try. They see little of the reality of other people
except the most familiar aspects of them, and usually less than they
are, for the advancement of their own pride. We are actually
uncomfortable with knowing more, feeling we are becoming more intimate
with them, fearing our own exposure. Spies don't have the luxury of the
comfort of such ignorance." They nodded with much respect. We ate.
I said, "We do not need to watch anything tonight. Yes, we might miss
something, but I doubt it would be of much importance. We need to
maintain our readiness for when real lack of sleep may be required. I
see a question." Major said, "What if we had not found a way to put a
tracer on the car ourselves?" I said, "I would have had the police
arrange a car crash. Sometime after that the tracer would be attached
when the circumstance would be right for that. This way is better, in
that the psychics are unlikely to be involved with the boy. They feel
emotions." They said, "Oh!" Smith said, "That's why we aren't doing it
ourselves! They would know we were against them." Major said, "I
understand this better now. Why aren't spies, psychics?" I said,
"National spies work for noble reasons. We hope. Most do not like to
harm people, even though they must at times. A person who feels the
emotions of others, and who is capable of harming them, is NOT, can
not, be a good person. They are not to be trusted." They had a mix of
emotions. Smith said, "Now I know something more about Solomon, and why
he does things the way he does. It must really hurt him." I said,
"Logical. Being the most powerful, he would feel that the most. The
world is fortunate that is so." They were surprised. Major said, "I
understand. With his power, that sensitivity makes us safe from him."
Smith nodded. Before we went to our rooms, I said, "Passing notes would
be more private." They were embarrassed, being reminded of my sensitive
hearing.
I ported to my Bureau office. A call was waiting for me. I let the
sec know I would receive it. The first thing I heard was, "You did it
again! It had to be you!" I said, "I am usually me, most of the time.
Ha! I really like doing that." His thoughts had been derailed by my
comment. He said, "I don't!" We chuckled. He said, "She's different!" I
said, "How?" He said, "I don't know how to describe it. Like she's in
another world sometimes, seeing things that aren't there." I said, "How
do you know they aren't there? Just because you can't see them, doesn't
mean they don't exist. Tell me, does she sometimes react to things
before they happen?" He had some bad words to express. I laughed. I
said, "It only seems that way. She is able to see the intent and the
start of the action before others do, that's all, and with very fast
reactions. She was a Master of martial arts when she went to you. She
is becoming a Senior Master now. You should be very proud to have
somebody like that teaching in your school, one of the very few that
have ever existed who weren't Adepts." He said, "When you put it that
way, I have to say I am. Very." I said, "And that was your real
motivation for calling me." He said, "Shrinks!" We laughed, and he hung
up.
Back in Russia after breakfast, I said to them, "What is the most
important thing to learn in the study of martial arts?" Smith said
immediately, "How to fall." I said, "Yes. In effect, we are perched on
stilts. Even a small shift in balance can cause us to fall. Few martial
artists realize that we are MOST vulnerable while we are falling. Our
protective instincts get in the way of protecting us from an attack at
that time. In fact, we are practically helpless, because without our
ability to push against the ground in order to move, we can't change
our distance from our attacker, and not so much for most of our
possible positions. Choose who will attack me, and I will illustrate."
There was no choosing. Smith came at me with a side kick to my stomach.
I swept it aside and up, and his planted foot left the floor. I poked
him four times in the side before his body hit the floor. He rubbed
that, and said, "Point proved!" I said, "Fast choosing." Chuckles. I
said, "That was a serious strike." He said, "If it had hit, would you
have been hurt?" I said, "Er, no. I do not recommend causing proof of
that." Major laughed. I said to him, "When you block a strike, what do
you do next with that arm and hand?" He said, "Pull it back." I said,
"Is that the most efficient use of that position?" They looked
interested.
I said, "Punch to my throat." He did, and I blocked it sideways, but
also fully extended my arm right after, to tap his throat. Smith said,
"Wow! One move to block and strike!" I said, "Except specifically to
impress, spies can't afford to wast time. If we need to fight, it's for
the mission, or to escape. Not to play games of manhood. With that
technique, the objective was to silence your opponent the fastest way
possible, in silence. Now I will show you a new objective. Same
attack." He did, and this time I did the same technique, but stepping
forward at the same time, and grabbing the throat, forcing him back and
to the ground. I said, "With the threat of his throat being ripped out,
you can now question him. Notice my knee on his arm, and the point of
my elbow on his chest. That can be used to safely restrict breathing,
and you can feel a sharp intake of breath that is preparation for a
shout." More wows.
I said, "For kicks, the one most often encountered is to the groin."
I said to the major, "Do that with a front kick." He did. I shifted my
left leg across, bent, and his instep hit along my shin, to the right,
past my right leg. Then I raised and extended that leg fast, with mine,
tossing his leg in the air. His planted foot came up and he started to
fall backward. I moved forward and bent down, and had my hand gently on
his throat before landed on the floor. I said, "If this were real, and
on a hard surface, I could have had my hand on your face, and smashed
your head into the floor." I helped him up, to some wows. Smith said,
"I am seeing something. To kick you is to lose." I said, "In reality,
to any expert. You can't move your position well with only one foot on
the floor. In a real fight, you do NOT want to kick high, or to the
front of your opponent. If you need to stop him from chasing you, kick
his knee out. If he tries to catch it with his hand, his head is
exposed. You know what to do with that."
Major said, "What about weapons?" I said, "Even if you are carrying a
gun, carry at least two knives you can throw. Practice. When you learn
to throw well, that can apply to a lot of other objects that people
don't think of as weapons. A table fork in the throat is very
annoying." Some amazed chuckles. I said, "Ever been hit with a
magazine?" Smith nodded. I said, "Please show our friend. Er, gently."
He rolled a magazine up tightly, and poked him in the stomach with it.
I said, "Used that way, it's as effective as a stick. It can also be
used to block a knife attack. Being that it extends the reach
unexpectedly, it may even be used to knock a gun out of line. To a real
fighter, his entire environment is his weapon. In all I have
demonstrated today, what are the most important attributes one must
have to do those things?" Smith said, "Speed. Balance." Major said,
"Practice. Knowledge." I said, "Not strength?" They were surprised. I
said, "Correct. That isn't actually needed. Efficiency of movement IS."
Smith said. "Something else. You were relaxed the entire time." I said,
"Confidence helps with that, caused by practice."
Major, said, "Your knockout strike to the forehead?" I said, "That is
too advanced. There is some Chi in it. That's the only way it can be
done without causing serious damage, in the angle I had to use then.
Most times you do not want the brain to turn to jelly." They agreed. I
said, "In martial arts, there is a danger most people tend to forget.
We are able to strike with so much power, if we don't do it correctly,
we could seriously damage ourselves. Yes, I have done that. Roundhouse
to the head, slightly out of position. Almost took it off of his
shoulders, but at the cost of a broken ankle. It looked VERY strange,
flopping around so loosely. Oh, I did survive that mission." They
chuckled. I said, "In a fight, speed counts. Most at the start of it,
when they don't know they are in a fight until it's over. So don't wait
for them to make the first move. Even if it's just a feint you do, it's
better than nothing, because you can draw a predictable response you
can work with. Making them fear you at the right time, can be a good
thing. But not in most times. Then you may want them to NOT be afraid
of you, so they don't guard you as well. Surprise is your friend, but
only if YOU cause it." They chucked and nodded. I said, "I have played
an old and frail man. The enemy was very surprised when I showed them I
wasn't, at the right time. A limp can conceal instant combat
readiness."
Major said, "James Bond instruments?" I looked around, and he
chuckled and said, "I meant on the person." I said, "A great way to
shout to them who you are. And they break just when you need them the
most. You should be your own best instrument. Not just because they
won't then think you are a spy. But it helps. Who knows when we will be
searched? I don't carry a gun, yet I have taken guns away from people
who wanted to use them on me. So if I wanted one, I knew where to get
it. Very convenient for others to cary them for me." They chuckled
well. I said, "Store is opening. A customer was waiting. Let us watch.
Oh! I recognize that man." I used my phone to call the store. I said,
"Colonel Smirnov here. I recognize your customer. Wanted for a double
murder." I gave him all the available info on the perp. He said he
would pass it on. There wasn't much else of interest through lunch and
beyond. Just before supper, I said, "Two people approaching from the
back. Could be our boys." I nodded to Smith, and he went to meet them.
I took that opportunity to say to the Major, "How is he doing,
emotionally?" He said, "I understand. Improving." I said, "Good. Thank
you." He said, "You are not just teaching us how to be spies, you are
teaching him how to live with his pain." I said, "I didn't authorize
you to be wise, either." Chuckles. And from Galya in my mind, too.
END Page
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Grant
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