Sabotage by C. G. Cooper

see, and this young boy was accompanied by an older gentleman, who I came to find out was his grandfather. Said young man was chatting amicably with one of the soldiers in fluent American English, even though he was dressed like a native. I casually listened in on their conversation and happened to hear two familiar names."
     
    Dr. Higgins paused, wiped his brow before he continued. "Would you gentlemen like to venture who this young lad was speaking of?"
     
    “Vince and Karl," Daniel answered. Dr. Higgins nodded.
     
    "Naturally, I didn't want them to know that I was eavesdropping, but I casually followed behind and watched where the soldier took them. I thought that perhaps the three of us—or rather four—excuse me, Liberty." He reached down and patted her head. "I thought the four of us could go find yon natives and have a little chat."
     
    "Doc, you never cease to amaze me, you know that?" Cal said.
     
    Dr. Higgins gave a short bow, and said, "I live only to entertain you, young Calvin."
     
    Sometime later, they'd somehow convinced the layers of base protection, without invoking the president's name, that they weren't a threat and that they needed to talk to the commanding officer of the camp. He greeted them with curt civility and got straight to the point.
     
    "I'm not sure who you folks are, but my adjutant says that you've invoked the holy name of national security to get in here to talk to me and with a dog to boot. Now, was my adjutant right or wrong in that statement, gentlemen?"
     
    "That's correct, General," Cal said. "I appreciate you—"
     
    The general cut him off with an upraised hand. "Why don't you just cut straight to it? Now, while you don't look like typical Washington weenies, I sure as hell don't appreciate strangers coming onto my base, right smack dab in the middle of a potential international crisis."
     
    Cal nodded and chose his words wisely, carefully.
     
    "Two Djibouti nationals just entered your camp, General. I'm not sure if you had a chance to speak with them, but we would very much like that opportunity."
     
    The general seemed to be only half listening, because he had suddenly taken a keen interest in Daniel.
     
    "Do I know you, son?" the general asked, meaning Daniel, of course.
     
    "We have met once before, General," Daniel said. The general’s eyes flickered with recognition.
     
    "Well I'll be goddamned," the general said, "Snake Eyes, isn’t it?"
     
    "Yes, sir."
     
    The general slapped his desk, pointing at Briggs. "I can see by that ponytail that you're not in the Corps anymore. I never did hear what happened to you. Did you get out and secure some fancy job with these two gentlemen?"
     
    "Something like that," Daniel answered with a smile. "My friend here," Daniel pointed to Cal, “is a Marine, too."
     
    The general looked at Cal.
     
    "I know I shouldn't be asking this, but what's your name, son?”
     
    "Stokes, General. Cal Stokes.”
     
    The general thought about that for a moment and then asked, “You wouldn’t happen to be related to Colonel Stokes, would you?”
     
    "He was my father, General."
     
    The older man nodded. "I'm sorry for your loss, son. I didn't know your father personally, but I knew of him, and I suspect you already know that he was the Marine's marine."
     
    Cal felt that familiar pit of hollowness deep in his stomach, and after a brief silence, the general changed the subject.
     
    "Well, now that I know that Washington hasn't thrown a trio of spies into my midst, why don't you Marines tell me what you need with those Djibouti nationals?"
     
    Cal nodded for Daniel to explain.
     
    "We're looking for some people, General. Our operation, if you could even call it that, isn't classified or logged in any book, if you take my meaning." The general nodded. "It's possible that these two visitors know the whereabouts of our missing companions."
     
    "Would these missing companions, as you describe them, in any way be linked to the current