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40. Missing in action
Chloe hugs him even firmer. “No!” Chloe’s smartphone indicates a
message, but she doesn’t
want to leave Isaac because she’s afraid he will disappear in
the dark woods. Despondently she stares at the phone.
“Look who sent a message! It could be Hunter.” “No, the moment I
let you go, you will vanish into the
dark bush and I’ll never see you again.” 40. The Horrible Events
Jack points his pistol at the two team members. “Put away that
pistols and you are dead right! I am very, very trigger happy when
my family is involved and my daughter is down there and I am going
to get her out, come what may.” Nico shakes his head: “Under no
circumstances!” Nico and Francois start to lift their pistols
aiming at Jack.
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Acknowledgements – Edition 40 – 04 Nov 2019 Editor and
Translator from Afrikaans prof. Gert van Jaarsveld English version
https://storymagazine.home.blog Afrikaans version
https://storietydskrif.home.blog
Free images used in illustrations by Anton Pan
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3
Photo by Valeriy Andrushko @voodushevlyonniy
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4
Surviving the mysteries 40. Missing in action Hunter’s Mercedes
is still parked on the same spot when
Chloe stops in front of Isaac’s place. Isaac, who followed her
from the hospital, stops next to her. Chloe is very worried. She
hasn’t had the opportunity to enlighten Isaac about what happened,
and it is eight-o’-clock already. The sun has set and she is very
upset!
Isaac is unlocking the door when she and Lyle
accompany him. “Isaac, Hunter had to go and investigate
something and he isn’t back yet. Can Lyle sleep over here in one of
your guest rooms this weekend?”
Isaac smiles. “Of course! You needn’t ask, Chloe. What
is Hunter up to?” “Oh, it’s a long story. I’ll tell you later.”
The clever doctor realizes that she doesn’t want to tell
him in Lyle’s presence. “Did Hunter bring along Lyle’s suitcase
with all his belongings?”
Chloe questioningly looks at Lyle. “Lyle, have you
brought your bag with Uncle Hunter?” “Yes, my bag was in his
boot.” Chloe frowns surprised, “It seems Uncle Hunter was in
such a hurry earlier today he forgot to give your bag to me. It
must be still in his boot.”
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20
Michael with pain on his face begs Jack: “The whole reason why
the children ran away this morning, Jack, is that it is very
important that we all are here to meet them downstairs. It is
extremely important, Jack.” Jack points his pistol at the two team
members. “Put away that pistols and you are dead right! I am very,
very trigger happy when my family is involved and my daughter is
down there and I am going to get her out, come what may.” Nico
shakes his head: “Under no circumstances!” Nico and Francois start
to lift their pistols aiming at Jack. The next moment two shots are
fired so quickly in succession it almost sounds like a single shot.
Francois and Nico are yelling from pain. Their pistols fall on the
floor and quickly Michael picks them up and moves in behind Jack.
Continues next week in Edition 41
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Isaac opens the door and they enter the house while he
speaks: “Lyle, no problem. There is a spare toothbrush still in
its holder in the chest in the bathroom for you to use. There is
also a spare towel and toothpaste, soap and shampoo and you can use
one of my pyjama pants.”
Chloe pushes Lyle in the direction of the bathroom. “Go
and have a bath or shower in the meantime, Lyle, while I warm up
our supper and lay the table.”
Lyle is busy in the bathroom when Isaac hugs Chloe
from behind and whispers in her ear: “What is going on, Chloe? I
see Hunter’s car is still parked outside. Where is he?”
Chloe turns around and looks into his eyes. “Isaac, I
simply burn to tell you but this is my first chance. We will
have to talk quickly while he is in the bathroom.”
Chloe quickly tells him what they discovered at her place
and that he went after the intruder who according to him could
not be far away.
“Isaac, I am so worried! He walked down the footpath
that leads to Robert and is gone since! I was afraid to phone
him in case his phone could cause problems for him, but now it is
late and dark! What do you think must I do?”
“Chloe, wait. I’ll phone him right away.” Isaac, after trying,
just shakes his head. “No, the service
says he is not available. I am wondering, Chloe, last time
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6
he phoned from an unknown number because someone was
eavesdropping. Maybe he now uses the cheap phone.”
Chloe frowns worriedly and takes her smartphone. “He took the
bush path to Robert’s place. I’m going to text Robert. Maybe he is
there or they are together.”
Chloe sends the message: “Robert, is or was Hunter at
your place today?” Concerned she looks at Isaac. “I don’t like
this one bit. I
didn‘t want him to go after the intruder all by himself. What if
he was waiting for him, but Hunter departed so hastily as if
something was chasing him.”
Her phone sounds and she sees a message from Robert.
“He was here earlier today. He asked about neighbouring
smallholdings and went away. Haven’t seen him since …”
She answers: “Thank you.” Chloe shakes her head despondently and
shows Isaac
Robert’s message. “Isaac, just look how late it is. I am so
worried. Where is he? Do you think we must contact the police?”
Isaac frowns, “I don’t know, Chloe, maybe we could
jeopardise Hunter’s plans. I think the only way out is for me to
go and search for him.”
“No ways!” “That’s the only solution.” “You are going
nowhere!”
19
could shoot the kids. You are working on my nerves. Put away
your damn weapons.” They don’t listen to him and move into the room
like a team and aim their weapons down the steps while lights come
on. Nico looks at Jack: “Wait!” He speaks over his hands free
system: “Morrison, come in!” The task team has been listening in
all the time and could also see what was going on through the small
cameras attached to Francois and Nico’s heads and Morrison answers
in their ears. “Nico, order the rest to wait while you investigate
first. We are ready to send reinforcements per helicopter, if
necessary.” Nico looks about him and orders all of them. “Wait here
in the meantime while Francois and I will go down and investigate.”
Michael doesn’t agree: “No, we must all go down. It is important.”
Nico shakes his head. “No! Our leader gave an order and you must
stay here for now!” He turns and looks at Jack, “And this includes
you, Jack.”
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18
they are. We have a drone outside searching for them. We don’t
understand how they could have just vanished, because a little
while ago they waved to our drone with gestures to join them, but
now they are nowhere to be found.” Michael interrupts: “I know
where they are. They ran away early this morning with the sole
purpose to get us here all together. They believed it was the only
way and they were right: we are all here and it includes you and
Francois, Nico.” Frustrated Jack and Nico ask simultaneously:
“Where are they, Michael?” Michael points at the wall opposite them
with the big, fat, golden numbers 666. “There.” Amazed they all
frown and Emilie speaks first: “I only see a wall with the devil’s
numbers just as on the front door. Where are they?” Michael walks
to the wall. “Come! Follow me!” Michael positions himself right
beneath the numbers and hits the wall six times, wait a bit and
then again and again. They hear a sound from the wall and then the
wall splits just to the right of the numbers like a sliding door
and they look into a small, dark room. Nico and Jack stand with
their pistols pointed into the dark room and Michael shakes his
head: “Relax, guys, you
7
“Maybe I must go to Robert and ask for his advice. I
think he should probably have a good idea where Hunter went from
there, if I can explain to him what is going on.”
“How are you going to communicate with him in any
case?” “I’ll take paper and a pencil with me. He can write
answers for me.” Chloe hugs him tightly. “Forget it. You are not
going
anywhere!” “I see no other option.” “In that case, I am going
with you. I have a pistol that I
can use very well if it becomes necessary.” Isaac shakes his
head, “No, Chloe, we can’t leave Lyle
alone! What if he vanishes as well? You’ll have to stay here
with him.”
“I shall go; you look after him.” “Don’t be daft. I’ll never
allow it.” “Then all three of us go.” “Now you are completely
nuts.” “Isaac, I refuse that you put your life in danger due to
my
nonsense. Maybe I must phone Ronnie or Leo for help.”
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8
“No, Chloe, I don’t think Hunter wishes to involve them. Why
does he want us to keep secrets from them? Just leave me. I am
going to get my flashlight and then I am going to search for our
friend.”
Chloe hugs him even firmer. “No!” Chloe’s smartphone indicates a
message, but she doesn’t
want to leave Isaac because she’s afraid he will disappear in
the dark woods. Despondently she stares at the phone.
“Look who sent a message! It could be Hunter.” “No, the moment I
let you go, you will vanish into the
dark bush and I’ll never see you again.” Isaac smiles at her
desperation and takes the phone.
“What do you know? Just in time.” He shows her Hunter’s message:
“Chloe, hang on …
busy with stake out ... phone off ...” “I would never have let
you go in any case.” “Do you love me that much?” “Much more than
you’ll ever know, my prince.” Isaac also hugs her and they melt
away and get lost in a
warm, deep kiss. Suddenly nothing else exists except this moment
and time stops while they are lost in each other. During these
heavenly moments, Chloe becomes aware of something. She opens her
one eye and sees Lyle silently watching them.
17
Nico invites him to enter: “Relax, come in and meet Francois, my
colleague. Only we two are here.” Jack indicates with the pistol
that they must stand back. “You two guys, move back. Where are the
kids?” Nico speaks louder and hollow echoes fill the empty room
while he and Francois move backwards to allow Jack to go in. “I
wish we knew where they are but this place is completely empty. We
have moved in here by foot and try to keep out of sight as much as
possible. Morrison is very upset because he thinks the children
wrecked everything. He doesn’t want us to be seen and rather wanted
to observe the place unobtrusively. He wants as little movement as
possible; that’s why we waited for you inside and invited you in.”
Jack bashes the door wide open and slips in and with his back to
the safe side inside, points his pistol at the part of the hall
behind them but then he sees the place is really empty. He relaxes
slightly, safeguards his pistol and puts it in the holster. He
gestures for Rene and the rest to come in and introduces Emilie to
Nico. “Emilie Shaw, Billy’s mother. We have just picked her up at
the airport. Emilie, this is Nico and Francois of the task team who
investigates the occult.” Emilie and Nico greet each other politely
and Nico explains: “You have a very brave and tough son, Madam, you
can be very proud of him. We only wonder where
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16
The smallholding even has a tarred road leading up to the
dwelling. The owner must be very wealthy! They follow the road
through the trees and see the gigantic, white building with
beautiful gardens on both sides. Jack parks on an empty space in
front of the place. “Come!” He jumps out and with long, quick
strides walks up to the house followed by the rest. The place is
quiet and derelict just as Nico had described it. Where are the
children? Why don’t they come out? They walk up the steps and over
the marble veranda to a large, heavy door. Jack frowns when he sees
the fat, golden numbers 666 on the door and he puts his hand on the
9 mm pistol in the holster under his left arm. It is ready for use.
He has just to push down the safety catch with his thumb. He takes
the door’s handle and pushes. The heavy door moves and he opens it
a little and peeps inside but sees nothing. Suddenly he hears Nico
shouting from inside: “Jack, you can come in! I only warn you that
it is only me and my colleague, Francois, inside and behind the
door. I know you are trigger happy! Relax!” Jack quickly looks back
and whispers: “Wait! I first want to make sure it is safe.” He
pulls out his pistol and keeping it ready in front of him slowly
pushes the door open until he sees Nico with the unknown man
inside.
9
Chloe breaks the kiss and blushes blood red. “Lyle, I
haven’t seen you.” Lyle smiles naughtily. “The naughty boy move,
hey?” Chloe kills herself laughing. “You won’t understand,
Isaac, but Lyle can be quite funny.” They are watching Lyle
standing there with his bare
upper body and with Isaac’s night pants that he must clutch
tightly to prevent it from falling. Again Chloe burst out
laughing.
“Lyle, are you going to clutch that thing the whole
evening? It is many sizes too big for you, shame, just leave it
and let it fall.”
Lyle ogles her as if she is mad. “That is all I have on
me.” “Well, I won’t mind and Isaac also. You can walk around
here stark naked!” She laughs out loud.
Continues next week in Edition 41
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Photo by Racheal Lomas @maven_designs
15
worthless. You are going to realise that you wasted all your
valuable time by travelling around chasing wind while you could
have spent more time with your son.” They look each other in the
eyes and Michael sees his words hurt but he doesn’t care, because
it is the truth. Emilie nods. “Just help us to get to our kids,
Michael, and you will be our hero.” Rene is still curious.
“Michael, how did you decipher the code?” “Luckily the code was
construed simply. I hoped the professor had relied on the fact that
the people of the occult don’t know Afrikaans. He simply paired a
Sanskrit symbol with each alphabetical letter. When I realised the
code was written in Afrikaans, I just had to verify my theory and
had to identify the sequence of the application of letters in
Afrikaans from the most frequent to the least and apply it and so I
could decipher the code quite easily.” Jack suddenly slacks off
near the entrance of the smallholding. “Michael, I think this is
the place. See, the road goes to the high pine trees. I think the
house is hidden behind them. What do you think?” “I think you are
right, Jack, I also noticed a few landmarks that we passed like a
dam and a big willow tree that I identified on Google Maps and
memorised. Let’s try.” Amazed Emilie shakes her head again. Why
does he waste his talents like this?
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14
the long side that gave me the unknown, hypotenuse of the
triangle. I then put the long, unknown, hypotenuse side on the
point of the landing strip which I had on length, and drew all
along the circle on the right side of north because I knew the
professor was somewhere on the right-angled point when the
aeroplane flew over and I then searched for a smallholding with a
big house surrounded by pine trees, and I find it near my circle
because my calculations were accurately enough. Really, it was
child’s play.” Amazed Emilie eyes widen. “Michael, this is
brilliant! What do you do for a living?” “I’m in service of
Krishna, Madam?” Emilie frowns, “Krishna? Are you Hare Krishna? I
wondered why you wear this funny white frock and your head is
shaven but with a pony tail.” “That’s right, Madam.” Emilie shakes
her head. “Michael, you are so intelligent and now you tell me you
are going around in this white frock and sandals and all day long
just sing Hare Krishna?” “What are you doing, Madam?” “I am a
marketing manager of an international company, Michael, I am sure
we can use that analytical brain power of you much better.” “A
little surprise just around the corner awaits you, Madam. What you
now perceive as important will soon be
11
40. The Horrible Events The revolutions run high and the tyres
scream when Jack turns down the Sardinia Bay road. Rene tries to
calm him down. What if they encounter trouble with the traffic cops
as this will hold them up. “Jack slower, please! You are going to
attract the attention of traffic cops if you drive so recklessly. I
have told you. Nico phoned. The children are safely there and they
gestured to the drone that we must come and join them just before
they entered the house.” Jack looks in the back mirror at the
beautiful Emilie sitting at the back next to Michael. He feels
sorry and guilty that they had to meet in this way. Now her
suitcase is shifting noisily to and fro because of his speedy
driving. “Sorry, Emilie, I forgot about your travelling bag in the
boot.” Emilie looks serious and worried as she looks at him through
the mirror and winks. “Just put your foot down, Jack, we must reach
the children as soon as possible. I just hope we find them inside.”
Michael touches her arm and she looks at him. “They will be there,
Madam. Safe and sound, I assure you.” Earnestly she looks at him.
“You sound very sure of yourself.”
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12
“I dreamt everything that is happening now, Madam. This is all
déjà vu for me. There is a good reason why I must accompany you.
You are going to need me to find them.” Emilie takes Michael’s hand
and presses it softly. “I hope you are right, Michael. I haven’t
slept a wink during my long, international flight last evening. My
thoughts were in turmoil after the WhatsApp conversation about all
the funny things that happened after Billy and Kadin encountered
the end time occult. And now this! I hope you are right!” Rene
looks back. “Michael, I still don’t understand completely how you
could get the place so easily with Google Maps and you never
explained it to us.” “Oh, it was easy, Madam. It was only a
question of simple mathematics following the leads in the code and
the description of a big house surrounded by pine trees was the
final confirmation. “The professor described the whole thing from
his position when the aeroplane flew over and landed. He naturally
knew it was a South African Airways Hercules L100 that landed at
that time or else he knew the aeroplane or he recognised it. I
think he gave the time for someone to check it if he had access. “I
made sure it was a Hercules L100. The time, the height, the size
and the direction against north by which the Hercules L100 flew
over, he indicated as precisely as possible in millimetres from his
position in the code. I only needed the size of the aircraft and
the time it took, I think he indicated the height to help in
determining the
13
distance more precisely if his agent wanted to use the
information. The professor is very intelligent because he gave many
hints. More than what was needed. I had no flight control contacts
and had to rely on pure mathematics. “You can draw a right-angled
triangle between the aircraft, the landing strip and the professor
that more or less will indicate his position. I checked the
dimensions of a Hercules L100 on Google and then used the size that
the professor gave in millimetres to calculate the distance whereby
the aircraft by ninety degrees against the professor from the north
flew by in kilometres. I had now the length of the opposite side
from the airport of the triangle. The professor indicated that it
took the aircraft five minutes to land. I then determined at what
speed a Hercules L100 will land and the five minutes it will take
to land from there. This helped me to determine the length in
kilometres from that point of the triangle to the landing strip.
That gives the hypotenuse of the triangle. I did not have the angle
of that corner and also not the distance direct from the professor
to the landing strip. I needed both the adjacent side of the
triangle and also the two corners. I knew it would be enough
because of the description of the place and I knew the aircraft
came in from an angle to the right of the professor’s position from
the north. “So, I used my Google Map’s scale to set my compass’
radius and drew a circle around the nearest point of the landing
strip with the length of the hypotenuse. The aircraft came in form
the right out of north somewhere around this circle and passed the
professor with a 90 degree angle. I cut a piece of carton on scale
with the length of the opposite side and a 90 degree corner
against
