Page 25 of Citiali: Teach
I send energy to the girl that I would never have guessed is in her late teens. My eyes snap to Sleeping Bear when I feel fear. “What is it?”
Little Wolf laughs. “Your face has war paint like the book. That’s ill, chill, tight, sick…”
I tune him out and look at Sleeping Bear. “When I send energy, it’s powered by the ancestors now.” I roll my eyes. “It’s new and I forget how it shows.”
He nods relaxing a little but he’s not back to jolly.
“Does Sakari have a house Anahu can stay at?” I ask so this nervousness doesn’t settle in.
“Yes, we helped her clear the jewelry room for a bed for him. Her son is in the military now so she started working NativeJewelry. She only works the bread store four hours a day.” The jolly man is still nervous.
Dyani steps closer so I step back. “That’s nice. What branch?”
Little Wolf calms everyone with his fist pumps, confidence and joke about new naval native ribbons. I don’t get it but Sleeping Bear is back to jolly and tells Dyani about the tribe.
Mary gives me a commiserating look. We’re here for a while. This moment in my life sucks but does give me a chance to watch the little woman, who will be the center of my world, interact with virtual strangers. I guess that makes it an informative sucky day. She’s got new Indian themed clothes on like Chenoa wears so it does have a good side. I really like the new look.
***
Teach Club
Rounding the corner, I stop short. “Brother, I just got back.”
Ari smiles. “Yeah. We get test trainees next week. Are you up for a run?”
I heard the crazy plan for the maintenance class before we get a real trainee in here, but I don’t mention it since it pisses him off. “I ran at Bravo while they did a sweat lodge. Anahu is staying for a few days.”
He nods. “Walk with me. You have a meet after dinner, are the woman and old guy staying?”
“Shielding us.” ‘She’s mine but doesn’t know it. Do not say it out loud, don’t think about it. I’ll get to know her and need to wait for her to agree.’
“Forgotten. The old guy?” My new President is as cool as my old President.
“He got his brace and works IT. Mucimi says he’s smart, was a Marshal then Bounty hunter when he joined Texas Badass but jumped to UK Badass. He heard a story in a pub then went to help Indians held in the CIA. What I saw was from Mucimi, Nitis had wires all around his head. Mucimi said it was tests and he wasn’t beat by CIA, just held there like a prison.” We take the stairs fast.
“That means the prison beat them. How long were they there?”
I stop the answer I was going to give and lean forward. “Teller.” He just appeared in line with us.
Teller throws me chin while answering Ari. “Almost two years at the prison. The last few months, calls were going out for help because the country was being overtaken and the prison seemed to be of importance to the Kremlin. The CIA wasn’t a big secret in Georgia.”
Ari stops outside the door. “Jesus, they’ve been in prison for almost two years. Before that?”
“Like a CIA prison. They worked, ate and slept there. They weren’t beat or tortured, but they weren’t free. Indians were taken from all around the country and shipped overseas for whatever they were doing. The Badass were hodgepodge from everywhere. Three died in that prison. All international. Miguel was the only one from the US.”
I smile at his word. “Hodgepodge?”
He shrugs. “It’s new.”
Ari gets us back to the point. “They’re staying here. Have they been read? Are they safe to work here?”
Teller gives us a Knight smile with those happy green eyes. “Yes and yes. Later.” He’s gone.
I shake my head. “We need to do better.”
Ari laughs. “Find me after your meet.” He jogs away and I go to my office.
I have the meet planned out but would like to give it without having to look at my phone or tablet.
