“Ah,” he said as he filled his own pretty plate. “As I said, this was only if you were what I was expecting.”
We each ate something now, though I waited to start until he’d taken a bite. The food was delicious. Different from what I normally got at the Romanian embassy, similar to what I’d been served at the Bahraini embassy, nothing like what we served normally. None were better or worse, but I could certainly get used to this. Clearly it was good to be the king. Contemplated asking him to have his people send Chef some of these recipes, then decided we hadn’t been friends long enough for me to go there.
“This is wonderful, thank you,” I said as I cleared off the majority of my plate and he poured me another cup of tea, complete with putting in the milk and sugar again.
He smiled. “I’m pleased you are enjoying my humble offering. I have seen you on television. When will Code Name: First Lady be released?”
“Wow, not you, too. I hope never. Time is a factor. I say that even though, frankly, I’m willing to sit here all day snacking on delicacies and drinking really excellent tea. We do have the fate of the world to consider, however.”
“I needed to verify that my intelligence about you was correct. And while we do need to hurry, I would like to hear what is going on, particularly because the religious summit has moved to this region. I would also like to know why you chose Bahrain as your first stop. And please don’t tell me it’s because of your close relationship with the Ambassadress. I am aware of your friendship. However, this is a great honor that you’ve bestowed upon us. The expectation would have been that Israel or possibly Saudi Arabia would have received you first. But you are here, and there is a reason why. And it’s not a reason you’ve told anyone else.”
So he was smarter than the average teddy bear. Good and good to know.
“Oh, I’ve told a few people. But yes, you’re right. I have two missions. The first is to share this news—alien ships are coming to seek asylum on Earth. Six of them, containing various alien races, most of which no one on Earth or from the Alpha Centauri system has ever encountered. We need to accept these people and offer them safe haven, and not just because it’s the right thing to do. But also because the entire galaxy is watching us and waiting to see how Earth will handle her biggest challenge to date.”
He was quiet for a moment. “It was only a matter of time, I suppose. Is this why your people are leading the religious summit?”
“In a way. Call it us being forward-thinking versus prescient.”
“I see. What are these aliens seeking asylum from?”
“That’s the key question. The answer is another alien race, called the Aicirtap. A race that’s been altered into a frightening version of themselves by our world’s biggest enemy, the Z’porrah. This race will destroy Earth unless we can repel them.”
“What of those aliens who want asylum? Will they destroy us?”
“Not intentionally, at least to our knowledge. Interestingly enough, however, that question relates to my second mission. The one only a handful know about.”
“I’m listening.”
“I have reason to believe that Clifford Goodman, who we call the Mastermind, the man who tried to literally kill half the world a few months ago, is hiding out nearby, most likely in Dubai. He has a wealthy benefactor or someone with money who’s helping him. I want to find him.”
“What will you do if you find him?”
Considered all my responses. Decided to go with the truth. “I plan to make him really most sincerely dead.”
The king stared at me for a few long seconds. “You mean that.”
“I do.”
He smiled. “Good. I will be happy to offer you whatever assistance you need.”
My turn to stare. “That was a lot easier than I’d expected.”
“I’ll make it even easier. I know who his benefactor is. And I will gladly share that with you, because I consider his benefactor to be as dangerous as Goodman himself, but said benefactor is someone I cannot touch. At least, someone who cannot know that I work against him. And yes, again, we know of Goodman, of what he did and why. There is no extradition to the United States from our countries. But accidents happen, especially to criminals in our countries illegally.”
“Works for me. We’ve never had these conversations should anyone ask, though I may need to take notes so I don’t forget anything. We also need to move fast. The first alien ship will likely land soon, and near the U.S. One of the ships, however, I’m certain is going to land in the Persian Gulf. When, I’m not sure, but we probably have less than a day or two, max, before it arrives.”
“Why do you worry more about that ship than the others?”
Definitely a smart teddy bear. “Because that ship contains some people who, for us, resemble minotaurs. Our intelligence tells us that they’re normally Ferdinands. However, when roused, they’re considered close to unstoppable. And if given the same alteration that the Z’porrah gave to the Aicirtap, they will become weapons of incredible mass destruction, and that means we’re doomed, because what we’ll have to do to stop them and the Aicirtap both will result in us having to destroy our own planet.”
Raheem cocked his head. “By ‘Ferdinands’ are you referring to the children’s book, The Story of Ferdinand, and/or the Disney cartoon, Ferdinand the Bull?”
“I am, as a matter of fact! And I’m incredibly impressed that you understood that reference.”
“We do read in this country,” he said dryly. “My mother read that book to me when I was a child.”
“No insult intended.”
“None taken. You fear that Goodman will find these gentle bulls first, and do similar to what the Z’porrah intend to do.”
“Yes. It’s his kind of evil plan, he wants to make us all pay for him losing so badly and publicly, and our intelligence also suggests that he’s doing frightening things with cloning.”
Raheem nodded decisively. “Then we will begin immediately. Normally I would urge us both to greater speed, but with the level of intricacy we will need to map out we will have to take more time than we would prefer in order to ensure success and safety.”
“Think the religious summit will give us the time?”
He chuckled. “If not, we will know immediately. While we plot and plan, may I suggest the cucumber sandwiches? They are truly excellent.”
“I sense the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”
CHAPTER 55
KING RAHEEM AND I had a long conversation. I did indeed need to take notes. Fortunately, he had the means to contact people and Camilla was allowed to bring my rolling bag and purse to me. Then she was required to skedaddle.