"Every time I begin to think THRUSH can no longer surprise me, they do. This time, I think they've taken the cake!"

Illya looked around confused. "There was cake? Where? Are you sure they've taken it?"

Napoleon laughed until he had to wipe away tears. "I'm sorry, Partner Mine; I forget that American colloquialisms throw you sometimes. What I mean is: This particular bird imagined himself a Rajah and built a satrap that looks like an Indian palace right here in Goa, India. I just don't understand how THRUSH continues to function and thrive when the majority of the rank and file seem to be a bunch of crackpots."

"Oh. Whatever, Napoleon. I have gathered all the paperwork from the lab. I suggest we leave everything else for the Cleanup Crew and head to the Bombay office. It will take us hours to drive there. There is a truck out back that we can use though it is not air – conditioned."

Napoleon shook his head in disgust. "Why are THRUSH trucks never air – conditioned? And, why are these satraps always far removed from a space suitable for landing a chopper?"

Illya rolled his eyes. "Really, Napoleon, would you like some cheese to go with that whine?"

As they walked out of the building toward the truck, Napoleon was saying, "Honestly, Partner Mine, you act like all I do is complain. I hardly ever…" He stopped dead in his tracks. "Did you hear that?"

Both men drew their weapons. "I heard nothing. What did it sound like?"

"I know there's no one else here, but is sounded like a toot on a clarinet." He turned his head as if to fine tune his hearing. Suddenly, a sound came from what appeared to be a large shed.

Crouching down, both men cautiously approached the door. Sounds of someone moving about could now be clearly heard through the door. They knelt on either side of the door and Napoleon signed to Illya that he would kick open the door for the Russian to enter. He held up three fingers, closed his fist and then began to count by holding up his fingers one at a time. One, two, three! He kicked the door wide open and Illya raced in first to confront…a baby elephant that, startled at the sudden noise, ran to the back of the shed crying in distress.

Napoleon looked over Illya's shoulder at the creature and then around the enclosure. He saw a refrigerator that when he opened it revealed what he assumed to be food for the animal. He took out some bananas and called softly, "Come here, Sweetheart. It's OK, we're sorry we scared you. Come." Still skittish, but wanting the food, it started to come closer. All the while, Napoleon kept uttering encouraging words in soothing tones until finally, it walked over and gently took the bananas from him. As it chewed, he petted it and looked it over. "Oh, you're a little girl! Hello!"

Illya grinned, "Of course she is. If I am not mistaken, this is an Indian elephant. They are endangered. I suggest we take her with us so that we can turn her over to the proper authorities."

"And how do you suggest we do that?"

"We have a truck; we will put her in the back with all her food and water. She is wearing a decorative headband; she is obviously used to people and she likes you, so we will take her, yes?"

Napoleon sighed. "It is our job to protect the Innocents, all Innocents of which Ellie is one."

"Ellie Elephant? How original."

"We have to call her something and I refuse to get too attached. Let's get her into the truck so we can get out of here."

They drafted two members of the Cleanup Crew to load all the food and two barrels of water in the body of the truck along with a fresh bed of hay. Finally, Napoleon was able to coax Ellie into the truck which fortunately had holes for air cut out along the top of all four sides. He got into the cab as Illya started the engine and pulled out of the compound.

After ten minutes or so, Ellie started to make plaintive noises. Fifteen minutes later, the Russian pulled over and said, "Napoleon, I refuse to drive for twelve hours with a crying baby elephant in my ear. You know what you have to do."

Napoleon looked shocked. "Me? It was your idea to bring her! Why don't you go back there and babysit?"

"I will. Do you know how to drive an eighteen gear truck?"

The brunet's response was to mumble, "I really hate you right now" before getting out of the cab and heading to the back of the truck.

Illya heard the door open in back. "Don't cry, Ellie. Don't be afraid, I'm going to stay and keep you company." The door closed and Illya heard Napoleon's knock. "Alright, let's go and if I tell you to stop, you better because it means one of us has used the bathroom!"

The Russian started laughing and hit the gas to smoothly get the truck moving. He was still smiling as he turned on the radio. I wonder if I can find a jazz station.