Sugar and Spies

Napoleon Solo was feeling overheated and grumpy. His clothing was soaked with sweat, his canteen was almost out of water and he was starting to feel hungry. He wiped sweat out of his eyes and cast a sidelong glance at his partner, who was trudging along right behind his right shoulder. He scowled and thought, At least he could look as miserable as I feel! He opened his mouth to say as much but, the Russian pointed his finger at his face, causing him to shut it.

"Napoleon," Illya warned, "don't you dare start your complaining again! The mission was a success, the satrap is destroyed and we are unharmed for a change. It is truly unfortunate that the jeep did not survive the explosions but, we did, so excuse me if I'm not upset. Considering who said the jeep was safe where it was, maybe I should be the one complaining about walking halfway across South Korea to meet the chopper. But, I think walking to the extraction point is a small price to pay." His hair was limp with perspiration and he pushed it away from his face in exasperation.

Napoleon grunted and decided it was counterproductive to pick a fight with Illya, especially since he had been the one to say the jeep was far enough away from the compound and would be fine. How was I supposed to know my efficient Russian partner had decided to add a few more charges "just to make sure?" The resultant explosions set fire to the surrounding forest and immolated the jeep before they could save it; so they were forced to walk. Fortunately, they had blown the satrap before dawn, so it wasn't as hot as it was going to get yet and they had taken their canteens out of the vehicle at the last minute before going in to set the charges. Instead, he asked, "How much farther to the rendezvous point?"

Illya stopped to consult his map and catch his breath. "Eight more miles," he answered, "I believe we are actually ahead of schedule. There's a small village directly on the way about three miles ahead. I think we should be able to get food and water there. I have five thousand won in my pocket. We'll be able to pay for supplies." He had caught back up to Napoleon and fallen back in step.

Napoleon whistled and said, "I'm impressed. How much is that in American money?"

The blond smiled. "Don't be, it's only thirty – nine dollars and fifty cents. Honestly, Napoleon, you don't speak the language and you can't calculate the currency exchange rate. What good are you on this mission anyway?"

Napoleon just looked over his shoulder and laughed at the jibe. It was really good to have Illya at his side. It never ceased to amaze him how smoothly they worked together, like a well – oiled machine. Illya Kuryakin was truly the best partner he had never wished for and the best friend he had ever had. "Just shut – up and walk."

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They had arrived in the village a little before noon. As they had expected, there weren't too many men around; they were either fishing the nearby river or farming in the fields. The women were understandably nervous to see strangers but, Illya was able to convince them that they only wanted to wash up and get something to eat. When he showed some of the money he had and said he was willing to pay anyone who helped them, they immediately had three women preparing food for them and offering them basins of water to clean themselves.

They had washed up, eaten a meal of rice and vegetables and filled their canteens. The women had wanted five hundred won each, Illya gave them six. They were just about to be on their way when Illya noticed a small child, approximately two years old, come from behind a hut. The little girl was naked, dirty and looked ill – fed. Her hair was matted and she was holding what looked like a red magic marker. She meandered into the middle of what passed as the main road, sat down and started to draw on her skin. The Russian had gotten his partner's attention when no one seemed to show any interest in what the child was doing. Illya was appalled.

"누구의 아이가 이것을 무엇입니까? Whose child is this?" he called out. When no one answered, he walked over to the little girl and picked her up. "그녀의 어머니는 어디입니까? Where is her mother?" He looked at the eldest of the three women who had fed them for answers. She starting speaking and the normally reserved Russian's face took on such a look of horror that Napoleon stood up and joined him in the road.

He touched the arm that held the little girl to Illya's chest and when the woman stopped talking, he asked softly, "What's going on?"

"Her mother is dead. Her pimp killed her a few days ago. Her father was a Negro American soldier. She's an outcast, Napoleon. No one has fed her or cared for her since her mother's death. The woman said she was using the marker to draw clothing on her body." Illya hugged the girl tighter. "I can't leave her here. She'll be lucky if she just starves to death. If she's unlucky, she might be sold as a sex toy."

Napoleon looked askance at the man and child in front of him. "You want to bring her with us?"

Illya stared back. "Do you want to leave her here?" When his partner shook his head, Illya handed her to him and said, "Hold her, please." The Russian agent reached into his pocket and pulled out a wad of cash. "난이 아이에 대한 나를 비누와 물, 깨끗한 옷을과 우유를 가져다 사람에게 모두 돈을 줄 것이다! 서둘러, 우리는 곧 떠나야주세요! I will give all this money to whoever brings me soap and water, clean clothes and milk for this baby! Hurry please, we must leave soon!"

The small group of women who had gathered when Illya had picked up the little girl came to life. One woman ran to her hut and returned with a bottle of canned milk and some clothing. Another brought a basin of soapy water and a washcloth. Illya divided the money he had in his hand and gave each woman half.

Napoleon tested the temperature of the water with his elbow and then lowered the little girl into the water and held her while his partner gently, but quickly, bathed her and washed her hair. The little girl looked from one to the other with large brown eyes. She appeared to be unafraid. She smiled when she reached out to grab Illya's nose and he pretended to bite her. "Illya, when did you learn how to handle and bathe a child?" asked Napoleon.

"When I was in the orphanages, the older children were expected to help with the younger ones. I was bathing babies when I was seven years old. What about you? How did you know to test the water with your elbow?"

"I watched my sister do it when her kids were younger." Napoleon looked behind Illya and said, "It would seem that someone else is trying to curry favor with the crazy man who's giving away money." The blond turned to see a woman approaching with a towel and some diapers. He reached in his pocket and gave her some money and then took the towel, held it up and signaled Napoleon to hand him the child. He dried her off then laid her on the towel and diapered her. He pulled the pink cotton dress he had bought over her head, picked her up and handed her back to his partner. The women who had stayed to observe all of this burst into applause, chatter and laughter that caused the Russian to blush to the roots of his hair. Napoleon smiled his most charming smile and whispered out the side of his mouth, "What was that all about?"

Illya shrugged and answered, "They are not used to seeing men extend this level of care to children. They think we must be 'women – men.' We need to get ready to leave. We have to meet the chopper in five hours." He placed the extra diapers and clothing in the towel and tied the ends together so that it hung off his back. He handed a canteen to Napoleon and placed his on his shoulder. He was just about to take the toddler back from his partner when he noticed three men about seventy feet away. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up and he moved instinctively in front of Napoleon and the little girl. He said quietly, "Protect her and don't let her see what is happening."

The man standing in the middle was looking straight at them. He said, "그 여자는 내 속성입니다. 그녀의 어머니는 나를 위해 일했다. 나는 그녀를 위해 구매자가 있다. 지상에 그녀를 넣어 하 고 도보로 멀리 그리고 거기 아무 문제가 있을 거 야. 나는 그녀를 청소 하는 당신을 이해 한다. 그 게 그녀의 가치를 몇 가지 더 원. That girl is my property. Her mother worked for me. I have a buyer for her. Put her on the ground and walk away and there'll be no trouble. I do appreciate you cleaning her up. That makes her worth a few more won."

The Russian had noted that the two men flanking the pimp were armed but had not removed their guns from their waistbands. He knew they were dead men. He held his hands out to his side and said, "괜 찮 아 요. 내 친구는 한국어를 이야기 하지 않습니다 그래서 나에 게 무엇을 해야할지 말해 순간. Alright. My friend does not speak Korean so give me a moment to tell him what to do."

Illya turned around to Napoleon, said "Duck," then pulled his Special, spun around and shot Middle Man's backup. His third shot caught the pimp between the eyes. He reached his left hand behind him to help his partner get up while continuing to scan the village for any new threats. He called out, "나는 내 딸이이 아이 주장. 다른 사람이 그것에 문제가 있나요? I claim this child as my daughter. Does anyone else have a problem with that?" The answering silence was deafening. "Let's go, Napoleon," he said as he pointed out which way to go. "I'll follow you at a slight distance to make sure we're not followed."

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They walked for more than an hour in silence; Illya had been clearing a path for them. The little girl had fallen asleep in Napoleon's arms. The brunet man adjusted his hold on her and asked, "Are you going to tell me why there are three dead men in that village and why we're not being followed?"

Illya stopped and took the little girl back. She sighed and settled into his arms as if she had always rested there. "Timing is truly everything, Napoleon. The man speaking to me was her mother's pimp. He said he had a buyer for the girl and you should put her down and we should walk away. Since we had her first, I objected."

Napoleon snorted. "You objected? Is that what you're calling it now? What did you say to the villagers after you… objected?

To Napoleon's shock, Illya leaned down and kissed the child's forehead. "I told them that this little one is now my daughter. No one had a problem with that."

Napoleon stopped dead in his tracks. "You what?"

Illya's face broke into a half – smile and he lifted the sleeping child slightly and said, "Congratulate me, it's a girl. What shall I name her?"

"You can't be thinking of keeping her! It's not possible!"

"Anything is possible but, in any event, she needs a name. If she had one before, the women that helped us didn't tell me what it was. So, help me decide what her name will be."

Napoleon took the child back and tilted his head to signal that Illya should take the lead walking. After a few moments, he said, "Well, since I'm your best friend and your senior agent, I think you should name her after me."

Illya turned around so that his partner could see him roll his eyes. He groaned, "Napoleonia? Who do you hate more: Me or the child?"

The American laughed then noticed that the toddler had awakened and was watching him. He smiled at her and said, "I was thinking about 'Leona.'" The little girl smiled and Napoleon was delighted. "She likes that name!"

The Russian kept them moving forward. "If I agree to 'Leona,' I need to pick her middle name. I think she looks like a Nicole."

Napoleon thought about it and nodded, "Yes, Leona for me and Nicole for Nickovetch. Leona Nicole," he cooed and the baby laughed. "Leona Nicole Kuryakin."

Illya smiled and shook his head. "Number one, her last name would be Kuryakina if I gave her that name. Number two, she can't have that name because it would create a link to me and that would be dangerous for her. I want her to have a Korean middle name also and, I have an idea for her last name. I think you'll like it."

They had made it to the rendezvous point with about an hour to spare. They found a defensible spot to wait and after securing their perimeter, they sat in the shade awaiting their ride. Leona Nicole was perfectly happy bouncing on her "father's" knee to the beat of the Russian children's song Illya was singing to her.

His American partner sat with his back to them, the better to protect their position and look for the chopper. "OK, Partner Mine, tell me what our daughter's full name is going to be."

Illya stopped singing and bouncing. "Our daughter?" He echoed.

Napoleon turned and looked at his partner. "Yes, our daughter," he repeated. "We're partners; if you claim her, I'm with you one hundred percent. If for some bizarre reason, the Old Man lets you keep her, I guess we'll raise her together. So, I ask again: What is her full name?"

Illya stood Leona up on his thigh and said, "Agent Napoleon Solo, it is my pleasure to present Miss Leona Nicole Hyun Reilly. Hyun means 'wise' and Reilly is…"

"My middle name. I love it," the American said, "But, why?"

"As I told you, Leona would be in danger if she had my last name or yours for that matter. Your middle name makes a good last name and best of all, not everyone knows what your middle name is."

Napoleon's smile lit up his face. "I really like it and I'm honored that you value our friendship enough to give this little girl a variation of my name. Whatever the outcome, whatever the Old Man decides, I'll never forget it." He looked away and wiped his eyes. "Illya, look! It's the chopper!" He stood and waved his arms to get the pilot's attention, then turned to his partner who was covering Leona's ears. "Let's go home and see what adventures this little girl is going to get us into."

The Russian stood and gathered Leona into his arms. "Let's go."