THE SAN RICO AFFAIR

EPILOGUE

It was almost noon and another hot, sunny day in San Rico. Down on the harbour, Napoleon sat on a bench in the small hut by the pier. He stared through the open window. He watched people milling around preparing boats for a while, then watched the sun dance on the calm water.

After retrieving Terry, Napoleon and Illya had secretly fled from the ruined complex site and made the long journey back to San Rico on foot. They had stopped briefly at the hotel to collect their things and communicate more information back to Mr Waverly. They had considered staying there longer to rest but all three were desperate to leave. Illya had stopped off in town on the way and Napoleon and Terry went straight to the harbour to wait.

'How long until our boat comes in?' a voice beside him asked. 'Napoleon?'

Napoleon blinked. 'Oh, ah, I'm not sure. I haven't asked anyone.'

Terry sighed sharply and slammed her cap down on the bench. 'Napoleon, you're so disorganised! I need to get back to New York…I do have a job to do, you know!'

'I do know, Terry,' sighed Napoleon. 'But I'm sure there will be a boat to the mainland soon. They're fairly regular.'

'Well I sure hope so,' replied Terry, folding her arms. 'I need to get home and get a new camera. Desperately. How is a photographer supposed to make a living without a camera?'

Napoleon winced against her high voice. 'Don't you ever get tired, Terry?'

Terry was about to reply but someone was coming through the entrance and distracted her. 'Hey, Illya! Nice suit!'

Illya gave her a small smile. 'Thank you. I bought it in the town.' He gave his dark suit a quick look over and walked in, sitting down beside Napoleon who raised an eyebrow at him. 'Another dark suit? Is that all you wear these days?'

'I like them,' Illya answered.

'When does our boat come in, Illya?' asked Terry. 'Don't tell me you didn't ask, either.'

'I'm afraid I haven't yet…'

'Oh guys!!' Terry growled. She got up and stormed out of the hut. 'I guess it's left up to me, then!'

Illya turned and gave Napoleon a look. Napoleon smiled wearily. 'I believe she's in bad mood.'

'She has been through rather a lot,' Illya conceded. 'Perhaps we can allow her to feel rather frustrated.' He watched Napoleon put his head back against the wooden wall. 'Are you alright?' Illya asked.

Napoleon opened one eye, his bruised one. 'I've been better. But then again, I've been worse.'

Illya put his head back as well. 'I can't say I'll be sorry to leave San Rico. I suppose our affairs here have ended successfully, but our efforts to achieve that success have been rather taxing.'

Napoleon was quiet for a moment, thinking deeply. Eventually he spoke. 'It was a nice bluff, getting Cole to believe you would join Thrush.'

Illya smiled proudly. 'It was, wasn't it.'

'I almost believed you for a moment.'

'You did?'

'I wasn't sure what to believe. Especially after you announced to Cole you were no longer my partner.'

Illya bit his lip. Napoleon looked at him directly now. 'Come on, Illya, let's sort this once and for all. Are you serious about getting a transfer?'

'Maybe.'

'I'll repeat the question I asked you earlier, then. What do you want, Illya?'

Illya rubbed the bridge of his nose and faced his friend. 'It's quite simple, Napoleon. I want you to trust me.'

'I do trust you…'

'Saying it isn't enough. When we were stuck on the riverbank, you didn't trust me enough to keep watch. Before that, you were obviously resentful of me. We can't continue our partnership if that's how it will be from now on. I need to be sure that you really want me as your partner. If I'm not sure, then it's best I leave.'

Napoleon ran a hand through his hair and sighed. 'Listen Illya, when you ran off at the riverbank, what did I go and do?'

Illya paused before answering. 'You fell asleep.'

'Exactly. If I really didn't trust you, do you think I would have let my guard down that much?'

'Alright…Perhaps not,' Illya replied, slowly. 'But what about before that?'

'Before that? I admit, I wasn't exactly pleased with you!' Napoleon explained. 'But that was only because I was sore about you torturing me in front of Gurnius…sore in more than one sense of the word. But I don't hold some kind of grudge against you, Illya. You forget as well that Cole very nicely set up the chance for me to get my revenge on you. And I wouldn't take it. We're good together, Illya. I don't want to lose what we have.'

Illya watched Napoleon closely and carefully took in what his friend told him. He didn't doubt Napoleon's honesty. 'I don't want to lose it either,' he finally replied. 'So you're willing to put all of this behind us?'

Napoleon smiled. 'What happens in San Rico stays in San Rico, partner.'

Illya rolled his eyes and couldn't help smiling back. They shook hands.

Napoleon put his head back again and shut his eyes. 'You told HQ about the Thrushies trying to build their new nest, didn't you?'

Illya leaned back against the wooden hut as well. 'Yes. Mr Waverly will be sending re-enforcements to deal with whatever Thrush presence remains there, though I expect they will be too disheartened to try and carry on with their construction work. Mr Waverly seemed quite pleased with our efforts here.'

'Good. It's nice to be appreciated occasionally.'

'Very occasionally.'

They both fell silent for a moment before Napoleon spoke again, sounding half-asleep. 'I still think you're crazy for carrying explosives in your teeth.'

Illya just chuckled.

* * * *

A boat finally arrived at the harbour to take passengers to the mainland. Terry Cook watched the small craft sail in and take anchor and almost squealed with joy. She jumped up from where she had been sitting on the pier and rushed into the little hut to tell the U.N.C.L.E agents they could finally go home.

Terry rushed in through the open entrance but bit her lip before she called out. She found Napoleon and Illya slumped back against the wall, leaning against each other and fast asleep. Terry giggled and shook her head. 'My poor, brave guys…if only I had a camera…'

* * * *

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