CHAPTER THIRTY TWO

Miss Parker and company did not want Dead Beat to get suspicious so they decided to mingle with the Terra Firma Movie Company. She, Jarod, Ethan, Constance, her husband and the children went on board the yacht where the heroine was supposed to be tortured. The villain acted as all action adventure villains acted, that is, he gloated, and made speeches insulting America. Right now, he was bad mouthing American men, saying that they were responsible for the rape of several innocent Vietnamese women. That these particular women were B girls, he kept out of his rant. And since this was an action adventure B movie, the producer did not have to worry about political correctness. The ones who would see this just wanted to see the hero humiliate the villains.

Broots, Lambourni, Debbie, and Sam were on the hero's boat along with MacLean.. Lambourni could keep an eye on Sam and besides MacLean wanted to do an interview from the hero's point of view.

They would make the Dead Beat think that they were the ones after him which is why Lambourni wore what he considered as law enforcement undercover suit, navy pants and white shirt. Broots also gave up his usual colorful gear and did the appropriate frown. He was not as good an actor as Antonio who browbeat the crew to get their help. If he were not a Dominant, he would have failed. This crew could have won the World Wrestling Federation and the best looking hunks in America hands down.

On Miss Parker's ship, there were several extras, pretending to be Cubans, or Russians with a few left leaning Americans among them. The other villain was watching the stage hands construct the devices of pain, which included a replica of a battery charger, smoke, handcuffs, pinchers, etc. Miss Sedona was getting her makeup applied, as well as the fake cigarette burns and since this show would be restricted, one of her torturers would rip off her bra strap, exposing her breast, a common cheap Action Adventure tactic and as usual the heroine would spit in the face of the villain, causing him to slap her across the face and use electric cattle prods to get her to talk. Yes, Miss Parker knew all the tricks. She had seen Lyle watch these shows over and over again. Well Jarod did too, but at least, he did not slather and drool!

The producer came over to her, telling Miss Parker that they needed someone to fill in for the maid for the villain Chang Liu's evil girlfriend and someone to be one of the deck hands who would stand on guard before the hero slit his throat. However, when he suggested that Jarod and Miss Parker become extras on the set, Jarod balked at something so temporary.

"It won't work. When Dead Beat's yacht passes, I cannot be waving at the villain or be the crew member whom the hero sends me to my death, Miss Parker." He checked his pockets which were empty. "What happened to my weapon?"

"Maybe you shouldn't have one. You were quite good at grabbing mine out of my hand."

"Read the book. It says that all Dominants are allowed a weapon. One gun or revolver along with the appropriate ammunition just in case the dead beat brings out a machine gun and starts blasting away. I'm quite fast, but machine guns have a wide berth."

She started browsing again. "With all the revisions, this book'll be too heavy to carry. Ah yes, hmm it does put us in a bad light. Quote: 'We must defend ourselves against the humans who want this whole planet under their dominance. Every member of the New Species, hereto known as homo dominants or Dominants for short, will be given a weapon of sufficient firing power to cause injury or death to the victim.' At least they got that right. Oh I can have two. Wow! You can have one, but it doesn't say what kind."

"A revolver will do or maybe an AKA 747." He was smiling. "I suppose one of your guns will be those dainty little things that ladies have on those old Western movies."

"I still have the one that the Centre gave me and I purchased another. Oh it says the Council supplies the weapons.

He started to look around. "I'll talk to John, but don't know how he could have taken it without me knowing."

Miss Parker doubted that Jarod would make much headway with John who was sort of aloof, much like she had been when she and Jarod were children. "I heard they can mesmerize anyone. I'll find that photographer. He's got to be on this ship someplace." She left Jarod who was still estimating the distance needed to leap on Deadbeat's ship, the Doris Day (which she knew was not the name it was known back in San Pedro.) without getting too much soaked.

Going down in her cabin, she checked through the entrees to find out if any had been recently painted or renamed. The proprietors of the regatta could tell if this had been done. They used ultra violet equipment to see if anyone had tried to put in a former disqualified entry. One of the methods was to repaint the old boat a new color and give it a new name, that along with changing the flag, putting in new furniture, etc. The DEA and the FBI knew it which is why they were disqualified as was anyone with a criminal background. Well they failed at that when Dead Beat joined the Regetta.

John was photographing a scene where the notorious Chang Liu, as played by Lim Wong, lately of Hong Kong, was having a dinner scene with his mistress Lama, as played by Susan Chow, also formerly from Hong Kong. She had on bright red lipstick, slicked black hair and wore a black leather teddy with metal studs at strategic places.

Miss Parker found the whole scene cheap and distasteful especially the part where Lama referred to her whip as Diana and broke a fabulous Ming vase with it and Chang Liu, who was normally immune to sensitivity, referred to Lama with "My pearl."

The director yelled cut and print and then told John that someone was here to see him.

"What is it, Lady Angela?" he asked, while putting a fresh cartridge in the camcorder.

"It's about Jarod. His gun is missing."

"Well technically it's not his. If you bought it, I will repay you."

"It used to belong to the Centre and since I'm in charge, I own it, so if you took it, hand it over."

John smiled, not a pleasant one and went into his quarters, returning with the weapon. "I made a few minor improvements, increased the kill distance. These magazines are from the Council. I'll send more over when necessary. Oh and Dominants don't beg. We'll know."

"Oh when he starts to break someone's neck instead of shooting him." She left the photographer and went back on deck. The other ships were closing in, including the one that Lambourni was on and John was now on deck, getting his camera ready to photograph the yachts as they went by. It was mainly for local color to make it look as if they were actually in the race. The other main bad guy, Carlos Guiverra, was at the helm holding the lovely heroine now in a striped tee shirt and pedal pushers and probably saying, "If your boyfriend tries anything, you'll be the first to die."

Jarod was now getting ready to jump, for the Doris Day was closing in, pursued by the hero's boat.