I've now been on this plane for over twenty hours now, and I'm getting pretty sick of it. After taking a three hour nap and finishing my book, I went looking for something to do. I came across Hellboy, John and a few other agents, playing cards.
I've now learned how to play poker, something my grandmother would be horrified to know. I'm actually getting pretty good at it against Hellboy. A couple of the agents have figured out to follow my lead, though I don't think they've figured out how to play against HB.
I know HB is bluffing, so I call his bluff. Sure enough, he's holding squat.
"Ok, that does it," he growls. "How do you know what I'm holding in my hand?"
"I don't," I answer as I gather up the cards.
"Bull," he snarls. "You always seem to know what I've got in my hand. Now spill. How do you know?"
"I have no clue to what cards you have in your hand," I tell him. I start to shuffle. "But you might try not letting your eyes glow so much when you've got a good hand."
There's dead silence for about one second before John and the other agents start laughing. Hellboy sits there with a stunned look on his face. I have a feeling he was totally unaware that he was doing that.
Before HB can recover, Manning walks in with Abe behind him. The human agents quickly try to recover their composure. Manning scowls at us.
"We're going to be landing soon," Manning tells us. "I want everything ready to go when we get there."
The agents go off to their various assignments; some of them are still snickering. Hellboy sits there and glowers. Abe settles down next to me, and puts an arm around me. Manning remains standing.
"Miss Cavendish, I have informed Dr. Taylor that you're a special agent assigned to this case," he starts. "I want you to work with him in trying to figure out what this creature is, what it is after and how to stop it."
"Very well," I reply.
Manning walks off to see to some other details, leaving me with Hellboy and Abe. I nestle into Abe and stare at the crates. I would like nothing better than to just shatter them.
"And what would that accomplish?" Abe asks me.
"It'd make me feel better," I answer.
Hellboy looks at us quizzically.
"Destroying the crates will only get Manning mad at you again," he points out.
"I know," I reply. "That's one of the very few reasons I haven't done it. Yet."
A while later, the plane touches down and finally taxis to a stop. I watch as Abe and HB fold themselves into their crates. Liz was right. It doesn't get any easier to watch.
The back of the plane opens and I'm the first one out with my bag slung over my shoulder. I don't want to be in the way when they move the crates. Manning follows me and as we step onto the tarmac, a man walks up to us.
"G'day, I'm Rory Copus, I represent the Australian government," he says as he extends his hand to Manning.
"I'm Dr. Tom Manning," says Manning as he shakes Copus's hand. "This is Agent Cavendish. She'll be working with Dr. Taylor to try and figure out this problem."
We shake hands. A flat bed truck backs up to the ramp. A short time later the crates are loaded on and strapped down.
"Is that the special cargo I was told about?" he asks.
"It is," Manning answers.
"We've made special arrangements for you at a secure compound," he says. "Dr. Taylor is waiting for you there."
"Thank you," Manning replies.
Copus leads us over to the open sided 4X4s that are parked off to the side waiting to transport us to this compound. I take a good look around as we wait for the agents to finish getting everything secured.
The sun is still a couple of hours from setting and there's almost nothing around us but a desert that's only sparsely populated by some sort of low lying brush. The air is very dry and warm. The scenery has a stark beauty to it that is quite breath taking.
Within an hour, we're at the secured compound that Copus told us about. Shortly after we arrive, Copus, Manning, the other agents, and I are in a meeting room with Dr. Taylor. He's a strikingly handsome, powerfully built man who has an easy air about him. Hellboy and Abe are in the next room watching and listening. I glance at the mirror that they're behind, and then do my best to ignore it.
"G'day, mates," says Taylor. "I've done a bit of research and seems what you've got yourself here is a baginis."
"I've never heard of a baggingis," says Manning. "Would you mind explaining exactly what that is?"
"Sure thing, mate," Taylor answers. "A baginis is half animal and half human. They are always female. Despite considerable beauty, they have claw-like fingers and toes. The baginis are known to capture men, but seldom kill them, usually letting them go after they rape them."
"What type of animal?" I ask.
"Don't rightly know," he replies throwing me a dazzling smile. I've seen sharks with fewer teeth. "No one can seem to agree on what exactly the animal half is. Some say she looks like a dog, some say a cat."
"So, how do we get rid of it?" asks Manning.
"If you can get close enough, a beheading is usually sufficient," he answers.
"So how do we get close to her?" I ask.
"Now there's the trick, isn't it?" he answers with another smile. "She's only attracted to men and if a sheila's about, she'll not bother."
"Then we'll have to use bait," Manning says. "We'll send an agent out to try and bring this thing out."
"Dr. Manning, I'm not sure that's wise," I comment. "All of the victims were alone. If the agent we send out is being shadowed, chances are the baginis will not show up. Mr. Copus, am I correct in assuming that your government has already try to capture this creature?"
"We have," he answers. "But we haven't had any luck."
"How were you trying to catch her?" I ask.
"We sent men out into the general area that the abductions occurred," he replies.
"Were these men armed?" I inquire.
"Of course," he says.
"Then it stands to reason that you're not catching her is due to these men being armed," I say. "Chances are that she has some animal attributes. If she can tell the difference between a man and a woman in the dark, then she can probably tell if the person is armed as well. Dr. Manning, if you send an agent out there, he'll have to go alone and unarmed."
"Then he'll just have to wear a locater," he replies. "We'll establish a perimeter about one mile out. Now, the victims all said that they were taken to a different location for the assault. That being the case, the instant the agent starts to move beyond the control area that will be our signal to move in."
"Dr. Manning, …" I'm not sure how to ask the next question without revealing who's in the next room.
Manning intends for us to be out in the desert stationed near the bait, Abe thinks at me.
"…how do we determine who gets to be the bait?" I ask trying to cover the pause.
"We'll draw lots," Manning answers.
The next half hour is spent finalizing the plans and getting ready to move out. By the time we get to the vehicles, the flat bed truck with the crates is already gone. The 4X4s are spread out parked in the desert just as the sun is setting. The agent starts walking out with nothing more than a transmitter on his belt for protection. Now we sit and wait in the gathering darkness.