**FFH: do you read tea leaves too?**
Part 12 of 18
Saint-Marie
"Cernunnos?" Dwayne stumbles over the odd vowels, "What in the heck is a cernunnos?"
Catherine looks up, "Cernunnos is a horned god with power over animals… a very old elemental predating the Roman gods in Britain. I believe it is a holdover from Celtic times... perhaps even Pictish. " She then gives her daughter a very satisfied look and murmurs, "It is also an ancient god of fertility," before settling back into calm silence and looking out to sea once more, already planning yet another layette.
No one has anything to say to this. Camille and Celeste's eyes meet with a mutual look of worry. They both hope things don't get out of hand. Dolphins are one thing. Horned gods are a totally different matter! They both wing a prayer skyward - Keep our men safe! Angels and horned gods defend them!
London
Angus returns just in time to join Johnny in meeting with the Prime Minister. Richard waits outside. He doesn't want to cause Angus any more trouble about being in two places at once. In a bit, he sees a very dejected Johnny slink out to stand in the parking lot.
Richard is just coming across the courtyard to join him when Angus lopes out and it begins to rain. By the time Richard reaches them, he is aghast to hear that Johnny has been taken off the case! The mission of over! Angus and Richard give each other horrified looks. No! It can't possibly be over! We have all the clues! We know who the villain is! How can MI7 just kick us to the curb like this? They both start talking at once, trying to buck Johnny up and convince him to keep going.
"I can't," Johnny laments, "I've been ordered to stand down. The Prime Minister herself has given me strictest direction to go home and never darken England's door again!" He flaps his arms at his sides and sighs deeply, "I'm done. I'm through. I've been given a direct order…"
Angus grabs Johnny's arm, "… and you NEVER disobey a direct order, do you? Not like in 2003, 2005, 2008, twice in 2009 and again in…"
Johnny shoves Angus' hand off, "Yes, yes, all right, Bough. I was a bit of a firebrand back in the day but I'm older now. I haven't the stamina and strength to carry on like I did in my youth."
Angus stands up straight, "But you still have your courage, don't you, sir? You've still got that!" He stands up even straighter and says, "And you've still got me. Plus…" he gestures to Richard "…now we have Rich, oh… him! Surely the three of us can manage?" He lowers his voice, "Besides, I have secret information that you need to know."
Against his better judgement, Johnny leans in, "And what's that, dear boy?" Now the three of them have their heads together, conspiring once more to get up to no good for Queen and Country and the sheer hell of it.
Angus grins wolfishly, "I overheard Pegasus and the Prime Minister arranging military security for the Summit meeting. They are calling up a nuclear submarine upon which my cousin is second-in-command! That boy's always up for an adventure and I'm sure I can convince him to convince his captain to take us to Scotland on the down low."
As the three men straighten up and smile at one another, Pegasus is just looking out the window and wondering if the recent stresses haven't knocked his pins loose. He sees three men leap into a red car and race away. Three men… but only two faces. He pours himself a strong Scotch and sits in the calming dark of his office and prays there is no more excitement for at least a week!
Poor man.
END – part 12