Bitter Waters
Part Two
Kermit went back to his office, more like a closet with a desk. There was barely any room for a file cabinet. What rested on his desk was a phone, a keyboard, and a monitor. The keyboard and monitor were hooked up to a computer housed in another part of the building. Blaisedell had requisitioned him one, a major expense that not all could afford. Kermit tossed the file on his desk and then started typing in commands. No one else in the department had such a luxury. Kermit thought on what Blaisdell stated, and his reason for getting him the computer.
"You're the best at deciphering any code, and if there's information out there, I bet you'll be able to find it."
So far, there wasn't much, but that was changing. The need for keeping information secure would increase, Kermit would see to that. He couldn't create a world wide panic, but he would demonstrate the computer's usefulness.
Kermit opened the file and began to read through the information. As he read, he typed in what was in the file. This was the kind of thing that someone else could be doing instead of him, but those who were familiar with a typewriter would give him a blank look when it came to typing on this kind of keyboard. So, Kermit did it himself. It saved time and when he did do a search sometimes related information turned up.
It took Kermit the better part of an hour to enter the information into the computer. Once done he saved it into a special area on the hardrive that required a 15 digit code to open. The code was made up of letters, numbers, and symbols only one other would recognize. That "other" wasn't Styles and Kermit would be damned if he would give up the code to the new team leader of the Falcon's Wing. There were some things that had to remain secret, even from team members.
Kermit went over every detail of the file. The more he read it, the less he liked it. Who was this Mr. Dao? He wasn't any Chinese government agent Kermit was familiar with, and he knew quite a few of them. Why did he insist on using his own people to take out the terrorists? Something did not set right and yet Kermit was being forced into this situation. He had no choice. Styles made it perfectly clear that he could not refuse this assignment. He wanted Kermit for this job. Well, he didn't have to like it. Looking over the requirements for this case, Kermit decided he would seek out advice, and he knew just the person he wanted to see.
"I'm not a demolitions man, but Styles has called me in as an expert so I came to you for advice."
"You had the training Kermit, you know about setting basic explosives, that's all you need to know." Steadman stated.
"But they're going to want me to set them where they will do the most damage."
"That's quite easy," Steadman said. "It's not about being fancy, it's about the placement." Kermit observed Steadman pulling out a map. "You did say the place you are being sent to is a Shaolin monastery?"
Kermit nodded his head.
Laying the map out, Steadman pointed to several areas. "You set the charges here at these points."
"Where did you get these plans?" Kermit asked.
'All Shaolin monasteries are built the same way. Have been for over a thousand years. They are built by hand. What I don't understand is why are we attacking a Shaolin monastery?"
"We're not attacking it. Someone by the name of Dao will be doing the initial attack. I've been ordered to plant charges to destroy any weapons."
"Again, why?" Steadman asked.
"They're not really Shaolin from what I was told."
"Do you even know what a Shaolin is?"
"No," Kermit replied. "And I don't care. The less I know the better I can concentrate on my job, no matter how unpleasant. From what I know there's children involved. These terrorists are training them."
"That's bad business."
"You're telling me. Remember our very first mission?"
"Don't I ever," Steadman shook his head. "It turned out the children were the ones terrorizing the town."
"I don't like killing children, even if it turns out they're the terrorists."
"Are you certain the information you received is correct?"
"Styles says the information is reliable, this time." Kermit didn't notice Steadmen purse his lips when he mentioned Style's name.
"Kermit, do yourself a favor. If you have any doubt about this, even if you must do your worst, you make certain someone survives."
"So they can be questioned."
"Perhaps," Steadman stated, "But my gut feeling tells me that something is not right here. This may not be what it seems."
"Paul always said if your head and gut don't match up with what you need to do, don't do it. But Styles has made it perfectly clear there is no backing out of this one."
"You're young Kermit, and new to this business. There is much to learn. If Styles wants you on this, he must think you need to learn a lesson."
"I don't need to learn a lesson from the likes of him, from what Paul has told me about the man."
"Do yourself a favor," Steadman counseled. "Don't bring your heart into every job that comes along. It will age you before your time, and before you know it, you will be drinking bitter waters."
"Paul brought me into this business because of my skills as a decoder. I'm no mercenary. I'd rather see justice done."
"Even a mercenary wants to see justice done, for the right reasons and the right price. Not all of us are cold-hearted killers. Just remember what I said."
Continues with Part 3