Chapter IV
The Hunted Hunters, part III
-What?- The reporter wondered.- But how do you...?-
-You think we're stupid, right, European?- The male Mexican asked
-No... it's just...- Tintin tried to explain
-Come here, you both bastards!- María demanded to both Europeans.
-What if we don't want to?- The Captain asked with a demanding voice
Adolfo then took a random passenger, scared, by her neck and pointed his gun into her head.
-If you happen to refuse, my dear men...- Adolfo said.- ... the world will soon turn black and red, full of eternal suffering, for this young female.-
The Captain and the reporter had no option, but to give up their weapons and come closer to the Mexican gangsters.
-Good.- Adolfo said with approval as he threw the passenger back to her seat.- To the pilot cabin.-
-NOW!- The female gangster demanded.
Both Europeans sighed and went towards the pilot cabin with the Mexican gangsters, leaving the passengers very scared and nervous.
In the pilot cabin, the plane's pilot had an explosive-like artefact attached to his hat. If he happened to either remove his hat or leave his place, he'd die instantly. The 30-year-old man was like about to cry. His co-workers were knocked out and gagged.
Tintin and Haddock arrived a few seconds later, with Adolfo and María behind them.
-How do you figured out we were not gangsters?- Tintin asked
-A foreign contact of ours told us everything this morning.- María said.
-Game over, Tintin.- Adolfo said.- El juego ha terminado.-
Now the things were getting worse. The plane was almost leaving the country limits. Tintin saw what the scared pilot was trying to do without the Aztec Hawks noticing.
-It's not over yet, Adolfo.- Tintin replied with a smile.
-Of course it's over now, mi amigo.- Adolfo said.- Our Boss will be pleased on our work, meanwhile you, and your friend, will die in a very slow, painful way.- Said as he was showing a jar with a few female, flesh-eating scarabs.
-Politicians! Mamelukes! Technocrats! Miserable blundering barbecued blister..!- Captain Haddock cursed. Before even finishing his last curse, he was knocked out by María.
-Anything you want to add before your execution, jovencito?- She said
Tintin was silent.
He saw the pilot was landing carefully back to the city, without making a single noise. The army, and a plenty of cops were waiting for the plane. Suddenly, a few passengers were appearing where the armed men were, making him realize they were already in ground with the engines still on.
-Yes. I have one thing.- He replied.
After hearing this, the couple aimed their guns and the jar with the scarabs to the reporter. Without them noticing, Tintin took the pilot's hat and threw it to the gangsters.
- You're fired!- The lad said as he pushed the now distracted couple out of the cabin.
Now he was alone with the scared pilot and knocked out people.
-Take your people out of this plane. I'll take mine.- Tintin said as he was carrying the Captain.
The pilot then opened a secret door and they left.
As soon as the pilot with his two men and Tintin with the Captain touched the ground, the plane exploded. It looked beautiful and scary at the same time. The fire expanded until the airplane was no longer visible. The last blast wave generated caused the plane to explode, and its pieces were spread in the surroundings.
After like an hour, the fire finally ceased, and the police were able to go on what remained of the plane, to search for possible dead. Minutes later, the Chief left the place, and went towards Tintin, who was being interviewed by a reporter, and Captain Haddock, who recovered minutes before the ceasing of the fire.
-Disculpa, puedo hablar con el Sr. Tintin?- The Chief asked to the reporter.
-Si, claro.- the reporter replied, leaving with his notes.
-Is there something wrong, Chief?- Tintin asked
-We've searched in the plane. Just three dead.-
-Three?- The Captain asked.- Are you sure?-
-We're sure.- The Chief replied.- But there's nothing to worry. Those were identified as Aztec Hawks by two of my men.-
-That means the last two are still alive.- Tintin deducted. They might have ran away while you were rescuing the passengers.-
-Do you remember seeing a couple, with a jar full of bugs?- Haddock asked
-Sure, I remember one.- The Chief replied.- By the exotic bugs they had, I assumed they were the Egyptians the National Museum staff told me they were taking their bugs back to their "home".-
-Miserable Ignoramus!- Haddock cursed.- Those so-called Egyptians were the two goddamn remaining Aztec Hawks!-
-I'll make like I did hear nothing about insulting me.- The Chief said angrily to Haddock.- And second, I'll call the remaining states to close the train stations, airports, and ship stations. Oh, by the way, if I happen to hear you again cursing or insulting either me, my country, or the people who live in it, I'll make sure you'll never put a step on Mexico. Got it?-
-Got it.- The Captain replied like if he didn't even care about it.
Tintin then looked to the ground, and saw a wing. And not a bird one.
It was a scarab one. To be precise, a wing from a female flesh-eating scarab.
-Chief, do you know where the detectives are?- Tintin asked
-The twins? Oh, they might be inside the airport, talking with the victims of the hijacking.-
-Thanks, Chief! Please, stay where you are!- Tintin said as he ran into the building.
Meanwhile, the dim-witted detectives were trying to calm down an elderly female passenger. Snowy and Queen, the Chief's female Chihuahua, were with them, chewing some bones.
-Sorry, miss. We cannot understand all the things you're saying but, I just hope you're okay and the responsible of this atrocity will be found and punished by the law.-
-Detectives!- Tintin said as he arrived to them.- Can I have Snowy now? I think I found a clue and his sense of smell can help to locate the hijackers.-
-What are you waiting for?- Thomson asked
-Take both dogs with you.- Thompson proposed.- Two dog noses are better than one.
-To be precise, two are better than one.- Thomson added.
-Here, Snowy!- Tintin called his dog.- Take your friend with you.-
Snowy and Queen then followed Tintin to the crime scene.
Now the place was being crowded by worldwide reporters.
Queen was starting to howl as she was getting nervous and queasy. The Belgian reporter recognized that type of howling and tried to carry her very carefully. She appeared to accept to be carried in his arms. Snowy, of course, was getting a little jealous.
-It's okay, boy.- Tintin said to Snowy, perceiving a jealous quiver.- She's getting dizzy, and the Chief won't like to receive her sick.-
Snowy growled softly. Even if he was against the idea, the dog had no option but to accept it.
They finally managed to arrive to where the Chief was. He took his female dog from Tintin's arms and tried to make her feel secure. The lad then went to Snowy and pointed to the scarab wing. The white fox-terrier sniffed it and barked.
-Chief, the Captain and I will follow my dog. If we happen to find the remaining of the Aztec Hawks, I'll send him.- Tintin said.
-Got it, Tintin.- The Chief replied as he was lulling Queen.- Also, before you go. I want to tell you those smugglers can't have gone too far. The entire country is in an emergency state.-
-Thanks, Chief.- Tintin said and left with Captain Haddock.
Both Europeans were now following Snowy into the woods, near the airport.
Meanwhile, in the middle of "God-knows-where", the couple is seen going inside the abandoned building, which happened to be part of their headquarters.
-I won't be taken alive by those asnos.- Adolfo said.
-I'll try to contact the foreigner.- María said.- You in the meanwhile, keep an eye on the bugs. We might need them for later.- Said as she was leaving.
Adolfo then saw the jar and started to count the insects, because of boredom.
Then, his heart wanted to stop.
Two flesh-eating scarabs were missing.
He didn't want to scare his wife, so the Drug Lord started to search them.
Those bugs were nowhere to be found or seen.
He checked the jar again, and, for his surprise, it was not damaged enough to free at least two of them.
It might have been damaged in the explosion. He thought.
Then again, he remembered he wanted to kill those bugs by launching them in the fire, but his wife prevented it and, instead, ran away to where they are now. That situation made Adolfo think those managed to escape, just to be burned in the fire.
-The foreigner said he has sent an helicopter to rescue us.- The female said as she approached her husband.
-We will start a new life in a new place, far, far away from Mexico, won't we?- The Drug Lord asked as he was hugging her.
-We will change our names, erase our fingerprints, change our accents, and learn new languages.- she replied.
María then heard her husband's heart. It sounded nervous and scared.
-Is everything fine?- She asked
-Fine as the gold shines.- He said.
-Are the bugs okay?-
-Yes... all of them.-
-Are they hungry?-
Hungry?
Of course! The two missing ones might have been eaten by the rest! Adolfo said in his mind as he was smiling very relieved. Why didn't I think of that? -If those nosy people happen to arrive... I just hope these insects might enjoy their "buffet".- he said
-Oh, you're such a maniac.- María said and kissed her husband in the mouth.
The two were going to share an intimate moment. The thing was getting exciting and was getting full of heat for both.
Before sharing a passionate kiss, a sound was heard.
Somebody has broken in the house.
Each one then take a knife and start to walk very quietly, trying to spot whatever it entered to their secret hideout.
They then went to the first floor, and saw nothing, but small paw prints. The couple followed the prints until those ended in another entrance.
-It was just some hungry, stray dog.- María said.
-I believe it, too.- her husband agreed. He then directed his sight into the floor.
A scarab wing.
Bullcrap! Adolfo cursed in his mind
-What are you looking at?- She asked
-Uhm...- he replied.- I was looking where did that dog entered. The paw prints are very confusing.-
-I don't think so.- A familiar voice said.
They then turned their heads, just to see Tintin and Captain Haddock, pointing them with their guns.
-Who said the game was over?- Tintin asked.
A/N: Hope you like this! School's screwing me up. Also, silly me I'm developing more ideas for the last part of this trilogy and for my other Tintin fanfic, "The Beginnings of a Young Reporter" instead on working on this one. Oh well... I'll soon submit a trivia for my fanfics.
Please Review! That helps me a lot for writing more!