Free Asanni by J. F. Kaufmann Page B

choose
their Einhamirs. Sometimes, although rarely, Einhamirs die, more
often they retire, sort of, or they need to be replaced, like Seth
now. Or a new, better leader emerges.” He smiled. “Or it could
happen that a chosen Einhamir feels he’s not ready for the job. Red
Cliffs wanted me to be their Einhamir after my father died, but
back then, I wasn’t ready, so James temporarily took the ‘office’.
He’s been keeping it for me since then.”
    “So you’re going to be the Einhamir?
    Jack shrugged. “Yes. And soon, I’d say.”
    “Oh. Why have your changed your mind?”
    He smiled and gently kissed Astrid’s lips.
“I’m ready now.”
    Astrid wondered if that whole mess with her
in the main role had anything to do with Jack’s sudden change of
heart.
    “What did you do while James was doing your
job?” she said.
    “I studied, traveled, lived in many different
places and on different continents.”
    “What’s your job?”
    “Special missions. I have assignments with
the Government. They send me to get somebody’s butt out of
impossible and quite dangerous places, after all other conventional
methods fail, or when they don’t want to try them at all. Helped
quite a few of your colleagues trapped in the various war
zones.”
    She wasn’t surprised. That fitted him
perfectly.
    I wouldn’t mind being rescued by you. In
fact, I’m sort of being rescued, and I like it , another thought
came from nowhere.
    “There are a few of us,” Jack continued,
“from all around the world, doing the same job.”
    “That’s a noble job,” she said, truly
impressed.
    “Well, thank you. But I don’t think it’s any
more noble than yours, Astrid. As I said, many of those we rescued
were doctors, and I was always impressed with their courage and
determination to go to such places to help others.”
    “Who else are your usual charges? Besides
doctors.”
    “People without common sense or good
judgement about where they should or shouldn’t be. Hostages,
journalists... I came here from South America. A militant group had
kidnapped a journalist and asked the family for ransom. His
mother-in-law arranged to send the money, but instead of releasing
him, they asked for more. So she paid again—she’s the richest one
in the family—but then she decided to contact me. This time it was
a private arrangement, she didn’t go through the official
institutions. She wanted to make sure he was going home that
time.”
    “And you brought him back?”
    “Sure. Two of us went, my friend Adam and I.
It took us less than a week to find him and bring him home. She
should’ve contacted us as soon as she’d gotten the first ransom
request. It would have saved her a couple million.”
    “How did she know about you?”
    “I’ve known the family for a long time.”
    “Who was he? The journalist?”
    “Harold Bertram.”
    “Harold Bertram!? That man has guts! How come
nobody’s heard about it?”
    “The family was warned not to notify the
authorities, and later Bertram decided not to go public about it.
He has his reasons. By the way, his daughter, Lucy, just married a
guy from Red Cliffs.”
    “A werewolf?”
    “No, Charley’s human. Lucy’s family was
concerned about her safety. There were some threats before Bertram
was kidnapped, so James suggested she should come to Red
Cliffs—”
    “Why there? Is she a werewolf?”
    “No, but she has a ranch within our
boundaries, beside Charles’ place… long story. Anyway, she did
come, but as Charley’s wife. They live outside of town. We’ll visit
them once we’re back home… Are you working today?” Jack asked
suddenly.
    “Tonight. Weekend night shift, ER. Why?”
    “Let’s have a walk. You need some fresh air.
I saw a coffee shop near here.”
    “I haven’t finished with my questions.”
    “I know. We can talk there. Put your rain
boots on, it’s wet outside.”
    “I love rain, but sometimes I wish it would
snow here. I like snow,” Astrid said a little