Arrives an Aircraft, and Special Orders.

By Mr. David R. Dorrycott

corrected August 07^th, 2009

The usual suspects copyright Mr. Simon Barber, used with permission.

A heavy, tri-motor Italian floatplane cruised calmly through the afternoon atmosphere, its three powerful Alfa Romeo 126 RC10 engines humming contentedly as they made their way to their destination, and their new owner. Within the large aircrafts cockpit First Lieutenant Raffaele Epifano yawned, reaching up to adjust his radio receiver. The signal from Spontoon Island’s civilian Radio LONO was coming in strong now, and though the music was deplorable to his sensitive ears, it also eased his nerves after such a long flight.

They had been delayed at the Gilbert and Sullivan Islands by a more than snoopy Customs Officer. Even though all they did was tie up and refuel, along with loading fresh fruit, the collie’s curiosity as to why such an aircraft was painted in the livery of an English Lords, while bearing the Italian flag on its vertical stabilizer had caused him to decided that they were carrying some exotic, and very illegal cargo. After all, what other reason would there be for a brand new CANT Z.506a Airone to be visiting his island, with only three crew members aboard. There simply had to be something illegal about their flight.

It had taken his superior, Captain Alessandro Madaffari, four long days to finally get the English mutt off their backs, and then only by allowing his superior to ‘inspect’ the aircraft. They had all been about to simply tie up the young officer up and leave him in a low class whorehouse, with a twenty pound note glued to his fur when relief arrived in the form of the collie’s commander.

“A rather expensive and ornate vehicle” Major Wilson, a much older hound had observed, lightly tapping the aircrafts all wood hull. “For three wolves. You are expecting company perhaps?” He had been quite interested in the brand new design, and intrigued by the rather ornate fixtures to be found within its hull. Instead of the expected seating for fourteen passengers, there was a rather ornate bed squeezed into its tail section and very pleasant seating for only six furs of average size, along with of all things, a shower. Even considering the aircrafts sixty-three foot total length, this was an exorbitant luxury. Why to simply maintain such an aircraft would break the average furs bank account in its first month. Yet like all upper officers, the thought of having such a vehicle at his own beck and call was mouth watering.

“It is for Widow Lady Amelia Allworthy” Alessandro had explained, offering the aircrafts legal papers to the hound. Major Wilson had accepted those papers with ease. Ease his Captain had not shown. It had turned out that the collie could not read, or speak Italian at all. Yet had tried to act as if he could. Knowing the British military, Captain Madaffari was certain that the younger officer would be facing a serious dressing down. Once they had departed that was. After a few minutes the Major had returned those papers, nodding to himself.

“Which explains the livery” the Major said softly. Looking at the pilot he almost smiled. “Lord Allworthy was executed for crimes against the Crown. As was his sister beside him. Please do convey to the new Lady Allworthy that, should she follow their lead, it will not be a silk rope that she feels about her neck. Certainly not should she find herself within this bases prison. It will be the red hot iron. Good-day sir, and good flight.”

“Damn British” Raffaele whispered under his breath. “Regulations, regulations, regulations. If they have caused us to miss Lady Allworthy, il Duce will send us to Africa. With the legion.” A chime from the cockpits clock brought him out of his memories. Leaning slightly over he checked the clocks paws. Yes, it was that time. Finally. Once this delivery was over he was to be stationed on Spontoon. Supposable as crew replacement for the next ship that needed one. In actuality, Raffaele was a special agent, with orders to ‘mess up’ any German spy activity in the Spontoon area. He yawned, turning in his seat to throw a small book at the mechanic who was, as usual, sleeping at his station.

“Sergeant Giuseppe, you lazy toad. Go wake Alessandro. We are very close to these Spontoon Islands.” With the Sargent out of the cockpit the wolf took a few moments to stand, straighten his rumpled uniform and change seats. This would impress his supposed superior, and allow his seat to cool before placing his own tail within its embrace. Alessandro hated a warm seat.

Thus it was that on Friday mid-afternoon, the brand new CANT Z.506a eased her twin floats down into Spontoon waters with no bounce. This of course was due more to the size and weight of the ship, and not the pilots skills. Captain Alessandro Madaffari was an excellent pilot, or he would never have been chosen for this mission. Still, he was nursing a headache from perhaps a bottle too much of wine this morning.

Shutting down their engines, the three gathered their personal items and prepared for an expected long delay while clearing Customs and settling payment for the aircrafts mooring. They would also have to arrange to have the Italian flag removed from the floatplane, to be replaced by the British flag as befitted her new owner. It was a delay that, after explaining their reasons for visiting Spontoon, they would find much shorter than expected. Then there was the unexpected and very pleasant welcome by rather delightful native women as they exited the building. Sadly, they had two very important missions to complete before they could taste the islands pleasures, the first being delivering a very important diplomatic satchel to one Signorina Maria Inconnutia, a most favored niece of il Duce himself.

“I am most sorry Captaino Madaffari” the short civilian adjutant admitted. “But truth is, Signorina Inconnutia has not been seen for almost two days now. It is certain that she has not left the islands, but her Songmark friends often take her into the jungles for rather. Long periods.” The hound gently stressed the word friends, lightly, suggesting something much more. “If you would leave your parcel with me, I assure you that she will have it the moment that she can be found.”

“I think not” Alessandro growled at the older Italian Pointer. Standing nearly a head taller than the hound, Captain Alessandro had a low opinion of all civilian workers, especially the Diplomatic kind. He also had an ancient wolfs distastes for all hounds. “il Duce charged me personally with putting this case within his nieces paws. Therefore I shall be forced to keep it. We will need quarters, you will have them?”

“But of course. How long will you be with us?” The hound had backed down, not one willing to endanger his precious life for the possibility of reading secret documents.

Pulling his orders from an inner pocket of his jacket the wolf offered them to the now subdued civilian. “Until the next military aircraft returning home. Or longer, as il Duce needs.”

“But of course. For you and the Lieutenant, a room on the second floor is available. You do not mind the sharing?”

“Not at all” the two officers answered in unison. Anything to get away from this nosey little clerk they both decided.

“Very good” the civilian continued. “For your Sergeant, there is room in the visiting flight crew building. A schedule of meal times will be given you as quickly as possible. Will there be anything else?”

“I am to assume that Lady Allworthy is also unavailable?”

“But no Captaino. She is upon South Island, with her native lover. Take any water taxi to South Island, ask for her by name. Someone will be able to take you to her quickly. She is well known upon these islands. Very, very well known.”

Again that insinuated dig at the moral values of a woman Captain Alessandro noted. What kind of people was the ministry sending out here anyway? “We will need local funds, yes?”

“Your orders allow an extra weekly stipend Captaino” the clerk admitted, having skimmed the document. He pulled a pad to him, writing upon it something that he quickly signed. “The clerk outside will take you where you need to go. Will there be anything else?”

“Nothing. But an appointment with the ruler of this little ant farm” the wolf answered in a dangerously low voice. “I have papers from il Duce for him as well. Good day.” With that all three wolves turned on one heel, the Sargent opening the offices door for his superiors before going through it himself. They were all three happy to leave this nasty little hound behind.

South Island was swarming with tourists, their very presence making the two wolves feel somewhat at home. For no matter the season, Roma was always swarming with tourists. One tended to be a little less concerned when surrounded by what one was used too. They located an information Kiosk, waiting quietly in line for their turn to speak with the rather attractive rabbit working there. After all, the scenery was much more delightful than a like place in Italy. For the women showed more fur than a street walker, yet obviously were not such. Though the Captain had no trouble spotting the Huntress’s working the crowd. Yet even they seemed attractive, nothing like what he was used to just outside the gate of his aerodrome. He was just thinking about how he would approach one when a pleasant, but tired voice broke into his musings.

“How may help you the gentle-furs” the rabbit asked.

“We were told that Lady Allworthy could be found on this island” First Lieutenant Raffaele Epifano explained. He quickly explained their reasons for contacting the English housecat. He had been chosen to speak, as his English was almost impeccable. Though Captain Madaffari also spoke English, it was just enough to get by and both wolves were well aware than any mistake could ruin this part of their mission. “That her...” He paused, trying to remember the term. “Tailfast. Ah yes. Her tailfast lived here, that she could be found. We carry a message from il Duce, our leader, for her. And very important papers. Ownership papers for the aircraft her husband paid for last year.”

“I see. Moment to please” the rabbit asked. Then she was off, to speak to a cluster of furs not far from her booth. One nodded, a male feline of indeterminate origin, wearing nothing but a fancy loincloth. He came back with the rabbit to speak to the two. “I take message to Lady Allworthy” he said. “Ten shell.”

Lieutenant Epifano waved his paw down and to one side, a near international motion of denial. “It must come from directly my Captain’s paw to her’s” he explained. “For five shells, will you ask if she will meet us? In some public place?”

“You meet public place? Then yes. Five shell I take message.” He held out his paw, waiting.

Digging a five shell note from his pocket Raffaele gave it to the cat, realizing that is was a fair portion of the advanced money he had been allowed by the Consulate for this mission. Things were very expensive here he quickly realized, why five shells was worth about 100 Lira. Still he was doing il Duce’s work, and if they were in anyway close as to the subject of the material in that packet for Signorina Inconnutia, they would be compensated royally upon the completion of their mission. There was though, nothing to do now but wait. So after asking the delightful rabbit further instructions, they walked over to a small outdoor refreshment stand and waited for the Lady’s response. Raffaelle though could not get that rabbits eyes out of his thoughts. He wondered briefly, what her neck would taste like while making love. And if it would taste the same fifty years from now.

It had taken nearly two hours for the feline to return. His message caused both wolves to groan, for now they would have to travel to Eastern Island to find a place called Song Sodas. Lady Allworthy would be waiting for them there, but how she would reach their destination before them both officers wondered. For there happened to be a water taxi available when they reached the dock, with two very pretty native girls just settling into place. Things, both wolves decided, were certainly looking up. Both furs were more than a delight to observe, and showed more female fur than either had seen outside of a bedroom. Of course, when they met Lady Allworthy and her maid, they were stunned to discover that they were the two pretty native women that both officers had tried to make a date with on the taxi over. Things were certainly different on Spontoon they quickly realized. After their initial embarrassment.

It was only on the trip back to Casino Island that the two spoke freely. After all, certainly the slow looking badger piloting their water taxi could not understand Italian, or at least not enough to worry about. “She is so beautiful” Alessandro said to his co-pilot. “And showing so much beautiful fur. I have not seen so much fur outside the bedroom.”

“Nor have I” Raffaele admitted. “Yet she was fully comfortable dressed in such. And her lovely maid. So dutiful, so quiet. My mother would kill for such a maid. Do you think Lady Allworthy would let her go, so mama may hire her?”

Alessandro simply laughed. “Your mother would not let such a beautiful doe within her home. Nor would mine, no matter how dutiful. You and your brothers would fight over her constantly. My father and uncle would beat her door down each night.”

Raffaele shrugged. “And my little sister Aryanna. Much to mothers dislike. It is not Catholic for a women to look upon her own sex. Not that way. But, I would marry that doe before taking her home. Ah, she would grant me the most handsome sons.“

“And beautiful daughters.”

Raffaele shook his head no. “Daughters bring only sorrows. It is sons I wish. Strong, handsome sons. A woman like either of them would grant me both. She would brighten my life, even unto the arrival of Death himself. I would be the richest wolf upon this world, to have her heart as my own. But ah, how is a simple Lieutenant to interest such beauties. One rich and beautiful, the other simply beautiful. Perhaps I will find a local girl, but not rich or in the employee of another. After all, I am not a handsome wolf, the girls at home have never looked upon me with favor.”

“Unless your wallet was open” Alessandro asked softly.

“Which is the why my wallet is so thin even now. We will be here many months. Perhaps I will find my dream girl then. It is strange, the look upon Lady Allworthys so beautiful face. Upon your giving her the aircrafts papers. It is most certain her departed husband had informed her of its purchase.”

“Perhaps not” Alessandro laughed. “The reports, they were together only a week or so after their marriage. Then her schooling required her return. It is possible, I think, that other matters. Much more important matters filled his mind during those days. I am certain that mine would have been filled with only her beauty.”

“As my mind would be. But the doe” Raffaele almost whispered. “Oh she so outshines her employer. As the sun does the moon. I fear that I am stricken with her. To my sorrow, for they leave within a day or two. But to have seen such beauty. It must be enough.” Raffaele allowed a long sigh. “I am too much the romantic I fear. Too much. Women scorn me, even were I as handsome as yourself my Captaino.”

Raffaele then turned away from his companion, looking forward. He watched in silence as Casino Island quickly approach. There, on the pier were tourists waiting to take the craft they were on. Their brightly dyed, eye burning clothing a counterpoint to the natural world that they stood upon. An engine roar started to his left. Turning, the two pilots watched as a garishly painted red and purple aircraft took off, a white stripe with a red cross painted upon its fuselage. It was obvious that all traffic had made way for it. “The medical aircraft obtained from those Americans” he explained to his superior. It wasn’t that he hated Alessandro, but he hated the political pull that he had. And how he used it without even thinking about it. Then there was his mission. To discover what the Germans were doing, and interfere with it as best as he could.

Later that night the two were called to the small McGee Resort. As they arrived a professional looking darkfurred otter passed them, a medical bag in her paw. She completely ignored the two as she turned towards the water taxi piers. It was only because she was a female doctor that the two even noticed her, for both generally held darkfurs in low regard. In the McGee Resort’s common room they were met by that beautiful doe, now wearing a most acceptable maids uniform. To Raffaele it could do nothing to hide her beauty, or his desire to court her. Still this was official business and he must withhold any personal interest. Thus he followed his Captain to a remote cabin, where Lady Allworthy herself met them at the door. She was, they noted, dressed very socially acceptable. Gone was any hint of the native woman that they had once taken her for.

“Maria is slightly injured” the British feline explained. “We are also leaving quite soon, thus have many things to do. Maria herself has several articles as yet to finish. Therefore she has asked that you complete your business quickly.” She stepped aside, waving to her maid. “Molly, you will remain with Maria. As Chaperon. I will wait in the common room.” She then walked away from the cabin, towards the brilliantly lighted common rooms at the resorts front.

Inside the two wolves found themselves in a well lighted room, with a bedroom off to their right. Within the bedroom stood a bovine who’s face was well known to the both of them. She was, they both noticed, limping slightly.

“She fell. A cliff” Molly explained as she placed chairs for the two of them. “She will recover fully. A simple, but deep bruise. So says Doctor Riverstone.” Molly then stepped next to the bed, abruptly becoming as stationary as a statue. It was, to the two military men, an expression of very good training. Perhaps lifelong training. Of course Lady Allworthy would hire only the best, her net worth was well known.

“Signorina Inconnutia” Captain Madaffari said in Itallian. “I am Captain Madaffari. I have come at your Uncles direct orders.”

“It is Maria please” the woman before him answered, though her voice was rough. As though she had screamed too loudly. “You have news from my Uncle?”

“We have Signorina. He has sent to you certain papers. We are to deliver them to your paw alone.” He held out the satchel.

“Molly. You take” Maria ordered in English.

As Molly approached Alessandro pulled it back. “To your paws, and your paws only Signorina” he explained softly.

With another word from Maria Molly returned to her place, again. Limping over to the Captain she gently relieved him of his burden. “Thank you Captain Madaffari” she said. She then passed the satchel to Molly, who moved as though she had never stopped. Accepting the burden, then returning to her position. “You have successfully completed your mission. Is there more” the bovine asked.

“This was an accident?” Raffaele asked.

“It was. I miss-stepped. Even to the best, a simple mistake can bring the strongest down. Be certain that I will be more careful the next time. It truly ruined such a delightful time, and will make flying quite difficult for a short time..”

“Then we will go. We thank you for your Graciosus Signorina Inconnutia. And will pray for your quick recovery” Captain Madaffari answered. Both wolves bowed to the woman before them, then returning to the cabins door they left.

When both men had left Maria sighed in relief, for she truly was in pain. “The Lieutenant. He hungers for you” she told Molly.

“He may hunger my Lady” Molly answered from her place. “I am Lady Allworthy’s servant, and proud to be of her employ. I will look at no other as long as I serve her. Unless she orders.” She brought the satchel to Maria, holding it while she awaited further orders. “I much like the bell” she continued. “Do you think Lady Allworthy would allow me to wear a small one? About my neck. Chosen correctly, its sound would be sweet.”

“Perhaps” Maria answered. “But you must ask her. Now open that satchel, for I must know what my Uncle desires of me.”

“Yes Signorina Inconnutia” the doe agreed, artfully dodging a half hearted swat towards her tail by the bovine.